Lunch @ Intramuros - Coco Bango Cafe

Manila - After our 2 hours of calesa riding around the Intramuros, we are hungry and poped into a restaurant just opposite San Augustin Church.   The restaurant is a cafe of White Knight Hotel - must be a very small hotel.   It did not look obvious to me that it was a lodging location.  The cafe too has a strange name Coco Bango Cafe.

Chop Suey

It is an Anglicised version of chinese 'chap choy' - meaning mxed vegetgables.

Beef Caldereta

Beef Caldereta is a dish of Potato, Onions, Bell peppers and Beef Shank

Beef Stew

This beef stew dish is similiar to the above but includes Baguio Beans (also called french beans).

Calesa around Intramuros

Manila - Together with Albert, we took a calesa (horse drawn carriage used in Philippines) around Intramuros.

Albert and Lesley

Albert and I

Intramuros is the oldest district and historic core of Manila.  The walled part of Manila was called intramuros, which is Latin for "within the walls"; districts beyond the walls are known as extramuros meaning outside the walls.  Construction of the defensive walls was started by the Spaniards in the late 16th century to protect the city from foreign invasions.   Guarding the old city is Fortaiago wich is located at the mouth of the river.

Gallery of Philippines past and present presidents

General MacArthur Battle HQ

Entrance of General MacArthur HQ

Manila Hotel

Manila Hotel in the distance

Manila hotel is the oldest hotel in the Philippines and the most well known icon.

Baluarte De San Andres

Cannons lined in a semi-circle

Colegio de San Juan de Letran was founded in 1620 and is the 2nd oldest university in Philippines

Who came first? KFC?

Fort Santiago

Fort Santiago is one of the oldest Hispanic stone fortress in Philippines



Moat @ Fort Santiago

Manicured gardens within the Fort

Entrance to the Fort

Within the compound there is a the Rizal Shrine - he is Dr. Jose Rizal one of Philippines hero that was confined during his trial for sedition.   At this museum, memories and poems of Rizal can be viewed; unfortunately no photos can be taken.

This cross was a reminder of 600 Filipinos found dead inside one of the Fort Santiago dungeons killed and tortured by the Japanese during the Second World War.

Sentry Post along the wall of the Fort

walking along the wall of the Fort

CASA Manila

Manila - Casa Manila is worth a visit when you are touring the Intramuros area. The entrance ticket is very reasonable and you can walk around the house and enjoy the antique furnishings and architecture.

Courtyard of this house

Unfortunately, no photographs were allowed inside the house - security guards tightly watched the tourist.

The whole tour took less than an hour to complete.

San Agustin Church @ Intramuros - UNESCO World Heritage Site

Manila - We had time in the morning and Albert decided to accompany us to see one of Philippines UNESCO treasure here in Manila.   It is the San Agustin Church @ Intramuros. 

San Agustin Church originally known as "inglesia de San Pablo", founded in 1571 is the oldest stone church (built in 1589) in the Philippines. It is a administered by the Order of Saint Agustine (Augustinian Friars).

Celebrating 440 years

Entrance of the San Agustin church

Ceiling of this beautiful church

The altar

Beautifully crafted ceiling

Albert and Lesley

This was worth the long taxi trip to visit this Church..

XO 45 Bistro Filipino restaurant

Manila - For lunch this restaurant is a short distance from my reseller office.   XO 47 Bistro Filippino is a spanish restaurant.  There are lots of good review of this restaurant.

Beef

Kare Kare

Kare Kare is a traditional Filipino stew complimented with a thick savoury peanut sauce.

Sago Gulaman

This is a refreshing Filipino drink which is made from sago pearls, grass jelly, crush ice and palm sugar (Gula Malacca).

Serviced Apartment in Manila

Manila -  The flight to Manila was a full but smooth and around 5:30pm.   I booked a 2 room serviced apartment with Lesley taking one of the room. 

The hotel is Somerset Millennium Makati and the apartment is huge and very nice for both of us.   It is so much cheaper than booking 2 hotel rooms in Makati.

My room

Living and dinning area

Lesley room

Kitchen

The only disadvantage is their wireless access - only one device can be connected to the access point at any one time.  So, I have to log off my iPhone to use my wireless on my notebook. 

Takeshita Street @ Harajuku

Takeshita Street - This street caught my attention because you will find many school children around this street as it's stores are famed for pop icons, cute and fun goods.  It is a short walk from Meiji Jingu.

At the junction of main road Omotesando, there is this shop...picture tells a bigger story.

At this junction, there is internet access.

After checking out @ 2pm, I hanker for Soba and was introduced to a small shop around the corner from the Villa Fontaine Hotel.

Ebi Tempura