Frustrating first day in the Philippines

This post is so that you can believe life isn't always fun and games as a backpacker!

I had a long day of frustration when I travelled to the Philippines. It started with an early rise to get me to the airport. From 6am until I finally arrived in Cebu at 8pm I was absolutely freezing because the air conditioning was so strong. My first plane journey was from Bali to Manila and for this I wore all the layers I have and still my hands were completely numb. It chilled me to a point where I was impatient, wanting to be able to move to try to warm up, but instead being stuck on a plane. When I arrived in Manila I was already less than happy, then I was confronted with a massive queue at customs which seemed not to be moving at all. Then I had to drop my luggage for the next flight and go through security again, which all took longer than necessary. Then I tried to take cash out at every ATM, only to have my acrd spat back at me. Thankfully I bought some pesos from a traveller, so had a few hundred to tide me over for now. By the time I got to the departure zone I was ravenous…..and every single food option was 80% meat based, and not even nice meat that could tempt me. There was one place that served an egg ramen and it was closed for lunch. I was furious! I found another option of a small egg based snack and the woman wouldn't serve me because I didn't have small enough change. So I sat and waited for the ramen place to open, meanwhile getting more annoyed and beginning to hate the Philippines! Eventually the staff finished their lunch and putting make-up on and I ate a very salty soup with a few noodles and an egg in. I am hoping my options will increase slightly when I get into the country, but I don't have high hopes for the food here.

My next plane, to Cebu ended up being delayed. But they don't seem to bother with information boards or announcements here, instead they have screens where people watch sport. So I waited by the departure, getting rather impatient as time tikced on and I had no idea when I would get in the air. When we did eventually board we sat on the plane for an hour. So in the end I arrived in Cebu chilled to my bones, malnourished and toe hours later. Thankfully Marla had bought some beers and some vaguely vegetable based snacks. Apparently vegetables are hard to some by here!

Nevertheless it was a happy reunion and I was very glad to be here. With no doubt at all that my views on the country would soon be transformed and the arduous day would be forgotten.Read more