Manila

27th February 2014. Manila – City of Contrasts. (Note what the man is holding!)

Manila is the Capital of the Philippines, found by the shore of a large bay on the largest island of the 7,107 (give or take) that makes up the Philippines. Over the years every one of the colonial powers has had influence here, from the Chinese, the Spanish (Magellan, who found it by accident on HIS first round the world cruise), the British (of course), the Americans, the Japanese, and then the Americans again, who finally withdrew their forces in 1992. (47 years after the end of the war).

I can’t say Manila was an attractive city, more of which later, I can’t say I liked it, although those who ventured out further reported back the interior of the island was absolutely beautiful. However a good half of the ships crew came from the Philippines and so there was a big changeover here. So for the last week before we arrived the crew were counting down the days and there was a big party atmosphere amongst them which was quite infectious. So ALL the passengers cheered when the Captain announced shore leave for the crew and off they went carrying home boxes of goodies and presents from all over the world including large flat screen tv’s. The ship was several tons lighter when it left that night.

Back to the plot,

So, as we entered Manila bay and still miles out to sea, we had to dodge around loads of small 1/2/3 man fishing boats.

Now I understand that they fish through the night under a bright white light. I, for one, would not like to work so far out to sea in such small boats. I mean it must take so long to get home, that the fish are never really fresh.

The morning was still and sticky with hardly a breath of wind and nothing could be seen though the haze and smog until slowly shapes started to become distinct. Note the blue sky above!

 

And then the port could be seen with another boat already there.

Finally we pulled up across the quay on the right from the Japanese cruise ship (ours was bigger!) to a deafening welcome of drums and a band. With another band of drums at the Japanese ship also belting it out 100 yards away. The battle of the drums… or war, was declared and that how it was all day until we left. Our bands against theirs. We had two marching bands…they had drums. In fact the Jap ship eventually could take it no longer and left to the strains of “Auld Lang Syne” Now how strange was that!

Any way todays tour from the ship was of Old Manila, and let’s face it, this is a country that is not looking back, so for me it was a miss..but hey I now know all about the national hero Jose Rizal who got shot in the back.

And wrote a poem the night before…look it up yourself.

Of course the real reason you come to Manila is…

the wonderful

crazy

Jeepneys. You see them every where and everyone is individual and they have to be seen to be believed.

As I said at the start Manila is a city of contrasts, and I suppose it’s just like many other cities in the world, but it still shocks me when you can take this photo,

 

turnaround and without moving, take this photo.

Manila is a place where cock fighting is still legal and eggs get smuggled in from America where apparently all the best cocks come from!

Next time we would need time to get away from Manila and explore the country the people. Paalam po to the Philippines.

Next stop is Shanghai where the temperature will be 3` and not the 30` today.