Philippines

Trip to the Philippines

5 to 30 april 2012

Philippines: the world second largest archipelago, 7000 islands with a land area close to that of Italy. Population is roughly 90 million.

For a long time we wanted to visit this fascinating country, Asian of course but with a bit of latin in its soul. Filipinos love karaoke and shopping malls,

are fervent catholics and speak english, but many places in the country have spanish names.

1 - Prologue: Kuala Lumpur

But before getting there we make a little stopover in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia's capital. A truly multiethnic city, a mix of cultures and religions.

stop in Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia	the trip		First part: Palawan		Seconda part: Luzon, the Cordillera
warning in the hotel lift	Petaling Street, Chinatown		colour changing lights		Merdeka Square
Sultan Abdul Samal, colonial architecture	old and new		new		Taoist temple (Sin Sze Si Ya)
P1030979.JPG	Hindu temple (Sri Maha Mariamman)		P1030981.JPG		P1030982.JPG
P1030983.JPG	Old China Cafe where we taste delicious Nonya food		Petronas Towers, 88 floors, 452meters		P1030990.JPG
P1030991.JPG	the tallest buildings from 1998 to 2004		P1030993.JPG		seems a bit cooler over there
all in the water!	for the light train you buy... the token		wandering monkeys at Lake Gardens		curious local soda... (we didn't notice any secondary effects)
in the orchid garden	where we take shelter		waiting for the end of the thunderstorm		P1040014.JPG
P1040017.JPG	P1040019.JPG		the old railway station, Mughal style		dinner in Chinatown
Manila Manila is a 10-million-people megacity, an odd mix of skyscrapers, shopping malls and shanty neighborhoods. There's also a small old town, Intramuros, where a few colonial buildings survived WW2 american-japanese fighting. It's unbearably hot until you enter one of the many malls, where you freeze instantly. Here we also have our first encounters with the colorful jeepneys, a true Filipino icon. It's Easter, the most important holiday at the Philippines, and after sunset we follow the crowd who go picnic in the cool evening air to Rizal Park. Here we watch a choreography of light and water, paced by the Abba’s greatest hits. A little further there’s also an interesting traditional music and dance show.
around the old spanish city walls	they made a golf course		P1040032.JPG		cyclo-trycicles in Intramuros
P1040035.JPG	P1040036.JPG		wedding		a kiss!! a kiss!!
Rizal Park's fountains	P1040045.JPG
the Cathedral	the animated traffic lights		Jeepney (urban version)		Chinatown
P1040055.JPG	chinese apple "Champagne"		one of Paola's mother relatives		who makes very good scales
sweets and gadget vending machines	P1040053.JPG		japanese shop "all for 50 pesos"		spanish church (Santa Cruz)
jeepney traffic jam	a good example		many Filipinos work as crew on merchant ships; here's some sort of open air recruitment center		job offers are posted at the kiosks
the famous Manila Bay sunset		P1040070.JPG		P1040074.JPG

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