Manila's historic, walled city centre doesn't seem to be a big hit with tourists, which I put down to most of it not actually existing, thanks to a solid month of devastation at the hands of the occupying Japanese in the Battle of Manila (part of World War II we don't hear so much about in the West, because it mainly affected brown people).
Those no-good Japanese, someone should destroy some of their major cities and see how they like... oh. Right.
There's been some rebuilding of walls and gates in the decades since, but most people would probably agree that the Philippines has more important things to spend its money on, like cosmetic surgery and embezzlement. For colonial sightseeing, Intramuros isn't as good as Georgetown in Penang or Singapore, but it's better than Malang in Java.
I still enjoyed spending an afternoon walking around these orderly streets, which offer a welcome escape from the bland, endless uniformity of Metro Manila in general. I always feel much more comfortable enclosed within crumbling walls than I do in bigger cities, and I grudingly accept that this will inevitably lead to me developing some sort of BDSM/asphyxiation-based sexual perversions in middle age, for which I apologise in advance.
Intramuros,
Manila
The one day I could have done with some moody clouds for photos, and the weather had to improve. That's right: I'm actually complaining that it's not raining any more
San Agustin Church (1571), not looking too shabby
San Ignacio Church (1587). Shabby
Actually, I kind of like it better like this.
And it looks more haunted in black and white
Ayuntamiento (1738). Shabbiest
Baluarte de San Diego (1587). Mysterious
Nothing special about this building. Still, it looks nice
Nice gate
Manila Cathedral (1671)
Gotta love those kerrrrr-aaazy Catholics
Gotta love that crazy King Carlos IV
Those letters mean something different here, so don't be scared (unless you're a Spaniard)
A kid shooting at dilapidated colonial architecture.
Perhaps a symbolic portrait of contemporary Manila? I'm not smart enough to know
This one's new to me.
Weird pet behaviour isn't limited to Taiwan, clearly
Walking around Intramuros might even be relaxing if it wasn't for these clowns
Fort Santiago
It's worth the 50 peso ticket just to get away from the relentless taxi touts. Manila may have beaten the Japanese, but in the war against traffic the pedestrians have lost.
Lorra lorra lovely artillery. I love war, me.
Almost as much as I love religion. Almost as much as I love football
Of course, it wasn't only the Japanese and Spanish that the Filipinos had to kick out of their country. Let's not forget the time Manila was under the tyranny of the Cyzoids (2285-87), commemorated here where humanity made its final stand.
Alright then, you try explaining what this thing's doing here
Oh great, seal off the most interesting part
Another nice gate
After a while, I realised I was mainly just taking pictures of nice gates
My legs are of a different race to the rest of me
There was a sale on hats and Medieval jester codpieces, and this guy knows good value when he sees it
