Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ARRIVAL AND INFORMATION
MALOLOS
By bus First North Luzon Transit buses have hourly
departures to Malolos from the Five Star terminal in Cubao
in Manila (674 EDSA at Monte de Piedad St).
Tourist information The helpful provincial tourist o ce
is in the Capitol Building (Mon-Fri 8am-5pm; T 044 791
7335, W bulacan.gov.ph).
EATING
Enlin's Bakeshop 53 A. Mabini St T 044 662 4350.
Malolos is famed throughout the Philippines for its
ensaymada , a sweet, buttery bread treat, often crowned
with grated cheese and sliced salted egg. Enlin's , opposite
the church, sells boxes of the delicacy for P100 - they also
sell ube (purple yam) flavour and popular pastel de leche .
Tues-Sat 8am-7pm.
2
Clark and Angeles City
Some 80km north of Metro Manila, CLARK (or more formally Clark Freeport Zone;
W
www.clark.com.ph) is an odd mix of converted barracks, unappealing duty-free malls,
IT industrial zones, golf courses and prostitution. Indeed, Clark and adjacent ANGELES
CITY remain one of the Philippines' most notorious sun and sex destinations, with dozens
of “girlie bars” catering to high-spending Western, Korean and Taiwanese males. Clark
was the site of an American military base between 1903 and 1991, and like Subic Bay
(see p.125) has been transformed into a “freeport zone” (a tax- and duty-free zone) since
the departure of the US Air Force. It's been far less successful in shedding its sleazy image,
however, though the airport has proved popular with budget airlines. If you are travelling
to the airport or aiming to climb Pinatubo or Arayat , you may end up spending some
time here, but otherwise there's little reason to linger. If you have to overnight in Clark,
keep in mind that the hotels are almost universally geared to prostitution.
The name “Clark” is generally used to refer to the former base and the tourist area
of Angeles City around it, particularly Fields Avenue on the south side where most of
the bars are.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
CLARK AND ANGELES CITY
By plane Several budget carriers connect Clark International
Airport ( W crk.clarkairport.com), inside the former base area,
with Singapore, Taipei, Seoul, Kuala Lumpur, Macau, Cebu and
other regional destinations. Outside the terminal there's a
small convenience store and an ATM. Plenty of fixed-rate taxis
meet each flight, but these are expensive (and drivers will try
and charge more if they can): anywhere within Clark (inclu-
ding Fields Ave) is P350, the Dau bus terminal (see below) is
P450 and Angeles City P500. Jeepneys (with a/c) run from the
airport when full (minimum eight people) and charge P50
to anywhere in Clark or to the Dau bus terminal. Philtranco
( T 02 851 8078, W philtranco.com.ph) runs expensive (P450)
but direct buses to Manila from the airport at 12.30am,
12.30pm and 5.30pm. Coming in the other direction, buses
depart Manila at 6.30am, 11.30am and 8.30pm.
By bus For most destinations, head to the Dau bus
terminal (pronounced “Da-oo”) in nearby Mabalacat,
served by almost continual buses from the capital and
less frequently to and from Baguio, La Union, Aliminos and
Vigan. Another option for travelling between Manila and
Clark is the Fly-the-Bus service operated by Swagman
Travel ( T 02 523 8541 or 045 322 2890, W swaggy.com).
The bus leaves the Swagman Hotel , 411 A. Flores St, Ermita,
at 11.30am, 3.30pm and 8.30pm daily and serves a
number of hotels in Clark for P600 one-way (it heads
back to Manila at 8am, noon and 3pm).
ACCOMMODATION AND EATING
Aling Lucing Sisig G. Valdez St T 045 888 2317. When
it comes to eating, Angeles City is known as the “Sisig
Capital of the Philippines”; the dish (made from parts of a
pig's head and liver, usually seasoned with calamansi and
chilli), was first cooked up at this unassuming restaurant in
1974. It's still the best place to sample it but ask how much
it'll cost before you order; the restaurant notoriously does
not publish prices. Daily 6am-3am.
Narcisus St, Nepo Mart 1 Complex T 045 323 7832.
Much loved local sweet treat supplier, where the signature
buko sherbet (also served with lychees) comes at P20 per
scoop. Daily 10am-6.30pm.
Holiday Inn Clark Mimosa Leisure Estate, Mimosa
Drive T 02 845 1888, W holidayinn.com. Your best bet
for accommodation is this decent chain hotel, not far from
the airport but slightly isolated from the rest o f Angeles
City (a good thing). Internet is P500/24hr. P3650
Gill's Buko Sherbet & Ice Cream 31-32 Pasillio
 
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