Manila Mayhem: Sweat, Street Food, and Seriously Weird Vibes
okay, so i’m pretty sure i’m running on fumes and lukewarm *coca-cola right now. 1715430 and 1608418544 - those numbers just keep looping in my head, like a broken record. it’s the timestamp of when i landed, and honestly, it feels like a lifetime ago. the air here in Manila is…thick. like, you can almost chew it. it’s 24.54 degrees, feels like 25.19, temp min 24.54, temp max 25.51, pressure 1010, humidity 82, sea level 1010, grnd level 994. yeah, that’s the science. i just checked and it's...there right now, hope you like that kind of thing.
seriously, this place is a sensory overload. i’m talking jeepneys blasting karaoke, the smell of adobo clinging to everything, and people just…existing in this beautiful, chaotic mess. i’m trying to document it all, but my camera roll is already screaming for mercy. i’m pretty sure i’ve consumed more street food in the last 48 hours than i have in my entire life. and i’m not even mad about it.
my hotel - or, more accurately, my slightly-sticky-carpeted room - is in Poblacion, Makati. it’s a proper dive, but the location is killer. i’ve been spending my days wandering around, getting hopelessly lost, and generally just soaking it all in. i stumbled upon this amazing little hole-in-the-wall place selling isaw (grilled chicken intestines - don’t knock it ‘til you try it) and a tiny sari-sari store that sells everything from instant noodles to live crickets. yeah, crickets.
Someone told me that the best time to visit is during the Sinulog festival, but honestly, the energy here is pretty intense year-round. They also said to watch out for the traffic - it’s legendary.
I’ve been hitting up a bunch of different markets - Divisoria is a total madhouse, but you can find some seriously incredible deals. I scored a vintage leather jacket for like, twenty bucks. it smells faintly of mothballs and adventure, which is exactly what i wanted.
Speaking of adventure, i tried to haggle for a scooter. let’s just say i’m better at taking photos than negotiating. i ended up taking a habal-habal - basically a motorbike taxi - which was…an experience. my butt was not happy.
I found this incredible little cafe called “The Curator” - it’s run by this super chill guy who makes the most amazing espresso. he’s obsessed with vinyl records and has a whole wall dedicated to them. i spent a good hour just listening to him talk about his collection.
I’m trying to keep track of everything, but it’s hard. i’ve got a list going of all the places i want to check out, but it’s already a mile long. here’s the breakdown:
*Intramuros: Gotta see the old city walls. Check out TripAdvisor for tours.
*Binondo Chinatown: The oldest Chinatown in the world. Yelp has some good restaurant reviews.
*Bonifacio Global City: Modern skyscrapers and fancy restaurants. Maybe a little too polished for my taste, but worth a look.
*Pasig River Cruise: Apparently, it’s a great way to see the city. I’ll probably skip it - i’m too busy getting lost.
I heard that the nightlife in Malate is insane, but i’m mostly just looking for a quiet place to write and recharge. i’m also trying to avoid any sketchy situations - my friend warned me about scams, so i’m being extra careful.
I overheard a group of backpackers arguing about whether or not to try balut (fertilized duck egg). One of them was vehemently against it, the other was practically salivating. It’s a whole thing.
If you get bored, Quezon City* is just a short drive away. There’s a massive mall called SM Megamall - it’s like a city within a city. And if you’re feeling adventurous, you can check out the Ayala Museum.
I’m starting to feel like i’m losing my grip on reality. i’m pretty sure i’ve forgotten what day it is. but honestly, i don’t even care. i’m just here to experience everything, to get lost, and to document it all (badly) for my blog.
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