Day 1 - Intramuros (San Agustin Church, Manila Cathedral, Fort Santiago) , Mall of Asia, SM By The Bay
We took the LRT to the Central Terminal Station. Intramuros is about 1 km away from the station, which involves going through the underpass to cross the main road. After the underpass, walk along the road and you will arrive at Intramuros. First shop you would see is a McD restaurant.
It is encouraged to visit the place in the morning, before noontime. Don't be bothered by the pushy tricyclists if you are determined to walk. Every tourist spot in Intramuros is easily accessible on foot and close to one another. However if you wish, a tricycle would help save time (they would stop at the attractions and wait for you) and is cheaper than renting a horse carriage.
From this direction, the nearest attraction to you would be the San Agustin Church, or the Church of Saint Paul, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The church, more than 5 centuries old, is the oldest church in the Philippines. Survived from multiple destruction and rebuilt for four times. The last time it took a damage was during the Battle of Manila in 1945, and repaired thereafter.
We were not allowed to enter the church due to the matrimonial ceremonies held back-to-back on that Sunday.
A few blocks down the road is the Manila Cathedral.
Manila Cathedral is one of the oldest churches in the Philippines. Took numerous hits from natural disasters (earthquakes and typhoons) which are common in the Philippines, and was completely destroyed during the Battle of Manila. The cathedral was rebuilt in 1958.
We visited Fort Santiago afterwards. They charge an entrance fee of PHP 70/pax. There is a tourist center where you can watch an introduction video on Intramuros and get free maps of Manila.
José Rizal was imprisoned at Fort Santiago before his execution. You could pay a visit to Rizal Shrine which is in the same area.
Afterwards, we took a cab to Mall of Asia for PHP 300. Quite pricey as it was not charged based on meter but dividing among the 5 of us (yes, 5) the price was still acceptable. The car ride was about 10 minutes. Spotting the mall was effortless. The gigantic globe standing in front of MOA was hard to miss.
The first thing we did was eat. Sizzlin' Steak was located at the side of the Mall of Asia, alongside many other food outlets. You can choose to dine alfresco but the climate was too warm for us to do so. Their menu was ala Pepper Lunch, with steaks and rice served on a sizzling hot plate.
Husband and I ordered the set for two at PHP 499. We got to choose two main courses and soups, and got two iced lemon tea. I had the burger steak. The difference between the set's main course from ala carte's was that no grilled vegetables were provided as the side, just some sad corn off the cob with shallots.
The food was good but the portion was huge. It was one of the best meals I had in the Philippines.
After a short walk about the mall, we proceeded to SM By the Bay, linked to the mall by an overhead pedestrian bridge. As it was a weekend the crowd was overwhelming. Nearing sunset, we took a ride on the MOA Eye, which charged PHP 150/pax (adult). The whole ride lasted around 8 minutes. It was however, not suitable for photographing as the outside of the compartment was not clean, traces of dust were spotted instead.
The place was breezy. The top of the seawall was fully seated by people who wished to enjoy the sunset. Many spectators were standing and we too stood up a few times attempting to take photos. There were policemen guarding the area and we were asked to sit down for our own safety.
Come on a weekday, then the place might not be as crowded. Shopping at the mall may be a breezier experience. Although the sun was obscured, our day ended with this gorgeous view of flame red clouds.
See my travelogue in the Philippines:
Manila Day 2Boracay Day 4 to 7
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