April 13–14

Mondays are usually my dentist day, and this one started on a surprisingly good note, my adjustment took all of 15 minutes. A stark contrast to the last visit where I sat in that chair for three hours getting a crown jacket done. Progress, people!

With the rest of my Monday freed up, I headed to Manila and checked in at Airbedz for just PHP 862 for one night (3PM check-in, 12NN check-out). There’s a PHP 1,000 deposit, but it’s fully refunded when you leave, so don’t panic. And honestly? This place is a quiet little gem. It’s walking distance from the LRT station and a Vietnamese coffee shop I’m lowkey obsessed with. The loft-style room was surprisingly spacious, the bed was genuinely comfy, the CR was well-maintained, and yes, there’s an elevator. For that price, it’s an absolute steal. I’ll be back.

It also gave me nostalgia flashbacks to the condo I lived in for a year. Funny how a good room can do that.

After a quick shower, I headed out to treat my friend, she’s getting married soon, and since I’ll be out of the country in May and can’t make the wedding, dinner was the least I could do. 🥲

I took the LRT and it hit differently. I used to ride from Legarda to Gilmore and Cubao back in college, so the whole thing felt like a little time machine. One funny moment though: I fed PHP 100 into the ticket kiosk and thought I’d lost my change forever. Turns out, the machine gives you a receipt and you can refund the balance at the main ticket booth. Lowkey genius system, just wish someone had told me sooner.

We met at Robinsons Magnolia and first stop was Llalao — a frozen yogurt place where I got a single serve with mango topping for PHP 110. Smooth, light, and a solid pre-dinner palate cleanser.

Then came the main event: Yabu. There was a line (always is), so we just walked and talked until we got in, honestly, not a bad way to catch up. I went with my usual, the Hire Set (pork tenderloin) for PHP 450, plus a Coke for PHP 110. Set includes soup and salad. Absolutely no notes. We ate well and talked even better.

The next morning, I noticed the Tim Horton’s near the hostel had closed. Then I remembered, most of their Philippine branches have quietly shut down, including the one I used to frequent in Vito Cruz. RIP to that era.

Thankfully, the Vietnamese café I mentioned earlier? Right there, walking distance. I ordered an iced Vietnamese coffee (PHP 150) and attempted to get a fried spring roll, except the cashier heard fresh spring roll instead. I didn’t correct it fast enough, and well… fresh spring rolls and braces are not a great combo. Lesson learned, zero regrets.

Checked out, headed home, and already low-key planning my next Airbedz stay. 👋