The Third Strike: Manila, The Philippines!

Manila for a third time? Gusto mo? Sigue po! My second trip to the Philippines during 2024 started in Manila with it being the main entry point to the country! I wasn't going to make a meal out of that 'Third Strike' with a 'Solo Fiesta' and 'Chicharrón Bulaklak' both on the menu! Reservations had been made at a familiar hotel, pero! Flying with 'Cebu Pacific' saved my Pesos! 

Picture this, I had just taken off from Manila's 'Ninoy Aquino International Airport' during Feburary 2024 and I was an absolute mess! I had enjoyed the best holiday ever in the Philippines during that Chinese New Year period, I needed more Pinoy fun in that tropical sun! I never envisaged visiting the same country in one year, this is without the exception of China because that is my current overseas home. Being the main entry point to the country, I chose to spend two days in Manila before picking up the plans I had laid with 'Guide To The Philippines' around both Visayas and Mindanao. People thought I was crazy returning to Manila in the same year but for me it was going to be the injection of 'life' that I needed because otherwise 'senses' fade because I don't want to be safe and sound all the time. I wanted some spice in my life, a 'Third Strike' in Manila would bring that 'apoy' back! Hearing people speak 'Tagalog' at the check-in and at the gate at PVG was an absolute treat, I was ready to return to the Philippines! 

On the same Cebu Pacific Air flight from Shanghai Pudong to Manila, sleep was on my mind because that 'red eye' turnaround saw me running out of work for the airport! I wasted no time, I knew that naps would be the only way to get through that mammoth day in Manila! Bagging myself a whole row on that pint-size Cebu Pacific Air plane was a blessing in disguise because I wasn't ready for the view that was about to greet meet me as my aircraft started its descent into Terminal 3 of Ninoy Aquino International Airport! Not going to lie, the sky had me falling in love with Manila all over again! I had never seen so many colours fuse together as dawn was breaking, you know 'kinikilig ako! Not getting tricked by those taxi drivers like before, I found the 'GRAB' channel and within moments after passing through immigration, changing those Pesos, I was on my way to 'Ermita!' Call me crazy but it was amazing to be back in Manila, although the weather didn't feel like that 'pantropiko' scene I had found in earlier in the year! 

My 'GRAB' car took through those raw city streets, my driver was a very charming and chatty young man who there in that moment reminded me why I had returned to Manila! Yes, we could take the expressway for an extra couple of Pesos! It's the people for me, on the whole Filipino people are gracious and with English as a linguistic asset, there's no language barrier! I couldn't remember when I had last had a light and worthwhile conservation with a taxi driver because I just don't see the point during my everyday life, I missed that culture! Manila's Pasay looked the same, I got my life as my car passed through those Barangay neighbourhoods! I loved being reunited with those councillor voting posters because those 'Hispanic' names remindimg me of the fusion flavour I was about to recapture, I wasn't mad! Bleary eyed from the previous days work and the snatched sleep caught on the flight, I knew that I would need to take a nap as soon as I arrived at my hotel in Ermita! Some familiar reservations had been made! Pure nostalgia! 

The humidity in Manila was insane, I had left an extremely chilly China that was going through a seasonal cold snap! I wasn't surprised, neither was I mad about that climatic change because the heat made me feel alive! Of course, rain had fallen and I had been informed by my taxi driver that December weather in the Philippines isn't quite like February, I needed to adapt to that new information and embrace it! I checked into my hotel without any issues, I really had gone and turned the clock back to a few months previous! Needless to say, arriving at 'Casa Bocobo Hotel' during the hours of daylight was a blessing because that street with the same name can get colourful after dark! I had requested an early check-in and with true 'me' style, they definitely recognised the request and with a Philippine smile the receptionist gave me my key with the same warmth I had been given in February 2024! Being a Catholic country, I wasn't surprised to see a glitzy scene of the 'Nativity' on the landing! Christmas? I was ready for those decorations! 

My first nap was glorious, awoken by hunger and an alarm, it was time to hit those 'Ermita' streets once again! I took my time, I wanted to walk away from 'Kalaw Ave' because I didn't have any plans to revisit 'Rizal Park' nor 'Manila Bay'. I embraced the 'Realness' once again and it was amazing to be within a centre life, whatever kind of life that didn't matter because I felt free! I was half looking for a 'Sports Bar' that I knew was next to 'Silong Resto Bar'. I had plans to turn the evening into an 'After Hours' moment because I had failed to document that boozed up evening in Manila during February 2024, I didn't want to leave no stone unturned! I was majorly hungry but knew that I needed to at least have a look, I made sure I looked twice and thrice but to my disappointment I wasn't able to find that said establishment. Onwards and upwards, I knew that Ermita would show me a thing or two later on! Some 'Third Strike' additions aren't meant to be easy! I needed to find my intended and much missed lunch spot! MNL, it was real! 

'Mang Inasal' was the only place I wanted to head for lunch! I had dreamt of their 'self-named' Philippine chicken dish! I soaked up the chaos as I walked into the 'Mang Inasal' restaurant on 'Kalaw Ave' & 'Maria Orosa Street', it was busy during that Saturday lunch time moment! I ordered a 'Solo Fiesta' and I was sure that I ordered an 'Extra Creamy Halo-Halo' but I didn't get that dessert served to me through the pick up hatch. I wasn't mad that I didn't get it because no extra charge was made, it was an experience if nothing else! I chowed down on that juicy piece of chicken with extra calamansi juice squeezed over because I had missed those flavours! Along with my chicken I enjoyed a 'lumpiang togue', some 'java rice' and a serving of 'pancit palabok!' My red bean ice tea was divine! Still wanting something 'ube', I went to the '7 Eleven' next door where I found an 'Ube Cornetto!' All that food had made me sleepy again, I headed back to the hotel for another nap! Ermita kept me on my toes and that's what I wanted! A disco nap? Yes!

Red Horse? I had reunited with that 'extra strong' beer back in August 2024 in Macau but I wanted twenty more in Manila! Casa Bocobo Hotel served me my first one back in PH, from February to August then in December, that 'Red Horse' brew tasted 'mas sarap!' Fresh from my second and final nap of the day, I resurfaced from my 'Jorge Bocobo Street' accommodation with 'Chicharrón Bulaklak' on my mind! I headed for 'Silong Resto Bar' because earlier on they were still closed, being a Saturday early evening I was looking to turn that Saturday evening into something a little extra! That familiar Ermita eatery made me feel like I had never left, it was lush to be back! I ordered a Red Horse beer with the quickness because 'Pari ng Diyos' only knew that I was ready, 'alam mo?' You may ask? What on earth is 'Chicharrón Bulaklak?! This delicious Pinoy snack is made from pig fat that has been deep fried, paired with a dipping sauce it is the perfect thing to eat whilst having an alcoholic drink! A Christmas feeling like no other! 

I sat back and thought that I was in some of 'Mexican' bar with those red and green lights giving all the vibes! The Pinoy 'Parol' decorations and the warm air served a blend of tropical and Christmas in one go, I was already looking for flights to Mexico! It was just the right vibe, the culture felt like something so familiar and the upcoming Christmas festivities filled the air with fun and celebration! I sat outside of 'Silong' for a bit, sipping on a few more 'Red Horse' beers until I felt like it was the right time to embark on my 'After Hours' experience. I had redefined that 'Third Strike' moment in Manila with bits and pieces from my previous trip and with the appreciation of the 'here and now'. I really knew in my heart that returning to Manila was the medicine that I needed, although I wasn't ready for the mysterious illness that would follow me around after leaving a full on semester of work at my kindergarten in China! Into the night I went, it was a great time to be alive! The day was long but I kept it going with those naps! Rum?

My Happy Place! 

Desperately Seeking Adventure

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