Manila Oozes With Life

Advantages: Vibrant. Warm.hospitable people. Cheap
Disadvantages: Considerable poverty

...I have been to Manila four times and I like the city. More specifically I like the Fillipinos who are warm and friendly,very hospitable and have a thoroughly infectious love of life. They have been described as the Latin Americans of South East Asia and most certainly they are markedly different from Malays,Thais,Vietnamese or Indonesians. Manila,the capital and chief city of the Philippines is also very much the artistic and commercial capital. It is located in Central Luzon Island and enjoys good air communications with the US, Europe, Australia and regional centres in Asia. Night life is alive and well in Manila and it is comparatively cheap; much cheaper,for example,than Singapore, Kuala Lumpur or Hong Kong.The favourite beer in town in San Miguel which is owned by a company based in the Philippines. Makati is...

ashford 24.10.2001 · Read review
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Review of The Philippines - Manila

Manila - capital experience

Advantages: Friendlyness and that unusual twist on life
Disadvantages: Not on the standard "around the world" stops

...The Philippines are not always the first place you think of visiting when planning your Aisan holiday, but for many travellers it can be an excellent idea. The Philippines have a long and turbulent history, but they are now heavily influenced by a mixture of Asia and America. The Philippinos are able to take the normal and add their own little twist to it. Thus they have massive shopping malls (try the mega mall), but hold church services there every Sunday, and one includes a very popular ice skating rink (in 30 degree heat). Their national sport if basketball (the average height of a Filipino if 5 foot 2 inches). Go and see the basketball and the movies and experience the joy and excitement that a Filipino finds from life. Finally their ketchup is made from banannas but is still red! To add to it's other advantages it is not...

SuperBright 12.08.2000 · Read review
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Review of The Philippines - Manila

MANILA PAVILION - A Place for Casino Lovers

Advantages: It has a Casino and also near Manila attractions
Disadvantages: The location is not very nice

...topped with butter and grated cheese and with a variety of fillings to choose from. Pavilion is located in a very crowded and busy area in the City of Manila which is not very pleasing to the eyes. But if you really want to get the pulse of Manila, then it is a good starting point. It is a few meters walk to the highway but there are a lot of passenger jeepneys, a very popular mode of transportation in the Philippines, that pass by the hotel. Taxis are also everywhere and are relatively cheap and convenient. Many fast food restaurants surround the hotel so you can simply drop by at any of them. At one time, I just bought some takeout pizza, spaghetti and chicken from Shakey?s for our dinner. Robinson?s Mall is also a mere walking distance. I bought some chips, soda and cookies there for the kids since I didn?t want them to touch the mini...

24kgold 11.09.2009 · Read review
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Review of Manila Pavilion Hotel and Casino, Manila

THE PRIDE OF THE PHILIPPINES

Advantages: Modern facilities and clean environment
Disadvantages: Sometimes chaotic atmosphere due to voluminous arrivals especially during the holiday season

...Formerly Manila International Airport and renamed to NAIA (Ninoy Aquino International Airport) in honor of the Philippine hero in modern times. Located at the southern part of Metro Manila, NAIA serves as the main artery of air travel in the country, that includes the adjacent Manila domestic airport. The hospitality and accommodating attitude of airport personnel never fail to amaze arriving tourists. Even newcomers with no contacts can easily get to their place of destination by seeking assistance from the concierge, also known as Information Counter. Classy dining is one of the cheapest in the world that will surely be appreciated by weary travellers. The new buildings boast of modern facilities, from monitors to clean restrooms, wide aisles and free use of carts. Uniformed porters are friendly and render their services...

Xelavie 31.05.2001 · Read review
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Review of Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Metro Manila Philippines (NAIA)

Cultures, a country that is so different.

Advantages: The people are one of the friendliest in the world
Disadvantages: The long flight to get their 16-20 hours from London

...On first arrival in the Philippines. You will most likely enter via NAIA, Ninoy Aquino International Airport, (Manila international airport). The first thing that you will notice is there is a group of three men with instruments welcoming you. Not suprising considering that music and singing is so much the part of filipino life. The customs area can be very busy at times, but is always in constant movement, it may take about an hour to get through customs, but then it does in most busy airports now. The filipinos make it easy for people to get around and find your destination with ease, as there are so many staff waitng to help you. nothing is to much for them, they will do all they can to help you. Just make sure that you approch someone that is wearing a name badge and who works at the airport. if you know where you are going...

lordmatthews 05.04.2006 (06.04.2006) · Read review
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Review of The Philippines - Manila

Manila Ocean Park - my wonderful oceanarium experience

Advantages: eye candy
Disadvantages: you can't bring a camera with flash inside the oceanarium - it will scare the fishes away!

...Manila Ocean Park (MOP) is a state-of-the-art oceanarium, open water marine habitat, boutique mall, hotel, restaurant row and function facilities all located in one complex. It is located at the back of Quirino Grandstand and near Rizal Park - the most historic place in the Philippines. It is strategically located in Manila Bay - the perfect place in the Philippines for the most romantic sunset. It is just around 30 minutes away from Ninoy Aquino International Airport. It is owned by China Oceanis Philippines Inc., which also owns the Ocean Park Hong Kong. MOP's oceanarium had its soft opening on March 01, 2008. Soon to open are the marine-themed mall and the H20 hotel, theme park, outdoor pools and restaurants. Because of it's many features aside from the oceanarium itself, it is larger than the Sentosa Underwater World...

hyaeth 29.09.2009 · Read review
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Review of Manila Ocean Park, Manila

bit of a shambles really

Advantages: er...some locals can have a job
Disadvantages: corruption, corruption and more corruption

...Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) was moved to its current site, about 7km south of the country's capital city Manila & southwest of Makati City (now the Central Business District and our second home) in 1948. The original airport serving Manila was opened in 1937 and was in what is now Makati City. Unfortunately as with all other "systems" in the Philippines, it just about works in a completely f***** way (sorry for the strong language but there are no other words strong enough to describe the poor state that it is in). Nonoy Aquino (NAIA) was originally called Manila International Airport, but was renamed after the EDSA Revolution (People Power Revolution) in 1986 which led to the down fall of Ferdinand Marcos - I am sure that if you don't know about Marcos' regime you will know of his wife Emelda, who was famous for her...

tazzywazzy 26.04.2006 · Read review
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Review of Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Metro Manila Philippines (NAIA)

A Capital Airport?

Advantages: Gateway to the Phillipine islands, clear direction signs
Disadvantages: Long check in times, security hassles, poor facilities

...I was told that one of the first ways to know you are nearing Manila Airport or to give it its proper name Ninoy Aquino International Airport ( Code MNL) was to look at the sea and watch for the change of colour from a brilliant blue to a dark brown. Unfortunately, that indeed was one indicator I did notice as the coast became nearer. Once the plane got lower my immediate impression was that the airport was actually very close to built up areas but in some ways this proved to be an illusion as the majority of places people will want to go to are still over 10k away. On landing, I was struck by how quiet the airport was, there were relatively few planes docked at the piers and only one other plane taxi-ing to the runway, this was about 4pm on a Friday afternoon. Leaving the plane was quick and I was glad to see relatively clear...

ultras67 11.06.2004 · Read review
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Review of Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Metro Manila Philippines (NAIA)

Manila, Luzon island - The Capital

Advantages: shopping, night life
Disadvantages: polluted,

...Manila, a city full of contrasts, from the rich beautiful buildings of its colonial past to the present day corrugated roofed patched wooden dwellings. Where child beggars turn up their dirty palms to shiny black Mercedes benz cars waiting at the traffic lights.Where it takes six months to get a phone line but one day to make a best friend. This is Manila, the capital city of the Philippines located on the island of Luzon. No review of Manila is complete without mention of Manila's traffic jams. If you think you have seen the worst of jams, visit Manila and you will change your mind. The city has had to come up with ingenious ways of reducing traffic, including barring odd and even numbered registered vehicles from entering the city on different days of the week. So, if your car registration began with a '6' for instance...

willow 21.03.2001 · Read review
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Review of General: Luzon (The Philippines)

Mindanao, The Philippines - some helpful hints

Advantages: friendly people
Disadvantages: dirty

...Mindanao Island in the Philippines is home to the third largest city in the country, Davao. It is also the home to the Moro Liberation Front and other less well-known terrorist groups which seem to have made Mindanao famous for. At least they have managed to bring the world's attention to this forgotten place, which is more than I can say for the Philippine Tourist Authority or media guys in Manila. Mindanao suffers from bad publicity to the extent that even most people in Manila believe the constant media hype about the kidnappings and bombs. Let me tell you that I have been to Mindanao more than a few times now, travelling to at least four different cities and not encountered so much as a hold up at the supermarket queue let alone being in danger of being blown up. Most of Mindanao is quite safe to visit, with the possible...

willow 21.03.2001 · Read review
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Review of General : Mindanao (The Philippines)