Manila

Our flight was largely uneventful, except for the first few minutes after take off where the cabin began to fill with steam, a product of the overzealous air-conditioning crossing with the humid air filled cabin. Quite funny for us, who have seen it before, but not so for a few others who weren’t sure what was happening. They usually make an announcement when they know it will happen, but said nothing!

We chatted briefly with the tall English guy seated next to us in the exit row (as we were the tallest three on the flight!) and then made our way by cab to the ‘burbs’ of Manila to our hostel.

To our surprise our cab driver was friendly, didn’t try to rip us off and made decent time out to our not-so-easy to find hostel (and the hostel knows it, giving us 12 step directions to give to the cabby!)

To our second surprise at 11pm on a Tuesday evening, we were greeted very enthusiastically by another backpacker and then our host who had been waiting for us hoping we would go out with them! We had to wait for three others to arrive, who turned out to be the guy next to us and the two people in front of us on the flight – the only “white-ies” ! And then we were off!

Day 260 – Keeping strange hours

I’ve started a new day, as it was probably at least midnight by the time we had arrived at Quattro, our host Aldrich's bar of choice. All systems were go with a live band and lots of Filipino males to make me feel special. The biggest beer we have ever seen arrived shortly after, as did dinner and we ended up chatting and drinking until 6am (which was 7am Japan time!)

The sun was up again by the time we got home so we had a morning nap and headed out about 1pm to find water and 7-Eleven for slurpies! After our morning walk through the suburbs, we had decided that the only things Manila had in common with Japan were the heat, the crowds and better public transport than Melbourne – apart from that we were in culture shock!

Our palatial Red Carabao Hostel was set up in the 7 storey family home of Aldrich, who had been educated in California and convinced his parents to let him open it as his ‘business project’. He’s doing well, rated second on Hostelworld which is where we found him!

In the afternoon we decided to educate ourselves about the Philippines, it’s islands, where we shouldn't go due to travel warnings and what we wanted to do. We hit the local mall for some sustenance in the form of pizza, and took home some delicious looking fresh vegies and salmon burgers from the supermarket – fresh vegies were individually placed on a pedestal and cost about $10 each in Japan so we were craving them! More planning followed and we decided to head to Sabang Beach in Baler (Northern Luzon) for me to get my first surf lesson!

Our ride to the mall – a tricycle! Essentially a dirt bike with a covered side car welded on, very common transport in Manila and very scary! But at least you can’t see what’s coming.

Our street – one of the cleaner ones! Manila would have to be the most “full on” city we’ve been too. Sprawling, disorganised, noisy, grotty, crowded and intimidating with the amount of stares, smile-nods and winks I get!!