After two years I am finally making my Philippines volunteering trip a reality. I started with two days in Manila, arriving on Sunday evening and immediately liking the humid, crazy chaos. I haven't been to SE Asia for a few years, having spent more time travelling around Eastern Europe and heading to whichever parts of Australia my visa dictates, so it is great to be back. Manila is several cities in one and, after much deliberation, I had decided to stay in the 'sanitised' area of Makati rather than the more backpackery Malate as I was only there for a couple of nights to de-jetlag before heading off for the island of Leyte where I would be spending the next five weeks. Despite its reputation of being the 'glitzier' area of Manila, Makati still felt run-down,
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