Taympers! - Holiday Hiatus 2: Back to work, but first... Intramuros and Venice Grand Canal.

Well, hell-o I'm back with yet another looong post.

Right after New Year's Eve, as expected, deads because alcohol. But happy because my liver is still kicking due to being inhabited by the spirit of Leonidas. Lels.

I just had two major gala, awra, pasyal, whatever you want to call it before work starts again and mind you, it did not require too much moolah. It was just my usual craving to go to some place, which happens very often. Just like on the 2nd of January.

Intramuros

Hahahahahaha! Yes, I posted that on Facebook (I do that all the time.) And my ever lovely Facebook friends never fail me. I always get answers. I would love to commute without directions and go for an adventure but I thought it was easier to ask, duh and Manila city proper is not the type of place you'd like to get lost to. One of my co-trainer messaged me and gave me a link to this website www.phcommute.com with instructions on how to get to Intramuros. This is what I got:

Commuting Routes:

• From Caloocan:
• Route 1: LRT1-Jeep
• Take the LRT1 to Doroteo Jose station.
• Ride a jeep to Baclaran/Mabini, and get off at Intramuros. Landmarks are Manila City Hall, National Museum, and Philippine Normal University.
• Route 2: LRT1-Jeep
• Take the LRT1 to Carriedo station.
• Ride a jeep to Pier, and get off at Intramuros. Landmark is Palacio del Gobernador.
• Route 3: LRT1-Jeep
• Take the LRT1 to Carriedo station.
• Ride a jeep to Lawton/SM City Hall, and get off at Manila City Hall.
• Cross the street using the underpass, away from Manila City Hall towards Intramuros.
• Route 4: LRT1
• Take the LRT1 to Central terminal station.
• Follow the LRT1 along A. Villegas until you get to Natividad Almeda-Lopez (2 blocks). Landmarks are SM City Manila, Manila City Hall, and Philippine Veterans Affairs Office.
• Turn right at Natividad Almeda-Lopez, and walk past Manila City Hall towards Padre Burgos (1 block).
• Cross Padre Burgos towards Intramuros.
• From Cavite:
• From Dasmarinas Bayan, ride a bus/FX to Lawton/SM City Hall, and get off at Manila City Hall.
• Cross the street using the underpass, away from Manila City Hall towards Intramuros.
• From Makati:
• Route 1: MRT-LRT1
• Take the MRT to Taft terminal station.
• Walk through the connecting foot bridge towards LRT1-EDSA station.
• Take the LRT1 to Central terminal station.
• Follow the LRT1 along A. Villegas until you get to Natividad Almeda-Lopez (2 blocks). Landmarks are SM City Manila, Manila City Hall, and Philippine Veterans Affairs Office.
• Turn right at Natividad Almeda-Lopez, and walk past Manila City Hall towards Padre Burgos (1 block).
• Cross Padre Burgos towards Intramuros.
• Route 2: Bus
• From Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. (Buendia), Makati Ave., or Ayala Ave., ride a PVP Liner bus to Lawton/Taft, and get off at Manila City Hall.
• Cross the street using the underpass, away from Manila City Hall towards Intramuros.
• Route 3: Jeep
• From Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. (Buendia), ride a jeep to LRT-Taft, and get off at Taft Ave.
• Ride a jeep to Lawton/SM City Hall, and get off at SM City Hall.
• Cross the street using the underpass, away from Manila City Hall towards Intramuros.
• From Mandaluyong/Pasig:
• Take the MRT to Taft terminal station.
• Walk through the connecting foot bridge towards LRT1-EDSA station.
• Take the LRT1 to Central terminal station.
• Follow the LRT1 along A. Villegas until you get to Natividad Almeda-Lopez (2 blocks). Landmarks are SM City Manila, Manila City Hall, and Philippine Veterans Affairs Office.
• Turn right at Natividad Almeda-Lopez, and walk past Manila City Hall towards Padre Burgos (1 block).
• Cross Padre Burgos towards Intramuros.
• From Manila:
• Route 1: Jeep
• From Quiapo, ride a jeep to Pier.
• Get off at Intramuros. Landmark is Palacio del Gobernador.
• Route 2: Jeep
• From Rizal Ave. or Divisoria, ride a jeep to Baclaran/Mabini or Lawton/SM City Hall.
• Get off at Intramuros. Landmarks are Manila City Hall, National Museum, and Philippine Normal University.
• Route 3: Jeep
• From Quiapo, ride a jeep to Lawton/SM City Hall, and get off at Manila City Hall.
• Cross the street using the underpass, away from Manila City Hall towards Intramuros.
• Route 4: Jeep
• From UST-Dapitan/Blumentritt, ride a jeep to Lawton/SM City Hall, and get off at Manila City Hall.
• Cross the street using the underpass, away from Manila City Hall towards Intramuros.
• From Muntinlupa:
• From Manuela Metropolis Alabang (Metropolis Mall), ride a bus to Lawton/SM City Hall, and get off at Manila City Hall.
• Cross the street using the underpass, away from Manila City Hall towards Intramuros.
• From Paranaque/Pasay:
• Route 1: LRT1
• Take the LRT1 to Central terminal station.
• Follow the LRT1 along A. Villegas until you get to Natividad Almeda-Lopez (2 blocks). Landmarks are SM City Manila, Manila City Hall, and Philippine Veterans Affairs Office.
• Turn right at Natividad Almeda-Lopez, and walk past Manila City Hall towards Padre Burgos (1 block).
• Cross Padre Burgos towards Intramuros.
• Route 2: Jeep
• From Taft Ave., ride a jeep to Lawton/SM City Hall, and get off at Manila City Hall.
• Cross the street using the underpass, away from Manila City Hall towards Intramuros.
• From Quezon City:
• Route 1: Jeep
• From Cubao, ride a jeep to Lawton/SM City Hall, and get off at Manila City Hall.
• Cross the street using the underpass, away from Manila City Hall towards Intramuros.
• Route 2: Jeep
• From Philcoa, Cubao, Aurora Blvd., or Quezon Ave., ride a jeep to Quiapo, and get off at Quiapo.
• Ride a jeep to Pier, and get off at Intramuros. Landmark is Palacio del Gobernador.
• Route 3: Jeep
• From Philcoa, Cubao, Aurora Blvd., or Quezon Ave., ride a jeep to Quiapo, and get off at Quiapo.
• Ride a jeep to Lawton/SM City Hall, and get off at Manila City Hall.
• Cross the street using the underpass, away from Manila City Hall towards Intramuros.
• Route 4: LRT2-Jeep
• Take the LRT2 to Recto terminal station.
• Walk through the connecting foot bridge towards LRT1 Doroteo Jose station.
• Ride a jeep to Baclaran/Mabini, and get off at Intramuros. Landmarks are Manila City Hall, National Museum, and Philippine Normal University.
• From Taguig:
• From Net2, Market! Market!, or the Fort Open Field, ride the Fort bus/shuttle to Ayala, and get off at MRT-Ayala station.
• Take the MRT to Taft terminal station.
• Walk through the connecting foot bridge towards LRT1-EDSA station.
• Take the LRT1 to Central terminal station.
• Follow the LRT1 along A. Villegas until you get to Natividad Almeda-Lopez (2 blocks). Landmarks are SM City Manila, Manila City Hall, and Philippine Veterans Affairs Office.
• Turn right at Natividad Almeda-Lopez, and walk past Manila City Hall towards Padre Burgos (1 block).
• Cross Padre Burgos towards Intramuros.

Very concise, right? I hope that helps if you are planning to go, too! This website will arm you ready to be Dora. We took the "From Makati" route which requires us to take MRT then LRT. Ang saya-saya ko tuwing nag-MRT/LRT ako. Maybe because I don't do it usually. I rent an apartment just 15 minutes away from work so I do not commute that much, also to places I am not familiar with and if there is a need for me to do so and it's just around the Metro, (Hehe, my mom will take me as a disgrace) I GrabTaxi myself. :D or of course, the power of the internet ;)

We left Makati at almost 4:00 PM and arrived at Intramuros around 5 in the afternoon. Where else would you be if you are there? Fort Santiago. (I remember going there uhm.. field trip nung elementary? And this tour nung college. :D) But at that time I was already thinking "Shet 'di yata aabot!" Upon getting off Central Station, me and Tine were both like, "Okaaaay? Saan daw?" I read and read the instructions but I swear, I'm not good with directions no matter how much you scrub it in my face. (FACT: I have right-left confusion issues. Please don't judge me!) And I cannot see the streets that were mentioned, really! Hahaha! Ang tanga 'ko. I cannot rely on Tine because the boy itself haven't been to anywhere further than Bicutan! Loljk. 

We went through this underpass. Lakas maka-Indie Film.

With the power of charm chos, of asking, we were able to get to Intramuros proper. (Nung nakita ko na yung bato bato alam kong iyon na 'yon lol) 5:15 PM, same thoughts, "Okaaaay? Saan daw?" we were in the middle of the walls and got no idea where exactly to go. And then I saw one of the Intramuros guards whom I call "Guwardiya Sibil" :D I was not able to take a pic but here's how all security in the place are dressed like: (Image from Google)

Aren't they cuuuuuuuuuuute?! So I asked instructions on how to get to Fort Santiago but we were told we might not enjoy much because to my dismay and as I expected, they close at 6:00 PM :( Me and Tine just decided to take a walk. We reached the residential area that is really, really old school (Too bad I was not able to take a pic.) until we saw Manila Cathedral. 

We saw this bunch of abays from a wedding and to my luck they are going to Fort Santiago! We then asked the ticket booth personnel if we could still get tickets and he said yes but reminded us that we would need to go at 6:15 PM (It was already 5:39 then) Sabi 'ko sige push pa rin! 

At sa wakas, napagtagumpayan ko ang nais ko.

Taba ko.

Awkward smile forevsss

Pepe at the back photobombing.

Yes, te?

We had dinner at SM Manila after and then went to meet my mom in Megamall. :) Manila is so beautiful. Timeless. I will never get tired of going back once in a while. I hope the authorities always do it's best to preserve it's beauty. It changed through decades but the feels of Old Manila is still there. I hope it always will be. 

I thought it was Sunday already and I already was thinking of the work I need to do the following day in the office until Tine mentioned that no, it's Saturday idiot. HAHAHAHA! Ang tanga 'ko part two.

Venice Grand Canal Mall

Sunday, we went to Venice Grand Canal Mall in Mckinley Taguig. Ang lapit lang namin nakakahiya naman kung hindi pa namin mapupuntahan, 'diba?

How to get there is very simple. From Guadalupe (which I think is the easiest point of access for all since it's in Edsa) Just ride a jeepney biyaheng Gate 3 and ask the driver to drop you off in McKinley. If you're going to be from Edsa Ayala, you may ride jeeps biyaheng Market! Market! but you'd have to walk pa. 

OA DAMI NG TAO! It was really hard for us to find a spot to take pictures. People would fight death for a spot. CHOS LANG. We only managed to have two decent ones:

Yes, those were good already. Here are the rest:

Idk if you consider this okay because...

...once you're there, keri na yan, basta kita yung tubig.
And dapat talaga fly away yung hurr mo.

Sinong tinatanaw mo diyan, magwawala ako dito.

I also asked Tine to take pictures of me, of course. :p

"Wait.."

"Game na ba?"

"K."

"Maganda ko?" Lels

That's pretty much it for my vacayyy. The following day, me back to werk but then again, no complaining! Though I know we all wish it could be much longer. But we ain't students anymore. Back to battlefield my loves! 

x M