Colourful Manila now open for business

When you think of the Philippines, think of colour. When you think of Manila, think of colour and vibrancy, an energetic buzz, and warm people who don't hesitate to help.

Manila is a thriving, bustling metropolis, teeming with people, noise, and the emblem of the Philippines – the colourful jeepneys.

And, after the wrath of Typhoon Haiyan, which hit much of the country in November and left more than 6000 people dead or missing, the capital is now open for business.

The Raffles Makati Hotel, which opened less than a year ago in the capital's upmarket Makati district, is a wonderful place from which to discover what the bustling city has to offer.

It is the first five-star hotel to open in Manila in almost two decades.

The staff – including a personal butler – make sure that we feel comfortable, fussing over us without making a fuss; quietly ushering us to our rooms, ensuring our luggage quickly follows.

In the room, I love that I can open the curtains without even getting out of the sumptuous bed, using the bedside panel that also operates almost everything – the lights, air conditioning, TV. And I can't wait to try out the ritzy expresso machine.

Despite it being close to midnight, there's still so much available for dinner: fresh fish, a huge range of cheeses, Asian dishes, Italian, steak.

I'll definitely need the gym and swimming pool here – and the personal pilates mat provided in my room.

The next day, after some rest and an extravagant breakfast, it's off to Old Manila and Intramuros.

The walled district ("intramuros" means "within wall") dates back to the late 1500s and features the country's oldest church.

The San Agustin Church and monastery, completed in 1607, contains the tomb of Manila's founder Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, along with beautiful bronze chandeliers.

One of its two towers, built in 1861, is missing. Damaged in an earthquake, it was demolished in 1881.

The nearby La Cocina de Tita Moning is an old colonial home housing an intriguing museum and homey restaurant.

The ancestral home of a prominent Manila family, it offers an insight into a leading figure of the time, a man who was a respected gynaecologist, a founder of the Manila photographic club and an avid reader who built an impressive personal library.

For the curious – and not-squeamish – the preserved fetuses in jars are fascinating.

The restaurant is upstairs and serves traditional Philippine cuisine – basically a fusion of Spanish and Chinese.

Another place that is a must-see in Manila, is the gold exhibition at the Ayala Museum. It takes your breath away. There are exquisite ear pieces and pendants, woven corded belts and chest pieces – all made of gold. The intricacy of the pieces created hundreds of years ago is astounding.

The modern, multi-level museum also houses an impressive collection of ancient and contemporary art, and a wonderful pictorial history of the country.

But Manila isn't all about culture and history.

There is a myriad of shopping outlets – from the bargain basement centres to the glitzy upmarket stores, such as Gucci, Armani and Burberry. And, remember, the Philippines is known as one of the best places for pearls.

A walk around Manila Bay is also enjoyable, and there's a great fish market. It's a blaze of colour with fresh fruit and vegetables for sale, as well as a huge range of seafood that can be cooked on the spot.

IF YOU GO

GETTING THERE: Philippine Airlines flies direct from Sydney and Melbourne to Manila, and from Brisbane and Perth via Darwin (philippineairlines.com).

Return economy fares to Manila (Fiesta economy class) start at $A1424 ex Sydney, $A1406 ex Melbourne, $A1503 ex Brisbane, $A1157 ex Perth, and $A644 ex Darwin (subject to availability/conditions.) For bookings call 1300 888 725.

STAYING THERE: Raffles Makati is 12km northwest of the airport, at 1 Raffles Drive, Makati Avenue, Makati. It is in Manila's financial and cultural hub and close to the upmarket Greenbelt shopping centre that houses many of the top brands such as Gucci and Burberry, plus a host of restaurants.

Prices start from about $A414 a night for the Raffles Junior Suite (raffles.com/makati).

PLAYING THERE: The gold exhibition at the Ayala Museum and the fish market are worth checking out (visit itsmorefuninthephilippines.com for more).

* The writer was a guest of Raffles Makati, Philippine Airlines and the Department of Tourism Philippines.

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