Tuesday, July 8, 2025

Getting there.........

A short hop to Amsterdam before boarding the usual airline to Thailand. Inexplicably cheaper to fly via Schiphol than direct from London (on the same airline!).

Heathrow en route to Schipol

Bangkok airport

Short layover before heading on to Manila, my heavy luggage with all the biking gear seemingly getting heavier in the heat.

I arrived at Manila airport mentally prepared for a long immigration process, changing money and trying not to be ripped off by the taxi into town. It all went worryingly smoothly. A Grab helpdesk made the taxi ride efficient and scam free! Even the legendarily horrendous Manila traffic wasn't bad (words I will no doubt come to regret when I try to ride out in a day or so!).  

Grab from the airport in Manila

Nipped out to have a wander and a drink; trying the local "Red Horse" beer. Jaysus it is pokey beer (6.9%), so switched to San Miguel light (oh, the shame!!).

Waking late, I eventually stumbled out to find some breakfast/lunch. Then decided to get a Grab to Intramuros (the old, walled Spanish colonial area). It was as much to see what the traffic was like during the day. Slow, but not really bad; at least no worse than other places I've ridden. 

Baluarte de San Diego, Intramuros





San Agustin Church


Jeepney


Intramuros was a nice enough place to wander around for a while. Tried to find some food and wandered away from the tourist friendly Intramuros into a less nice area; more rough sleepers and beggars and a general air of neglect. So, another Grab was summoned and I headed back to Makati and the "Filling Station" for an ill advised pizza. It would come back to haunt me later. Out for a few more beers in the evening in preparation for the start of the ride the next day. Soundtrack: "Steppenwolf" - Hawkwind

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