039 First Day in Manila
School of Jeepnys
An uneventful flight, a night at the so-so Manila Airport Hotel. We did get the bikes and bags together then early the next morning we set of into traffic. The thrill a minute here is called Jeepny. Behemoth beast left over from the war and it’s aftermath. Some perhaps when the US Navy Base at Subic Bay was closed. Today they ply the streets like sharks trolling for a feast. They run in huge schools, in the lane nearest the curb and compete with cyclists and anything else that might get between them and a passenger.
Cat on Manila Promenade
We found a brief respite by riding along the 2 miles or so of the sea front promenade. The US Embassy and city center are at it’s end. Tried to get a picture but the hired guards swarmed us saying, “No photos Sir!” We explaind that we just wanted a picture of our bikes at our Embassy. They were insistant. Turning inward we began a difficult, almost futile search for a hotel that would accomodate our bicycles.
Try the Pension Natividad:
M.H. Del Pilar
Manila, NCR 1004 MANILA, Philippines
Only a few blocks from the embassy … basic, inexpensive, comfortable hostel (has dorm and private rooms with fan or a/c) within a shady, secure, gated courtyard … used by Peace Corps for its volunteers.
Thanks Case, good news for the next traveler. We had difficulty finding a place with storage for the bikes.
Pat & Cat Patterson
Ive been on an airplain before when i was little but is going on airplanes fun or do you get sick? Im wondering about that because i havent been on one in a long time.
Aub
Flying is good because you go a long distance in a short time. We don’t get sick but we do get sick of being n the airplane for a long time. It took 15 hours on the airplane to get to Taiwan.
Love Papa & Catherine