MANILA, PHILIPPINES

After leaving Hong Kong our next port of call was Manila in the Philippines. We were both especially looking forward to this as we had met so many lovely people from this country. Mum took these photos from our cabin window of the local Lion Dancers.

One of the smaller forms of transport is these local taxis.

Our first visit was to a magnificent old church with these unique organ pipes made from treated bamboo.

On our travels we saw these jeepnies everywhere. They are the main form of transport for the local people, jeeps which were left after WWII and converted, when the americans returned home.

The main purpose of our tour, however, was a visit to Tagaytay, a small volcano, in a lake, inside a larger volcano.

On our way back, our driver stopped at this local fruit stall, where our guide came back with a big bunch of small bananas, which the passengers much enjoyed.

Another small taxi. This one had passengers on the pillion of the bike, with more passengers on the other side in a covered sidecar.

KOTA KINABALU, MALAYSIA

We had been to Kota Kinabalu twice before, neither time a success. The first time we had visited a headhunter village, the second time we were intending to go shopping, but were dropped out on the edge of town and never did find the main shops!

This time we decided to try something different. This is a picture of some of the water homes which line the bay where the ship was anchored.

Our tour took us to the Mangroves, where we went onboard these thatched rafts, for a tour of the mangrove system, and information on the local ecology, before a snack of the local roti (thin crepes) with curry sauce and bananas.

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, BRUNEI

This time we decided to try something completely different. Our previous visit was to the poorer area with its water houses and the main town area. This time we took a tour to have a look at the higher life in Brunei.
We passed this mosque on our way to see how the Sultan of Brunei lives.

Before a look at the amusement park built by the Sultan for the use of the people. Followed by a look at the stables enjoyed by his polo ponies.

We arrived at the Empire Hotel, driving past the medical specialist centre built for the use of the people by the Sultan. The hotel was originally built as a private resident for the Sultan’s visitors to stop in when visiting. It has since been converted into this magnificent hotel to be enjoyed by the general population.

This is the outside view from inside the hotel.

Inside the hotel the interior is completely dressed in marble and gold.

This staircase is just one of many, together with a series of escalators and elevators.

Outside views of the hotel, were we had a light luncheon before returning to the ship.