Manila in the night with 7-eleven

I saw many islands through the airport window. Philiness has 7,107 islands and I saw some islands full of nature, but Manila City doesn’t. It is a big town full of traffic, buildings, and people. I waited for my bag for around 2 hours at the airport. Perhaps they sent my bag to the wrong country. Finally, the car took me to the hotel.

I went to Manila for the workshop and got a little time to explore the city. After check-in the hotel, I walked around the hotel and saw the 7-eleven. I went inside the small shop and I felt like I was in the Wong Kar-Wai movie. The mood was so classic and the staff sang an English song. He might be lonely in the night with the night shift.

I ordered the chicken with rice. This is a country without vegetables. Everywhere I went, I saw Chicken, Pork, Beef, and Fish. Filipino food was very salty.

The chicken rice wasn’t bad. I ate inside the shop and talked with one person who thought I was Filipino. I could be a local person everywhere I go.

I walked out of the 7-eleven at around 10 pm. I would like to say Manila sounds like Bangkok but it didn’t. For me, Manila is quite slower than Bangkok and less entertaining than Bangkok. It was only my opinion. I slept very well the first night in Manila.

After I finished my workshop. I walked around the town on the second night. I went to the Asia Mall and on the way saw the police with their shotgun. I asked one policeman to take a photo with his gun; he shook his head and put the gun in his hand.

Fashion in Manila was very simple compared with people in Bangkok. Many women often wear tank tops or single-line, and men wear t-shirts, and shirts with jeans.

In the shopping mall, I saw more food shops than clothes shops. Seems Filipinos enjoy eating a lot, they eat a lot of meat without vegetables.

I walked out of the shopping mall and went to the Manila Bays. It was quite a chilling area with the wind of the ocean. Many Filipinos go there to enjoy themselves every day. Sitting and watching the sunset is a human duty.

The night became and I did not feel unsafe with anything. I might be in the safety area of the city. I had hotdog the test like a shit. I could not eat like this every day.

I don’t know when I started to like to be alone. It means I don’t have a problem being with people but if I can choose; I would like to go out alone or have only one friend or very close friend with me. I feel when I have to join with many people. I lose my voice and become a quiet person. I always think that people like to talk so just let them talk and I will listen.

I walked through the night in Manila and went back to my hotel around 2 km. Manila has problems with light in many areas. I felt very small in Manila. In that area, the street is so big and also a very big building. Even though things are big the traffic is still very bad.

I was in my room and I liked it very much. Staying in the hotel is one thing I rarely afford myself with. So when I got a chance to stay in the hotel I was very relaxed and lazy. I watched the movie “The Kingmaker” if you want to understand the politics in Philippines, you should watch this movie.

I met Lucky and Nicole on the third night. I knew them from my Thai friend named “Pre-mar” They drove for 1 hour to pick me up at the hotel and took me to the nice restaurant name Crisostomo Restaurants. That was the best Filipino food for me. I will never forget the Pork Sisig test and the Philippines bingsu. Thanks to Lucky and Nicole for making my best dinner in the Philippines.

On the fourth night in Manila, I was working in my room, when I saw a message on the Tinder app. One woman messaged me.

“Would you like to meet up tonight?”

I thought about it. It wasn’t a bad idea to meet someone tonight, because I did not have anything to do. I replied

“Sure we can meet.”

She asked me to send my hotel location and told me that within 10 min she will come. I went down to wait for her in the lobby. Suddenly! One pickup truck came in with 2–3 people. I saw 2 women and I did not see the driver. I was scared because she said she came alone but why had so many people. I ran away from her and then she asked why you ran away.

I was calm for a bit then I decided to block her number. My heart was in a heartbeat and I walked far aways to see in front of the hotel. I did not see her and her car, so I walked back to the hotel. Unfortunately, I saw her on the way back to the hotel. When I looked at her, I realized she isn’t a woman. Then she asked me to pay 200 paso for the Grab. I did not have a choice, so I paid for her and walked very fast back to the room.

I said to myself, “What is wrong with me?” I should not take risks like this. I should have watched a movie in my room. Luckily enough that I did not lose anything and then I deleted the Tinder immediately. I slept with the scary feeling the whole night.

Last night, quite calm and quiet, after I finished the workshop; I went swimming during the lonely rain in Manila. The gray city with rain made me lack energy. Seems the gray absorbs color in me. I should have had more fun in Manila if I did not waste my time with many foolish and laziness.

Thinking about Philippines, I always think about the service mindset of people. They are quiet people and make my experience in Manila without a voice. I felt like I did not hear any voice. And It was very cute when they said “Thank you po.”

When I want to say polite in Philippines, I can say ‘Po’ in the last words.

I went back to have chicken rice at 7-Eleven again. My image of the Philippines 7-eleven was very clear. I liked the mood in the shop; small, white light, messy with good service-minded staff. What is wrong with me? I went far away from my own country and fell in love with 7-eleven.