April 24, 25, 2015, Tuesday, Wednesday, Manila, Philipines

April 24, Tuesday, was a sea day.  We crossed the South China Sea

Cooking demonstration by the guest chef (in the background).  David whisked the sauce.  He used his whole body.

April 25, Wednesday, Manila

Before our departure on our Old and New Manila tour, a large group of Dept of Tourism dancers and musicians greeted us on the shore with bright music and even brighter and colorful traditional costumes.  

Stilts and pan pipes at the gangway

Dancers and giants

A very lovely Philipino lady.

The central instrument was zylophone.  Traditional ones on a stand, small pan flutes and very large pan flutes made from bamboo.  Drummers, stilt walkers, and larger than life figures as well as dancers  with  feathers kept dancing for over an hour.

Decorations for a parade tomorrow honoring the 100th anniversary of Anzac.

It was hot and humid in Manila and the city is full of people getting ready for the commemoration, so we encountered traffic jams.

Jeepney used as an on - off bus.

People's Power revolution statue commemorating peaceful overthrow of Ferdinand Marcos

This is the moving Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, the world's largest WWII burial ground with 17,000 soldiers buried here, built and maintained by USA.

We went to the heart of the city to La Loma marketplace, displaying lechon, a Phillipino specialty.

Lechon cooking over a huge open barbecue.  It smelled very good, but there were no free samples.  One medium sized pig sells for about $150.00.

Then we went to the Chinese cemetery where the tombs look like homes, complete with running water and air conditioning.

In the clay pot they burn money.

A very simple Chinese grave.

Sometimes the families stay for the weekend.

This was a comfort stop, but the restrooms didn't flush.  Nor did they at the next stop.

Then we had lunch at Barbara's, right by the rest of the attractions.  The restroom was very busy.  They had a Mexican style  band and a Phillipino buffet.  The dessert was a big tall cake like mound of egg whites topped with a sugary crust like on creme brulee. Someone said it was wedding cake.  At the cathedral nearby a beautiful wedding was taking place.

Flower and vegetable market

Casa Manila, a replica of a lavish Spanish colonial house, built by Imelda Marcos, was after lunch, but we were not allowed photos.  It was a mansion with huge rooms and large furniture, but dark.  

Another wedding party was in the courtyard below.

After the ceremony.  This was in front of  and the San Agustin stone church constructed in 1606 

Fort Santiago.  The national hero Dr. Jose Rizal was imprisoned here for anti-colonial writings.  

Entrance to fort, the walled enclave of Intramuros

Rizal's footprints going to his execution

A sculpture garden depicting the moment of execution of Dr. Rizal  

The park outside the execution display which is a common gathering site for Manilans

MacArthur and Phillipino President in a park near the Intramuros

Part of the fort. 

We walked the wall which overlooked a river.  The river was dirty and smelled.  At a bridge, the waters came together with Manila Bay

Sunset over Manila Bay from the dining room of our ship.

We finally visited a street market.  But it was really just one store near all these other attractions.   We bought two necklaces and two tropical fish magnets for $9.50.  I also bought two nice tops and for me a nightgown at the booths on the pier.  The poor merchants were on the other side of the entertainment and it was hard to get to them.  People didn't try to make there way there after a long day in the heat, so I got a good bargain.

Everyone was exhausted after this 8 hour day, mostly in a bus because, in spite of it being a Saturday weekend day, the traffic was terrible.  Our guide was very knowledgeable about Phillipino history and kept us informed.  She told a lot of jokes. 

There was a Lifeboat full of one women and four men.  The woman said three men had to leave.

The American said I fought for the Phillipines and I am old and not afraid to die and jumped in.

The Japanese said I fought for the Phillipines and I am old and not afraid to die and am a Samurai and sacrifice myself.

The Phillipino said,  I fought for the Phillipines in WW II also, then he jumped up and threw the Chinese man into the sea.

She also told us that there are many rules such as wearing a helmet when riding a motorcycle, and regular traffic rules.  But you don't have to follow these rules unless you see a policeman.

I expected something different from Manila.  For me it was a little run down, and the sights they showed us were grim.  I have never seen such attention to detail and a display like this for the execution of someone.  I have always seen Philipino people as happy, friendly, smiling, agreeable, and eager to please, as we saw with the performing groups greeting the ship.

This is the first time I did not notice congestion.  I have been having trouble since Africa, really.  The air was the worst in India.  It must have been bad in Singapore also, because I even went to the Medical center.  Many others on the cruise were hacking and coughing as well, some even on antibiotics.  It seems to be better now.  In retrospect, it could also be allergies to the Spring flowers and pollen  in the air.