Chasing the Perfect Fuji shot.

[drron29]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was a little ironical that priests from Spain in the time of the Spanish Inquisition were always described as spreading Love.

 

 

 

These messages of "Love were everywhere.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[drron29]

This church museum is huge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Indoctrinating the locals.

 

 

 

 

[drron29]

 

 

The Spaniards built lots of churches around the Phillipines.

 

 

 

Finally we got to see the church. A christening was being conducted.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The last of the church and it's museum.

 

 

 

 

 

The next day was palm Sunday so they were getting ready.

 

[drron29]

We then crossed the road where there were some restaurants and then a museum of a nobleman's house.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fine dining. It wasn't only India and the English that had punkah wallahs.

[drron29]

The kitchen was next door.

 

 

 

 

 

And you had to go through the kitchen to get to the bathroom and toilets.

 

 

Then taken to one of the restaurants for refreshments.

 

 

For refreshments you could have either a beer or an ice cream. I chose this that was said to be made on the property. I doubt it.

[drron29]

Then back on the Kalesas for another 20 minute ride to a spot 100 metres away just like the first time.

 

 

Past a display of the Presidents of the Phillippines.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We seemed to go around most of Intramuros.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Past a university campus.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[drron29]

And finally our destination. Manilla's oldest distillery.

 

It seems they were best known for their billboards.

 

Including one featuring miss universe 1974. The competition was held in Manilla.

 

And some old equipment.

 

 

 

They have a display of all their labels. Not many recognisable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We were meant to have a tasting but the small tasting room was already overcrowded so off we went to our final stop.

 

[drron29]

Fort Santiago.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[drron29]

The Statue of Jose Rizal killed by the Spaniards on 30/12/1896 by firing squad.

 

Backfired badly as the locals revolted and less than 2 years later the Phillippines were ceded to the USA by Spain in 1898. They began self Government in 1935 and full Independence on 4/7/1946.
On 29/12/1896 Rizal was taken to this holding cell the night before his execution. This was exactly 50 years before my birth.

 

Views from the fort.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The last of the fort.

 

 

 

 

 

This time we walked the 100 metres to the bus which was on the other side of the road to where we were originally dropped. It was outside a Fire Station.

 

On the way back evidence of China being not entirely unwelcome here.

 

And Past the Naval Reserve HQ.

 

[drron29]

They had kept the restaurants open for lunch so we went to Atlantide. forgot to take a picture of the menu. Unfortunately my choices were unforgettable. First were corn fritters. Virtually inedible. Couldn't cut them with a knife easily and very hard to find any corn.

 

 

 

Then I had mushroom goulash. I had a similarly named dish on our last cruise on the Muse and it was really good. this was the opposite with chunks of potato and zucchini as well as mushroom plus the sauce watery. Terrible.

 

Rojaan did better with an avocado salad and a chocolate cake.

 

 

I had a coffee to cleanse my palate.

 

I did let my displeasure be known.

Sailaway from Manilla. We were having a later dinner after our late lunch. There were fireworks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[drron29]

We went to Indochine for dinner. This has become more popular with us as they have a few more non spicy options compared to the past. Contrary to some people's opinion Asian food is not necessarily spicy. One part of the Mains Menu.

 

Tonight we both had foie gras accompanied by a beef consomme. not a combination I would have thought of but it was very nice and we treated it as having 2 starters.

 

 

 

I like spicy food so I had the lemongrass beef which was excellent.

 

Rojaan had char sui beef which she enjoyed.

 

Rojaan had rice with her main dish and I noodles.

 

She also had the excellent kaffir lime and ginger creme brulee whilst I tried their trilogy of desserts.

 

A bit disappointing so will go back to the creme brulee.

[drron29]

The next day was a sea day. I woke early and experienced sunrise.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[drron29]

Once again lunch in Atlantide.

 

 

It was a complete turn around from the day before.
I had the Ceviche and the Bigoli. Both excellent.

 

 

Rojaan had the pork tenderloins and the meringue. She enjoyed both.

 

 

That night we had dinner with one of the International hostesses in Atlantide.

 

 

 

 

Rojaan again had the beef tartare which she enjoys and I started with the spiced octopus which I liked.

 

For mains she had the lobster and I the lamb loin. both nice.

 

 

 

 

 

[drron29]

The next morning we were sailing into Kaoishung.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the ships moored in the harbour began to move whilst we turned to reverse into our terminal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[drron29]

The ship appeared likely to hit us.

 

 

 

Missed!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No busses for the excursions.

 

They arrived soon after and we were off.

 

 

A cemetery.

 

 

 

 

[drron29]

We were headed for the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum and Monastery. Certainly an impressive place.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[drron29]

 

 

 

 

 

The path to Enlightment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[drron29]

 

 

 

 

Into the shop.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nothing I wanted.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[drron29]

Another little garden with some of the flowers being fake.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[drron29]

Views from the hill.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[drron29]

So today I was at the best site to get the best Fuji shot. On a clear day Fuji is framed by this Tori gate. My run of outs continues.

[BBGrace273]

2 hours ago, drron29 said:

So today I was at the best site to get the best Fuji shot. On a clear day Fuji is framed by this Tori gate. My run of outs continues.

So sorry to hear this. I was rooting for you.

[drron29]

Back to Taiwan.

We now headed to our next stop - the Lotus pond.

 

Travelled besides the High Speed train tracks for a while. just over 90 minutes from Kaoshiung to Taipei.

 

 

 

 

 

We arrive at the Lake.

 

 

 

 

I had been here on our last cruise but Rojaan had missed it. so I took her to the most ornate of the temples.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[drron29]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some views across the lake.