Manila Mayhem: A Botanist's Unexpected Adventure (and a LOT of Humidity)
okay, so manila. i wasn’t exactly planning on manila. i was supposed to be in palawan, chasing some rare orchids, but… well, let’s just say a rogue typhoon had other plans. ended up here, stuck for a bit, and honestly? it’s been… something.
I just checked and it’s… a damp hug out there right now. twenty-five point something degrees, feels like even more with this humidity. Eighty percent? seriously? my hair is staging a full-blown rebellion. i’m pretty sure my glasses are permanently fogged.
I’m a botanist, right? I’m used to humidity. I’m used to weird ecosystems. But manila… it’s a different beast. It’s concrete and chaos and the most incredible, tenacious plant life clinging to every available surface. Vines bursting through cracks in the pavement, bougainvillea exploding over walls, these tiny, vibrant flowers pushing through the rubble. It’s… inspiring, in a completely overwhelming way.
I spent a day wandering around Intramuros, which was… intense. So much history crammed into one place. The walls, the churches, the sheer weight of it all. I tried to find some interesting mosses growing on the old stones, but mostly just got stared at by security guards. Apparently, botanists aren’t allowed to scrape lichen off historical landmarks. Who knew?
Someone told me that the best place to get authentic adobo is in Binondo Chinatown. Apparently, there’s this tiny hole-in-the-wall place that’s been run by the same family for generations. I haven’t found it yet, but it’s on the list. I’m also trying to track down some Nepenthes (pitcher plants) - I heard there are some growing wild in the outskirts, but getting there is proving tricky.
My accommodation is… basic. A tiny room in a guesthouse near Quiapo Market. It’s loud. It’s chaotic. It smells faintly of fish and something unidentifiable. But it’s cheap, and it’s close to the action. I’ve been spending my evenings just sitting on the fire escape, watching the city pulse. It’s mesmerizing, in a slightly terrifying way.
I overheard some drunk tourists complaining about the traffic. Honestly, the traffic is a thing. It’s a swirling, honking, exhaust-filled beast. But even that has a certain rhythm to it. It’s just… part of the manila experience.
If you get bored, Tagaytay is just a short drive away - apparently, you can see Taal Volcano from there. I might head there tomorrow if the weather cooperates. I’m also thinking about checking out the National Museum of the Philippines. I need a break from the concrete jungle, and a dose of air conditioning.
I’ve been relying heavily on TripAdvisor for restaurant recommendations - https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g298460-Manila.html. Yelp is okay too, but it’s not as comprehensive here. https://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=restaurants&find_loc=Manila%2C+Philippines. I also found a really helpful forum for expats living in manila - https://www.expat.com/forum/philippines-manila-13/.
I heard that you shouldn't wander around Quiapo Market alone at night. Something about pickpockets and… other things. I’m taking that as a solid piece of advice.
Honestly, manila is not what I expected. It’s loud, it’s chaotic, it’s humid, and it’s… alive. It’s got this raw, untamed energy that’s both exhilarating and exhausting. I still miss palawan and my orchids, but I’m starting to appreciate this unexpected detour. Maybe there are some interesting plants to be found here after all.