IMPORTANT NOTE: Rates are correct at time of release, includes all taxes, and are subject to the following: change without notice, availability, ticketing deadlines, blackout dates and travel dates.
For more information, please call our 24/7 US TOLL-FREE number at1-866-2-MANILA or visit www.mangotours.comfor more of our affordable travel deals.
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If it’s your first time to visit Manila, or been in and out of the city
but never had the chance to explore, here are 7 out of the 13 things you can do
to make your stay in Manila more exciting and unforgettable.
Meet the National Hero
When you’re in Manila, don’t miss the chance to get to know the country’s pride
and National Hero – Jose Rizal. Jose Rizal was a creative poet, essayist,
ophthalmologist, correspondent, and a novelist whose famous works were his two
novels: Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me
Not) and El Filibusterismo (The Reign
of Greed). These books awakened the
consciousness of the Filipinos and unified them to fight for their freedom
during the Spanish Colonization. You can visit a place in Intramuros called Light and
Sound Museum where it showcases the life of Jose Rizal from his childhood
until his execution in Bagumbayan, Manila
in 1896.
Watch Manila Bay sunset
If you’re looking from a window or balcony
of the hotel you’re staying in, having a dinner cruise, or just walking along Manila Bay, take some time to
watch the majestic sunset. Relax and enjoy the lovely scenery.
Take a ride via King of the Road
Dubbed as the king of the road, Jeepney
is the most popular public transportation in Metro Manila. It can
transport you from one city to another in a very affordable fare. Jeepneys
have been known for their flashy and colorful decorations making them one of
national symbols of the country.
Go Bargain Shopping
Manila is a great place to shop. Amid its
numerous malls, Manila has shopping centers where locals and tourists go
to buy cheap and affordable goods.
Divisoria, Greenhills, and Quiapo
are just some of the places where bargain markets are found. You can buy
anything from food to clothes, birthday and wedding necessities, souvenirs to
shoes, accessories and bags and many more.
Get to know Manila’s rich culture through a
harmonious cultural show. A place called Barbara’s
Restaurant in Intramuros
showcases this kind of show to their guests while serving delectable
buffet-styled, Filipino cuisines.
What can be more fun than knowing the city’s culture while enjoying a sumptuous
meal?
One of the popular dishes served across the
country particularly in Manila, Adobo
is a delicious Filipino dish made
frommeat, soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, pepper,
and brown sugar. One must not miss
this sumptuous meal best served with rice. Adobo
is served in almost all restaurants and food joints found in Manila. Go try
some!
Manila is dotted with a variety of spas
offering traditional and foreign massages such as Filipino Hilot, Brazilian, Thai, Swedish, Shiat-su,
and Ventosa in very affordable
prices. Availing one of these relaxing massages is a great way to end the day
while in Manila.
Watch out next week for the rest of the
list of the things you can do to enjoy Manila. Meanwhile, you may enjoy some of
our posts about Manila:
For travel inquiries
and bookings, call our U.S. toll-free number at1-866-2-MANILA(1-866-2- 626452)or(02) 893-0002if you’re in Manila. Visitwww.mangotours.com for more amazing travel deals.
Mango Mix is a weekly column of
Mango Tours in the Asian Journal. The column celebrates Filipino culture--from
must-see travel destinations and advice, social events, culinary delights,
arts, and everything interestingly mixing under the Philippine sun.
Singapore has long been known as a country with various picturesque attractions, impressive
coastlines, byways and well-known cultural events. It is with this view that people from neighboring countries visit this humble nation. If you are planning to travel to this quaint land,
here are some of the best places to visit.
Merlion Park
Located near Marina bay in Singapore, the Merlion Park is one
the best and popular tourist attractions in the area. This 2,500 square metre park
features the merlion, a mythical creature with the head of a lion and the body
of a fish. It represents Singapore’s humble origin as a fishing village and its
original name “Singapura” which means “lion city”.
Fountain of Wealth
The silicon bronze-made fountain in Suntec City symbolizes the
oneness in spirit, unity, equality and harmony of all races and religions in
Singapore. Located in one of Singapore’s largest and grandest shopping malls,
the fountain of wealth is listed as the largest fountain in the world by the
Guinness Book of World Records. This 13.8-meter fountain is believed to provide
wealth and long life.
Raffles
Landing Site
Situated at Boat Quay in the downtown core of Singapore’s
central business district, the raffles landing site is a spot where people
believed Sir Stamford Raffles landed. Sir Thomas Stamford Bingley Raffles was a
British statesman who founded the city of Singapore. He is often described as
the “Father of Singapore”. The landing site has been a popular spot for tourists and town locals.
Thian
Hock
Regarded as the oldest and most important temple in Singapore,
the Thian Hock Keng is one of the most visited sites in the country. The main
temple was built to honor Ma Zu, the Taoist goddess of the sea and protector of
all seamen. This famous temple was constructed in traditional Southern Chinese
architectural style. It has a grand entrance with statues of tigers, lions and
door gods and a side entrance gate that features multi-colored tiles with
images of peacocks, roses and the universal Buddhist swastika in green and
brown. The Buddhist swastika symbol is known to represent good luck, eternity
and immortality.
Other site includes:
Kian Temple
Chinatown
Jewelry Factory
Visit these soulful Singaporean sites with this great tour package.
For more information, please call our 24/7 US TOLL-FREE number at1-866-2-MANILA or visit www.mangotours.comfor more of our affordable travel deals.
Beat the summer heat with a unique
Batangueño cooler. San Juan’s Barako ice cream is a cool and creamy concoction
infused with the strong kick of Barako coffee—a trademark of the province. Roam
around San Juan and soak up on its rich history and heritage. For the
sun-worshippers, San Juan's gorgeous strip of white sand is yours for the
taking.
Getaway at
Acuaverde Resort
TWO-NIGHT
PACKAGE US$
363.00 per person
OVERNIGHT
PACKAGE US$
186.00 per person
Inclusions:
-
Round-trip transportation service (drop off & pick-up)
-
Two-night accommodation at Acuaverde Beach Resort (Laiya, San Juan
Batangas) on twin- share basis
-
Two (2) Breakfast
-
Services of a driver/guide
-
Government taxes
Itinerary
DAY 1
8:00 AM
Pick-up at the hotel
Leave Manila for
Laiya, San Juan, Batangas
12:00 NN
Estimated time of
arrival at the resort
Check In at the resort
Free Time
Overnight at
Acuaverde Resort
(lunch &
dinner on guests account)
DAY 2
7:00 AM
Breakfast at the
hotel
Free Time
Overnight at
Acuaverde Resort
(lunch &
dinner on guests account)
DAY 3
7:00 AM
Breakfast at the
hotel
Free Time
12:00NN
Check out at the
hotel
Return to Manila
0400PM
Arrive Manila
END OF TOUR
Rates are valid until March 31, 2013
For travel inquiries and bookings, call our U.S. toll-free number at 1-866-2-MANILA (1-866-2- 626452)or (02) 893-0002 if you’re in Manila. Visit www.mangotours.com for more amazing travel deals.
Ho Chi Minh, formerly known as Saigon, is the largest city of Vietnam. It was renamed after the
country’s revolutionary leader and prime minister in 1976. It was once dubbed
as the capital city of South Vietnam.
The city represents the modern features of Vietnam. Most of the tourists flock here
to capture and experience the old and contemporary highlights of the county. The
city is dotted with centuries-old pagodas, towering skyscrapers, shopping
malls, tea & coffee shops, and entertainment hubs. It exhibits a fusion of French, American, and Chinese influences, endowing it with
great architectural wonders and attractions.
Ho Chi Minh City is an idyllic
destination for different kinds of travelers. Exploring the city can be done by
foot, motor, or vehicle transportation. Attractions vary from historical to
cultural treasures of the city to modern and urbanized leisure spots. Some of
the must see places in the city include: War
Remnants Museum, Thien Hau Temple,
and Cholon. All of these places symbolize
the diversity of the city.
War Remnants Museum
The War Remnants Museum is one
of the most popular destinations in the city. This museum houses the story
behind the historic Vietnam War.
Every visitor will be taken back to the past and have a glimpse of what had
happened during the war. Built in 1975, this museum is of the city’s symbols
and representations of its past.
Thien Hau Temple
The Thien Hau Temple is a Chinese-style
temple built by the Chinese community
in 1760. This centuries-old temple is located in the Chinatown district of Ho Chi Minh City. The temple is named
after Thien Hau, known as the country’s
Lady of the Sea. The temple’s exterior comprises of porcelain figurines, Chinese lanterns and wooden carvings.
Inside
the temple is a magnificent roof decorated by Chinese-inspired porcelain dioramas. The altar is dominated by an image
and figure of Thien Hau.
Cholon (Chinatown)
Cholon is the largest
Chinatown market in Ho Chi Minh City.
It has become one of the most significant landmarks of the city, showcasing its
notable history that started centuries ago. Binh Tay, which is the central market in
Cholon, offers an assortment of Vietnamese
and Chinese products such as food,
souvenirs, clothing, and daily necessities. Most of the tourists that visit the
city find time to visit this place despite the busy surroundings of the place.
Ho Chi Minh City is a year-round destination.
Take time to explore the astonishing wonders of this city that overflows with
life, culture, and contrast.
*******
For travel inquiries and bookings, call our U.S. toll-free number at 1-866-2-MANILA (1-866-2- 626452)or (02) 893-0002 if you’re in Manila. Visit www.mangotours.com for more amazing travel deals.
There
is always hesitance in the eve of departures. In the mind of a traveler are
things that could have been forgotten: a wad of cash, cameras, chargers, toiletries, and other
necessities. Knowing that you are in for a long trip means that missing out the
“necessities” will make the journey uncomfortable, irritating even. But to the
road-ready bon voyeurs out there, a good playlist is all you need to fill in
the time that stretches across the road, sea, and air. There are songs that turn the act of traveling into a symphony of observations and epiphanies.
This is the journey of a playlist.
Last check-up
for things forgotten--check. Speak of Banaue and a mental image of the Rice
Terraces in all its thousand peso bill-glory will come out flashing. There are
also pictures in text books and those handy school posters of this “8th
Wonder of The World” lodged in our subconscious. Getting there is a different
order. For the long and winding road is waiting. For starters, all buses from
Manila depart to the mountainous province of Ifugao at night so there’s a
sleepy hint in the eyes of fellow passengers. They are ready to hibernate; it
is a 7-8 hour journey after all. As the conductor takes a final look at the filled
seats and settled down riders, the gears shift and the tires become the needle
that will play on the vinyl groove road to Banaue:
Magda-drive ako hanggang Baguio
Magda-drive ako hanggang Bicol
Magda-drive ako hanggang Batangas
Tapos magsi-swimming dun sa beach
Overdrive
The Eraserheads
It is a really long journey. Passing by the provinces of
Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, and Nueva Viscaya is already a trip in itself. Roads lit
orange by the lampposts, sleepy roadside houses, peddlers and bystanders,
24-hour quick hunger fix shops, and the occasional check points will greet and
become familiar to you. Not unless you’re interested in diverting your
attention with the on-board movie that’s showing, then dozing off is the next
feature film for you. But to the awake-in-transit crowd, the bus, running at
around 80 to 100 KPH suddenly speeds off in semi-slow motion and the details of
the night come into play:
And as
we’re crossing border after border
We
realize that difference is none
Through
the Roof ‘n’ Underground
Gogol
Bordello
The last
stopover is an ominous sign of things to come. The air that’ll find its way to
your mouth and lungs is as cool as an Eskimo grinding on iced rails. You
realize that you’re getting higher and higher--not through the use of illegal
substances though--and the mountains are getting closer. From afar, the sight
of these mountains can enthrall us; make us feel small, irrelevant even. But
there is a thrill to this, to conquer a piece of rock with a bevy of life in
it. What's even better is communing with it:
I want
to feel sunlight on my face
See the
dust cloud disappear without a trace
I want
to take shelter from the poison rain
Where the
streets have no name.
Where
The Streets Have No Name
U2
You can feel the popping sensation in your ears. They’re
adjusting to the altitude. The turns and twists on the road are becoming
regular. You’re in the mountains where the streets blur with excitement. By the
time you arrive in the slopes of Ifugao, there is no turning back. The
sentimental string to the city that you’ve left spinning along the way spans
348 kms. After stretching your legs, you step out of the bus and make your first
physical contact with Banaue. You are on the mountain, the mountain in you:
You’re
ever welcome with me any time you like,
Let’s
drive to the country side, leave behind some green-eyed look-a-likes.
So
no one gets worried, no.
So
no one gets worried, no.
Blue Ridge Mountains
Fleet
Foxes
There’ll
be more songs, thoughts, and pictures in the next installment of the Traveler’s
Playlist. Want to head over to Banaue yourself? Please check out our Banaue package by clicking the widget below.
All photos by Mango Tours
For
more information, please call our 24/7 US TOLL-FREE number at 1-866-2-MANILA or
visit www.mangotours.com for more of our affordable travel deals.
