I arrived in Manila midnight Saturday, and realized that I didn't have plans for Sunday since the CRS office would be closed. I tried my best to see everything in the Lonely Planet book for what to do when you have a limited schedule in Manila!! I wanted to beat jet lag and homesickness by getting out and trying to keep busy. Also after the 12 hour flight followed by 5 hour flight, I was ready to get some exercise! Note, the pictures are a bit random, and i am not adding the correct names since I am rushing here at the airport. I am leaving for Tacloban today and won't have the best internet when on that island so most likely won't be able to blog. So here goes!!
Stop one: National Art Museum
Really cool building, old government building converted into gallery space. One gallery was all the ways artists paint- like this method- shot glasses as paint holders!
This artist donated his open air paint case he used up until '91.
Creepy face isn't it?!
Lots of these types of paintings/renditions of the Spanish colonizers arriving and Christianizing the islands. Apparently they eventually killed Magellan!
These pictures are for you dad- a four painting progression of medicine!
Cool painting of a lady
Ok this country has A LOT of cute babies---- soo many big cheeks!!!
Mom- took this photo for you- next inspiration- a series of pillars?
Old church piece
St. Francis statue from long time ago :)
Looking out the window: middle garden/meeting space
I am LOVING how cute all the Filipino couples are. In Uganda, people were afraid to really touch in public, well it just wasn't culturally the norm. Also, if you are married or in a relationship you don't really have fun together. Screw that- in this country its everywhere and it is really warming my heart! Didnt realize how much I missed it until I was struck by how much affection is here! All these couples were sharing shade umbrellas :)
Stop 2: Cultural Museum
View from cultural museum looking out at park
Japanese exhibit of clothes/human form
Great exhibit on Rice!
And the rituals behind it! Very interesting read, and perhaps important in the islands where CRS is working on agriculture!
Filipino Textiles exhibit
Note: Read this placard! Behind the textile exhibit were photos of Filipinos, black and white, in front of huts and stuff. Yes look- Photographs from the St. Louis World's Fair, 1904. We shipped like 1000 people over to be on exhibit as zoo-like spectacle in St. Louis. I remember learning about that at UD! Google it :(
Textiles continued with a weaving demonstration. Modern Filipino kids learn from the old lady :)
Check out these layers!!!
Exhibit on script- there are over 700 languages in the country! Thought this was a neat way to depict letters- they blacked out the windows and then carved the letters into the panes of glass.
Exhibit on Global Warming!!! It is really crazy, when you read the Lonely Planet guide here they rage against the country and the lack of care for its natural resources. Apparently they have pretty much killed all the coral reefs and are due to run out of a lot of resources at this rate. So, I was impressed at the exhibits educational efforts.
CHECK THIS PICTURE OUT OF CYCLONE PATHS!! umm its all black lol. Pretty Effective!! I'm in for some rain!!!
Walking up the stairs- the museum was 5 stories. This was one of the cool windows
Statue on national mall
Outside the national cultural museum.
This area was kinda like the National Mall in DC. On one end was the statue above, and the other end had a long reflecting pool and a stage where the President's are sworn in. They have an Orchidarium- but it was closed for renovation. There are tons of little parks built off the main park.
The book told me not to miss the "Raised Map" behind the statue of the Philippines and its 7,000 islands. Umm- its not just a raised map!! It was located in water! It was awesome!!
Decided to try "Happy Veggie" in Chinatown! Didn't disappoint!
view of chinatown street
Kids watching tv
Loved all these sidecar bikes!
Then I walked to one of the many fancy malls- this one was in Chinatown- where I spotted Krispy Kreme AND Starbucks. There are actually LOTS of starbucks here. And, they LOVE donuts- sugar is HUGE here! So I had a 3pm iced latte- when in rome?! :)
Then hopped back in a taxi (it cost like 4 bucks) To go to Intramuros (sp?) Park0 an old Spanish fort area which was largely destroyed in WW2 but has been recovered in spots. It's 4km of a town within old old walls
fountain near the Fort
pretty trees
with these great lanterns!
Outside historic walls the cultural performers practice for show later
view from wall of Fort Santiago overlooking one part of city
lookout!
looking down into old buildings
walking the historic wall
cool bird houses
horse and buggies everywhere!
cathedral in center of the walled town. closed for reno
fountain in front of cathedral
another old church, with a wedding!
one of the streets in walled town
wedding
There are these cars called Jeepneys here- they are hilarious and everywhere- main taxi!
do you see what I see? PAVED ROADS EVERYWHERE!!! LOVING IT!
back to the main park towards sunset. So many families out for picnics and fun
open air auditorium
kids practicing an act with top hats :)
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