Meandering in Metro Manila

The locals may not rank Metro Manila in their top lists of tourist spots, but there are a lot of unique places to visit, yummy food to sample, and unusual things to do! Here are some Philippines travel tips from a local Manileña:

Historical Value
There are a lot of historical sites in Metro Manila. The most popular spots are in the city of Manila – Intramuros, Fort Bonifacio, Luneta Park. A relatively recent part of the country’s history involves EDSA (Epifanio De Los Santos Avenue) where the Filipinos successfully pulled off a bloodless coup. Covering all of these can get a little time-consuming, though. But here’s a little tip: Take a ride around all the trains (LRT, LRT II, MRT) in the metro and you’ll get to see most of the things Metro Manila offers. Try to avoid the rush hour though, and be careful of your belongings.

Shopaholic Heaven
Every city in Metro Manila has more than enough malls and markets to satisfy any shopaholic. Tourists find most wares cheaper than what they’re used to, even in the malls. The biggest mall there is SM Mall of Asia near Manila Bay. For those who are in the mood for haggling, the tiangge is the only way to go. Here you can haggle with vendors to death! Visit Greenhills Shopping Centre to get a feel for the local haggling style. There are also some tiangges in Market!Market! in Global City. When you go shopping, try to have a friend from the area come with you. It is not uncommon for vendors to take advantage of tourists who are not aware of the local going prices for their wares.

Gourmet Adventure
Local cuisine is very flavorful. Try your hand at the popular local food chains like Jollibee and Goldilocks. For the more adventurous types (with strong intestinal immunity), you can always try the diverse street food. Try the “dirty ice cream” that is not really dirty, but means it’s homemade. Other sweet foods to try are taho (pudding made from soy beans) and scramble (blended ice topped with milk).

There are so many sights to see; so many things to buy and so many food to eat. The only thing to worry about is the weather; around here there are only two choices: hot or wet. Be sure to check out Philippines travel information for the days you plan your romp around the city!