First Experience in Manila City

Usually a trip will be memorable, if there is a memory or memories of an event on the trip. Good bad memories or very pleasant memories. Both of these things will make us remember the details of events that seem fresh still in our memories. Well, the memorable trip I have ever done is to go to Manila. Because it is the starting point where I get different experiences from each subsequent trip. Previously I very rarely make a trip let alone abroad, has never been at all. New airplane ride several times, and even then always with husband and children, when arrived during Lebaran holidays.


Several years ago, when stepping on the 3rd semester in a study that was being undertaken, there was insistence from a mentor to attend a conference in Manila. At that time I felt very heavy heart to follow him. Because there is a feeling of fear and a heavy one is how to find funds to travel there? Well, we are advised to go, but the matter of funding must find itself, he he he. A friend of the same fate and the arms finally convinced me to leave, especially when there was a chance to get our travel grant away. Although the three of us are desperate women just fly to Manila. But at least the friend has been abroad, because 2 years before he was to America for a month because it was elected in a program held by the US Embassy. He said, once away, then surely we want to go again and again (indeed it is ultimately proven: D). But what is more comforting is that the younger brother's friend is coming along, so we have
at least one escort. Finally we went to Manila four.

When I first set foot in Ninoy Aquino International Airport, in Manila there was a feeling of joy, for the first time ever set foot outside the country. Although the atmosphere was almost the same as in Jakarta, not too special. But the feeling of arriving in Manila that I have never forgotten, because on subsequent trips the impression is normal. It seems a bit tacky too yes, he he he. We stayed for 3 days. The time is too short to explore a city, because 2 days are used for the conference. Finally the first day we used to walk to Rizal Park and Intramuros that I have previously written and explore various angles in the city of Manila.

Once out of the hotel, on the streets directly meet the Jepneey antique angkot in the city of Manila. This is a typical vehicle from Manila. Vehicles are modified in such a way that they look like ancient trucks because they have a snout on the front. Sometimes the vehicle is given the writings and paintings are crowded. Traffic in the city of Manila is sometimes also jammed, where we are sometimes difficult to cross the road. For the first time I saw the clutter of electrical wires on the street. Exactly with the state of Ho Chi Minh City I've mentioned here. But indeed it seems in Ho Chi Minh more severe. Do-do in the corner of the city of Jakarta also exist yes?


It was already early December, at night the atmosphere is very vibrant to welcome Christmas. Everywhere decorations with flashing lights. Well, it was a festive mood once it was only December 1st. For the first time we saw another atmosphere in a predominantly non-Muslim country. One moment as it passed the corner of town where there were many food vendors, there was a huge meat pierced and burned. An aroma of meat and spices are so different, and we conclude it must be pork. Frankly we did not dare to eat carelessly. We only once bought rice at the mall, fortunately there is a restaurant for Muslims. Sometimes just choose to eat bread alone. For the first time feeling that the overseas is a good gun is to eat. The smell of strange spices, make eating is not tasteful and also there is fear because it is not lawful. Well, obviously if we travel to a place if the culinary does not match well suffered a bit too. So when the return to Cengkareng rawon rice I eat seemed to be the best food in the world he he he.

(Note: All photos are personal documents with some being Dimas shots)