HAHA, this was me, it was 4am in the morning waiting for my plane to depart to Clark in LCCT. I only had one hour sleep, freaking tired! But gladly I slept enough in the plane...... I was thinking that time what gonna happen on  my journey in Philippines, traveling alone, unsure with everything, but I LOVE THIS EXPERIENCE! As I am a backpacker that still learning :) 

I have to admit, I have 9kg hand carry luggage, and I was lucky enough that I flirt with the officer early in the morning just to get through the check in counter as Airasia luggage was 7kg strictly... 

So yea, flirting is one of the way.... :) 

First person,  local Filipino lady that I met, Marbz! It was indeed a pleasure to know you. We had a great adventure exploring Makati and Manila itself! She took me on the first day to shop around at Makati (Green Belt) the mall where I was a bit surprised to see how amazingly strict check by the security to enter in and out of the malls. The first dinner was truly amazing! I love it so much and thanks for telling me the local cuisine in Philippines! We then decided to eat BALUT, and of course I have my San Miguel Beer accompany with me for this adventures! Check it out for the pics of the balut yea! 

Also, I asked Marbz that I wanted to see the other side of Manila, where all the media crazy talk about how dangerous it is, well sorry to some media that Philippines was truly an amazing place, amazing people. "If you give a kind to them, they will give you twice of their kindness to you, even if you don't give, they will still give you, and smile at you, no matter how poor some people here, they never complaint and stress, they smile and grateful for what they have! It was so sad to see the kids there, the street kids no education and I really hope the people there, especially government do something to them, well enough of my thought, enjoy the pics!! I ate lots of street food that was crazy like the pig blood, chicken intestines, and pancreas! So yea! I love here so much!!! 

Another Filipino friend that I met, John ! I met him in couchsurfing, he was a generous and kind man. He offered me a place to stay in Manila, so since I never been to Quezon City and experience the life staying with local, I decided to stay with him, John, thanks for the gift all away from Manila ! Truly appreciate it, when you come to Malaysia, please do so visit me in Borneo this time and I will definitely come back to Philippines this year to visit you all !!! 
That night was the recaps I ate 3 baluts total in my journey in Philippines!!! 
That night we, Bryan, you, Sebastian and Markus and Laura had an amazing chat and chilling with beers! I just love sharing all the experience with new people I met! And of course, Bryan you really inspired me to be a traveler like you too someday! 

LAURA ! I MISSED you BABE! 

We do have an amazing journeys in LA Union !!! HAHA.... never thought we could be so crazy with our new friends Antik, Edmund, Tim and Bob! Surfing at the ocean, 3am in the morning seeing you all dip yourself in the beach, clubbing with the locals and dance crazily, party at the beach ! Drink drink and also chat so much with you all ! Hope to see you all someday around this world yea! Cheers!!! 

When I look at the picture, I was lucky enough to get a cheaper rate from a stranger, a friendly Filipino that overbook the hotel room (After the security guard assist me and ask me to keep quiet for this) I did not have any reservation, go to Clark on my own with bus then tricycle, was shocked room overbooked, all the hotels, inn and hostel all fully booked. This guy in the dark blue shirt, helped me and offered me a place to stay. At first, I don't mind sleeping in the airport and giving the condition that I spend my time chatting with the security guards till the next morning with some beers!  End up,  4 of us spend time talking and talking and sharing experiences and everyone here think I'm a Filipino too!!! So lucky enough, people there are so helpful, even when I'm in the bus, unsure of everything, they willing to assist me! Thanks people! :) 

Good bye Philippines, yes good bye, I was so sad indeed leaving this beautiful place, 8 days is not enough to cover the place. As you know Philippines has 7100 islands! My plan board on the 1st day of Chinese New Year, away from home, the crew of Airasia officers from Clark Airport actually gave me fortune cookies, ang pao and also the chocolates to brighten up my day! Such an amazing hospitality. Will I come back to Philippines again this year? YES I AM DEFINITELY GOING BACK there and explore more on Davao, Illocos, Sagada and Zambales (more surfing) I really love this place and this place taught me lot's of lessons and so fun meeting up new people! These amazing journey is indeed a lesson in life that you have to treasure and I encouraged all the young people to backpack and travel and meet lot's of people, it's ok to travel alone because at the end of the day, you will meet someone in your journeys and journeys are made with these people that you traveled with at the end of the day! SALAMAT PHILIPPINES!!!! 

I always wanted to go to Philippines! And it was an superb and amazing journey I could recaps on my trip to Philippines recently, travelling backpack solo was again the choice I decided to do. Lot's of my friends and families again once more worry about me, most of them might got influence with the media saying that Philippines is not pretty safe, and they were completely wrong ! 

I have to admit that this was the most memorable and great escape at the South East Asia. 

Let me recaps my journey in terms of expenses and traveling around there with transportation and etc. It cost me only RM1800 for 8 days, yes, it was so cheap, I admit that I drink lot's of beers there, it cost me only RM3 for one pint of beers! You can travel easily with the colourful jeepneys and tricycle there ! Jeepneys cost 8 pesos in Manila during my journey and in La Union, it cost me about 11 pesos only. How cheap it could be? Tips : Tricycle cost a little bit expensive ranging from 50 pesos onwards during my trip. You could also take the taxi and ensure that you know the location well yea! 

Take a look at those pictures I capture in Manila City itself ! Especially in Makati ! 
My journey : Clark - Makati - Metro Manila - Completed the Taal Volcano Trail - City Tour - took a bus to La Union (surfings!)

For this part of the blog, let me update you more on MANILA itself!  

Once you reach to Clark Airport, take the bus called Pilantro to Manila City itself, I was pretty lucky that the bus driver actually stop me to the Makati City itself. Journey took me around almost 3 hours to reach to the Makati City, Sunday the traffic was not bad, still bearable compared to others day !  Transportation cost : 450 pesos only :) 

It was pretty hard to find the OMP Hostel at the time I reached, but it was honestly a strategic location and it is the best hostel in the city here. A dorm cost me 600 pesos, and the bed for the dorm was comfortable and what I like the most would be the friendly staffs that always be there for you to assist you when you need their help. You got free WIFI, free nice breakfast which can last you till afternoon !!! I was an indeed the best hostel and it's so clean, location was perfect as it was location at Makati Avenue where you can find lotsa shops around and also the best part, you can find BALUT there!!! Transportation wise it was the best! Our Melting Pot Hostel ROCKS my journey in Manila. Thanks to all the crew that take care of me with their best hospitality there. P/s : They do offered few activities like a nightlife outing for Reggae, Taal Volcano Trail expedition, city tour. Check out their facebook fan page : https://www.facebook.com/ourmeltingpot?fref=ts 

Check out on the pictures I captured all around in Makati, Metro Manila, Quezon City, city tour (beautiful Intramuros) and also my expedition for the Taal Volcano Trail !!! 

That's all about Manila & Metro Manila and let's move to my next blog for LA Union ! :) 
Tips : In order to get to La Union, you should take a bus called Partas, and it cost around 350pesos if I'm not mistaken, journey is 7-8 hours ! It was really long journey but it was amazing to see all around Philippines throughout the journey, during my stay in La Union, I stayed at the Circle Hostel, one of the most Unique Hostel ever! The rate per night is 300 pesos only, and it was located less than 5 minutes walk to the beach, You can actually rent the surfing board and lessons there. 
One hour lesson : 200 pesos, one hour surf board : 200 pesos
Beach party, cheap beers, life as a surfer was the best moments of my life! I managed to learn surfing finally and it's one of my bucketlist! Check out all the pics of LA UNION! 

This little kid born to be a surfer someday! So yea people, check out on my next blog on the amazing people that I met and what did I do in Manila. 

Cheers!!!