Manila: Into the Metropolis
Skyline view of Manila
Without polish or elegance this is a metropolis of immense proportions that defies expectations. Manila is the worlds most densely populated city in the world, and with a low surface quality tourists are often intimidated and easily discouraged from venturing into a city that begs adventure. Appreciating the charm and significance of Manila demands a certain level of sensitivity, and also some tolerance against the small things from controlling expectations. If one can look past the surface layer, some of the worlds friendliest people and utterly authentic experiences wait to be discovered.
Manila International Airport
Arriving to Manila’s international airport is not only an experience in itself, but it’s a worthy introduction to the city. It’s no secret that Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) has been consistently ranked as the worlds worst airport, and with 1650 worldwide airports that’s fairly impressive! Looking more like the interior of an abandoned office building than an airport, I was a little disoriented about how to exit the building. Some of the detractors that helped MNL achieve number one include theft, bribery and lack of running water in bathrooms, and remembering these convenient details after landing was my cue to move past the distractions directly to baggage terminal to secure my checked luggage before someone else did. Airport employees stealing items from checked luggage is apparently fairly common, so travelers to Manila should pack all essential or expensive items on primary carry-ons to avoid complications.
US dollars and other international currencies won’t really work in the Philippines, so after securing checked baggage, convert the equivalent of around $10USD to PHP at the currency exchange just before exiting. Manila’s international airport is just as confusing outside as it is inside, as it has three separate passenger pickup areas: first area is for yellow/airport specific cabs and is metered as such, with the second area being reserved for drivers who have predetermined passengers to pick up. I didn’t want to pay double and I didn’t have a reserved driver, so I walked past this second passenger pickup area and proceeded across the street to the third common pickup area to hail a standard street cab with normal meter rates. Before getting into the cab, ask the primary area of the hotel with a question mark “Makati?” and after an affirmative understanding of your destination, ask “Meter?” and get in. Glance at the meter to make sure it says 40. If not, get out and repeat with another cab.
Timezone Acclimation
Parting ways with a 26 hour flight is a great thing. Adjusting to the time change and on the other hand is not. Middle of afternoon here in the Philippines is the middle of AM in the western hemisphere, so the time difference hit me like a hangover and I crashed within the first few hours of checking into my hotel. I think timezone crashing like this is an inevitable aspect of acclimating, so I’m not trying to fight it. This is my first trip to Asia, and when I awoke earlier this evening I was excited to get out and see what the Philippines was really like. Fortunately I had a friend living in Manila and we connected and were soon catching up in the heart of Makati, the financial district of Manila. One of the first places I checked out in Makati was The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf coffee shop, which is a great Southern Californian coffee shop to check out if you’re looking for good coffee and great food to observe Makati from.