A 4km Trek and an Unexpected Bargain
My day kicked off on May 29th, waking up somewhere around 7:00 AM. I knocked out some work until 11:00 AM before tackling my main mission for the day: extending my visa.
My current one-month visa expires around June 27th or 28th. Since I've already booked my flight to the next country for July 15th, I desperately needed a two to three-week extension to bridge the gap.
The walk to the visa office was about 4 kilometers. My body is still getting used to this much walking, so I took my time, enjoying the hour-long stroll through the streets.
Upon arriving at the 4th floor of G-Mall, a sports and marathon event booth on the right side caught my eye. Knowing it would be perfect for my future runs and travels, I picked up a versatile t-shirt. I initially braced myself for a display price tag of maybe $65 USD (10,000 yen), but to my absolute surprise, it was a steal at just 599 pesos (about $11 USD).
The $2 Visa Fast-Track
Next up was the visa renewal counter. Getting there at 1:30 PM, I fully expected the process to drag on for at least two hours, thinking I'd be stuck there until 3:30 or 4:00 PM.
Then, something magical happened. I made eye contact with a police officer or security guard who essentially signaled, "Want to get this done fast?". He asked if 100 pesos (less than $2 USD) was okay, and I immediately agreed. The result? I was in and out in under 30 minutes.
He even took care of writing down my name for the paperwork. I was genuinely blown away by how speedy it was—saving hours of my afternoon for just a couple of bucks was something I was incredibly grateful for.
First Halo-Halo and Heartwarming Smiles
On my way back home, a sign for "Halo-Halo" grabbed my attention. It was my third day in the Philippines, and feeling like I hadn't properly explored the local food scene yet, I decided to give it a shot.
Inside, I was greeted by an incredibly cheerful local woman. The conversation flowed so naturally; it was hands down the best and most heartwarming interaction I've had since arriving in Cebu.
I wrapped up the day with a hearty plate of Sisig for dinner and headed home. Tomorrow is going to be brutal with a 5:00 AM start alongside some friends. Not totally sure if I'll manage to wake up that early, but I need to get my gear ready and mentally prepare for the early morning grind.