BOOKIVORE Adventure

Here I am again. Trying to keep this blog afloat. HAHA. I was hoping to share this post five months ago, but life happens and there were a lot of things to be done that's why I only got to write a post about a trip I had last September. A three day trip which only focused to these three things:

• BOOKS
• FOOD
• HISTORY
• ART

As early as March, my officemate and I (both bookworms) heard about the Manila International Book Fair, so we immediately booked a flight for September. A month later, another 2 officemates decided to join us. The more, the merrier. Yeheeey!!!

SEPTEMBER 13-15 came fast and our itinerary unfolded.

DAY 1

8 AM    - Departure from Cebu

10 AM  - Arrival in Manila. Went straight ahead to SMX Convention Center where we waited to enter the center and immediately separated our ways just so we can visit all bookstore and publishing     booths. There was a lot there. If only I don't have a limited budget, I could've bought many. But of course, my budget is limited and for sure I won't be able to read them immediately. I only bought 5 books and around 5 booklets for gifts. There were lots of artists also in the 2nd floor, where I bought some postcards.

2 PM - We roamed around IKEA and took our first meal of the day.

7 PM We checked in at Shore Residences. We walked going there from SMX Convention. It seemed near in google maps but the road going there made it felt far since we had to go through overpasses and underpasses while bringing our luggage and the books we bought.

DAY 2

9 AM - We woke up early to prepare and visit Reading Club 2000 in Makati. We met Mang Hernando, the one who started the community library. It was awesome. We get to talk to him and what motivated him to start it. We were also able to take books FOR FREE. Yes! You heard it! For Free! As a visitor, you can go there, donate books, swap books, and get books you want to read.

11 AM we went to Manila Chinatown in Binondo for an exciting Food Crawl. We had our lunch at Cafe Mezanine were we tried their:

• Xiao Long Bao
• Kikiam
• Kiampong
• Tofu
• That was a indeed a delicious meal.
• After, we went to a small alley where we tried Fresh Vegetable Lumpia. The serving was indeed huge. It was a bit difficult to finish it.
• We then went to Lord Stows for their creamy Egg Tart. Yum. Definitely a 10.
• We walked the streets of Ongpin St. and bought their famous Fried Siopao. I think this was so hyped that I expected much but it's still just a siopao.
• We bought pasalubong in Salazars. The delicacies were affordable. We even met a Bisaya salesperson there and were assisted to the best delicacy we should buy.
• After that, we visited a small shop that sells dumplings.  

3 PM we had an Intramuros Night Tour booking by 5PM so we decided to walk from Binondo to Intramuros just to be more familiar of the streets and to explore.  

       

6 PM onwards, we walked around Intramuros for the Night Tour. There was a tour guide who guided as through and share to us even stories that were not even mentioned on History textbooks back in school.

DAY 3

8 AM we checked out early so we can cover a lot. Our schedule that day was all about museums. We went to Museum of Fine Arts and Anthropology and last stop was Luneta. I lost one of the wheels of my luggage along the way. HAHA.

8 PM our journey ended and we then had our flight back to Cebu.

SOME TRAVEL TIPS

• Book your trips ahead. Like months ahead so you'll only have to think about your pocket money later on.
• Book your accommodations ahead. I personally use Agoda just so I can use discounts and avail of cashback promos.
• Explore ahead so that you can plan ahead what to visit, what to eat, etc.