Good morning, world! It’s about 8:00 AM here in Manila. I’ve been up since 6:30 AM getting some work done, and while my computer is busy rendering videos, it’s finally time for the rest of the family to wake up and get moving.
We actually didn't make a video yesterday. We had planned to go to the zoo, but just as we stepped out of the hotel, it started raining like crazy. We ended up just spending a few hours at the SM mall across the road. It’s actually quite convenient staying here; there’s a bridge that connects right to the mall, so you don’t even have to cross the busy street. Jessa was actually terrified of that bridge yesterday—she was holding onto the side like a 90-year-old woman! Apparently, she thinks it shakes too much, but I think it’s just fine.
Today’s big plan was to head to the Manila Zoo, but we just found out some disappointing news: it's closed for renovation until November 15th. We looked for another zoo, but it required having your own vehicle to drive through, so that was out too. Instead, we’ve decided to head to Manila Ocean Park.
We had a bit of an adventure just trying to get there. We initially wanted to take the train because Jessa has never been on one before, and I wanted to show you all what the "SkyTrain" (or the MRT/LRT) is like here. However, once we got to the station, we realized they didn't allow filming inside. Since the only reason to take the train was for the vlog, and a taxi is much more comfortable, we "surrendered" and called a cab.
On the way to the station, we actually met a man who had lost his wallet and was stranded. He had tears in his eyes and needed 270 pesos to get to Batangas. You never really know if these stories are for real, but I decided to help him out. It’s nice to do something kind when you can.
Manila Ocean Park turned out to be a fantastic family day. Liam actually slept through the beginning—classic Liam, falling asleep right before we enter the "plane" or the attraction! He missed the jellyfish, but honestly, there wasn't much to see there anyway. He woke up in time for the Sea Lion show, which he absolutely loved. We even got him a new souvenir shirt, so he’s one happy boy.
The only real downside today has been the taxi situation in Manila. It’s the one place where I consistently have trouble with drivers refusing to use their meters. My recommendation: if you're in Manila, just use Grab. It might be slightly more expensive than a metered taxi, but the cars are better, and you don't have to deal with a driver who has an attitude about using the meter. It’s just not worth the stress.
We’re ending the day with a stop at Jollibee.
Thanks for watching, and I’ll see you in the next one!
