Saturday, December 04, 2010

Cheap Thrill: Binondo and the Bay

If you are looking for the cheapest, yet exciting way to spend the day in Manila, I highly recommend spending it walking around Binondo and capping-it off with the famous sunset view of the Manila Bay.

Binondo, otherwise known as Chinatown is the centre of the vibrant Chinese community. You can walk through its main street Ongpin for only about ten minutes but wandering around its side streets can take hours. You will be lost in its enclave of goldsmiths, tea houses, herbalists and shops selling almost everything from dimsums to dried scorpions.

Speaking of dimsums, my favorite treat there is Kuchai Dimsum of Dong Bei. For a measly hundred bucks, you will be treated to a dozen dimsums prepared right before your very eyes. You can have it either deep fried or steamed.

Other cheap gastronomical treat worth mentioning here are the famous Ube Hopia of Eng Bee Tin, the fried Siopao and the Hakaw of Wye Ying. You may have these treats after (or before) exploring interesting places such as the centerpiece Binondo Church and the Chinese Temple among others.

Before the sun sets, it is a great idea to proceed to Manila Bay to have a glimpse of that renowned Manila Sunset. You can just sit around there for a couple of hours and enjoy your Binondo take-out as the last display of colorful lights fade into the night. Here are some pics:

The Making of Dong Bei Dumplings


Binondo Church Interior


Binondo Chinese Temple Interior


The Waiting Shadow


Walking on Water


In The Stillness of the Golden Hour


Docking into Darkness


Yatch into the Night


Dong Bei is a hole-in-the-wall restaurant located at 642 Yuchengco Street. Its about 5-10 minute walk from Binondo Church.

26 comments:

  1. Fantastic captures as always and of course I love those flaming skies! Plus the food looks delicious! Thanks for the tour!! Enjoy your weekend!

    Sylvia

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  2. I have heard a lot of good things about Dong Bei Dumplings and would definitely go there one of this days.

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  3. Can we sail in that yatch? It looks like its waiting for me and my imaginary friends. I wonder whats that oval object in the foreground..

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  4. i've been to Dong Bei. And truly their dumplings and other stuff are the best

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  5. Manlibre ka naman sa Dong Bei Aterni.

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  6. Ingat-ingat lang sa mga pupunta sa Binondo, madaming snatchers at magnanakaw dyan
    Hehe

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  7. i remember the dumplings during our meet... kami halos umubos. hahaha!

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  8. mukhang masarap yung dumplings ah!ma-try nga yan paguwi ko.

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  9. NIce naman!

    ANg sarap mag food trip diyan! Hehe :))

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  10. i highly recommend binondo and the bay for a sidetrip. yehey to dong bei!

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  11. that dumpling sure made me drool!

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  12. Man, those dumplings are a real treat.

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  13. I miss Binondo. Sana makadaan kami before yearend.

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  14. wow! i want to try this one of these days... thanks for sharing...

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  15. i know everyone loves dong bei, but not me.. di ko type. ewan ko ba. nagutom ako lalo after kumain jan.. hehe

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  16. I am so excited abt it.
    I might come to Manila by the end of this year..

    Can you help me decide what else we can do there ?

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  17. this would be a perfect day for me. i will keep this in mind when i find myself back into the arms of mother homeland.

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  18. dumplings. mukhang masarap tignan!
    pag pumunta ako ng binondo, nakatsinelas lang ako. hehe

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  19. ilang beses na kayong nag Binondo walk pero diparin ako nakakasama. hope ma-invite ako next time. at nang matry naman yang espesyal na siopao na yan. D:

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  20. geezzzz will try to go Binondo this Holiday season :D

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  21. I'm going Manila next year! Would love to visit this place! Thanks for sharing : )

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  22. Wootwoot! Dong bei! I miss their dumplings!!

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  23. na-miss ko tuloy yung Binondo walk na yan.sarap nga ng dumplings! hihi

    i like the 3rd pix a lot! asteeg! :)

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  24. I love Binondo and its gastronomic offerings. Dimsum is my all time favorite.

    Nice sunset shots.

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  25. woooo.. the pictures are so so pretty that it makes me wish for a holiday soon. Perfect sunset photos.

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