4. The Public Transport

Once you get the hang of it the public transport system is quite easy to negotiate. Often a trip will involve a variety of different modes, all quite cheap, to get you to your destination. The price of travel and the frequency of vehicles make it a reliable and cost effective way to get around.

5. English Speaking

Almost everybody speaks English as it is taught in schools. I only know a few words of the local language, Tagalog and I have never had much trouble conversing with Filipinos. My Australian accent is sometimes hard for them to understand, but unlike some other countries in the region, I don’t get a blank stare back when I speak English.

6. The Malls

Manila has some of the finest and largest malls around. It makes living in Manila quite comfortable when you know you can go to the mall and watch a movie, go to a food court or go shopping in a department store. It’s handy to get out of the heat sometimes as well. Of course they differ slightly from back home and have some quite interesting shops, like an old fashioned barber shop where you can get a haircut and a cut throat razor shave for a couple of dollars. You can even play bingo or get an ultrasound if you desire.

7. The Food

Rice is a staple in many asian countries with Manila being no different. If you get a value meal at KFC it comes with rice instead of fries. There is also a gamut of other delicious foods on offer to make those taste buds come alive. Street food can be some of the best around. Some of the common delicacies include Siomai, a dumpling type of food, Sinigang, a sour broth made with Tamarind, meat and leafy vegetables. However, my favourite is chicken Adobo, which uses a combination of vinegar and soy sauce to flavour the meat.