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.