3rd Apr 18 - Manila, Philippines
Unfortunately we couldn't get to Boracay Island as it had been 'Closed for Environmental Reasons'. So we had an extra day in Manila.
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Names of 38,000 who died in the WW11 campaigns against the Japanese, inscribed on the walls.. Plus a further 17,000 gravestones |
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The American Cemetery was beautifully maintained. The backdrop of the 'New' Manila was striking. |
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Manila Cathedral dating back to 1581. Rebuilt 7 times since. In particular after WW11 when it was pretty much totally destroyed. |
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The Chinese Cemetery. Each tomb was more like a house. Whole families were buried there and the relatives would spend the day there. Almost like a 'holiday home'! |
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Chinese Temple at the Cemetery |
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Putting out the washing... |
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Pretty little girl at Rizal Park |
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Dr Jose Rizal faces the Execution Firing Squad in 1898. A penalty for his inflammatory anti-colonial writings. |
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Fort Santiago within Intramuros - the oldest district of Manila. Prisoners were held and tortured here throughout Manila's history. None more so than by the Japanese at the end of WW11. |
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San Augusta Church - a UNESCO World Heritage site. Built in 1606. Famous for its Baroque altar. I liked the rooms of floor to ceiling tombs. |
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Another church. Note streets and the many Jeepneys. These were old Jeeps left by the Americans after WW11. Now converted into buses. There were thousands of them everywhere. |
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The usual warm welcome wherever we went. |
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One whole street seemed to be devoted to BBQed suckling pigs... |
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Flower market |