Leaving Christchurch with a bike and two panniers each - the way to travel! So on the 3rd July Pete dropped us at Christchurch airport and we began the long journey to Manila: a 9hr flight; 14 hours at Changi Airport, Singapore; and then another 3hr flight to Manila.
In Singapore we joined the legions of spaced out travellers who drift around the gigantic airport and after much persistence (and a couple of hours of sleeping on the floor) we managed to get ourselves a room in the transit hotel for a few hours sleep before the final leg to Manila.
The mega-airport.
Arrival in Manila. Shortly before we left NZ typhoon Frank had reaped havoc in the Philippines - causing widespread flooding and capsizing a number of large ships - including the much publicised ferry tragedy that drowned 800 people. Thoughts lingered of monsoon deluges, typhoid outbreaks, road damage, and really not knowing a whole bunch about the regions we were going into.
Francis' place, Makati, Manila. Through couchsurfing we had made contact with a couple of locals: Francis Gumapec and Megan McNeill (an Aussie living in Manila with her Filipino husband Mike). Francis met us at the airport, took us to her place and made our arrival there really easy.
Makati, Manila. Just down the road from where we were staying. It's so much better having a local to stay with than the anonyminity of a hotel. We were leaving the next day anyhow - so with Francis, and later in the evening Megan and Mike we made the most of our time there and explored a tiny bit of Manila.
Downtown Manila.
Firearms anyone?
Hana, Mike and Megan. We met Mike and Megan through couchsurfing.
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