Manila City Tour

Toured the old part of Manila including the Walled City, Ft Santiago, and an old church. 

Front gate of the fort

Fort was at the mouth of the Pasig river and on Manila Bay. Due to land reclamation, it is no longer near the bay or the mouth of the river.  This is a view looking down the Pasig river.

 Front gate from inside the fort

The fort is inside the Walled City.  It is the oldest part of the city and was built during the Spanish Period (16th century) and was heavily damaged in WW2.

You can travel like Cinderella!  

San Agustin church.  Started in 1586 and competed in 1607

The not so pretty part of Manila.  

Gate to the walled city

Part of the walls

Manila American Cemetery and Memorial. There are over 17,000 graves and over 36,000 names of the Allies that died in the Pacific Theater in WW2.  It is the largest Pacific Theater cemetery for WW2 dead outside the US. 

Looking toward the enterance

Names of the dead and where they are from are carved on the walls

Subic Bay pics

I spent a few days diving in Subic Bay.  Unfortunately the rain y season was still going on so the visibility was not great.  Varied from 5 feet to only 25 feet.  I did get my deep diving certification while I was there though.   

One of the dive boats (not mine)

Some of the Subic Bay wrecks you can dive on.  I dove on the Japanese Patrol Boat, LCU, LST, USS New York (USS Rochester) and El Capitan as well as a Japanese Tabby aircraft (Japanese DC-3)

US Navy ship coming into port from exercises.  The Castle island in the picture was a casino/bar at one time. 

USS America amphibious assault ship was participating too. 

Couple more US Navy ships including a high speed transport catamaran 

Ore ship from South Africa.  Transfer the iron ore to smaller ships (shallower draft) to take to China.

Ship yard in Subic Bay

Views of Subic Bay during the one sunny day!

Corregidor Island tour part 2

Here are the rest of my pictures from Corregidor Island

Memorial to all the fallen during all the wars in the Philippines

Memorial to the fallen in the Pacific Theater in WW2

Pacific War Memorial 

Middle Barracks. Middle refers to the part of the island.  Barracks were destroyed by the Allied bombing/shelling before the re-capture of the island. 

These are the "Mile Long Barracks".  Refers to how far you have to walk to do a complete lap of the barracks.  Also destroyed by the Allies as they were being used by the Japanese.

Observation tower at Top Side. It is the only structure that survived both invasions in a usable state.  Light house in the background is newer but has been the sight of a few lighthouses over many years.

The Ordnance Shop held a hold out of Japanese soldiers that refused to surrender.  It was destroyed by Sherman tanks. 

Original flag pole at Topside

Movie theater at Top Side

View of Bataan from Corregidor

One of the destroyed (un-restored) batteries. I believe it is Battery Geary