To break up the trip a bit, I decided to stay in Manila on the way to Singapore and on the way back. I tried to get a tour of a fort in Manila but a tour group had taken up all the seats. So I took a tour of the "old/new" Manila. I was to depart for Saipan Wednesday at about 10:00 p.m. and the hotel was real nice and they allowed me to check out around 6:00 p.m. without charging me for an extra night.
The 1st 3 photos were of the "Arlington Cemetery" but in Manila Philippines. Of course, the tour guide had to come looking for me. Not sure why but I tend to get distracted and take forever in some places.
Horse in buggy. When I was in Manila 23 years ago (yeap during my military days), they were all over the place. The horses tended to look malnourished as well.
This is an old church in old town.
Fort Santiago. I thought this fort was older than that, but "google" tells me that during WWII this fort was the liberation for the Philippines during the Japanese occupation.
The last several photos will be of the area around my hotel and the hotel fountain at dusk.
This is Manila from my hotel room. I was on the top floor. An upgrade at no extra cost.
Statute outside the hotel. This hotel is the Peninsula. Apparently 3 or 4 years ago, "bandits" took over the hotel. Now the hotel is guarded on all sides by security. Going in and out you are inspected. A little weird but no weirder than seeing military with machine guns out on the street. When I was being taken to and from the airport I choice to use the hotel drivers as opposed to just a regular everyday taxi driver. I wasn't that trusting.
This vehicle is a "jeepnie". Apparently back in WWII times, US jeeps were left behind and locals bought them and turned them into "buses" so to speak. When I was at Clark AB back in the day....jeepnies were used to get around town. You would just hop on / hop off. At times you could be packed to the gills in these vehicles.
This is the fountain that was outside the hotel. I thought it was just beautiful.
I have to say that this was a superb trip. It was fun to see a country I've never been to and being back in Manila brought back memories. Believe it or not even though Mrs. Marcos no longer runs the country, she is now a Senator.
Hope you have enjoyed my trip.
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