Manilla - Philippines

Before I start, I like to state a point. I met and lived together with amazing people from the Philippines. Warm hearted, reliable and hardworking people. My intension with writing how I experienced Manila yesterday, has therefore nothing to do with the people I know, and others from there that I don`t know, but I have to be honest and say that this day made me very very sad.

The day before we arrived in the Philippines we were asked to hand in clothes we could give away, to the reception on the ship so it could passed  forward for those in need. We were also given a sheet with information, asked to be especially careful when ashore.

We arrived with the ship in the morning, and the closer we got, the more garbage we could see floating in the water. It might be connected to the horrible typhoon that hit the Philippines not too long ago.   Looking at Manila from the ship, I first thought it was fog, but no, it was smog, or pollution

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It was a very warm day, almost clear blue sky, but not clear sight. From the moment we left the ship, until the ship left the port, it was music and dancing welcoming us  the tourists. For hundreds of people working on the ship it was a big day. Many changed their duties for the day, to have this time off, and loaded with gifts they left to meet their children and other family members. Some for the first time in years.

 

We went on the shuttle bus, and after about 40 min we arrived at

Nice big, clean mall, who basically have the same shops like the rest of the malls in the world. In other words, not very interesting. At the entrance it was rolled out a red carpet, and we could just enter. That was not the case for the rest of the visitors, who had to go in through another entrance with a metal scan etc, quite similar to enter an airport. Outside the mall these guys were very present…

 

 

Anyway, we wanted to see more than the mall, so we decided to head for the zoo. I really wanted to take one of these taxi`s….

 

So I tried to ask one from the security how we could rent them, and his answer was to call the traffic police who insisted that we went with his friends private car (who anyhow had tried to sell us a tour for some time) and according to the police was very trustworthy, so no ride for us in these former US military jeeps.

At the zoo we could really meet the animals. The snake and the baby alligator was lying on the same table in the background, and Adam walked straight to the snake and touch the head. My heart almost stopped, but we later saw that the snake and alligators mouth was locked with tape, which is very sad, but I have to admit I was relieved…

Anyway, I truly prefer to see my family with horses, turtles and birds…

Better with two birds at your arms than…

 

The rest of the zoo, we soon discovered was a sad sight. Too small cages, skinny animals and dirt everywhere. We just could not stand it anymore, so we left back for the shuttle bus. The following pictures are taken from the window of the car, with a driver continuously asking us to be careful so nobody would jump and try to take the camera and iPad

Check the wires, an electrician’s nightmare.

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Not an easy life

When we got back to the mall, we were helped out from the car…

We went back to the port with the shuttle bus, and the music was still playing as it was when we left in the morning. A day full of contrasts between happy people and sad sights.