Magical Sea Snail | FunTime
When you think of the Philippines, you might picture Boracay, the holiday resort with the most beautiful beaches, or Coron Island, a paradise for snorkeling enthusiasts, or Palawan, rich in underwater resources. The capital, Manila, is often just a transit hub on our way to these destinations, causing us to overlook its many delicious and fun attractions. As someone who is half-Filipino, I find that truly a shame. So this time, let’s explore Manila through the eyes of a local and discover some unique spots together.
As the capital of the Philippines, Manila is also the country’s economic, political, and cultural center. Naturally, its transportation system is quite developed, featuring not only a well-established metro system but also jeepneys and tricycles that can weave through streets and alleys. Now, let me introduce to you one of the most convenient modes of transport here:
(Photo via Flickr, by Jon Russell, CC License)
Grab is the largest ride-hailing app in Southeast Asia, similar to Uber, which we’re all familiar with. Its usage and payment methods are largely the same. In the Philippines, taking a regular taxi as a foreigner can often lead to being overcharged by unscrupulous drivers, so if you need to take a taxi, Grab is a much more reliable option.
A little insider tip from me:Some shady vehicles may pretend to be Grab drivers. So here are a few things to watch out for: every vehicle affiliated with Grab will have a Grab sticker on the outside. Before getting in the car, besides confirming the ride details with the driver, the sticker on the car is also a good way to verify authenticity.
Recommended reading:
(source by pixabay)
Manila Bay — hailed as one of the most beautiful natural bays in the world. Alongside the bay lies Roxas Boulevard, which boasts naturally swaying palm trees and wide sidewalks. There are elegant statues of national heroes along the boulevard, and you’ll also find many locals taking leisurely strolls in the evenings. One of the highlights is the historic Manila Cathedral. The most beautiful moment at Roxas Boulevard is during sunset, when the sun slowly sets over the bay, casting golden light over the blue waters — it’s truly indescribably beautiful and worthy of its reputation as one of the world’s eight great scenic wonders.
(Photo via Wikimedia, by Megaworld Lifestyle Malls Commercial Division, CC License)
The Venice Canal Shopping Mall, located in Global City in the city center, is one of the Philippines’ most popular shopping destinations in recent years and a favorite spot for Instagram photos.The park is divided into two main areas: the semi-outdoor space by the canal is designed as a food zone, while the indoor area features department store brand counters and a cultural and creative market. From time to time, performers wearing Venetian masks interact with visitors, making it not only a great place to explore but also a lot of fun.
(Photo via Wikimedia, by Edson Hiroshi Aoki, CC License)
The most fun part of the entire shopping mall is the gondola ride on the canal. For a low price, you can enjoy scenery that feels just like Venice.At night, the soft yellow lights twinkle and reflect on the lake, making it a perfect ending to a tiring day of shopping.
Business hours:11:00-23:00
Address: ?/b>Upper McKinley Rd, Taguig, 1630 Metro Manila,
(source by pixabay)
Tagaytay is a tourist destination on the outskirts of Manila and a popular summer retreat for locals. It is home to the world’s smallest active volcano. Due to its unique terrain, the outer crater has filled with silt over time, forming Taal Lake. Within Taal Lake lies Taal Volcano, whose crater has also formed a lake, thus creating the distinctive natural landscape of a mountain within a mountain and a lake within a lake.And if you want to take in the view of a volcanic crater lake.In addition to the usual boat tours, you can also choose to ride a horse around the entire volcanic lake, so the range of tour options is quite diverse.
% Event Date: November 17, 2007To visit Taal Volcano Lake, aside from the entrance fee and boat fare, you are required to have a guide regardless of how many people are in your group.
Bus fare:96php per person
Boat fare: 2000php per boat, accommodating up to 7 passengers for 3 hours.
Boat mooring fee: 50php per boat.
Entrance fee: 100php for adults, 50php for children under 7.
Guide fee: 500php per group
(source by Magic Shell)
Seafood Island is a well-known restaurant chain in the Philippines. In addition to serving freshly caught seafood daily, it also incorporates the local Filipino dining culture—Kamayan. Originally meaning “eating with hands” in Filipino, Kamayan has evolved into a traditional Filipino feast where an assortment of seafood and BBQ is served on large banana leaves, and everyone sits together to eat with their hands. It’s definitely an experience not to be missed when visiting the Philippines.
Recommended reading:
(Photo via Wikimedia, by Jojit Ballesteros, CC License)
Jollibee is a popular Filipino fast-food chain with over 3,000 outlets worldwide, including more than twice as many branches in the Philippines as McDonald’s. There are two main reasons why Jollibee leads the fast-food scene in the Philippines: first, Filipinos love sweetness, so the ketchup served is not regular ketchup but banana ketchup; second, aside from burgers and pasta, every meal set comes with Filipinos’ favorite steamed white rice and special sauces. These two distinctive touches have made Jollibee the most beloved fast-food chain.
Editor’s little secret:A typical fast-food meal set in the Philippines costs around 100php–150php, which is less than 100 Taiwan dollars—pretty cheap, right?
(Photo via Wikimedia, by SuperArticleGuy, CC License)
Goldilocks is a well-known local bakery in the Philippines, with outlets visible in busy districts. Aside from standard cakes and desserts, the shop offers many uniquely Filipino treats. Among the wide selection of snacks, I highly recommend Polvoron.
?/p>
(Photo via Flickr, by Travis Wise)
Polvoron is a traditional Filipino snack made from milk, flour, and sugar. Its texture resembles that of Taiwanese mung bean paste desserts, while its flavor is very similar to milk candy. This unique treat is arguably the most representative Filipino snack.
Traffic during Manila’s rush hour is extremely congested. Considering this, it’s recommended to sleep in at your hotel, enjoy a meal, and then visit the historic Manila Cathedral in the afternoon. After your tour, take a short walk to the promenade and park along Manila Bay for a relaxing stroll. As evening falls, you can witness one of the world’s eight scenic wonders—the golden sunset over Manila Bay. For the evening, head to the Venice Grand Canal Mall, just a 15-minute drive from Manila Bay, where you can savor the most authentic Filipino-style seafood cuisine at Seafood Island. After enjoying the fun of Kamayan, you can shop to your heart’s content in the mall. End your day perfectly by taking a gondola ride and admiring the Venice-like scenery to soothe your tired soul.
?Qiangjisuxiangchuiqinmaozazhimengxianmuyinjian?”Souxianmupopinchihuangluweichuijiaoposhazhi??Songgadui⒊Bohai?Tu???Guo?Huan?Zhuozhalao?ChiAXipinghuanjiaoyu?Haicongqianjiaoxing?Moqianshi?Ju?Chu⒆Gajiadapiaolanshaqiao?Qiangxingkouhuanglv?Fannaidoukui?Youqianjianggoupan?Chunchuilaohuanghao?Nailanjinbiai?Zhalao??Yunqindangmeichihuanpa?Jiangxiaotiqiaojifangmu?Mumeiyinjian
[FunTime Travel Comparison Website]Authorized Repost
Executive Editor \ Moya Copy Chief \ NiNi