I’m on a plane to Palawan now. So I have some time to do some writing. Yay! Coz I wanted to write about my hostel experience. It was my first ever. I mean, I’ve travelled before. Duh. But always stayed in hotels or resorts. So this was my first hostel ever.

It was nothing what I expected. So what did I expect then? Actually I don’t know. But it sure wasn’t the luxury that hostel Lub d offered. It was amazing! 

Reaching the hostel

We arrived at the hostel at 05:00h. The plane had a 3h delay. Unfortunately. I said ‘we’ yes. At the airport I met backpacker James who had the same flight from China to Philippines. So I suggested to share a taxi. He was going to a cheaper hostel. If I remember correctly, he paid 8 euros per night. Mine was 13. 

While we were driving the taxi, the chauffeur used his Google maps. But his navigation gave a different location than James’. So we drove around quite some time through empty dark streets of Manila. It felt like being in a gangster movie, cruising through the ghetto. 

It was dark

After I don’t know how long, we finally found James’ hostel. It was dark. The whole street was. James said, it looks like it’s closed. But he went for it anyway. I told him he could always come to my hostel if they didn’t let him in. 

And then there was light

Anywayz. The taxi driver brought me to my hostel. I backed his navigation up with my phone, just to be sure. It was a long ride. But we ended up at a lightened street. I saw the neon light of Lub d. It still looked a bit like a ghetto neighbourhood. But I guess that’s just Manila. 

Hostel Lub d

A bit of a weird name maybe, Lub d. But it’s means sleep well. Anywayz. In front of of the hostel was a friendly security guard. He told me to go to the second floor with lift or stairs. I chose the beautiful tiled stairs. I had no idea where I was gonna end up. 

First impression

Once I was on the first floor, I found a nice industrial looking lounge area. I could hear people talking in the back. So I guess life is 24/7 here. Just like Amsterdam. But I couldn’t find the stairs to the second floor. So I took the elevator. I pressed button 2. Nothing happened. Weird. Guess what. This was floor 2 already. So I got out of the elevator. Must have looked silly.  But hey, I was pretty much sleepdrunk from the 30h trip I just made. 

A friendly girl at the reception desk named Kisses welcomed me. Yes her name was seriously Kisses. She told me that they had cancelled my reservation, because I was late. I explained that I had send them an email about my flight delay. But it was no problem. She made a new booking. 

She even told me that this one was cheaper. Nice, thank you. I asked if the breakfast was also included, like my original booking. It wasn’t. But she gave me 2 vouches for breakfast with discount. 

Sleeping on an airport

Probably the total price was actually higher now than before. But I didn’t mind. I wanted to go to a real bed now and sleep. During the flight I couldn’t sleep on the plane. In China I did sleep some at the airport. Yes I actually did! One day you’re working on an airport. And another day I’m sleeping there. LOL. 

Anyways, Kisses was really helpful. She gave my room 306 with bed number 8. It was a bunk bed. Mine was the upper bed. She told me that I could change it later if I wanted the lower bed. I didn’t mind, as long as it was a bed. 

Entering the dorm room

The dorm was dark (duh at 05:00h), but looked pretty well organised. On each wall there were beds. But not like solo furniture beds. No they looked more like a castle. Nice and solid. Like every bed was a little bedroom, the size of the matress. Each bed had its own lights. 

Wooden dorm lockers

The lower beds had put their blankets up, so they looked like tents. Mine had curtains. They didn’t close my bed completely, but that was just fine. Every bed had a box at the entrance of the room. You could use them as lockers to put in your luggage. 

You had to bring your own lock though. But I was prepared for this. I had little luggage locks with me. I noticed that the other (sleeping)travellers hadn’t locked their boxes. But I wasn’t gonna leave my backpack unlocked. Just in case. 

Backpacker first needs

First thing you need for backpacking is a sleeping mask and earplugs. I felt so happy I brought mine. Because there was an airconditioner blowing and making noise at full speed. It wasn’t that though, that kept me awake. It was my disturbed biorhythm and sleepdrunkness. I fell asleep at some point and slept like a baby. When I opened my eyes it was already 14:25h. 

Goodmorning Manila

Breakfast was till 10:00h. So I started with lunch. I went to the lounge on floor 2 and ordered myself some pancakes. They were big and delicious. Maybe a bit too much oil or butter for my taste. But I could use the fuel. I ordered a big glass of juice and a coffee. 

Wheel of Fortune

Speaking about coffee. When Kisses checked me in, she invited me to spin the wheel of fortune. It’s for every new guest. You could win nothing, a free night and everything in between. Guess what. I won a coffee! Yay!

Meeting backpackers

The hostel was built for the modern digital backpacker. They had power plugs in the floor at every table. At almost every table there were people sitting with their laptops. Actually everyone was just looking at their screen. I know, it’s solo travelling. But I guess I expected travellers to be more social. Like eager to meet other travellers. I wasn’t wrong. Because I learned that they do want to meet other travellers. Eagerly. But only to date and have sex. It’s more like a Travel-Tinder. 

The 13th floor

The whole second floor was the lounge. At the entrance the reception desk. In the middle a bar. There were two elevators. One went up to the rooftop restaurant on the 13th floor. I went up there in the evening to get some food. The view there… it was so impressive. Skyscrapers all around. It felt like I was in a Japanese manga movie! So incredible cool! We don’t have such a metropolis in the Netherlands. 

Go to ‘Lub d’ and ‘sleep well’

Overall the hostel was great! They have thought of everything to make their guests feel as comfortable as possible. I know I have said it many times, but I will say it again, the people are so nice and friendly here. Definitely a place I’d recommend to anyone. Because it’s not only young people travelling. And I definitely wasn’t the oldest guest. I saw lots of people travelling solo. But plenty of them travelled in pairs. Lub d offers dorm rooms, private rooms and family rooms. I’ve only seen the dorm though. Duh. 

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What is the best (or the worst) cookie of the Philippines..? Travel with me to find out. It is on my short list. But I haven’t visited it yet. Cookie hunting Philippines.

Republic of the Philippines

The Philippines,[f] officially the Republic of the Philippines,[g] is an archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. In the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of 7,641 islands, with a total area of 300,000 square kilometers,[17] which are broadly categorized in three main geographical divisions from north to south: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

The Philippines is bounded by the South China Sea to the west, the Philippine Sea to the east, and the Celebes Sea to the south. It shares maritime borders with Taiwan to the north, Japan to the northeast, Palau to the east and southeast, Indonesia to the south, Malaysia to the southwest, Vietnam to the west, and China to the northwest. It is the world’s twelfth-most-populous country, with diverse ethnicities and cultures. Manila is the country’s capital, and its most populated city is Quezon City. Both are within Metro Manila.

Climate

The Philippines has a tropical maritime climate which is usually hot and humid. There are three seasons: a hot dry season from March to May, a rainy season from June to November, and a cool dry season from December to February. The southwest monsoon (known as the habagat) lasts from May to October, and the northeast monsoon (amihan) lasts from November to April: 24–25  The coolest month is January, and the warmest is May.

Temperatures at sea level across the Philippines tend to be in the same range, regardless of latitude; average annual temperature is around 26.6 °C (79.9 °F) but is 18.3 °C (64.9 °F) in Baguio, 1,500 meters (4,900 ft) above sea level.[266] The country’s average humidity is 82 percent.24–25  Annual rainfall is as high as 5,000 millimeters (200 in) on the mountainous east coast, but less than 1,000 millimeters (39 in) in some sheltered valleys (wikipedia.com). Cookie Hunting Philippines.

Philippines celebrate next level Christmas, from September till January.

Location

The Philippines is in the South Chinese- and Philippines sea. Between Taiwan, Vietnam and Indonesia. Above Australia and Papua New Guinea. It has 7641 islands, 18 regions, 81 provinces, 145 cities, 1,489 municipalities, and 42,029 districts.

• 7.641 islands 
• 170 dialects
• Next level Christmas celebration: from September till January

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