Dust & Dim Sum: Lost in Manila
okay, so, i’m pretty sure i’m running on fumes and lukewarm coffee. the humidity here is… intense. i just checked and it's...there right now, hope you like that kind of thing. 25.84 degrees, feels like 26.54, pressure 1011, humidity 79. it’s clinging to everything. like a really insistent friend you can’t shake.
manila. it’s a sensory overload in the best and worst ways. i landed yesterday and immediately felt like i’d stepped into a film reel - a really old, slightly scratched one. the jeepneys are insane. seriously, they’re like mobile art installations on wheels. and the traffic? don’t even get me started. it’s a beautiful, chaotic ballet of honking and near misses.
my hotel, the *Casa Manila, is… well, it’s charmingly dilapidated. think faded wallpaper, creaky floors, and a faint smell of mothballs. it’s got character, i guess. i’m sharing a room with a guy named Leo who collects vintage postcards. he’s a quiet one, mostly just stares at the wall and occasionally mutters about the Spanish colonial era. someone told me that he used to be a competitive chess player. wild.
spent the morning wandering around Intramuros, the old walled city. it’s seriously impressive, all those stone walls and cobblestone streets. it feels like stepping back in time. i stumbled upon this amazing little hole-in-the-wall eatery - Lola Ising’s Dim Sum. the pork siomai was chef’s kiss. i’m talking melt-in-your-mouth, savory perfection. i overheard a group of students talking about how it’s the best dim sum in the city, but also that the owner, Lola Ising, is notoriously grumpy. i’m not sure i’m brave enough to confront her.
I’m trying to keep a loose itinerary, but honestly, i’m just letting the city guide me. i downloaded this app called TripAdvisor* - it’s mostly just a collection of questionable reviews and blurry photos, but it’s better than nothing. i also found a local Facebook group for expats in Manila. it’s a chaotic mess of recommendations, complaints, and random memes.
Speaking of recommendations, someone told me to check out Binondo Chinatown. apparently, it’s the oldest Chinatown in the world. i’m planning on heading there tomorrow. i heard that the street food is incredible, but also that you have to be careful about where you eat - some places aren’t exactly up to code. i’m going to be cautious, obviously. i’m not trying to end up in a hospital.
I’m also trying to capture some photos for my Instagram. it’s a struggle. the light is weird here, and everything looks a little… washed out. i’m experimenting with different filters, but nothing seems to quite work. i need a better camera. or maybe just a better eye.
I’ve been spending my evenings wandering around Poblacion, the nightlife district. it’s packed with bars, restaurants, and street performers. it’s loud, it’s crowded, and it’s utterly exhausting, but it’s also… exhilarating. i saw a guy playing the ukulele and singing about lost love. it was surprisingly moving.
I’m trying to avoid tourist traps, but it’s hard. everyone keeps trying to sell me things. i’m pretty sure i’ve been offered a massage, a tour, and a timeshare in the last hour. i just keep saying “no, thank you.”
I’m starting to feel a little overwhelmed, to be honest. but also… alive. this place is intense, it’s messy, it’s beautiful. i’m not sure what i’m going to do next, but i’m going to keep exploring. if you’re ever in Manila, be prepared for a sensory overload. and maybe bring some earplugs. and a really good map. if you get bored, Cebu and Davao are just a short drive away.
I heard that the best way to experience Manila is to just get lost. and to eat a lot of dim sum. seriously, go to Lola Ising’s. you won’t regret it. (unless you hate pork siomai, then maybe you will.)