My Asian Adventure, Day 3
It is already day 4, but I have not yet done much, and there is still day 3 to f..nish.
My first attempt at going to the mall failed. I did see a different part of the philipines, wa/ked past grave stone vendors and lots of opportunities to buy water or other ways to get ill quick.
I also got to know ''rainy season" and found that a raincoat shou/d not be considered a luxury.
After finally finding my way back to the hostel, one of my hosts, Eric offered to drop me off at the mall. Who am I to refuse?
I could grab a cab home by asking for the "lighthouse restaurant" which is across the street.
Of course I forgot this while shopping, so it was a good thing I got Eric's mobile number.
On with the actual shopping: Ayala mall is just that: a big, multi-level shopping center. One of the things that struck me was the detection gate at the entrance. Since I have nothing to hide, I have no issue with them. the "search" that followed was not to write home about either.
So I continue. I needed some food, shower supplies, a phone and some clothing.
I was told I should find a cheap Chinese phone, but I went for the well-known Finnish brand. More of that later.
I did not have breakfast yet, and lunch was nigh. So I went to a supermarket: the Metro. There, among adult and fluid milk, I found what I thought I needed. Paying was not as easy. I was around 200 pesos short, and you cannot "charge" a debit card. The cute cashier and her "bagger" colleague were willing to hold my bag for me while I got some money. The ATM was close, took 200 pesos cost, but I could pay for the groceries.
My bag now filled, it was time to find that phone. I noticed a Nokia store on tier 3. Might as well look at what they have. I needed a phone that did not know what either internet or megapixels meant. I did find it, ready to be used,for less than 25 euros.
Not having bought anything that could be used as lunch, I sat down to a € 4,54 pizza brunch.
After more roaming and being the obvious foreigner, I decided to get that taxi. Now I found out why 395 pesos (approx. €7,=) from the airport was too much: for a mere 70 cents I was back at the hostel.
After putting the perishables in the fridge, I went to my room. I found that the sun had disappeared at 5 pm, so I called it a day.
Some of my friends in NL and here I send an SMS from my new phone, and my Christmas host had helped me get an idea about prices. time for my bed.
My first attempt at going to the mall failed. I did see a different part of the philipines, wa/ked past grave stone vendors and lots of opportunities to buy water or other ways to get ill quick.
I also got to know ''rainy season" and found that a raincoat shou/d not be considered a luxury.
After finally finding my way back to the hostel, one of my hosts, Eric offered to drop me off at the mall. Who am I to refuse?
I could grab a cab home by asking for the "lighthouse restaurant" which is across the street.
Of course I forgot this while shopping, so it was a good thing I got Eric's mobile number.
On with the actual shopping: Ayala mall is just that: a big, multi-level shopping center. One of the things that struck me was the detection gate at the entrance. Since I have nothing to hide, I have no issue with them. the "search" that followed was not to write home about either.
So I continue. I needed some food, shower supplies, a phone and some clothing.
I was told I should find a cheap Chinese phone, but I went for the well-known Finnish brand. More of that later.
I did not have breakfast yet, and lunch was nigh. So I went to a supermarket: the Metro. There, among adult and fluid milk, I found what I thought I needed. Paying was not as easy. I was around 200 pesos short, and you cannot "charge" a debit card. The cute cashier and her "bagger" colleague were willing to hold my bag for me while I got some money. The ATM was close, took 200 pesos cost, but I could pay for the groceries.
My bag now filled, it was time to find that phone. I noticed a Nokia store on tier 3. Might as well look at what they have. I needed a phone that did not know what either internet or megapixels meant. I did find it, ready to be used,for less than 25 euros.
Not having bought anything that could be used as lunch, I sat down to a € 4,54 pizza brunch.
After more roaming and being the obvious foreigner, I decided to get that taxi. Now I found out why 395 pesos (approx. €7,=) from the airport was too much: for a mere 70 cents I was back at the hostel.
After putting the perishables in the fridge, I went to my room. I found that the sun had disappeared at 5 pm, so I called it a day.
Some of my friends in NL and here I send an SMS from my new phone, and my Christmas host had helped me get an idea about prices. time for my bed.