Philippines: Manila, and Lessons Learned

April 25: Used the excellent internet at the hotel to upload a bunch of pictures in order to make space on my phone and to catch up on social media until leaving for the airport. HUGE lineup outside of the airport just to get through the first security gate. Then, check bag or check in, pay a terminal fee, and go through the second security check in. Now, this security is SUPER relaxed. I had a full water bottle and they didn't notice :s 

Seems there was a LOT of congestion at the Manila airport which led to all flights being delayed at least 45 minutes. Got to Nikki's at 9pm; we caught up a little bit and were asleep by 11! 

April 26: Super chill day. Watched a movie, wrote a blog post, spent time being naked in the air conditioning with the hope of reducing the super uncomfortable heat rash, which SUCKS. HARD. I need to sleep with a fan on me at all times, or air conditioning. And I don't mean really cold a/c ... I want, like, 25 degrees Celsius to sleep. After a week in Port Barton, where there is no electricity after 1am, my heat rash looked like red pimples all over my butt and lower back; it hurt to sit. Thank goodness for baby powder and comfy chairs (when I could find them) and air conditioning. 

Left Nikki's at 6pm to meet up with her for dinner and a movie. It took almost 2 HOURS to go 11.5 km because the traffic here is absolutely NUTS, and I think I would probably die if I were to attempt to drive here. I do not understand the rules of the road, as there seem to be very few.  Never again will I complain about Toronto traffic. WHOA.

An incredible fresh salad at Salad Stop for dinner, then wandered through Pottery Barn and the mall until it was time to see Guardians of the Galaxy 2. IT. WAS. FANTASTIC. 

April 27: 

Manila is a thriving metropolis. Nikki works in BGC, a very recently developed commercial area full of expats. This means the prices are a little higher, it's super Westernized, and there are white people everywhere haha THERE'S EVEN A TIM HORTONS!!!! I spent my day working in different coffee shops, using free wifi where I could find it. 

There are gated communities all over the place. This could be from the Spanish invasion, or perhaps from an idea that we need to protect ourselves and our family. Even within gated communities, properties are often heavily fortified (concrete walls and barbed wire are common). It's quite intriguing. And if you want to drive through them, you have to know someone who lives in one who will get a sticker for your car, which costs some money. 

 We had dinner and drinks with Nikki's cousins. They're so nice, and a lot of fun. Dinner was in the old red light district, and then we went to a Brazilian restaurant for drinks and a snack, then to another fancy bar with a hilarious menu and delicious drinks. On right is my Tom Collins. 

April 28: It's a holiday in the city! We slept as late as we could and then went to Nikki's aunt and uncle's place to see her grandmother, eat a bunch of food, and watch movies. I tried ensaymada, finally, which was delicious. It was a super relaxing day of excellent wifi, air conditioning, and very little movement. Upon leaving. we decided to grab a drink in Rockwell. I had truffle aioli fries, bacon with chocolate dip (no joke. It was incredible), and some kind of excellent lavender cocktail.

Photo Credit: Nikki Lizares

April 29: Final day in Philippines! Did a walking tour of the Spanish quarter that was absolutely hilarious and fantastic. Well worth it. I highly recommend If These Walls Could Talk. I learned a lot, as did the Filipinos I was with. Seems that the city was really destroyed by the Vietnam war, with huge roles played by the Japanese Imperialists and the US. Jose Rizal is the national hero, so a large portion of this tour involved going through the Fort Santiago to learn all about his story.

 On the way back, we stopped in a church. It was absolutely beautiful. I can't tell you the name, but I know it's a huge one in Intramuros - the old walled city that once housed 8 churches until they were all destroyed. Slowly, they're being rebuilt.

We went to Wildflour for lunch and I was totally blown away by the pastries and sheer variety of amazingness. Quick hipster coffee shop and home for a nap before packing and getting on a plane to Vietnam!

Lessons Learned & Fun Facts

• Filipinos, in general, are generous and kind and friendly. I never felt uncomfortable or worried, and I could always ask someone for help. They would try even if their English wasn't great. And a huge group of us were invited to fiestas TWICE. 
• This country is absolutely beautiful. There are mountains all over, incredible white beaches, turquoise waters, so many diving and snorkeling options. 
• Concrete is used all over this place, which surprised me because I thought the humidity would ruin it; apparently not. 
• It is easier to be poor in the provinces rather than in the big cities. Out in the country, bamboo is easy to find as it is considered a weed. A house can be made with palms and bamboo, and working in fields is in demand. In a city like Manila or Cebu, I think begging would be really difficult, and there isn't bamboo just lying around. In Canada, we can't just chop down a usable weed to make a house or a boat, so people have more luck in the cities where there are services. Those kinds of services don't exist in the same way here. 
• It's really important for me to take time for self-care. I have to be okay with taking a day to sit in bed: watching movies, uploading pictures, talking to friends back home, reading. This is so important for my mental and physical health. I am no longer interested in or capable of being super active every day. I work best with a break in between my active days. So, if I snorkel one day, I'll have a beach day the next. Or, if I have a walking city tour one day, I'll go to a coffee shop the next. This is not being a bad traveler, or wasting my time, or missing opportunities. This is taking care of myself and listening to my body. That being said, it is easy to have one chill day turn into several, and I know that's not my best option. 
• I am incredibly grateful for such an incredible first month in Southeast Asia. Adventure, here I come!