Chinatown

   Manila has a vibrant Chinatown and not so vibrant cemetery. The Chinese are the business people and seem to be the richest part of society. Their cemetery has magnificent mausoleums and monuments to fallen soldiers. The Chinese fought against the Japanese during WW2 and lost many fighters.

   I took a cab to Chinatown and walked around. There were gold shops, fruit stands, booksellers with Feng Shui books and “good luck” stores. New Year has just past and you need to increase your luck for 2012!

   After Chinatown, I got a tricycle and went to the Chinese Cemetery.  We got lost again (maybe it’s me?) but finally found it. My driver was a woman and the only one I’ve seen. She had her 5 year old daughter on the motorcycle in front of her. NO ONE wears helmets here! Her trike was interesting since it was powered by a 6 HP lawn mower engine. She started it with a pull recoil cord and there were no gears, only a clutch and rear brake. I tipped extra since we had such a hard time finding the entrance to the cemetery. It was a warren of streets.

  The cemetery is 220 acres and I was told you PROBABLY should have a guide but the first guide wanted $12. The second, about 15 minutes later told me about the wild dogs attacking LONE tourists. His offer was $9. I had already seen 5 of the big 10 by myself so it was me and the wild dogs. The oldest crypt has a turtle in front since they are symbols of long life. 

 

 

 

 

 

The dogs must  know I’m used to big dogs so they left me alone. I found a taxi back to my hotel and treated myself to a better lunch. I discovered a Dim Sum place and had some “meatball” dim sum, soup, rice and lemonade for about $5. Quite good! The couple next to me were at a table with a gas hot plate in the center (mine had one too). The waiter brought a 1 gallon stainless steel bowl filled halfway with water. The diners added doughballs, sliced beef, and two types of leafy veggies. There was something fried and puffy on the side and a BIG bowl of rice. They ate a long time and took some home too. Tomorrow a two hour bus ride to a bamboo raft ride under a waterfall.