Forest "Anna" Gump
Yesterday evening I saw that girl in roof top restaurant, seating alone, smoking and playing with her smart phone. Only girl from Europe in our hostel.
In our hostel internet only works in roof top restaurant. I was working with my laptop and mail not going out from outlook, tried many things, sent some email from webmail and then gave up.
I saw that girl buying beer can and drinking, in 30 minutes 3 beer can.
I went to her, saw seating in the same chair in roof top restaurant, where I saw her 1st, and drinking beer and smoking. I asked her from which country and she said, Moscow, Russia. I asked, "Kakdela" and she replied, "Khorosho", I asked "what?" and she replied "Khoroso is good in Russian".
I sat next to her chair and started talking. Anna, her name, is an Architect, worked in different parts of the world, even in Texas USA for 1 month, talks like Forest Gump, and also watched that movie. She liked trailer of "Serendipity", for her a fairy tell, and wants to watch that movie.
She asked why I am not in Goa? She wants to travel in India, not wants to go those places where get snow, as she gets that in Russia and she not likes cold weather. From Manila, she is going to Boracay for 7 days, she does not know from there where she'll go, this time she'll travel 2 months.
This morning I wake up and went to Buendia MRT station, nearest metro station from our hostel, was waiting for Taft Avenue bound metro, was waiting and saw Anna again. I asked her where she is going and said in 2 hour will catch flight for Boracay. I said I am going to Carriedo to have chinese food/breakfast at China town and from there will go to Pedro Gil for money exchange. She changed her plan and went with me to Carriedo LRT station. But after reaching there she started saying instead of Pedro Gil why she is here in Carriedo? I said lets have breakfast and then go there. I was having pork-chicken curry and rice (Peso 60) and she said wants to drink sparkling water and I said ok. Then she said leaving for Airport, with her small back pack, with only 2 dress and 1 swimwear, and I said yes.
Manila Hotchpotch
After having break fast, asked some people for way to China town, which is only 5 minutes walking distance from Carriedo LRT station. I wanted to have Lumpia, Chinese spring roll or Lumpia(Peso 40), found 1 nice restaurant, ordered, sat, talking with 1 Chinese Guy and had.
Then bought small Chinese calendar (Peso 10). Then caught metro for Pedro Gil, yesterday I read in internet, many money changers are located at Mabini Street in Malate where can get better exchange rate and that area is 900 mtr from Pedro Gil LRT station according to google map, but when I walked from LRT station to that area, distance not less than 2 km. Some were offering Peso 46, some 46.80, but my expectation was atleast Peso 47.30 for USD 1. Later had to happy with Peso 47 for 1 USD, same rate got at Airport.
From there caught Jeepney to Intramuros (Peso 8). Manila Cathedral, biggest cathedral in Manila, 10 minutes walking distance. Was hungry and had nice cream bun (Peso 6) and 2 bottle local cold drinks (Peso 10 each) at a bakery near Manila cathedral.
At Manila cathedral, local vendors were pitching for straw hat, inside saw marriage ceremony of local couple, 1st time in my life and liked, was thinking about Forest "Gump" Anna.
From Manila cathedral, Fort Santiago (Entry fee Peso 75) 5 minutes walking distance, which is located on the bank of Pasig river. The fort, converted into a museum, a very historical piece of landmark where almost all the who's who of Philippine colonial resistance - Spanish, American, & Japanese were incarcerated.
Again walk, nearest LRT station, Central Terminal, 15 minutes walking distance, on my way saw, City Hall and building of Manila University. In front of City hall saw some Korean students giving free food to beggars.
Had local drinks with jelly, chilled coconut water and caught EDSA bound LRT from Central Terminal (Peso 20).
Eating Balut
Area near EDSA LRT station/TAFT MRT station, always crowded and congested. 100s of street vendors selling fried chicken intestine, fried beef, chicken, different fruits, boiled Quail Egg, fried Atay, Balun-Balunan, Puso, and famous/infamous Balut, boiled duck embryo (Peso 15). Gathered courage and had 1, added vinegar and salt. Taste like hard boiled egg but not liked feather of the embryo. Then had 1 Quail egg (Peso 2), taste like any egg and liked.
Exhausted and have conf-call with 1 of my colleague based in Dubai for Nigeria initiative at 7 PM Dubai time.
Yesterday evening I saw that girl in roof top restaurant, seating alone, smoking and playing with her smart phone. Only girl from Europe in our hostel.
In our hostel internet only works in roof top restaurant. I was working with my laptop and mail not going out from outlook, tried many things, sent some email from webmail and then gave up.
I saw that girl buying beer can and drinking, in 30 minutes 3 beer can.
I went to her, saw seating in the same chair in roof top restaurant, where I saw her 1st, and drinking beer and smoking. I asked her from which country and she said, Moscow, Russia. I asked, "Kakdela" and she replied, "Khorosho", I asked "what?" and she replied "Khoroso is good in Russian".
I sat next to her chair and started talking. Anna, her name, is an Architect, worked in different parts of the world, even in Texas USA for 1 month, talks like Forest Gump, and also watched that movie. She liked trailer of "Serendipity", for her a fairy tell, and wants to watch that movie.
She asked why I am not in Goa? She wants to travel in India, not wants to go those places where get snow, as she gets that in Russia and she not likes cold weather. From Manila, she is going to Boracay for 7 days, she does not know from there where she'll go, this time she'll travel 2 months.
This morning I wake up and went to Buendia MRT station, nearest metro station from our hostel, was waiting for Taft Avenue bound metro, was waiting and saw Anna again. I asked her where she is going and said in 2 hour will catch flight for Boracay. I said I am going to Carriedo to have chinese food/breakfast at China town and from there will go to Pedro Gil for money exchange. She changed her plan and went with me to Carriedo LRT station. But after reaching there she started saying instead of Pedro Gil why she is here in Carriedo? I said lets have breakfast and then go there. I was having pork-chicken curry and rice (Peso 60) and she said wants to drink sparkling water and I said ok. Then she said leaving for Airport, with her small back pack, with only 2 dress and 1 swimwear, and I said yes.
Manila Hotchpotch
After having break fast, asked some people for way to China town, which is only 5 minutes walking distance from Carriedo LRT station. I wanted to have Lumpia, Chinese spring roll or Lumpia(Peso 40), found 1 nice restaurant, ordered, sat, talking with 1 Chinese Guy and had.
From there caught Jeepney to Intramuros (Peso 8). Manila Cathedral, biggest cathedral in Manila, 10 minutes walking distance. Was hungry and had nice cream bun (Peso 6) and 2 bottle local cold drinks (Peso 10 each) at a bakery near Manila cathedral.
Eating Balut
Area near EDSA LRT station/TAFT MRT station, always crowded and congested. 100s of street vendors selling fried chicken intestine, fried beef, chicken, different fruits, boiled Quail Egg, fried Atay, Balun-Balunan, Puso, and famous/infamous Balut, boiled duck embryo (Peso 15). Gathered courage and had 1, added vinegar and salt. Taste like hard boiled egg but not liked feather of the embryo. Then had 1 Quail egg (Peso 2), taste like any egg and liked.
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