The Stoked Traveler has always been awed by Chinese history, culture, arts and the mysticism of their practices. What better way to celebrate all these than to be at the core of everything Chinese in Manila – Binondo.
Chinese New Year 春節 begins on the first full moon of the year. This year it falls on January 23 — it is the Year of the Dragon! It is the longest and most important festival in the Chinese calendar (at 15 days) and is centuries old. Windows and doors are decorated in red promoting good fortune, happiness, and longevity. For many, the Chinese New Year is about reconciliation and wishing peace and happiness for all.
His actually only been to Binondo once. His been to a few Chinese territories outside the country but has not yet learned to appreciate the beauty of little China in the Philippines.
Like in the previous visit, he expects to have long walks along the narrow and busy streets of Ongpin. Since it is a Chinese New Year, his mom asked to go with him to buy charms to boost good luck and shield from negative energy. The Stoked Traveler does not believe in charms. He believes that good fortune comes to those who does hard work and has good faith. Nonetheless, a request such as buying a few (or so he thought) trinkets is not too much to say no to. After visiting both Quiapo and Sta. Cruz churches, they went straight to the bustling mercantile section of China town.
Ongpin Street is generally known to be lined-up with vendors of these so-called good luck charms. His mom picked up a few and alas they weren’t very cheap. Come to think of it, the lucky ones are the ones who sell these ‘glorified’ pieces of metals and stones stitched together to make bracelets or hanging ornaments. Just by adding a little knowledge of feng shui and a persuasive story about good-bad fortune, these peddlers get to have a good sale.
The thing that amazed him the most is the numerous lion and dragon dances held around China town. There were also other street performers dancing, playing loud music and even doing fire-breathing acts. A few parades also passed by as he was waiting in line to buy the famous ‘Shanghai fried siopao’.
Food tripping is a recommended must do for non-shopping fanatics while in Binondo. Only here can you dine in an old Chinese resto with that authentic Chinese menu and taste. He spotted a nearby resto not far from where he bought the fried siopao, kikiam, tikoy and machang.
“OngPin Sa-Lido Restaurant” was packed with people both Chinese and Filipino alike. Like the Stoked Traveler, Chinese food must have really got these diners by their taste buds!
An order of “8 treasures” soup, birthday pancit canton, Pata-tim and two small bowls of rice cost approximately P850. He and his mom got a special discount that reduced the price down by a hundred pesos plus a free tikoy. The food was ok but the service given to them made the price a better deal. The pancit canton was a big disappointment because it tasted a little like soap (atleast with that he knows that they use soap to wash dishes). Nonetheless, the soup and the hefty cut of Pata-tim was enough to get them full. They couldn’t order chicken feet or other dimsum because these were already all sold out at that time!
An order of “8 treasures” soup, birthday pancit canton, Pata-tim and two small bowls of rice cost approximately P850. He and his mom got a special discount that reduced the price down by a hundred pesos plus a free tikoy. The food was ok but the service given to them made the price a better deal. The pancit canton was a big disappointment because it tasted a little like soap (atleast with that he knows that they use soap to wash dishes). Nonetheless, the soup and the hefty cut of Pata-tim was enough to get them full. They couldn’t order chicken feet or other dimsum because these were already all sold out at that time!
The loud drumming and lion/dragon dances went on until nightfall. There were less people on the street and it was much easier to navigate. The sudden drop in price of the trinkets invited his mom to buy a few more too.
Minus the heavier spending, this trip was a much better one than the last time he was in Binondo. For the Stoked Traveler, just the chance to capture Chinese New Year and experience the festiveness of its celebration right at the heart of Filipino-Chinese community in the Philippines was worth the hassle of busting through the thick crowds and leaving more than a thousand pesos poorer than when he started this trip.
0 Comments
