With an unpredictable weather nowadays, taking a rain check for a weekend getaway is inevitable. Rain makes mountain trails slippery and dangerous. On other hand, wearing layered outfit when the sun suddenly appears is also a hassle. So traveling away from the city may not be a top choice to do.

But a weekend warrior does what he must. So for this particular weekend, I decided to wander around a part of the country’s capital by means of a photowalk. Aside from rediscovery of Manila, it is also an exercise to improve my photography skills. Since I wanted to capture the happenings along Roxas Boulevard both during day and night, an overnight stay is useful. I checked in at the Red Planet Manila Bay which happens to be near to a number of points of interest.

Denim works with uncertain weather conditions.

Street Photography

Unfortunately, it rained on my parade. The photowalk at night didn’t go as planned as heavy rains continued. Plans became blurry. Brightside, bokeh looked better.

The next day was promising. Sun was up again. It’s a good day for a photowalk.

National Museum of Natural History

I was already expecting a long queue getting inside the renovated National Museum of Natural History. Luckily, it is five minutes away from Red Planet Manila Bay. So I came prepared and early.

The museum showcases collections and historical records of the local animals, plants, and geology.

The chosen proposal for retrofitting includes a glass dome which serves as the canopy leaves of the gorgeous supporting DNA-inspired structure called “The Tree of Life”.

The glass dome allows natural sunlight to pass through giving breath to the tree.

The newly-renovated museum created a tremendous hype. Weekend visits are blockbuster since then. So aside from looking around the installations and historical accounts, I also observed the visitors.

Most of the people went for photo ops. Some went as lovers.

I saw Princess Leia, a royalty from one Star Wars fanatic family.

But there are also few who paused and took time to learn more about the natural history of the Philippines.

Are we truly free as country?

National Museum of the Philippines waived the entrance fee forever. Everyone now has a free pass for life.

Red Planet

My staycation at Red Planet was also hitting two birds in one stone. Apart from a photowalk, I could also cross out some of my backlogs in blogging since my room and the common area are conducive workplaces.

With good and inviting lighting and more importantly fast Internet connection, slacking off may not be an option.

Red Planet Manila Bay is located along Roxas Boulevard and across the US Embassy.

A bed for two. Unfortunately, I stayed alone in the room.

Modern and minimalist are my types.

Some walls feature interesting scenes from everyday in Manila.

A good spot to read the dailies on what’s happening.

One of the coolest services of Red Planet Hotel is its app. It was my first time to experience a handy hotel receptionist.

The mobile application removes the use of intercom phones from the room connecting to the reception because everything you need from a receptionist is just few clicks away. Chat with the front desk or use the in-house phone feature. Plus, travel guides are also found in the app including where-to-go and where-to-eat.

Pied Piper is a restaurant located at the ground floor of Red Planet Manila Bay. I didn’t need to go far to eat especially when it was raining.

I also got a discount in the restaurant just by showing my check in from the said mobile application. When you register for REMEMBERED, you also get discounts from their partner restaurants. It’s also a loyalty program that rewards its members 10% discount to bookings in all Red Planet branches and 25% off during the entire birth month.