Manila and around

Today was quite a big day, started by getting up to visit the Makati
market for meat and veg before breakfast. The taxi driver picked us up
to take us to Taal Volcano a couple of hours south of Manila. Quite a
few of Manila's well heeled have holiday homes here for the weekends.
On the way to there we stopped off at the Bamboo Organ church and a
factory where they make the classic Jeepney's that many use as
transport, hopping on and off along a route. It wasn't the typical
factory setting but it was quite interesting to see them in various
stages from axles up to the finished glorified taxis with intricate hand
painted signs, and over the top patronages to god, and one-up-manship in
terms of flashy lights, mirrors and aerials as each driver tries to
outdo other ones. Just past here we took a detour round past another
slum area alongside the river and took a couple of snaps out the
window. There was a terrible stench when the window was down which
really brough it home what conditions some of these people were living
in (see picture). Sadly, it would make a great photo documentary if you had free
access to some of these areas and people. It was pleasing to see a
couple of guys play 'pool' on a home made wooden table using sticks and
wooden discs instead of cues and balls though.
After this we drove through fruit (coconut and pineapple) and rice
plantations on the way to an over the top, overpriced (ok, similar to UK
prices, but expensive for here) Italian restaurant called Antionio's in
Tagaytay.
To complete the day we headed to Taal lake and took a banca boat across
the water for around 20 minutes to do a 45 minute trek up to the crater
rim on Taal Volcano which is still active. It was quite a funny drive at the last section as there were folk on motorbikes in front of us trying to sell us the boat trip at exorbitant prices, but holding up a plaque (see picture). Our driver said it was unusual as normally they make a hand signal so they driver knows he'll get a cut, but they didn't this time. We almost knocked more of them down as they jumped in front of the car at the next junction. It's not quite a manic as it probably sounds reading it, it's just what happens in most touristy areas anywhere 'abroad'. By the way, the boat trip should cost around 1600 pesos for a boat, or less. As we got to the other side, locals try and get you to pay for a horse to take you up the 45 minute trek, again, if you opt for this option, pay 500 pesos or less, when our driver was asking and bargaining the local whispered "shh, be quiet there's another lady coming along". Once you get past that and the local kids who have extremely good knowledge of english "1 peso...sirrr, please give me a coin", or the same with 5 pesos instead. I hate to admit, but after being in Asia for a couple of weeks, you forget that while you think they are being a pain, all they are asking for is the equivalent of 1 or 5 pence, 2 or 7 cents.
when you continue the walk it's a pretty stunning setting having this in the middle of a huge lake which occupies the
original crater. The volcano in the centre of the lake also has a water
filled crater, and the ground steams nearer the top and is pretty hot. Althought it reminded me of the fantastic Scottish scenery on the west coast, it's a very welcome relieve from the built up Manila after a week in the islands.
As we neared the summit we could hear the thunder and we got caught in a
rain and lightning storm, drenching us on the way down. To top it all
the boat died about 2/3rds across and it took many attempts to restart
the engine as we sat in the middle of the lake in a lightning storm in
the dark.