Manila for the first time

6 am i landed in the land of the Filipinos. 4 hours flight with Philippine airlines seemed bearable since i am looking forward to this trip. The main purpose of this trip to Manila was the Wider Role of Volunteering training held by VSO Bahaginan. But what make this trip special was meeting my good old friends.

Welcoming card by Pan Pan (sweet)

as soon as i got the invitation, i immediately informed Orvil and Wanda, and some other friends whom i met in Belgium. We were so excited to plan anything that we could plan during my stay. Orvil, Pet his wife and two beautiful daughters (Yana 10 and Pan Pan 8) picked me up from the airport. I know they had to wake up so early to be in the airport for me. i felt so lucky that i didnt have to get confuse finding my way to the city centre to attend my appointment with Dr. Baleva at St. Lukes Hospital in Quezon City. I praised the moment when we drove from the airport to Quezon City. i couldn't tell what i felt but obviously it was something beautiful. The girls were easily talking about their routines, their schools, their activities as if they knew me for so long. They call me "Tita Lili"  which means aunty Lili. Pet, whom i just meet, talked like i am her old friend. I kept telling Orvil that he has a wonderful family. It was really bad that i didnt make it to meet their youngest daughter Alexis. But surely, i admire those 6 hours that i spent with them. They made it easy for me to feel that i have a family in Manila.

Orvil, Pet, and Pan Pan (after we dropped Yana at School)

Pet dropped me at VSO Bahaginan Office at 12 pm after we planned how we got together in between my training. The one thing that we really wanted to do was to drink Belgian Beer at one bar in the Global City.
The group in Belgium, including Orvil and  i, used to hang out on the weekend. And the only affordable drinks for us a students was its Beer. Thank Goodness the have these 2000 kind of beers (ok, i might be exaggerated about the number, but what a heck). so we think it will be cool to experience the same hang out, the same drinks BUT in Manila..

We finally made it at my last night. They brought me to a nice restaurant called FINO Bar and Restaurant and Wanda was there too. It was so good to meet a friend whom you did all fun stuffs back then (sttttt, Wanda was friend whom i went to a wild party, got drunk till we couldn't stepped on the stairs and literally crawling, drinking beer from 9 am to 1 am). How cool was that when we made it to meet again???

Finally after 3 years we met again Wanda

Orvil and Pet wanted me to try a local cocktail called Manila Manila. Then there i was sitting at Murray and D'Vine (Burgers, Ribs and damn good Wine :).  They made me tried Manila Manila which basically like Mojito except it is with ginger. Orvil challenged me to drink MMF-Mongolian Mother F***er (well, excuse me, i am not trying to speak dirty words here, but that's actually a name of drink in this bar. It is a mix of 9 high content alcohols which i dont remember what). but, Pet didnt allow me as i would be destroyed and couldn't enjoy the night afterwards. thanks Pet for not letting me try :).

I long for this sweet beer, couldn`t find one in Indonesia

We were end up in the DRAFT Gastropub. Emmillio, my travel mate in Vietnam was also there. After some bottles of Kriek (Cherry Beer) and drafts, everyone were so happy and loud. We laughed so much and telling the story back there in Belgium. I was so happy being reunite again with them.

The next day i managed to find my way to the Intramuros, the walled city in Metro Manila. I had chance to see a bit of the city, visited Manila House and some historic places during Spanish colonialism.What i really like about Manila is people didnt see me as stranger since i have the same look and the same skin color with them which made them treated me like i am one of them. I am so lucky, Manila for the first time turned to be the most comfortable foreign land for me.

i hope to be back some day...


Stay tune for the "when i walked in vietnam, a journey to the mist"