It has been 22 years since I left the Philippines for New York City. A lot of things has changed since then. But I’m thankful that some of the things that I cherished most remain unchanged and are always there to make me feel at home every time I return, like the uplifting smile and warmth of the people and — the beautiful sunset on Manila Bay.
On the first evening of my last visit in the Philippines, I took Keith to my favorite sunset viewing spot by the bay where we joined many other couples who were there to enjoy the spectacular burst in the sky.
What makes you feel at home when you return to your hometown?
__________
Travel Tips:
- This viewing spot is located on Manila Bay Promenade behind the Mall of Asia (MOA) in Pasay City, Metro Manila.
- The area is also a popular venue for open air cafes and restaurant. Some of the restaurants offer live music.
- Our favorite dining place is the strip of restaurants called “Dampa.” It has wet markets where you can buy fresh seafood. You then bring them to the restaurant of your choice on the strip and they will cook the seafood for you any way you want it. You only pay for cooking fees, side dishes and drinks.
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Beautiful Marisol, I didn’t know you were from the Philippines! I haven’t been there yet, but I know, some day I will. Love the couple shots
Sarah Somewhere recently posted..Girl’s Day at Xpu Ha Beach
Hi Sarah, thanks! I hope you make it to my home country someday. I’m sure you will like it there. Its nature is beautiful but its more wonderful asset is its beautiful, warm, hospitable, happy people.
I love it when the sun shoots rays down from a dark cloud as in your fourth photo. Your spot on Manila Bay certainly is a great place to watch the sun set.
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Hi Jan,
It truly is dramatic when the rays shoots down from the dark clouds. That spot on Manila Bay is really spectacular.
What a great collection of sunset photos, Marisol! I love the silhouettes too! I haven’t been back to the Philippines since we left for Guam 30 years ago when I was 10 yrs old (which is my daughter’s age now). I know…I’m embarrassed to admit that I haven’t returned to visit. I have some vivid memories but most of them are hazy. We’re hoping to visit next year so we can introduce the kids to the Motherland
I may need to find this spot in Manila Bay.
Mary {The World Is A Book} recently posted..The Magical World of Tivoli Gardens Copenhagen
Hello Mother Mary! Glad you enjoyed the Manila sunset. I wish for you to witness it for yourself sometime soon. It’s really is beautiful. Oh my, 30 years away ! Be prepared for the culture shock! But I’m sure you’ll love it still. I’m excited for the kids to experience Motherland:) I’m sure they will have a great time.
Great photos
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Love your sunset shots and how the couples go to silhouette shape. Beautiful. So many things make me feel at home — sunsets and sunrises are on my list as well as food!!! and the smell of the land when it rains. Ahhh, beautiful. There’s nothing like it.
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Hi Marcia, thanks! Oh yes, the food! There’s nothing more welcoming than them.:)
So beautiful, thank you for sharing your sunsets.
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Please come and join us if you have time. Have a great weekend.
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Our pleasure. Thanks for dropping by.
I love the way you captured couples at sunset, it really adds the emotion that you feel when you witness such stunning ones as these.
Jackie Smith recently posted..Searching for Catania Sicily’s “Pescheria”
Thanks Jackie, glad you enjoy it!
What a lovely set of photos – evoking a certain contemplative mood.
I’d say for me it’s food that takes me back to places I grew up – though smell can instantaneously place me in a long forgotten place too.
Leigh recently posted..Hiking in Colombia: A Big Valley & Strange Vegetation
Hi Leigh, thanks. Glad you enjoyed the photos.
Oh yes, glorious food. They never fail to evoke childhood memories:)
ahhhhh yes, take me to the ocean…
– Maria Alexandra
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Beautiful pictures Marisol! I love sunset shots and I try and take one everywhere I go. My plan(hope) is to capture a sunset at all 50 states and then of course anywhere not in the states that I go. My hometown has changed so much since I left it, that not much makes me feel at home. Except we lived across for a HUGE forest preserve and that is still there, thank God.
Hi Sere,
Oh wow, that’s a wonderful, ambitious project! You go girl — take those 50 sunsets!
I know it’s sad that when much of the things you remembered about your hometown have changed. It’s good you still have the forest preserve.
glorious sunset – surely the most beautiful way to spend time with the one you love. When we return home, we turn the corner and there is the Estuary and the beach beyond, and I know I am home.
Have a wonderful weekend, and thank you for stopping by my blog this week.
Hi Jill, my pleasure. Isn’t it wonderful to always have some things to make you feel home? The estuary and the beach surely make it sounds you were from an extraordinary hometown:)
Stunning photos and they brought back such happy memories of our four years in The Philippines. Although we lived outside Manila, we visited often, and the bay was a special place, although the beautiful islands of course are the real draw card for my memories
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Hi Joanna,
That’s interesting! Where did you live in the Phils? I agree, the islands are just spectacular.
What perfect timing! I’ve observed the sunset there several times but I haven’t taken pictures this wonderful. What was your settings?
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Hi Aleah,
The exposure setting for all the images were pretty much the same except for the shutter speed. I set the ISO to 250, the aperture to f5.6 and the shutter speed ranged from 1/40 to 1/500 sec. I took the meter reading on the darker area just next to the brighter ray. I underexposed by one stop to capture more saturation. Hope that helps.
There’s something very special about sunsets. We have an island off the coast where we spend a lot of our summer and there’s nothing better than finishing the day with cold drink and watching the different sunsets each night.
jenny@atasteoftravel recently posted..Tuesday Travel Bite: Red Rooster Rules in Harlem
Jenny, that sounds heavenly. On an island, watching sunset everyday with a cold drink — we’d love to do that everyday!
Great photos. There is something so special about taking the time to watch the sunset. Unfortunately, I only take that time when I am traveling!
Sensibletraveler recently posted..Top 5 Hikes of New Zealand
I know, we sometime get so bogged down with our daily minutiae that we sometime neglect to stop and appreciate one of the most beautiful free show on earth.
Manila Bay Sunset is still one of the best.
Micamyx|Senyorita recently posted..Why I Want to Visit Culion Island
Hi Mica,
Yes! It truly is.
Oh, so my feeling the first time i read your post about Bhutan is right! There is something about the way Filipinos write, i somehow discern it, so i clicked on About Us, and your look reinforced my first feelings. Then here you are, telling me I am right. So I am happy for you, happy, successful and enjoying your life at the other side of the fence, where there is greener grass! I envy your plenty of travels, hoping i have more funds too! Glad to meet you in blog.
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HI Andrea, i’m pleased to meet you as well. I sincerely hope that one day you get to realize your dreams of travels as well. Keep dreaming.