Manila is that HOT (May 30, 2025)

I have a 12-hour layover in Manila on May 30, 2025, before my next flight to Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. I feel like I have to take this layover instead of Singapore or Malaysia because I have never been to the Philippines, so I have to give it a try. 

I reached Manila at 6 a.m., and I managed to see the sunrise above the Philippine clouds. It was magical, especially when I slowly reached Manila and saw the golden hour around Manila city, with a mountainous view, and also the sea view, what a perfect combo. Before I landed, the flight was circling around the city, and I could see the mountainous view with lots of hills and greenery. I didn't expect the Philippines to have this many mountains; it is beyond my imagination. 

After I landed, I saw staff holding a sign for those who were layover and gonna show them where the transit's place is. However, because I am gonna explore the city during my layover, I went to the toilet instead and went to the transit desk to ask if I can go outside and what to prepare after I finish exploring and back to the airport. They were very helpful and gave me direction, also the immigration process went very well too. The declaration process went easily as well, even though I didn't declare through their online website, they gave me a declaration form, and it was easy too.

Coming out of the arrival door, it was very humid and hot even when it is only 7 am. There were so many cars just outside the door and causing traffic, and the hot weather became hotter. Since I am only here for 12 hours, I just use Grab to go anywhere to catch up with my itinerary in a very short time. Also, the currency is kinda cheap here, so I didn't want to bother looking up information about another transportation or such.

My Grab Car is coming my way outside the arrival door, and it costs PHP 318.27,- or IDR 90.000,- from Manila Airport T2 to Rizal Park. On my way to Rizal Park, I could see that the building in Manila is giving Japan & China's influence. It's kinda the same as a square thing building. People said that the traffic in Manila is crazy, but that morning, the traffic was just normal. I am amazed to see local transportation that looks like a bus, but the look is very unique. It is like a truck but not a truck, it is a unique but classic bus I've ever seen in my life. If I have another chance, I want to take a picture with this unique bus.

I also see Korean Town in the city, and the most shocking thing is that I see Alfamart and Lalamove in the Philippines. Alfamart is Indonesia's small store,e which almost every kilometer there is one or two of the stores. And I've never seen it in Singapore or Malaysia, but here in the Philippines, there is an Alfamart? How come?

Because it was still in the morning during my arrival in Manila, I saw many people walking on the seaside and doing sports in Rizal Park, too. To enter the museum around Rizal Park, I had to wait for an hour because the opening time is at 9 am. I suggest you visit Intramuros instead if your arrival is early morning. It will be best because you can get around when it is not a busy time, also you don't have to wait an hour to enter the places. I was wrong creating my itinerary.

I walked around Rizal Park before the opening of the museum, also after an hour of walking around Rizal Park, I finally came to the museum and entered there for free. I went to the National Museum of Anthropology, the history is almost like Indonesian's. Like traditional weaving, fishing tools, also the influence of Islamic across the country, too, are so much alike with Indonesia's history.

Then I went to Intramuros, and I could tell you that I had a very bad experience during my visit to this place. Even when I walk to this place, so many drivers' trishaws force me to use their service to explore the Intramuros. They don't take refusal, they always come and come again and following me around like a fly. I was so scared that I had to come close to a couple walking to the Intramuros to hide myself from the Trishaw's Driver who kept on following me.

Even after I entered Intramuros, another Trishaw Driver forced me to use their service again, again and again. Until I decided to cover my face with a mask and umbrella because I feel so scared and uncomfortable with them following me around. This is my first time having this kind of experience, and it was so uncomfortable that and makes me not want to go back to that place anymore.

Then I went to church and another church, and finally I went to Mc. Donals across the Manila Cathedral because I couldn't bear the hot weather in Manila, even with an umbrella covering me from the sun. Manila is that HOT. Also, I need to have lunch, and I feel like McDonald's would be the same anywhere, so I don't have to think much about the menus. But, Mc. Donald's in Manila is different, I am so confused, and I just bought anything that seemed normal, even though it turned out the taste is not my cup of tea. I won't order that menu again if I visit the Philippines again in the future.

I plan to visit Conrad Manila to experience Space & Time+. I left McDonald's and went to see Fort Santiago first, but because I feel like I don't want to pay to go inside the Fort, I then ordered a Grab to Conrad Manila. This time, I can see how bad the traffic in Manila is. I had to wait like 30 minutes until my Grab arrived, and I was very sweaty on the roadside due to the hot weather.

Here is the first time I use an umbrella under the sun, because I also see so many people in Manila using umbrellas to avoid the sunlight. Many of them, so I feel normal using it haha. I also understand why they did it, though, even with an umbrella covering our head and body, the hot weather still reaches us sharply. 

My Grab Car arrived, I sat inside, and the driver didn't even speak or say hello to me the whole ride. It was like an hour drive because the traffic is very bad, it feels weird to see him keep on silent, but it is ok. I paid PHP 255.40,- or IDR 73.000,- for the ride. I reach Conrad Manila and when straight to Space & Time+. But I see many people are lining up, so I wait until it slows down while looking around Conrad Manila. It is odd to see it, but I got to see the toilet cleaner getting a call from outside by a bell 5 meters from the toilet. It is kinda odd, but good too. 

I finally came inside the Space and Time+ and paid almost IDR 250.000. They gave me a stamp on my hand and gave me a free locker chain to keep my stuff there before entering. At first, I was kinda disappointed because I couldn't find the space I wanted to see. I even asked the staff, but they kinda not helping. After I reached the center, I finally found the Space and Time+, which I want to experience. 

I almost left at first, because the Space is not like the want I want to experience, but after some time, they showed the Space and I was so happy to see it. I see the staff in this area offering to take the visitor's video of this Space. I patiently wait until my turn comes, even when my battery is only left with 9%. I was blown away by the experience and couldn't be happier to try this even by myself. So many couples in this place, so I feel like I am missing someone to experience it together haha, but being with myself is also perfect.

Then I went out and looked for something to drink while waiting for my Grab Car to arrive and send me back to the airport. It cost PHP 199.82 or IDR 57.000 from Conrad to the Airport. Also, this time the driver is kinda better than the previous one, so I asked if I could charge my phone from his car, and he said yes. I tried to charge my phone when I bought my drink in Conrad, but they didn't let me charge my phone there. I am afraid my battery will be off, so I will charge on my way to the airport in the Grab Car. 

The Airport is very small and not entertaining at all. It is very crowded but small, so you know how it feels inside there. I charged my phone again in the Transit Area just outside the immigration place. And then I see a sign to re-check in luggage for a layover passenger. They ask me to go down to the 1st floor, then they open my luggage and re-check my luggage with their hand (manually). It feels weird, but I can also put my handbag's stuff in this luggage now. Reduce the load on my handbag so that it so heavy. There is a positive point from this weird re-checking luggage haha.

Then I went to the Boarding room and again I felt confused because of this small airport, all the crowds are in one place and I couldn't understand where our waiting area is. Then, after I find it, I need to go back and show my boarding card a third time in one room. To the staff, then to the scanner, then to the boarding staff. It is very confusing airport I've ever experienced. It is getting worse when I board from Manila to Jakarta, though. So, this Manila to Melbourne is a bit better.

I am flying to Melbourne with lots of confusion in the Manila boarding room, also they changed my seat to another row, meh. If they change to Business Class, that is ok, but they only change the row, like ugh. Overall,l today's trip in Manila for me is not very impressive, especially the Trishaw Driver, the Food at McDonald's, and the drink place. If I had to choose, perhaps I don't want to go to Manila again, but for another place in the Philippines, maybe I would still going to try.

I hope I won't experience people following me around again, because it is super scary and uncomfortable.

One Day Trip to Manila 2/5.