Thinh Pham

Tag: Philippines

  • Pickpocket in Manila and how to deal with it

    Pickpocket in Manila and how to deal with it

    Though I had been warned strictly by three people that I should be careful with Manila pickpocket. it still happened. And how I was so anxious then the solved it well (I thought so).

    How Manila pickpocket happened

     My Manila pickpocket happened in a jeepney (not one in picture above)

    Manila is a wonderful historical city, and I did enjoy it. But my times was so short and I had to fly to next country. It was my last day in the capital. And I started early to visit the Ocean park. It’s really nice there with a lot of wonderful things to explore.

    When back to hostel, I took a jeepney as usual. I really loved this local transportation. But admittedly, three-day staying in Manila was impossible for me to get used to traveling around the city by jeepney.

    That’s why I had to look out of the windows (actually, there’s no window in a jeepney, it’s completely open) to find out whether I reached the hostel. It was some seconds unattended. When I jumped out of the jeepney, I was still very hapy for an interesting day.

    But when I saw the hostel sign board far away, and I touched my pant, then I realized something wrong. There must be my wallet inside but nothing. I was terrified, and turned back quickly, searching for any sign of my dropped property in hope. But it was hopeless, it’s not on road, so possibly, it must be in the jeepney.

    That was so so much scary because I left my visa card in the wallet, along with reserved money for days later. The visa card is also my main payment method for most of online booking, even flights, and really an emergency resort in case I lost all cash, I still call my relatives at home to send money to my bank account, so that I can use visa card to withdraw. It was very chaos and frightening at that time.

    How I dealed with the situation

    However, as an experience traveler, you have to calm yourself and quickly seek out any possible solutions. My mind came up with an idea: I had to lock my visa card so that my money was protect from any unauthorized transactions. But it’s not easy, my friends.

    The common way to lock a bank card is through calling to bank, but my phone didn’t roam (or actually, I didn’t know how to activate roaming manually). I asked the receptionist whether they could help me make a phone call to bank. They replied that they couldn’t make it and I should buy a VoIP card to call, but I didn’t have any peso left, how could I make it?

    So I got to the lounge in hurry, in hope of someone’s help with international call. No one could help me, gruzz. Some guys showed their empathy. Poor me.

    I couldn’t give up, I tried other solution, I surfed official bank website and searched for any articles mentioning “locking card”. Luckily, I found it finally.

    It was in FAQ document, which helps customers to get used to internet banking. Yes, there’s a way to lock the card by logging in my account and following the guide. Phew! I did it. My money was protected after all. Then I could be eased for a while.

    However, I still had to deal with 5 days left with tightest budget. Before the trip, I had exchanged vietnam dong into peso, brunei dollar and riggit. Having lost peso, but I still reserved some foreign cash, I had to manage to get back home in time with that a mount of money. It’s still very hopeful for me. Sometimes, hope is the only thing you got, keep it.

    P/s: Truth to be told, I was quite upset, and disappointed in Pinoy after the trip. They are famous for drug, pickpockets and other crimes.

    Why pickpockets happen in Manila

     slums are popular in manila

    Three days getting around Manila and Tagatay, I could understand a little the situation in Philippines.

    I saw many people doing nothing, just living on sidewalk, days after days. Slums occupied the capital, armored vehicles rolling every corners while an 7-eleven guardian armed with guns, a sheriff bringing a shotgun on his back,.. like a Far West movie, but it’s real.

    I thought the people didn’t have a choice between their dignity and poverty. I hoped the thief’s family was fed well with my money, If they did. That was ease to think so.

    Trying to understanding and keep learning to become an experienced traveler to protect yourself is better than crying for what people have done to you, I think so.

     Travel is to deal with some situations and keep happy on journey

    My tips

    So, to protect your properties from pickpockets in the capital of Philippines, I draw some tips below, hope them helpful:

    1. Split your money through portions and hide them somewhere. In case you lost your wallet, you still have enough money to travel or able to contact the ambassador.

    2. Always bring a emergency bank card (visa/ master/…) so that when you don’t have any cash left, your relatives can still support you oversea.

    3. Keep your passport at safe place, and do not bring it along through crime reported areas. If it’s lost, you’re in big trouble.

    4. Learn how to deal with case of losing bank cards/ passport/ important documents/… so you can quickly adapt to the situations and solve them well.

    5. It’s advised to make friend with at least a local to ask for any help because the language barrier and custom procedures would be hell (in some cases).

    Be aware of pickpockets in Manila but don’t forget to enjoy your journey, just keep alert a bit

  • Top 3 destinations you should go in an old Manila walk tour

    Top 3 destinations you should go in an old Manila walk tour

    In south-east asia region, many of my friends wish one time touching Europe, not only for the modern lifestyle but also gorgeous Roman buildings. After a walk around Intramuros in Manila, I came up with an idea: No need to visit Euro for old buildings because Manila is truly an amazing destination for those who love old European architecture.
    If you backpack Manila, why not take an old Manila walk tour and you’ll see

    Fort Santiago

    I bought a ticket to Fort Santiago when it was 4PM. The sunset was so beautiful, reflecting its charming on the water, through tree shades and old buildings. The ticket booth was decorated in Christmas style. It was still New year days.

    The Fort was under construction, a lot of steel walls were set up, blocking your sight but creating a clear path for visit. You first see a coffee, then a souvenir shop and the visitor center at last. You can go inside and pick a free tourism map of Manila and Philipines. Nice!

    After that, few steps will take you through a picnic area. A ruined building plays as a landmark, with some statues depicting the Spanish missionary men and a wall of memory.

    I quickly processed through the sector, followed the path leading directly to Fort Santiago (and Rizal statue also). You’ll cross a bridge and see a pool of lily pads floating peacefully below, glowing in sunset light.

    The atmosphere is very astonishing. A rocky gate welcomes you, a signboard explaining the destination history, a bronze-step line guiding you to the center. But you can choose to go along walls to take a clear seeing how good Pinoy preserve the historical sites like this.

    I first chose to follow the walk on walls, there were some buildings closed, which was a bit pity. I just enjoyed the exterior while the interior remained still unknown. I really loved the ambience and how ruins were maintained perfectly, offering a credible experience.

    Price is 75 php/ pax.

    The Manila Cathedral – Basilica

    Not too far from Santiago Fort is Manila Cathedral – an beautiful gothic-style church, which have been rebuilt for … eight times. What you see is eighth version.

    I was impressed at first sight. It’s so religiously charming and somehow, sacred also. I entered through an arch gate. There was a guard but he looked like very sleepy (it’s nearly evening), so though there’s a sign telling the visitors to claim their baggage, he just yawned and gave me passing waves.

    The first chamber includes a Holy Marie statue and a Christ on Cross, lit up in warm yellow. I think that the major elements make it magnificent is colorful glass window. So gorgeous, so charming, so noble and you would accept my opinion: can’t take our eyes of them for the first time.

    The walls are also made of big rock blocks all so they create successfully senses of everlasting. Statues of saints like Peter are set up on a base. It’s after Christmas for days so there are still a background with Holy family representing on the hall.

    I followed the side-walk to explore the rest. The ceiling is very high, Archy and lit up on column. The benches are wooden brown, smells new.

    The main gates are closed so you have to enter through side gate. This is a free-entrance destination but you can donate as your will.

    San Agustin Church

    The third place I suggest you to visit in Old Manila walk tour is San Augustin church. It is a Roman Catholic church located inside the historic walled city of Intramuros in Manila. When I reached it at 10 AM, it’s not quite crowded. The entrance fee is 200 PHP.
    There’s no guide map issued at the entrance so you’d better take a photo of maps in the walls. Just look up!

    The ground floor is dedicated to exhibit the history of St Augustin missionaries while the upper one is to showcase the relics and other works generated once upon the time.

    Here you see and very enjoy not only the Roman architecture but also the historical ambiance from rooms to rooms, along corridors and in main chamber.

    The first room you encounter is installed a big ship at the center and walled with beautiful paintings. They tell the story of how Christ messages coming to Philippines. The room also features a movie corner where you can have a seat and watch documentaries. Quite useful and you can relax yourself in a dark air-conditioned atmosphere.

    I do love the paintings on the walls, they are so historical and fantastic. You can have more materials to live in Catholic history for a while, especially the St Augustin friars lives.

    There’s a garden at the center of the church, where a fountain continuously flows night and day, make it a bit noise intentionally. Indeed, friars use this place to communicate with God. I felt very peaceful there, really nice for a relaxation after a long walk around ground floor.

    There’s a room displaying the statues made of woods and ivory. They are very delicate. Most of bodies are made of wood while hands and heads are crafted from ivory. Really impressive!

    To get upper floor, you’ll step on stairs made of big rock blocks shipped from China, with some paintings depicting friar executions during their mission spreading God message in Philippines.

    Once visiting the church, don’t forget to enjoy the ceiling because they are very worthy a look. The most beautiful is in main chamber, you can also see others in the stair to upper floor.

    This floor is mainly to showcase the artifacts or relics collected in missionary journey from China, Europe to Philippines. It suggests the science aspects in church world, featuring Mendel and other priest doing science.

    The sense of harmony between religion and science make me feel that, instead of fighting against each other, the two factions can have an agreement.

    There’s a large garden at the back of the church. However there’s nothing significant to see.

  • First 24-hours in Manila, Filipino capital

    First 24-hours in Manila, Filipino capital

    My Manila quick guide will help you deal effectively with the first hours in the strange city, which is usually very tense because you have to get used to many things: transportation, language, people, things to do,… 

    Custom gates

    To be accepted, you have to prove that you have friends, booked hotels and on top of that: the paper proving you have a ticket getting out of the Philippines.

    I usually use e-booking, then show e-ticket. However, I made a big mistake when at custom gate of Ninoy Aquino airport. I didn’t have screenshots or printed e-ticket, while the booking app requiring internet connection to show the ticket status and information. It was very time-consuming because the free 3G signal was very weak. Even more sadly, it only lasts for 1-2 minutes then you have to reactive it.

    So when you fly to, remember to prepare any relevant papers to quickly get through custom procedure.

    Taking Jeepney from airport to downtown (I stayed in Malate)

    Usually, budget flights land on Ninoy Aquino airport at early dawn. So you can stay for a while, take a nap until morning, which is safer to travel to downtown via Jeepney.

    At the ground level, you step out of the gate, crossing a small road used mostly by taxi and transfer buses. In case you need to travel to the other internal, just ask the kind officers standing nearby, they would point you. I asked them jeepney, they pointed me to the highway.

    The highway is under a big skyway. When you are on one, speak “Baclaran” loudly, and give the driver 8 peso. If you sit close to the backdoor and cannot give money directly, just give it to people on cabin, they will take it to right one. Then looking through window to enjoy street culture of Manila. I mean, it’s very chaos but you soon get used to it.

    When you see the Baclaran – a place like a square, where there are dozens of jeepneys, taxis gathering. Sign the driver to stop, get out and catch another Jeepney. Repeat the process: speak loud the destination, if Jeep go through, people node and go on, if no, had better chang to the others. Filipinos are good at English, so no worry with local communication.

    Note: I calculate the Jeepney fee is around 5 peso/ km, the minium fee is 7-8 peso and the maximum is not over 20 peso. So you estimate the distance and give driver exact amount of coins/ cash, it’s very easy. If you cannot estimate how far you go, or how much you have to pay, so just give jeepney 10-20 peso, they give you correct change.

    Should I buy 3G SIM in airport?

    My answer: No, for your wise. When I ask the Globe/ Smart “free” SIM counter, the seller asked me how many days I stayed in Manila. Then they showed me the package table: 300-500 peso. Ok I’m not a kid! But actually, just take free SIM, but don’t buy load.

    I read a blog post mentioning that one can buy a SIM for only 50 peso, plus 100 peso load and register for 3G (or “Surfing” in Filipino style). You have nearly 1Gb in total for 3 days. But ridiculously that, the coverage is so unstable that hardly can you use 3G in need. Get used to the situation and you will be better adapt to traditional ways like maps/ notes to get from A to B than taking advantage of electronic devices as we usually do.

    Where do you get the SIM for good price? Simply, in seven-eleven stores. Speak loud “Globe SIM”-> “40 peso” -> “100 load” and receive two card: one is SIM and the other is load.

    Load your SIM into your cellphone, try to establish the first connection (I emphasize that the coverage was very weak and unstable in my case), then you tear load plastic cover layer, reveal the code (both two box, one is 10 digits and the other is 6 digits).

    Press *143# to access the main menu, reply 2 to load, follow the guide.

    After the load, you press *143# again, choose “surf promo” -> “go surf” ->  package 50 php (recommended), then choose freebie (I chose facebook, haha)

    Now you have a 3G SIM ready to serve you. But wait, remember that strong coverage is mostly nearby modern buildings like malls, hotels. Even when I was strolling around Intramuros and trying to surf web to read more about the ruins and old buildings, I couldn’t make it due to the poor signal.

    Where to go first in Manila

    If you don’t have a certain itinerary, I recommend you get jeepney drop at Intramuros area. You can take a little walk for street breakfast and take a look at Fort Santiago, Intramuros, Manila Cathedral and St.Agustin church. If you are still free after that short trip, then Rizal park will fulfill well.

    In the afternoon, remember to locate the Manila university, where you can have local lunch at local price. It’s very shady and cool. Crowded and dirty a bit in a very local way.

    After lunch, take a jeepney to Manila ocean park to watch beautiful wild creatures. No doubt that this is the best place to run-away from Manila daily high heat.

    Next, you can take Jeepney go south, to Botanical garden to continue animal observations or to Cultural center to explore. You can expand destination list anytime because there are dozen of points of interesting surrounding.

    When it’s evening and you feel hungry, so getting to Harrison plaza is the best suited. Jeepn(ey)-ing and you standing right in front of the big building. Enter the Shopwise and have dinner, you can also choose other food stalls along plaza but there’s a built-in food court in Shopwise food area, so I strongly recommend there to have good cheap food and drink instead of finding it difficulty looking for a suitable places for a dinner.

    After dinner, you can take a walk around Harrison Plaza for sales, but I recommend massages. It’s incredible. You feel fatigue and tired after long walks so massage is the best (and sometimes cheap) therapy for you.