One Night in Manila

Today is my true last day in Asia, crazy. After three months and adjusting to this life here, now I would soon have to revert back to my American location, ways, and norms, just as I was getting use to it here. But, all I can do is look back in gratitude to have been able to embark upon this journey and do so for such an extended period of time.

It was bittersweet getting my last smoothie bowl for breakfast, hopping in the shuttle to the airport, and taking in the filipino landscape around me. I did have a task to do on the ride to the airport and that was my fantasy draft. I was a bit nervous about my signal, and my nerves were rightly justified. I was able to draft my first few players with ease, but my precious third and fourth pick were autodrafted as my reception gave out just as it was my turn. I was a bit frazzled knowing this was an important spot to get the last good players, and my faith rested in the hands of the program. I wasn't too happy about how the autodraft did when I returned to signal, but what can you do.

When I got to the airport, I had quite the time the time at the check in counter and here's the story. Apparently my overhead had to be less than 7 kg and I have no idea how it made its way up to 10.8kg. I thought they were saying it had to be 10kg, so I took out one thing to bring it down to 10, thinking perfect I did it! But nope, it still had another 3kg to go. They told me I had to take stuff out or check it for $60. There was no way I was going to pay that much, so I kept taking stuff out until 8.5kg, having it all in my hands. I kid you not, and they approved the carry on. I took it with me to security cradling a glob of my stuff until I dropped it all in a bin to walk through the scanners, then scoped it back up when I was through. When I got to the gate, I realized I still had my big bag with me that I could just put my stuff right back in it. And I did just that. Thank goodness I didn’t pay the $60 and they let me do this little scheme, but it all felt stupid for me to do these theatrics. But whatever works to save that money and it was overweight so they were nice enough to let me take that stuff out even though I didn’t have room in my other bag to put it in. 

So, I sat at the airport gate, got on the plane, and flew the quick flight to Manila. Not much to it. When I got to Manila, I went to find the taxi place because although my hostel was close to the airport, it was across a major freeway. So I ordered a cab. While headed there, I saw a girl that I recognized in El Nido and Coron, so this was the third time I was seeing her. I was almost tempted to ask where she was headed and if she wanted to split a cab, but there were so many hostels in Manila there’s no way she’s going to the same as me, it would be a waste to ask. But sure enough, when I got to my hostel, she was behind me checking in, and ended up in the bed next to me. 

When we saw each other at the hostel we finally spoke up, having to because we both were in awe of how much our trip overlapped. My plan was to shop before meeting up with Khay for dinner, and she asked to join me and of course I said yes! Making friends was the easiest for sure here in the Philippines, I was almost never alone the whole time I was here and it was nice I won’t lie. 

The place we had in mind for lunch ended up being a food truck, and it was raining a bit so after our 45 minute ride through traffic, we arrived at a closed restaurant. Tough look. She was also vegetarian, so that worked out about finding a place together and her being so understanding about finding vegan food. We settled on a nearby Mexican place. When I tell you this place had terrible food, that is an understatement. We ordered chips and guac, getting barely any chips and dip, the chips were color dyed and greasy with oil. Then my meal had both cheese and mayo on it after asking them to take it off, and her meal literally had meat in it. And it wasn't a good veggie burger, and she ordered a taco salad that came out as literal soup. Sad ending to my Asia foodie experience to say the least.

Now it was time to shop. I was on the hunt for some cute beach shorts along with the bag from Uniqlo because I wouldn’t be able to find it in the states and I really wanted one. So, we started at the mall nearby, walking around checking out the different stores but not actually getting anything until H&M. We did pick up some food along the way like coffee from Muji, popcorn from the theater, and even checked out the grocery store in the basement of the mall. But once we located H&M it was game time. We both got something, she got a lovely dress and I got a cute long sleeve. Opposite of what I needed, but it was such good material and the best color, only $8 that I couldn’t resist. I tried on some shorts but they didn't fit. Once we did all we wanted in that mall, we walked toward Uniqlo and where I would be meeting Khay. With our wandering around the mall, slow lunch, and late start, it was already 5pm when we got to Uniqlo. I got a text from Khay saying that she was arriving an hour earlier, so I would have to head to our dinner spot after this store. I wish I didn’t get the popcorn because I would be eating so soon and the popcorn really did fill me up (the movie theater popcorn for $2 lol I couldn’t resist). I got my bag at Uniqlo and my friend got the same one just a different color! 

After our shopping there, we went our separate ways, she was heading back to the hostel because she had an early 6am flight, and I was headed to Shaka in Manila to meet Khay. It wasn’t too far of a walk and I was in the nicest part of the entire city that I felt very safe walking there. I got there a bit before her, finding us a table and getting acquainted. When I saw her, it was so fun and sweet to see her again! Our third time hanging out together, and in three different places in the Philippines which is crazy!

We talked about all sorts of stuff. My time in Palawan, my plans going forward, her being back at home, her new tattoos, etc. Of course we didn’t run out of stuff to talk about. 

We migrated from Shaka to Rue to grab some drinks, it was practically next door to Shaka. At first we had a small table by the bar, but then the table by the window opened up and we moved over there and it was more vibey. We sat there for a couple hours with our drinks, I got a mocktail and she a beer, and chatted up a storm, a lot about what we learned from traveling solo and our families. It was such a sweet conversation.

We then were craving desserts so we tried going to a nearby thai place for mango sticky rice, but they made it with dairy, so then Khay navigated us to a vegan dessert place 30 minute walk away, but when we got there it was closed and we ended up at the closest restaurant which was a Burger King. At this point it was midnight, having been hanging out for almost 6 hours. But, she came all the way up to Manila and wanted to make the most of her time here and I’m glad she did. It was such a fun end to my time in Asia, shopping and dinner with a friend was probably the best way I could’ve spent my time in Manila. 

After our BK eats, it was getting late, we had spent all night together that it was definitely getting time to say goodbye and goodnight. It was almost 1am and we were at a Burger King in the outskirts of Manila, surely meaning it was time to go. There was almost no traffic and the cab was dirt cheap which was so nice. So, I got back to my hostel, got ready for bed, and I crawled into the cozy bed to get as good of a nights rest as I could before my hefty flight the next day.