Day 1:

Manila is a mixture of Latin flavor, American vibe, and Vietnamese essence, but all in one its an amazing Pilipino culture.

Manila, as I have discovered from my 3-hour bus drive to my hotel is the home of crazy bus drivers, different means of transportation in cars, buses, bikes, tutuks, and taxi looking hearses (which I found out are called jeeps).I've been here less than 24 hours and have totally fallen in love with this city, the people and the culture.

The children that I teach in Malaysia are Pilipino refugees, so I have had the opportunity to love them and teach them for the past 3 months.I didn't know it was possible to feel this kind of love for children.On the plane ride here I was amazed by the blessing to be able to travel to my students' home country and learn about where they are from.

It was quite a journey getting from the airport to my hotel in Malate.Little did I know when booking my flight I came into the Clark airport (which is about 1 ½-2 hours outside of Manila, instead of the airport in Manila city).I took a bus in for only 300 pesos = $7 USD and when I arrived to the final destination, Mega Mall, I realized I was still about an hour drive to my hotel.MANILA IS A HUGE CITY! I honestly was so overwhelmed when I arrived inside the city.The taxi driver kept driving, driving, and driving…and there was street after street, mall after mall, skyscraper after skyscraper, bumper to bumper traffic….and it never seemed to end.I have so much to explore and so little time.

During my ride I came to a traffic light and all of the sudden I heard a bang on my window and there were 2 little kids and an adult.I was so frightened at first because I had not seen children run up to my car since I was in Nicaragua a couple years back.The kids were so hungry and were begging for something to eat. It broke my heart as I had nothing in my bag to offer, but my heart was burdened for them.I was looking at my surroundings and I noticed that they lived on a piece of cardboard right there in the middle of the busy street.One little boy, who was no older than 5 or 6 years old, was lying on the cardboard with a glue bottle in his hand sniffing it.The glue is used to make the person high so they cannot feel their hunger pains.

Every time I have the opportunity of visiting a new country or place I am so overwhelmed by the drastic difference in the tourist areas and the reality of life in the place.I am moved to not only travel and see the fun, touristy thing, but actually make a difference in a life.

This challenged me to open my eyes even more, look around you, see the needs of others.Lets stop being so consumed with our pleasure that we forget the needs of others.By all means reward yourself, but if God moves your heart to do something, lets be people to do it.

I am thrilled for my next couple of days in Manila.There is so much to see/do there is no way to see it all.

Day 2:

It was my first day exploring Manila by sunlight! I started off by going to Intramuros, which means "inner walls".This area is the old part of Manila, mostly built in the 1500s.The architecture is very similar to Spain, with cathedrals and buildings having intricate detail from the iron gates to the carved wood and walls.

Upon arriving to this old antique part of town I visited the Manila Cathedral (which is the oldest Catholic Cathedral), it reminded me of the many cathedrals I was able to visit in Spain from the ones in Toledo, Madrid, Malaga, Cordoba and Granada.I took a horse drawn carriage through the old part of town.It was incredible!!! I was able to see how the locals interact, what they do, where they eat….there are many schools and universities in this area as well.

After visiting a couple of churches, we were able to see Japanese gardens, the battlefield where Americans and Spaniards were shot during the wars.Manila is so deeply imbedded in history with Spain, Mexico, Japan and the USA.Our tour guide, Freddie, was so wonderful! He took us all around on his horse trolley.We were able to go to cheap tourist shops.It amazes me how cheap the food and shops are.1USD = 43peso, and an average meal is around 160p which is $3.73.

After spending the morning in Intramuros I took a cab to the Mall of Asia (which is the BIGGEST mall in Asia).I was so overwhelmed.The ground floor had more stores than I had seen in my life (and I've visited A LOT of malls).I explored as much as I could, mostly window shopping.I saw many familiar stores and Philipiano stores as well.My favorite part of the mall was all the Christmas decorations and Christmas music!!!! Living in Malaysia, which is predominately a Muslim country, there is no Christmas lights, music, decorations…nada.It was refreshing to see and be around the atmosphere...made me feel at home!

At sunset I went to San Miguel at the Bay, which is on the Beachfront.There is a row of seafood restaurants (beware, you will be swarmed and pressured to eat at EVERY restaurant you pass).I chose to eat at a restaurant called Gilligans; it was a pirate themed restaurant, all the waiters wore bandanas.It was a great, relaxing atmosphere, with live music and great food.

Asians have a way of being attracted to the white girls, therefore, I had a song dedicated to my friend and I, it was "Too much love will kill ya" by Queen. We heard an announcement over the speaker dedicated to two American girls….well, first off , do I REALLY look that American? And second of all, Mel is Australian…ain't nothin' American about that chick.We were able to meet some local people (Pilipinos are the most hospitable people and so easy to talk to!) and they took us on these car/taxi things, but they call them jeeps (they were the long hearse looking things I was talking about).It was great! I love being showed around by locals-it's the best way to see a city! Also I tried bulot, which is a traditional Philipino food.It is an egg, but half developed baby chicken is inside.It sounds sickening, and it actually looks that way too.I figured what the heck, I'm in a new city, with locals, might as well try the foods too.It was interesting…apparently really good for you (protein and vitamins and all).I could see the head and the beak starting to form, which was a little sickening, but I DID IT….and now it's done.

Each area is so different than the others….it was interesting going form old school Manila to modern Mall of Asia, but I was able to enjoy and adapt to both. I think that's what life is about…being able to be content with where you are.Until then, shalom!

Day 3:

Today was another exhausting day.There is so much to do and see in a city of 2 million + people.

We went to Glorietta Mall in Makati, which is where the only Hard Rock Café is in the Philippines.Mel had authentic chicken wings from the good ole US of A….and talk about delicious! After 6 months of beef sauté a little chicken wing tasted all right!

After window shopping and buying a couple of souvenirs for my family we found this café and sat and enjoyed a café latte and banana nut muffin.It has brought me so much joy being here in Manila during the Christmas season.The café was decorated with mistletoe, wreaths, Christmas trees and lights; it made the atmosphere so warm!

My friend Mel has a sister in law from the Philippines, so tonight we met up with her family.It has been great being shown around by locals for 2 days in a row now…that's how you see a city!We met Mel's family at the Mall of Asia (yes, second time in two days we have been there).We ate at a Pilipino restaurant called Max's "The house that fried chicken built" which is their motto.I told our new found friends to order whatever, I just wanted to try new authentic food.Well….it was authentic alright.We ordered a couple of dishes….kare kare (which is sheep skin, ox tail, along with a mixture of other animal parts in a peanut sauce), chicken sising (onions, liver in a tasteful mayo dressing) and a soup which had the name boboy in it and I don't remember the rest (it was a sour soup with pork).

The food was different, but quite delightful.The first thing I tried was the sheep skin, which honestly, I had no idea what it was beforehand because I wanted to see if I would like it….WRONG. First of all, when you try something new, make it a small piece; instead I had a piece as big as my thumb.The texture was gooey and just unpleasant.I'm pretty keen on trying anything once, but that taste was in my mouth the rest of the night and I had to shove down rice and chicken sising to keep me from sharing my food with the whole table.

After eating dinner we went to a restaurant and sat by the waterfront, that's Asia for you….moving from restaurant to restaurant.It was beautiful! There were mattresses as seats so we could stretch out our legs. There were also fish tanks all over the room giving it a glow.We sat and enjoyed time there until we met up with some more Pilipino people (I love meeting more local people, yippee)!

Asia is known for their love for karaoke, and boy do they love it! I had yet to go to a KTV family room and spend my night singing away with a group of friends.There was Mel (the Australian), me (the American), and 6 Philipno friends…it was incredible! We sat in the room for 3 hours singing away to different Western songs and some in their language as well.It was a beautiful day (besides the monsoon of rain) but that is what entertainment is for…to keep you out of the rain on yucky days.

Tomorrow we are meeting another mutual friend, Ann, who will show us around a couple tourist attractions.Mel & I have decided NO MORE MALLS….its' been great to spend time in the biggest mall in Asia, but I'm ready to see more the city! Chao!

Day 4:

Another great day being shown around by Philipino locals! In Sabah, Mel & I met a group called Gising Kabataan.They travel around doing ministry work and we met them at a recent conference.They were all from Manila so they gave us a contact to meet when we got here.

Ann met us at our hotel at 10:00am and another wonderful day begun! We started off by going to Mexico Plaza and took a ferry down the river to the Guadalupe stop.When we got off we could see the reality of life in Manila.This was not a tourist attraction as there were kids running everywhere, clothes hanging on the line, but it was eye-opening to see how the people live.

It started raining so our plans got shifted.We drove by the WWII Memorial, which American soldiers fought here in Manila. It was an honor to see this as my grandfather fought in the war here in the Philippines.

FINALLY, I have tried Jollibee's! It is the Philipino version of McDonald's but oh so good. Everyone had been telling me to try it…and I love it!

Ann is part of International Teams, which is an organization all across the globe.Mel & I went to the office and met many people who are in the same field as us. It was great to meet so many smiling faces.The world really is a small place, as I was sitting there at the IT office, 3 American men walked in and one was from a city only 30 minutes away from where I was born in South Carolina.The more I travel the more crazy incidents happen like that. It's a small world after all….

Day 5:

As I am writing this I am at the Clark airport waiting to board my flight. This trip has been refreshing and seeing a new side of Asia.If you were ever to travel to Manila, here are my suggestions:

(1)Mall of Asia

(2)Hard Rock Café (Makati area, Glorietta Mall)

(3)Eat bulot, kare kare, and Jollibee's

(4)Ride in EVERY means of transportation (I did and it was great)….jeep, taxi, bus, tricycle, boat

(5)Love on the people! It is SO easy to make friends here in Manila,but be cautious there are areas that are not safe.

(6)Take me with you!