Manila is like a small New York. Nothing works, and everybody's out to get the better of you.
[Brigitte Nielsen]
We had a 10 hour layover in Manila on our way to Sydney, and wanted to have get a quick impression of the city. Manila was crazy, slummy, noisy, yet also exciting, but parts of the travel crew was very happy that we were only to spend an afternoon there! Troels had suggested going to the very central part within the old walls (intramuros), and after a taxi ride through the dense traffic, we got to the central Casa Manila. We had a late (and dodgy according to Tina) meal there, and looked around the colonial style.
The mood rose with some food, and also when Troels returned from an expedition with a bamboo bike that we could use for transportation. Off we went to see the local fort and cathedral along with lots of cats, dogs, and chickens roaming the streets. However, in the end, one of us got "slummofobia", and we therefore changed to another (more wealthy) approach. Thus, dinner was consumed at the fasionable old colonial Hotel Manila to the sound of a live band playing classical music in a huge hall, which was quite the contrast to the day in the streets.
After dinner we took a taxi back to the airport thereby ending our Manila adventure. It was a bit of a long wait at the airport in the late evening followed by a stressful boarding where all our 7 bags had to be checked thoroughly for food (and other things?) before getting on the plain to Sydney. However, the kids handled it so well, and has been so great travelers during the long (and cold!) flight to reach our destination, Sydney.