Back Home After A Month in the Philippines

Hi friends,

Last week, I spent 3 days in Manila working in cafes and strolling around. I would not recommend going there if you have limited time in the Philippines. There is not much to do except try street food and go shopping.

I did get an amazing deal on eyewear including an eye check up, new transition glasses, and two sunglasses for $67. Asian eyewear stores always have great deals.

On Saturday at 2AM, I arrived at the Manila airport hopeful for the week ahead. Everyone and their mother told me to go to Vietnam. All the photo I saw had canoes gently gliding across still water surrounded by bright green hills. I was ready.

Then, an airline staff member asked me for my visa. Due to circumstances completely under my control, I did not have one. Swept up in all my Philippines activities, I forgot to research the requirements to enter Vietnam. Rookie mistake.

Unlike a vaccination card which can be easily photoshopped (not that I would ever do that) visas can’t be faked. By the time the approval process was set to finish, my week-long trip would be over.

In an attempt to not waste more time, I had an idea. I went on Google Flights, set the departure city to “Manila” and the arrival to “Anywhere.”

New York came up at the top of the list. Turns out, it was half the price to go home on this day than the flight I originally booked for ten days later. United would refund me the difference. Yes. Immediately yes.

I loved the Philippines, but I had not been home in two months. I was starting to feel like the telephone wires in Manila. Sure, I was technically working, but what the fuck was really going on? I needed to organize myself. I needed my bed.

This trip taught me a lot about myself … my older, wiser self. Here is a list of things I used to do in my 20s that I can no longer do:

• Skip meals
• Go on pub crawls
• Go on city walking tours
• Sleep in mixed hostel rooms
• Small talk about travel plans
• Be away from home for 40+ days
• Book one way tickets with no plans

My 30s are for:

• Spa days
• Direct flights
• 3 course meals
• Sleeping early
• Rising with the sun
• Deep conversations
• Going to places I truly care about

Naturally, I bought a flight the day after I landed. And then another later that night … It’s a compulsive behavior. But if I can admit it, is it really that bad?