Manila is a sea port town that is also the capital of the Philippines. It is actually made up of 12 cities and 5 municipalities but is collectively called Manila. For the time being, until their Government deals with pollution and traffic, Manila is a rest over stop of one or two days for people beginning or ending other trips. The people of Manila are extremely friendly and there can be found an interesting night life and some very exciting shopping.

Since Manila is actually several towns, it is best to think of Manila as a group of areas. There is no real center to Manila but there are fun things to do and historic places to see in all of the many areas of the city. Old manila seems very Latin American looking and has many churches. This is probably due to the fact that the Spaniards founded that region in 1571. In fact, Spanish was the language of the area until the 1950’s. This part of the city, called the Intramuros has a great many forts and churches as well as other Latin American structures. Before the Spanish inhabited the area, it was populated and ruled by Buddhists and Hindu authority. The land has also been inhabited by Japanese, Chinese and Arabs.

With such a diverse history, there are some fascinating stories told not only in the tour buildings themselves but among the local people. Some of the best stories can come from the locals. Some of the areas which may be of interest are Paco, in which lies the very nice but very mysterious octagon cemetery. Visiting the Port at sunset may provide one of the most breathtaking and picture perfect sunsets ever witnessed. Malate is the center of Bohemian nightlife. Ermita also offers nightlife entertainment.

Transportation in, out and around Manila include plane where tickets to Manila are priced very well, boat, taxi, rented car, and bus. Since the area is so vast, it may be a good idea to get somewhat acquainted with some of the public transportation. If not comfortable with bus, a taxi may be more acceptable. Since the area and the land mass of Manila is so big, planning a day or half day in each area may be wise.

More things to see include Rizal Park, also called the Luneta. This area is known for its restaurants, theater and museums. Manila also has one of the largest Chinatown’s in the world which is always enjoyed.

With such a diverse history, needless to say there are a wide variety of museums, buildings, attractions and even foods to be enjoyed while in Manila. Airfare to Manila is very reasonable and very well could be much more than it is, but there is still a lot to enjoy about the area. Those who have taken advantage of all Manila has to offer have not been disappointed. The people in Manila are a joy to speak with and most of them do speak English. It is possible to still find some that speak Spanish and English.