Traveling TV

Or "Urban Wanderer TV"? Stream of consciousness entry of trying to find apt tile to a quote unquote Travel Show. Yes no approved title yet. Or what about The Ultimate Urban Guide? Haha .Obviously this writer has a block but this is one side project Im excited about! Soon!

(Taken at Oma Restaurant, Nailcrafts Salon. I wasn't able to take photos of the Roxas Boulevard, hangar, water yoga and helicopter tours! Hmpf! Will keep you posted the super soonest what happens next!)

Intramuros

Intramuros, also known as the "Walled City" is located along the southern bank of the Pasig River. It was built by the Spaniards in the 16th century and is the oldest district of the city of Manila, the capital of the Philippines. Its name, in Latin, intramuros, literally "within the walls", meaning within the wall enclosure of the city/fortress, also describes its structure as it is surrounded by thick, high walls and moats.

Today I was feeling kind of wistful about the city of Manila. I'm sure we all remember the time where we used to be required to read about Jose Rizal's works Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, which featured Intramuros quite prominently. During the Spanish era, Intramuros is known as Manila, the capital of the country itself. That explains the whole wall thing, of course to protect the capital of the country.

The walled city is like a silent witness to everything that's happened in the country. For sure when something changes or shakes the country, expect it to happen in Manila. Sometimes I wish to be transported back to a time where Intramuros is still where the powerful live, where Escolta is the coolest place to hang out for its shopping centers and Ermita is like the Forbes Park of society.

As of now, Intramuros is still considered fairly clean and safe because of important historical structures and landmarks within it like the San Agustin Church, Manila Cathedral, the places of knowledge like Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, the Lyceum of the Philippines, Mapua Institute of Technology, Fort Santiago, the DOLE and gardens and clubhouses like Casa Manila,  a golf course, and the like.

However because of the residential areas, the walled city is littered with garbage and general untidiness. But, we cannot do anything about it because some houses and residents have history there since Intramuros was built

However, should you want to visit Intramuros, don't hesitate. Experience history through the walls and through the landmarks within the walls. There are also still a lot of many different clean and well-maintained parks inside Intramuros. There's Baluarte, and Asian Garden near Mapua and the Lyceum of the Philippines. I hope to explore the other parks in Intramuros soon.

This is my entry to this month's PTB Blog Carnival with a theme of "Manila in Focus" hosted by Angel Juarez ofLakwatsero.com

To read more of the PTB Blog Carnival's past entries, clickhere.

Manila Cathedral

In another Intramuros trip, me and my two guy friends had a random walk in General Luna St. (near Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila and Department of Labor and Employment.)
We went straight ahead and passed by the National Commission of Culture and Arts, where I remembered watching films at during my college years.

Then we also passed by the San Agustin Church, which is a marvel on its own because of the cobblestone path which transports anyone to a time where the entire Intramuros is stilled ruled by the Spanish colonizers.
And then just a few walks more...we found it The Manila Cathedral.

The Manila Cathedral is a 400 year old structure which has been destroyed a number of times because of natural disasters. The current structure that we see now is completed in 1958. So different from the cathedral that was built way way back in 1581 which was made of only nipa and bamboo.

Fort Santiago

When I was young, Fort Santiago is always a part of out itinerary whenever we have field trips. I used to find it really really boring then. What's with a bunch of old walls? Why do we have to walk around it?
Then little by little through a lot of books, I have learned how it became a part of our history, because who we are as a nation is a part of who we are now.

And then when I hit college, my alma mater happened to be inside Intramuros, where Fort Santiago is located, which is Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila. I just loved the city more and more. Manila is a city of contrasts. Of love and hate. Of gentleness and brusque. Of clean and gritty. Of old and new. Of beautiful and ugly.

 

Manila Ocean Park - Glass Bottom Boat Ride

Our last gimmick at the Manila Ocean Park is the Glass Bottom Boat Ride which is called such because a portion of the boat is made of glass. The boat floats at a relatively small pool of water which is located above the underwater tunnel.

We were informed that it is 12 feet and that it is super super clear!

Other highlights were the swimming mermaids and diver feeding the fishies!!!

Manila Ocean Park - the journey

Once inside the Manila Ocean Park, one will be arrested by the different sights and experiences through the seven different highlights or rather "chambers" that the local Oceanarium has to offer.

The first highlight is called "Agos", where one will begin the journey with a jungle-like trek complete with manicured gardens, crocodiles and flora. We later discovered that most species in Agos are freshwater species like turtles, crocodiles and the like.
The second highlight called "Bahura" is an attack of the senses. From daylight greens of Agos, we entered the dark alleys highlighted by beautifully lit aquariums featuring intricate coral reefs. Our family got crazy taking photos of the cute and ultra colorful fishes!

Next stop was "Laot" which featured huge fish tanks with cutesy industrial stuff used as coral substitute. My cousins had a great time playing with it.

Let me continue the next journey with another post because the next chamber "Buhay na Karagatan" deserve a page of its own!

Manila Ocean Park