Manila Diary 3

Finally Sunday is here !

I have planned a trip with a driver to the World’s Lowest Volcano at Taal Lake, about 2 hours journey by car from Manila. Departed in the morning and started to see the different face of Philippines after leaving Manila. The street scene back to poor but busy with activities.

We reached Tagaytay city and from here went to some view points of the lake. Unfortunately the weather was too hazy, the volcano can hardly be seen. Due to the hilly area the weather is not so harsh as in Manila and of course more green here.

Hang around there for the whole morning and headed back to Manila in the afternoon. We drove through the massy and crowded China Town. Shops closed on Sunday and I was Surprised to found some familiar scene from Hong Kong where they hang the Chinese written sign boards exactly like in HK.

After that we dropped by Intramuros, the Spanish fort with some preserved old churches to have some photos.



I was lucky to meet few wedding couples having their life time event in 2 of the famous churches, San Agustin Church and Plaza de Roma, the Manila Cathedral.




For sure I did not let go this opportunity to shot their wedding ceremony. Having their wedding witness by these heritage churches is the dream of all couples !




After Intramuros, the driver dropped his family at the Makati area, another big city in the metropolitan of Manila. This area is where all the high rise buildings are and is the richest business district in metro Manila. Makati city reminds me of Singapore’s Raffles Place. It’s clean and organized. There are many other areas in this district to be developed to some upper class business and residential area.


The economy is booming in these areas but there are still a lot of poor people living alongside the polluted river at the suburb. That’s a very huge contrast.