In 2010, I was preparing my first trip to the Philippines. I had heard of this destination by one of my good friends, himself married to a Filipina. He had told me so many beautiful things about this country that I eventually headed for Manila in September 2010.
When I arrived to Philippines in the middle of the night and after two stops and 21hours of flight, I began to wonder where I was going to spend the night. As I do not really plan when traveling alone, I sat at the airport to check out my “Lonely Planet”. Should I sleep here or should I go back to one of the 7100 islands of the archipelago? Or should I stay in Manila for a few days and see where it leads me?
I finally decided to stay here and fly the next morning to Boracay. That’s when two girls came and asked me if I was looking for help. This most unlikely approach made me more than suspicious: my friend had warned me against tourist scams targeting lonely travelers at Manila airport. I told them that everything was under control and that I decided to stay for the night and leave for another destination the next morning. In vain. The two local tourists insisted and invited me to have a drink with them in a bar in Manila. It was exactly 3:25 am and I was extremely worried.
The discussion went on and they kept talking about their country as a wonder. I thought they were probably trying to get me to fall asleep for me to fall into the trap. This thought was totally subjective, but let’s say I had many good reasons to believe in a scam. Still, I decided to go, telling myself that if it turned sour, I would at least have learned another travel lesson. We headed to the bar in two different taxis and this loophole made me a little less nervous.
« This most unlikely approach made me more than suspicious: my friend had warned me against tourist scams targeting lonely travelers at Manila airport. »
« These people are now a second family and since then, every time I am in the Philippines, they are there for me. »
Once at the bar, we discussed travel and the Philippines. The end of the night was so great that one of the girls offered me to go visit, with some of her friends, a paradise island that only few people knew. To get there, we would have to take the bus, a tricycle and then a boat … Torn between the fear of a scam and the desire to discover a hidden treasure, I finally accepted the invitation and met Laya (May), Ardele (Dee) and Uno (Zee). We left for Anawaquin Beach.
Today, in hindsight, I think I was lucky to meet these exceptional people and to take the risk of following them. These people are now a second family and since then, every time I am in the Philippines, they are there for me. Everyone knows it: to be welcomed by locals is like coming home. And that’s how I feel every time I go back to my adopted country.
Once at the bar, we discussed travel and the Philippines. The end of the night was so great that one of the girls offered me to go visit, with some of her friends, a paradise island that only few people knew. To get there, we would have to take the bus, a tricycle and then a boat … Torn between the fear of a scam and the desire to discover a hidden treasure, I finally accepted the invitation and met Laya (May), Ardele (Dee) and Uno (Zee). We left for Anawaquin Beach.
Today, in hindsight, I think I was lucky to meet these exceptional people and to take the risk of following them. These people are now a second family and since then, every time I am in the Philippines, they are there for me. Everyone knows it: to be welcomed by locals is like coming home. And that’s how I feel every time I go back to my adopted country.
« These people are now a second family and since then, every time I am in the Philippines, they are there for me. »
