Exciting Manila

Hungry in Manila? Sample local cuisine at these restaurants:
1) Aristocrat, home of the best Filipino Pork Barbecue in town. They also serve Pancit Canton, Pinakbet, Kare-kare and other local fares.
2) Seafood Wharf Restaurant is an market-style restaurant where your choice of live and freshly caught marine delicacies are prepared in minutes while you relax by the magnificent Manila Bay sunset view.
3)Craving Chinese food? The WAH SUN Chinese Restaurant is a family owned establishment on Recto Avenue. They serve authentic Chinese dishes and have been in the food business for more than 20 years.

A must for beginners of Philippine history is a walking tour of Intramuros in the heart of Manila. Take a leisurely afternoon walk along the city's 400-year-old walls and take in a humorous analysis of Philippine culture and society during the Spanish occupation. The tour starts at 3pm in front of Manila Cathedral; Intramuros, Manila. There’s also a Light and Sound Museum that one can visit in the Intramuros area (Sta.Lucia Street). Visitors can walk through the rich history of the Philippines - the Spanish Colonial Era, Japanese Occupation, and American Regime - in a show of dioramas. Schedules vary daily.

Quick Tips:

Tagalog is widely spoken while English is always understood around metro Manila. Most people are friendly and will gladly show directions, though some will just turn away when asked something in English - don't be offended because these people are just shy.

I recommend using sunblock or an umbrella if you are planning to walk from mid-morning 'till about 3pm. Wearing light-colored clothes in light fabrics is a must. Bottled water is generally available in small foodstalls just about anywhere, but be careful about the brand of bottled water you buy because some bottles are recycled and refilled with tap water. I recommend buying any of these bottled water brands, which have been tried and tested: Absolute Distilled Drinking Water,Summit Natural Drinking Water,Wilkins, Viva, and Nestle Pure.

Best Way To Get Around:

Going around Metro Manila through the Light Railway system (LRT,MRT,LRT3) saves a lot of time. Buses and jeeps can also be taken on major thoroughfares and strategic points, as well as AUV's, locally termed Tamaraw FX's.

Taxis are best caught in hotels and malls, while pedi-cabs and tricycles plod through minor streets.

There are still a few horse-drawn carriages that go back and forth on Luneta and Roxas Boulevards.

I've been to several branches of Kamayan Restaurant around the Metro, and I can say that they are really good in serving Filipino food. I had the chance to dine in their West Avenue branch Oct 7, 2004.

The family setting was perfect for everyone and the buffet set up was simply amazing. I love Filipino food and this restaurant had a wide variety of dishes to satisfy anyone craving for local cuisine. Number one on the list is the native Lechon De Leche - roast suckling pig, it's just too good for me to turn down. There's also Kare-kare, Pinakbet, Kuhol sa Gata, Spicy Seafood, and Lumpiang Sariwa, dishes that, when accompanied by rice, are simply divine. Just watch out for your cholesterol levels, they might shoot up when sampling this rich viands.

The desserts I tried included Buko-Pandan Salad (grass jelly and fresh young coconut slices tossed in cream), Leche Flan (Vanilla Custard), and Bibingka (rice cake), and Halo-halo. Gotta work out hard at the gym the next day!

When bargain-hunting for a variety of stuff, I always go to Greenhills. Located in the heart of San Juan, a few minutes drive from EDSA, Greenhills is a shopping paradise. Clothes, shoes, native souvenirs, computers, cell phones, knock-off designer bags and wallets, toys, children's apparel... these are just some of the items that you can shop for at Greenhills. The Greenhills Shopping Center is divided into three parts: Virra Mall shopping center, the main Greenhills complex, and the Unimart Supermarket. Anyone can find great deals on every shop. It is recommended to go there in mid-morning, where the sales ladies can give shoppers a first-customer discount or 'Buena Mano'. Haggling at half the price is a must because some stalls put up a mark-up on items based on the person's looks.

I always wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a small purse when shopping here. And food stalls and fast-food restaurants are all around the area when you get hungry; just be careful with drinking water served by the restaurant. To be safe, I always drink bottled water. Shopping here can be great--just learn to canvas first and go back to the ones who offer the lowest price for the item.

The Baywalk or Promenade overlooking Manila Bay, is perhaps one of the best places to spend late afternoons and evenings. The breakwater area, which stretches along Roxas Boulevard between the U.S. Embassy and Manila Yacht Club, offers a lot of choices for your dining pleasure. Dine al fresco, listen to live music on weekends, or just enjoy the spectacular colors of the Manila Bay sunset. This is one of the most happening places in Manila

Malate – Formerly called Ermita, the red district of the '80s, it is now a place for bars and clubs, where people of all ages and orientation can be seen. Establishments abound on Bocobo, Nakpil, Remedios, Mabini and Adriatico Streets, where you can listen to live music, see shows of stand up comedians, swing it out in a dance ballroom, or just simply enjoy coffee and watch people go by. This is one of Manila’s hippest places, where one can find the city’s best restaurants and bars.

Check out The Library, Portico 1771, Kel's Bar, and Side Bar.