Asia was always on our radar as a place for holidays after I met a Thai lady in Los Angeles and was introduced to the fabulous opportunities that Thailand had to offer for holidaymakers.
First Stop: Exploring Bangkok and Isaan
My first trip there was to the historical capital of Bangkok, one of the most visited cities in the world after Paris and London and it didn’t disappoint. We could only scratch the surface on our first visit back to my wife’s homeland but I was so impressed with the standards of hotel accommodation and cuisine.
A trip to her family home in the northeast of the country – known as Isaan – was in sharp contrast, but the people were so friendly and welcoming that perhaps we will build a property and live there one day.
Southeast Asia’s Growing Popularity
Pre-pandemic nearly 40 million people visited Thailand and that figure is now within reach again as the world spends its accumulated savings on travel.
We are no different and that first trip to Asia for me has inspired us to visit other places in the region. Second stop was the World Heritage site that is Georgetown, Penang in Malaysia. More low key than Bangkok this was also an incredible destination, especially for the food and architecture!
Manila: A New Adventure Begins
Then last year we visited Manila, the capital of the Philippines. My first reaction was how many of the female population looked so similar to my Thai lady. Just not so beautiful of course….
My second reaction was “Wow!” to our chosen hotel, the Accor manila. It is an award winning hotel for its fabulous Filipino-Spanish architecture and design. Nestled in the area of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport it is near to the World Trade Center, PICC and SMX convention centers and the national museum.
We used it as our base to explore the city – often by the local mode of transportation the ubiquitous jeepney that had always been one of my bucket list items.
So much so that I thought a top ten list of places to visit in Manila was in order:
- First is the historic walled city of Intramuros including colonial architecture and Fort Santiago.
- Then the gardens of Rizal Park that honours national hero Jose Rizal.
- The nearby National Museum Complex gave us an insight into the country’s history, fine arts and anthropology.
- Binondo, the world’s oldest Chinatown, was a culinary delight and the Manila Ocean Park was an interactive experience for the children.
- Ayala Museum in Makati contains a rich collection of artefacts, my own preference. Nearby SM Mall was a shopping paradise for the wife and fun for the kids.
- The baroque San Agustin Church, a UNESCO site, is the oldest stone church in the country.
- The Cultural Center of the Philippines gave us a window into the Filipino performing arts while Tagaytay, just a short drive away, offered stunning views of Taal volcano and Lake.
Manila is a great place to visit and few travel restrictions are in place making it a great destination.
jopetsy, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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