Interesting things in Manila and Singapore?

Tiglath

Ooh thanks for the tip - yes I'm flying with Singapore Airlines so that's good to know.

dickydonkin

Voyager2002 wrote: »

Manila is not a place to visit for pleasure

Why?

It may not be for you, but it may be for others - let them judge.

I find more pleasure seeking out the culture and mingling with the locals rather than getting fleeced at sanitised resorts.

I had a visit to Manila in January and enjoyed visiting areas that are not usually on the tourists radar.

Each to their own I suppose, and that is why I never make generalised statements to others about places not to visit because I don't personally like them as others may (and very likely will) have a different perspective.

I personally don't care much for Singapore, but previous posters like the place - we are all different and each to their own I always say.

bigadaj

Many people visit the Philippines purely for pleasure, including Manila.

dondo

Tiglath wrote: »

Ooh thanks for the tip - yes I'm flying with Singapore Airlines so that's good to know.

Great airline- your boarding pass gets you discounts in quite a few places so worth having with you when you are out and about

HoofeHearted

We did the Singapore Flyer. Great views from the top.
http://www.singaporeflyer.com/

pendragon_arther

dickydonkin wrote: »

Why?

It may not be for you, but it may be for others - let them judge.

I find more pleasure seeking out the culture and mingling with the locals rather than getting fleeced at sanitised resorts.

I had a visit to Manila in January and enjoyed visiting areas that are not usually on the tourists radar.

Each to their own I suppose, and that is why I never make generalised statements to others about places not to visit because I don't personally like them as others may (and very likely will) have a different perspective.

I personally don't care much for Singapore, but previous posters like the place - we are all different and each to their own I always say.

I personally wouldn't recommend the Philippines to anyone having lived there for over a year hence my blog https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5935598358634659502#editor/target=post;postID=6697553100497305327;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=0;src=postname but each to their own as you say.

Voyager2002

dickydonkin wrote: »

Why?

It may not be for you, but it may be for others - let them judge.

I find more pleasure seeking out the culture and mingling with the locals rather than getting fleeced at sanitised resorts.

I had a visit to Manila in January and enjoyed visiting areas that are not usually on the tourists radar.

Each to their own I suppose, and that is why I never make generalised statements to others about places not to visit because I don't personally like them as others may (and very likely will) have a different perspective.

I personally don't care much for Singapore, but previous posters like the place - we are all different and each to their own I always say.

I lived in Manila for two years, and for various reasons have revisited since. So my experience was very much one of meeting local people and experiencing the "culture" (such as it is there) rather than visiting resorts. The over-riding sensation is of frustration from the constant traffic jams, pain from the choking air pollution, and annoyance at the loud disco-pop music from a hundred different and competing sources, each trying to drown out all the others.

The only way to protect yourself from most of these annoyances is to spend fairly substantial amounts of money in order to live in a way very different from most local people, which to me rather defeats the point of travel.

Another point: most people who choose to visit the Philippines do so in order to experience natural beauty, islands and snorkelling on coral reefs. Such people, like me, are likely to be particularly upset by the environmental nightmare that is Manila. The best advice to them is to spend as little time as possible there. It is unfortunate that tourist literature perpetuates the myth that the Manila experience is in any way a part of the visit to the Philippines that most tourists seek.

Tiglath

What kind of plug adapters am I likely to need?

eDicky

Tiglath wrote: »

What kind of plug adapters am I likely to need?

Singapore is unusual in having UK-style 3-pin power sockets as standard.

Philippines, I'm not certain but probably 2-pin round/flat. A simple adapter costs S$2 (£1) in Singapore if you're going there first.

nomadicmatt

For great views in Singapore head to the Pinnacle, a 50 storey public housing project. It's $5 to go to the top floor where you have fantastic views of the city and the port, plus a smug feeling knowing you didn't paying the higher fees as the Marina Bay

Someone else has already mentioned the Kranji War Memorial, very interesting and humbling experience.

A walking tour of China Town was a great way to spend 2 hours and $20, Google "The Original Singapore Walking Tour", rated top on Trip Advisor too.

Happy travels