November 2023, It was the trip that made me continue my tradition of going for a big trip during my birthday month, this one was monumental as I was turning 30, one of the most feared age by people in their 20s. It was also the year when I started to be more confident about traveling alone, I decided to go to 3 cities on 3 different islands (+1 city part of metropolis) within 11 days, which were quite bold of me at that time. The post-pandemic times still did not recover, so my flight took 26 hours including layovers and bus to Vienna. From airport I booked a grab to my Condo I rented. At that time I still did not walk as much, as I was still getting used to Asian 34+ degrees weather, I did not go outside during the biggest heat moments, and avoided too long walks during the night hours.
My first destination, and where I had a hotel was city of 🇵🇠Makati, which was part of Metro Manila. I have arrived very late at 2am, so I quickly self check in into my Condo rented from booking.com and went to sleep. What shocked me first, is that the owner was kinda like a private person I believe? And she added me to a group conversation on whatsapp with other locators, and the weirdest was that my code to the door as posted there on the group chat! I am still not sure how did that work.
After sleeping the night, I went towards 🇵🇠Manila museum, where I was to meet with my friend. When going first for some shopping, yet another thing shocked me, as there are guards at the mall checking everyone’s bag, and I was so shocked that they stopped me. Then when I was buying in shops, when paying by card all the clerks take the card physically from you and write something off that card to the system! I was constantly worried for my money to be stolen from the card (on later journey my card was blocked because someone did try to use my card details, which might be from that trip).
The museum in 🇵🇠Manila had a lot of. . . random stuff, like the place was huge, I actually did not finish it whole, most of it were standard museum stuff like related to prehistory and ancient times, then we had like these figures and art, the rooms were kinda half empty, and every room brought another random stuff. With all honesty, it was probably the least interesting museum I have ever visited, but that is also maybe because I am not into art, so maybe if you are into art, then you will like it. After that, the more exciting Intramuros, which is the old part of the Manila, where law differs from outside. My friend and I got into a tricycle from the main entrance, mainly because I thought I have to buy a ticket to enter there, and I misunderstood that it is just a tour guide (I would prefer walk by myself), well advantage of that as that I heard a lot of history about that place (which I mostly forgot).
On the next day I have walked through the city 🇵🇠Makati, which had a lot of gardens, and were quite modern compared to other cities of Philippines. There was also a museum, but unfortunately I was not allowed to enter, because there was a VIP event happening.
That is all from the short trip to the Metro Manila part, next I took a flight to 🇵🇠Cebu City.
Traveling Adventures of El Hainelos 
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