Manila Trip 2013

Day 1.  The Arrival.  La Mesa Eco Park.

Finally our plane landed at Ninoy Aquino International Airport  (NAIA) at around 12:12 noon of March 1, 2013.  Nyl knew how excited I was about our trip to Manila since this was our first travel to the northern part of our country.  Darymel, Nyl's friend, was already waiting for us at the arrival area; I was thinking he would be holding a piece of paper with our names on it like the rest of the people there. LOL! Anyway, we took a metered taxi from NAIA to Baclaran Church since it was the easiest way to the LRT station going to Quezon City, where we are staying for our entire trip. 

 After having lunch and taking a few minutes  rest we then decided to go to our first destination- the La Mesa Eco Park. One way to get there was to ride an FX at SM North Edsa and ask the driver to drop you off at Winston St in East Fairview Subdivision. :)  From there take a tricycle to La Mesa Eco Park.

La Mesa Eco Park is an ecological nature reserve site in Quezon City.  The place was good for everyone who likes to escape the city life for a while.  There you could bike, stroll, picnic, run, or simply lie down on the grass. 

The entrance fee for the park is Php 50.00 but they offer discounts for residents of Quezon City which is Php 40.00, Php 20.00 for students and  free for senior citizens.

There we tried their archery which cost Php 100.00 for 10 arrows and Nyl tried their bungee which cost Php 120.00 for 3 minutes.  Nyl and I were able to take a close look at the La Mesa Dam yet I wasn't able to took some pictures of it since it was prohibited.

La Mesa Eco park

Day 2.  Luneta.  Ocean Park.  Star City.  Fort Santiago.  Bario Fiesta.

Our second day was the busiest of all, imagine going to an amusement and historical sites in Manila for just a day.  Before we went to Manila Ocean Park, we first drop by at the Rizal Park or also known as Luneta Park.  I thought we could get near the monument but I was wrong.  So after taking some pictures then we cross the street to get to the Manila Ocean Park which was behind the Quirino Grandstand fronting the Rizal monument.

Going to Ocean Park was one of the funny part of our trip that day.  We have to cross Roxas Boulevard in order to get there but before crossing the street Darymel informed us that we should follow the traffic sign or we will be charge Php 500.00 for jaywalking, so we waited for the red light to turn green (it's the traffic light near a ring sculpture )  .  We stood there awhile and later we realized that the traffic light was not working so we ran across when the street was clear.  I guess some of you have also experienced the "traffic light that always stops". : )

Luneta Park

Manila Ocean Park.

After crossing Roxas Boulevard, we walked toward Quirino grandstand since the park is located behind it.  We thought we arrived there early yet there were already hundreds of students there waiting for their educational trip to begin.  There were also other guest who lined up to buy their ticket, for us, Mesay (Darymel's wife), have already bought a ticket for us through metrodeal.  So she just lined up to the window intended for guest who bought their ticket online for validation.

It was our first time to visit the park, I mean Nyl and I, so we were really excited that day.  The park was great since they have integrated urban resort with marine life attraction and more.  There, we were able to witness some sea-lions and birds doing a few tricks. There were also other marine animals and penguins too.  There, you could feed the penguins with your family and freinds but you have to pay Php 500.00 which was good for 3 persons plus you have a soft copy of the photos taken while feeding the little ones. : ) There was also an interactive show that talks about penguins, they call it The Penguin Talk Show (of course).

Anyway, they also have a snow village where you could experience how it feels to be in antartic. There you could see some snowman, penguins statues and ICE. :)

The park also offers aquanaut voyage and shark encounter, I'll try them next time.

Well, our entire experience in Ocean Park was great!  I should suggest that if you decided to go there bring a high qualitycamera that could capture nice pictures without using flashes, some extra battery and  memory.

Manila Ocean Park

Star City

After getting out from Ocean Park we took a taxi to get to Star City, there, we paid Php 60.00 each for our entrance fee.  Star City offers packages for their rides wherein you pay less and try all their rides. We just decided to check the place and try their shooting and wall climbing stuff.






Well, the place was great but sad to say we didn't try their rides.  After awhile of strolling,  we decided to  go to our next destination - Fort Santiago, Intramuros.

Star City

Intramuros- Fort Santiago.

We took a taxi to reach our next destination - Fort Santiago Intramuros Manila. 

 Fort Santiago can be seen inside the walled city or also known as Intramuros.

If you want to have a glimpse of the past you should try this place.   The entrance fee for the park is Php 75.00 each but they give discounts to students all you have to do is to present your school ID upon paying.  Personnel wearing an old style army uniform will validate your ticket upon entering. For some reason I really love going to places where you could see some old structures and stuffs.

I was amazed on how thick the wall was.  Just imagine how they build it using their bare hands without the existence of heavy equipment present today.  There was also a place called Rizal Shrine where some of Rizal things were preserved.    Inside the Rizal’s Shrine camera flashes was not allowed in order to preserve the solemnity of the place.  Anyway, on the first floor of the Rizal’s Shrine you will see some sculpture of Rizal, an original copy of his novel Noli Me Tangere, his calling card, his old medical equipment, some old pictures of the woman he loved and more.  You could also check the place where Rizal stayed when he was on trial. On the second floor of the shrine you’ll see more of Rizal things and a room where his poem was printed on the wooden floor.  The exit of the shrine will lead you through the walls of Intramuros to another structure that is near the Pasig River.  There you could also see some underground chambers.   

I really love the place sad to say that even though how much the administration tried to restore the place and maintain its' order and cleanliness there were garbage seen inside the old tanks.  :'(  If only everyone was responsible enough about their garbage.

By the way, if you would like to try to take ride on a “kalesa" (a cart being pulled by a horse) the rate is about Php 350.00 (Intramuros) to Php 500.00 (inside Fort Santiago).  You could also check the Manila Cathedral which is just across the street fronting the entrance of Fort Santiago.  We weren't able to get in since the management is making some repairs.

Fort Santiago

Before we went back to Darymel's place, we had dinner at Bario Fiesta in SM North Edsa.  The Kare-kare was so delicious that I forgot all about my diet.

Day 3.  UP Diliman.  Parting Time.

 I thought our plan to jog that morning will be cancelled since it was raining early that morning but Darymel was positive that the rain would stop.  He cooked a very nice soup for our empty stomach. His wife, Mesay, lend me some clothes, a pair of socks and shoes for jogging.  Thanks Say!  

Before the jog, they both taught us some proper techniques in stretching and proper breathing.   Then off we go ...

The place was really great!!! Trees were all over the place and the air was fresh.  We didn't even mind that it was raining.  It really feels good.  We just completed one round then we cool down and went to the market afterwards.

UP Diliman and INC- Central Temple at Commonwealth Avenue

I must say that our entire stay in Manila was great!  Thanks to Nonoy, Mesay, Tita and Cedric for opening their home to us and for everything they did for us.  We shall forever be grateful to you guys. Thanks a lot!