{"id":47598,"date":"2025-12-31T19:14:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-31T19:14:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.alananna.co.uk\/blog\/?p=47598"},"modified":"2026-01-01T07:22:53","modified_gmt":"2026-01-01T07:22:53","slug":"island-hopping-in-the-philippines-day-2-manila-to-port-barton","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.alananna.co.uk\/blog\/2025\/12\/island-hopping-in-the-philippines-day-2-manila-to-port-barton\/","title":{"rendered":"Island Hopping in the Philippines \u2013 Day 2: Manila to Port Barton"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Day two of our island-hopping trip in the Philippines ended up feeling more like another travel day than a proper day of adventure. After breakfast at the Henry Hotel, we piled into minibuses with our luggage and headed once more into Intramuros \u2014 literally meaning \u201cwithin the walls.\u201d This was the same area of the old city of Manila that we had visited the night before for dinner, and as we drove, Rey filled us in on some of Manila\u2019s history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bamboo Bike Tour<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We were dropped off at Bambike, a social enterprise that trains and employs local workers from the Gawad Kalinga community to handcraft sustainable bamboo bicycles. The project was originally set up by Rey, although he no longer works there. We were each given a bike and were soon being guided around the city by an extremely enthusiastic guide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bikes were easy to ride and the route wasn\u2019t taxing at all \u2014 even for those who rarely cycle. Everything was very relaxed as we moved from point to point, stopping to hear about the various sights and the history behind them. It turned out to be a great way to see a little of the city without feeling rushed or overwhelmed. We were taken to various parts of the wall, squares with churches, little gardens and parks and various historical sites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"On<\/a><\/figure>
\"Manila\"<\/a><\/figure>
\"A<\/a><\/figure><\/div>
\"Church<\/a><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
\"Quiet<\/a><\/figure><\/div>
\"Stained<\/a><\/figure><\/div>
\"City<\/a><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>