Manila Mayhem: Humidity, Halo-Halo, and Honestly, Just Trying to Cope

okay, so manila. it’s…a lot. i’m a freelance photographer, usually chasing light in quiet places, and this is…not quiet. i landed with a code - 1698548, which felt ominous, honestly - and immediately walked into a wall of warm, thick air. i just checked and it’s… clinging to everything right now, like a second skin. 24.04 degrees, they say. feels like 24.56. which, honestly, feels like a lie. it feels more than that. the pressure’s 1009, humidity’s 79, and the air is basically soup.

i’ve been wandering around *binondo, trying to capture some of the chaos. it’s a sensory overload. jeepneys blasting music, vendors yelling, the smell of street food… it’s incredible, but my camera keeps fogging up. i’m seriously considering investing in a dehumidifier just for my gear.

i spent yesterday getting lost in intramuros. it’s beautiful, obviously, all those old walls and spanish colonial architecture, but it’s also… intensely touristy. i overheard someone complaining on TripAdvisor about the constant offers for “horse carriage rides.” apparently, they’re relentless. someone else, a guy nursing a San Miguel at a little carinderia near fort santiago, told me the best time to go is early, like really early, before the tour buses arrive. he also warned me about pickpockets, which, fair enough.

i’ve been trying to find good coffee, which is a struggle. i’m a bit of a coffee snob, i admit it. i need my fix. i found a place in makati called “yardstick coffee” - it’s decent, but it’s not… transcendent. i heard from a local that there’s a hidden gem in san juan but you need to know someone to get in. apparently, it’s run by a guy who roasts his own beans in his backyard. i’m on the hunt.

the people here are amazing, though. so friendly and welcoming, even when i’m clearly a lost and bewildered foreigner. my neighbors are mostly families, always hanging out on their balconies, chatting and laughing. if you get bored, baguio and tagaytay are just a quick bus ride away, i’ve been told. i’m thinking of heading up to tagaytay to escape the humidity for a day.

i tried halo-halo yesterday. it’s…an experience. shaved ice, sweet beans, fruit, leche flan… it’s basically a dessert heart attack. but it’s delicious. i found a good spot on Yelp near malate* church.

i’m starting to think i need a new strategy for shooting here. maybe black and white? the colors are just too overwhelming. i’m also considering just embracing the chaos and letting it dictate the photos. i’ve been looking at some local photography groups on Facebook for inspiration.

someone warned me about the traffic. they weren’t kidding. it’s biblical. i spent two hours in a taxi yesterday just to get across town. two hours! i’m seriously considering buying a motorbike, but i’m not sure i’m brave enough to navigate these streets. i’ve also heard that the best way to get around is by jeepney, but i’m still trying to figure out the routes. it’s all a bit…much. but that’s manila, right? a beautiful, chaotic, overwhelming, and utterly captivating mess. i’m starting to think i might actually like it here.