Manila, Philippines 

I arrived from Taipei around 11 am and got a Grab to the ZHostel-

I had to wait about an hour before my room was ready.  I had asked for a bottom bunk and got one.  It’s more a hotel than a hostel as there is no kitchen although the city is full of restaurants so it’s not like I’m going to starve.  I just like the option of my own breakfast but that’s included so maybe it will be ok.  

I walked around, stopped in at a church, then ended up on the roof of the hostel for great views of the city.  Slums sit next to modern high rises - it makes for very interesting living arrangements.

The hostel offered a walking tour so I joined. We walked to the river where there’s a ferry leaving every hour going to Intramuros, the historic part of Manila, as well as Chinatown.  Both are on my list.  There were a lot of jeepneys, many souped up.  We stopped at a meat bbq where they were grilling liver, intestines, solid chunks of fat and chicken heads-

Pass.  Across the street was a bakery with a Philippine speciality called Halayang Ube which is purple because it’s made from purple yams-

We stopped at another table for balut which is a 17 day old duck embryo.  We paid for one but the seller ate it. Very gross!  

First she showed us how the top part is empty.  She snipped off the top of the shell-

She opened the egg-

Showed us what was inside-

Added salt-

and fish sauce-

Then she ate it as we watched on horrified-

After about an hour the tour was over and I went to bed.  Hope I get a good sleep!