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The bustling city of Manila in the Philippines was going to be my home for seven months and I soon found that this amazing city truly lived up to its old name as being the 'Pearl of the Orient'.
Manila has something for everyone. Heavily influenced by American culture, you'll find Starbucks and fast food restaurants on every corner of the city. Several of Asia's largest malls are also to be found here and they can offer anything from reasonably priced South Sea pearls to your own private Karaoke room.
It is the most densely populated city in the world and is one of the 1 6 cities that make up Metro Manila, which has a population of 20 million people. The earliest written account of the city dates back to the Spanish era and it was described as a native settlement when the first Spanish ships arrived. Manila eventually became the centre of Spanish trade activities and got the name 'The Pearl of the Orient'. The Americans took control in 1898 and contributed to the city's urban planning and development, most of which was destroyed in the devastation of World War II. Since then, Manila has been rebuilt and revitalised, with several parks and high rise buildings.
You are never bored while living and working in Manila. There is always a new restaurant to try or a new part of the city to explore. Whether you live there or you are just visiting, a...