Cainta Rizal, Philippines

Today I went back for my 2nd rabies shot. Ouch, the guy who gave me this one hurt far more than the nurse before. Was it a bigger needle? Just 3 more shots to go. I'm planning to get the last two injections back in the UK on the NHS, and then claim back the expense on my health insurance. Watch this space to see if they actually pay up.

Today I returned to Santa Lucia Mall which I've already covered, so I'll share some shots and thoughts about Cainta Rizal, the province in Metro Manila where I'm staying.

The street is quite clean and houses are tightly packed. There's little noise at night though - people seem to be very considerate and friendly to their neighbours. Children play out in the streets and you often see them outside late at night, but usually within close proximity to their homes. Subdivisions are guarded with a gatehouse and security which is nice. Houses are fenced off and windows barred, by which I mean they are completely inaccessible to thieves. The iron fences cannot be climbed because (where necessary) they join horizontally to houses like a cage. There are many transport vehicles down my street (when not in use of course) including a Jeepney I photographed, and tricycle and people carriers.

Street in Cainta Rizal

Parked Jeepney

Family life is great. I'm staying with a Filipino family - Father, Mother, Daughter, Son and two cousins in one house. They live a rich family life, having much fun together. Everyone knows their place and they all help each other. They are so kind and I couldn't hope to have better people to stay with.

The commercial streets of Cainta Rizal are full of shops and services as you might expect. I'm not used to seeing dental practices and doctors in such tightly packed places though alongside food shops, mechanics, scrap merchants and auto repairs. As mentioned before, look in my photos for the crazy tangle of powerlines supplying electricity to the shops.

As ever the streets are packed with people, jeepneys, tricycles, motorbikes and other vehicles. People wander in and out of the traffic as and when they can, while right of way for vehicles doesn't exist and they pull in wherever they can. But it seems to work well and is necessary as many areas do not have traffic lights and so drivers simply pull into the traffic until someone eventually has to stop and let them through.

Shops in Cainta Rizal

Shops in Cainta Rizal

Shops in Cainta Rizal

Doctors Surgery Sign (left side)

Its worth remembering this page is about Cainta and not Manila. People are quite proud of their province and to refer to it as just 'Manila' is quite rude, even though the term Metro Manila refers to Manila and its 16 provinces as a whole.

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