Last nite on the roof terrace I had seen a large complex of temple style buildings but nobody seemed to know how to get here when I asked the staff. I was quite curious and intrigued to see something like this in the Philippines so far south in a region predominantly Muslim in a predominantly Christian country so wanted to find it.It took some navigating local alleys, getting lost, and directed back to the main street before I was able to find it. The simplest wa...

Passing by City Hall I saw a sign outside a bank for a museum. I asked the armed security guard what it was for and he said there was a museum inside the bank but that I needed to ask the bank managerCurious I went inside and was told he was on lunch. The bank was a typical modern branch of any bank and I'm curious where this 'museum' was and whether it would just be one room of some old typewriters and photos.After exploring Rio Hondo and Fort Pillar (see last t...

I was interested in seeing some Churches in Zamboanga to contrast the Temples in Taiwan and Mosques I had been seeing on Mindanao Island. Also walking around I was discovering more of downtown, or City Proper as the locals say.There were many modern shopping centres surprising for a town characterized as being "so dangerous". The main downtown strip had several department stores though I didnt go in to look around and compare pricesOutside typically is an armed s...

Wandering around I came to an internet cafe and I hadnt logged on since finding a cafe in Marawi. An hour cost 15P (.35 cents). I was able to do my online check in for my two flights home but they didnt have a printer for the boarding card.I asked the lady wearing a headscarf who worked there. She said I needed a USB which I didnt have but she took me to another internet cafe a few stores away. They said the same thing that they can't do print outs though they ha...

The neighbourhood behind Fort Pillar called Rio Hondo is home to a Muslim community that lives on floating wooden homes. I was told by the tourist info office it was safe to visit so long as I don't cross a bridge to the other side of the river where "some bad boys may follow you and steal your camera".After passing thru a welcome gateway there is a co-ed Islamic school and local Mosque. The girls wore loose green clothing with a white headscarf. It was lunch pla...