Manila really surprised me. I must admit I was a little wary heading into the most populated city on the planet. I arrived at Clark Airport and bussed down to Manila (2 hours drive). From the airport, I decided to brave a taxi to my hotel. The driver couldn't read so I was navigating from my phone in the back seat. You know what? He whinged the entire time about how I could have got a hotel closer to the airport. I had chosen Makati as it was on the way to where my couchsurfing host lives.
Auie, my couchsurfing host, and I
After a while the car started overheating. It had 400,000 on the clock and it really was a mystery how the car was still even on the road. He pulled over to get some water to pour on the radiator and when he hopped back in he told me to get out. But I was still a kilometre from my hotel! He wanted 500 pesos ($13.24) for his troubles (the agreed price was 200-250 peso). Stupid me gave him 200 pesos and he promptly threw me out of the car and drove off.
So I got on my phone and ordered a Grab (like Uber) and was finally picked up and dropped off at my hotel. The driver also wouldn't accept any money for the trip as a welcome to Manilia after what had happened with my original taxi driver.
I surprised myself and what I thought was a hostel room turned out to be a private room with my own bathroom. I can't tell you how happy this made me. I relished my privacy after staying in hostels for a few weeks.
The room was pretty basic but the aircon was cold and I could order whatever I wanted by Grab and it really was quite comfortable.
The next day I checked out of my hotel room and caught a Grab to a nearby mall. My couchsurfing host, Auie, was working from home so I decided to keep myself busy so not to disturb her. I had my backpack with me, which happens to weigh ~12kgs and it was a terribly hot day. So I decided to take myself to a movie. There wasn't much showing that wasn't blood and gore, so I settled for a romantic drama 'Under Parallel Skies'. It was about a thai boy and filipina girl who fall in love and stuff happens (I won't spoilt it for those who want to watch it) The highlight for me was that they had ube cotton candy. A great way to spend a few hours in the heat of the day!
Venice shopping mall - has a canal through the complex
When I got to Auie's apartment, I couldn't have been made more welcome. Auie and her daughters are all fantastic people and I feel as though I have made new friends for life. This was my first couch-surfing experience and I am a convert. I will only stay with female hosts, but what a wonderful way to experience a place.
Auie's beautiful daughters
Auie cooked some delicious food for us and we spent the evening getting to know each other. These ladies have been through so much, I am in awe of how kind and strong they are.
Jeepney we rode
It was Choco the pup's first jeepney ride too
The next day we went over to the nearby Philippines University for an ice-cream and a jeepney ride. Then we headed to Mall of Asia where I got to try some different Filipino food such as adobe and true halo halo. At sunset we went across the road to watch the sun fall into the ocean across Manila Bay. Absolutely stunning.
The final stop of the day was Rizal Park. In the evening locals gather here to picnic and enjoy the water fountain show, get some exercise and maybe even take a pony and cart ride around the park. There is no way I would have come here by myself and it was so special to hang out with the locals in the relative cool of the evening.
I had an early flight the next morning. So Auie and her friend drove me into the airport. Next stop was Bangkok for a few days.
Whilst I was in South Korea, on the train back to Seoul from Busan, I met a lovely thai girl, Sine. We arranged to catch up for a meal whilst I was in Bangkok. She had just come off a nightshift (pharmacist) and we'd agreed to meet at the local train station to where I was staying. Only she slept through her alarm! After much to and fro, she sent a Grab bike for me.
I can't explain the feeling of freedom you get from darting through the street of a foreign city on the back of a bike, no clue where it's actually taking you. I live for this stuff! I finally found myself at another mall (I guess hanging out in airconditioning is a smart move during a prolonged heat wave). We met up and were joined by another pharmacist friend of hers. I am not a huge seafood fan - I'm not allergic, just a preference thing - but I invited Sine to pick the dishes we would be sharing for dinner. It was great to taste authentic thai flavours, even if I did have seafood breath afterwards...
The next day I thought it would be a great idea to have a massage. Next to my hostel (which I upgraded from a dorm bed to a private room) was a little massage place. When it came time to select from the menu, I thought 'Why not give an oil massage a try?' My skin was getting pretty dry. Anyway, when they say oil massage, it's not some delightful fragranced aromatherapy oil. No. It is like tiger balm - you know the deep heat type lotion that you rub into sore muscles? Yeah, that. All. over. your. body. But I took it like the woman I am. To tell you the truth, I actually felt amazing afterwards. Just not what I was expecting, is all.
Finally, the day came where I would be flying off to my new home for the next 2 months, Chiang Mai. Through a family friend, I have secured a private bedsit condo with building security and a pool for 8 weeks and after such a frantic trek through 5 countries in 7 weeks, I was more than keen to settle down for a bit.
Bob Connell has been a friend of my family for forever. And he has made my transition to Thai lease holder seamless. I was treated to a delicious roast chicken and veges dinner and his home-made Baileys (I bought a bottle for myself from him). My condo is perfect for me to make my home for the next 2 months. It is quite spacious and has a little balcony that overlooks the Ping River. When I got here, I actually took a few days of RnR, ordering in and just recovering from the whiplash of visiting so many new places in a short span of time.
My Swiss friend, Romane, is also here in Chiang Mai at the moment, so we have caught up and did a bit of temple trekking and had some beers with some other friends she has made along the way.
Romane and I are booked in to do the Thai Motorcycle License course next week, which I am sure will be fun and educational. It's a 3 day course and we should come out competent and confident on a scooter bike. Then there'll be no stopping us, I'm sure.
Angie, I am loving your adventures!