Travel Diary: Manila, Philippines - February 2017
I just returned from my second international trip of 2017, this time to Manila. It was an awesome and eye-opening experience, especially since it was my first venture outside the relative comfort of Japan or Korea. The Philippines felt like a logical choice for me since English is widely spoken, which helped navigate the city and culture more easily.
Day 1 - Going to MNL
I opted to fly with Delta, which still operates 747s. There's just something charming about these older planes that I love, especially since most airlines have shifted to 767s, 777s, or A330s. This might even be the last year Delta flies the 747.
After nearly 18 hours, I finally arrived in Manila, followed by an intense two-hour ordeal with the infamous Manila traffic before reaching my hotel. I was too exhausted to eat, so I opted for a couple of Johnnie Walkers instead. To my surprise, the price of JW Blue Label was only 700 PHP ($14 USD), while JW Black was 350 PHP ($7 USD). After a few taste tests, I found that they tasted almost the same, making me question the value of spending double. In any case, the Johnnie Walker hit the spot and helped me unwind after such a long flight (I refrained from drinking during travel to stay sober and alert).
Day 2 - SM Mega Mall
After a good night’s rest, I woke up at 7 am and thought it was late! With the mall opening at 10 am, I killed time at Starbucks, enjoying my coffee while queuing for the doors of SM Mega Mall. SM is a major brand in Manila, with several large malls, the most famous being SM Mall of Asia on the other side of town. I didn’t want to deal with the traffic to visit that one, so SM Mega Mall was more than sufficient. It’s massive, housing around 800-1,000 stores, many of which are major American, European, and Asian brands. The smaller store footprints made it possible to cram in so many options, making this mall a shopping paradise compared to what we have back home.
Day 3 - Hotel Room Service
Curious about hotel dining, I decided to try room service. The prices were reasonable, so I ordered a light salad and some other items. The food was decent—nothing to write home about—but the convenience was appreciated, and the prices were comparable to what I'd pay back home.
Days 4, 5, 6 - Work
Nothing much to report during my busy workdays. I mostly chilled at Starbucks, doing some people-watching and enjoying the views from my hotel room.
Day 6 - Sightseeing / Hotel Pool
With work completed, I had two days to myself for sightseeing. However, I quickly learned that downtown Manila is not a pedestrian-friendly city. I spent several hours walking around, but the hot and humid weather had me sweating profusely, necessitating frequent breaks to cool down and rehydrate at coffee shops or fast food joints. The sidewalks were in poor condition, and I often had to walk on the side of the road. Thankfully, traffic moved slowly, so as long as I used common sense, I felt safe.
One highlight was enjoying a Pina Colada, which tasted incredible after all that sweating, paired with a satisfying lunch of fish and chips.
Day 7 - SM Mega Mall
For my last day, I returned to the mall as the weather turned overcast and it began to rain. I spent the day hopping between various coffee shops and cafes, all of which were quite good. One standout was Satchmi, where I enjoyed a decent cappuccino. With about 40-50 coffee shops in the mall, I could see myself loving this place. It’s something I wish we had more of back in the States.
Day 8 - Return Home (MNL, NRT)
The flight back was surprisingly easier, and there was no traffic on the way to NAIA airport in Manila. I had a generous five hours to relax before my flight. My layover at Narita (NRT) was enjoyable, one of the better places to pass time.
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