A Guesthouse Near The Airport

Backtracking a bit, I forgot to mention the lovely guesthouse that I stayed at after my arrival on Cathay Pacific from Hong Kong. I was fortunate to have an earlier enough arrival into Manila, to still enjoy some of the day. I stayed at a very convenient hostel owned by a really friendly couple called Islas 8817 Guesthouse in Paranaque City, which is one of the closest cities near both the International and Domestic Airports.

If you take a jeepney from either airports the ride to the guesthouse is
about P7 and by a shared taxi going down Sucat Road, you're looking at about P32 and by taxi from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the ride is about P85. Don't take the fixed-rate taxis at the arrival area outside, rather go to the departure area where the taxis are dropping off passengers and catch a taxi going down Sucat Road, otherwise the fixed-rate taxis will charge you about P285-P330 to take you to the guesthouse.

The Islas 8817 Guesthouse is located at 8817 San Juan Street in the San Antonio Valley 2 Subdivision, which is right off Sucat Road, just past the second McDonald's after the SM Mall/Sucat about 6 miles (9.6km) from the International Airport. Once there you'll be met by the owners who will make your stay so enjoyable and comfortable that you may not want to leave straightaway. There is basically one large air-conditioned room with an upstairs that has a room with twin beds for about $11 or P484 a night and on the first level of the large room are 16 single beds that are of mixed use, that is male and female in the same room with no partitions, but hey, for $7 or P308 a night, it's no problem for most lodgers, because you will meet folks from everywhere and that's a big plus in it self.

You'll be provided with linen, a place to store your luggage, a kitchen to share with other guest and a area if you wish to BBQ. The one thing I would suggest for those of you who may be new to living on the cheap, is to bring or purchase a pair of rubber flip flops for the shared bathroom and shower and you'll be fine I'm sure with the accommodations. The wifi is fast and reliable. The location is 1500 feet (500 meters) from "mom and pop" eateries serving Adobo chicken, noodle dishes and various native dishes, you know the many pots on the table that you just point at the lid and the vendor will open the lid and let you peek in to see what the dish is, and then you can decide if it looks tasty enough to order. Also, there are several stores, a fruit and vegetable vendor and a few fast food restaurants all within a 15 minute walking distance. One of my favorite layovers when I fly in and out of Manila and I'm sure one that you will want to check out too! You can book accomodations direct or through hostels.com (Exchange rate based on P44 to $1).

From your very first breath at birth, until the very last breath in passing, you will lose your way more than a few times in life. It is a fact of life, just as breathing is a necessary ingredient for life. When I lost my way, I adopted the philosophies of the East to help me find my way. All things East, had become my map for life, and my purpose for living. So, it's by no means a surprise that I found myself in the Philippines once again.

The Philippines is where I first fell in love and remained in love with throughout my life. The love I have for the Philippines is not defined by a single person or a single moment, but a multitude of things that I am unable to express in one sitting or perhaps a lifetime. In fact, my love for the Philippines and its people is expressionless. There are no words to describe my feelings toward the Philippines or for it. It is a place that one has to experience first-hand to know the meaning of the emotive feelings one acquires while there and when they leave, the longing for it.