Cruising in Manila II: Life on the river

Part 1 followed my adventures of looking for the elusive Pasig River Boat.
Having found and boarded the boat, I was filled with anticipation and hesitation
Would this be epic?.. or just a big disappointment?



Most who traverse these waters are out of necessity of transportation and life
but as one just going for the ride, would it be worth it?
The best thing about the unknown is not having expectations
It's hard to be disappointed if you have no expectations.

But that's not totally true either... because I expected to get a taste of life along the river
And that it did not disappoint. Away from high traffic and tourists, the river hides a secret life

 Water is life.
It is not surprising then, that the river attracts squatters.

 For a person coming from privilege of having basic necessities, it is hard to imagine how communities can pop up and survive under such conditions.
The waters that carry the boat also doubles as a source of life, waste management and playground.

I shudder to think the state of hygiene they have come accustomed to.

In other ways I envy these people. Without the wants of priveleges, they are free to enjoy the good things in life that most of us take for granted as a given
The simple joys of hanging out and just doing simple things together envokes more joy than most of us will ever understand.

Would I give up all my wealth for what they have?... no.
simply because all I really need is just an attitude adjustment.
so rather than just envy, I will strive every day to enjoy the simple blessings.

As the boat moved from one station to the other

You get to witness all kinds of buildings and life.

It does help that there was a guide who every once in a while would inform us of interesting facts

but most important would point out that certain portion of the trip is "bawal" to take photos as we pass Malacanang palace. It is where the president resides...(?)
This was of course before Duertete was voted in.

Most of the cruise was enjoyable having great sights and having some wind as it blows in your hair.
Unfortunately one of the downsides of the Pasig river is that many portions are unsightly and its stench can be overwhelming.
this of course is all thanks to the rubbish mindlessly thrown and waste from its residence...

 This results in algae and other weeds...

I have read that there have been many attempts to clean up the river...
but unfortunately until the residence of Manila start taking responsibility of it... there is only so much that can be done.

Some have even taken it as a chance to make some money...
I am not sure what they are looking for but it does reflect how desperate they are.

As the boat travels from area to area, the landscape clearly changes...

The nearer you get to Makati, the more modern and dense the buildings become.

 Looking back at these photos, makes me want to do the journey all over again.
If you have time to kill, and want to get a better idea of Manila... I highly recommend taking the river ferry....


Take a look at more sights: