Mandaluyong and beyond

A good night's sleep then up early to see what the running track was like. I wanted to be early before the traffic. I could follow the river for quite a way on a clear and clean walkway - no problems at all! Sun rises and it looks like a hot one today - not too smoggy. Mandaluyong is where I am staying and the big buildings across the river is Makati. I noticed a ferry stop below my hotel and the old Spanish Fort is at the end of the line so I jumped on for a pleasant water ride. The river (Pasig) is very similar to the Bangkok river - fast flowing with chunks of vegetation floating along. Not many pics as my phone camera stopped working. I rebooted and it took forever to reload. I got to the end of the line (the fort wasn't in sight and probably the other side of the river) and the phone was still inert. Well - talk about 1st world panic. I had no idea where I was - no maps, no Google, no Grab! I sat there for about 1/2 hour and the phone just remained stuck on the start up screen. I went back into the ferry terminal and asked an employee if there was a phone shop nearby. He said at the market - a 3/4 hour walk away. On roads without footpaths and 32o already I must have looked in despair. Anyway he said he would take me on his scooter if I wouldn't mind making a small contribution. Off we went and it certainly wasn't walkable to the market. He said he also wanted to buy a charger while we were there. We found the shop and of course my phone had kicked in and was working again! He suggested I pay for his charger - $100 pesos ($2.78AUD) as a contribution. Went out of his way and saved what could have been problematic. I left him at the market and had a good look round - it was a cracker. Couldn't help myself and bought some chillies - 2 lots for a total investment of 80cents! Then to Intramuros and Fort Santiago - quite well preserved and interesting. Hot going so a watermelon juice was in order. A Grab back to the hotel and a nice lunch there. Callos is slow cooked tripe with chorizo and chickpeas - amazing! The pool is next to the restaurant and an afternoon there is the plan!En savoir plus