Three Days of Nasi Ikan and a Craving for More
August 27th. I started my day exactly the same way I always do—grabbing breakfast at my usual street stall. And yes, I ordered Nasi Ikan (rice and fish) for the third day in a row! I'm officially obsessed.
But for some reason, one portion just wasn't enough to satisfy my morning appetite today, so I decided to go on a little food hunt. I wandered off into the narrow backstreets, heading toward the Pasar Ikan (fish market) area.
Finding Beauty in the Chaos
I have to say, the streets around here are absolutely wild. I've seen some intense local neighborhoods in the Philippines, but this area is definitely up there. It's a complete sensory overload—vibrant colors, intense smells, and total chaos everywhere you look.
To an outsider, the scattered trash and gritty environment might just look "dirty". But to me, it felt like a perfectly functioning, self-sustaining ecosystem. In Japan, it's so easy to get wrapped up in strict rules, laws, and keeping up appearances. But here? It's just raw, unfiltered human survival. People are just living. Seeing that raw resilience was honestly kind of beautiful, and it gave me a lot to think about regarding how differently humans build their lives.
Broken Jetties and a $2 Squid Feast
As I kept walking, I stumbled upon an old, completely worn-down jetty. It looked like it was used for boats crossing over to the island across the water. Finding a hidden spot like that always gives me a little thrill!
For lunch, I found a spot nearby and ordered a fried Cumi-cumi (squid) meal set.
It only cost me 30,000 rupiah (about $2 USD), and it was absolutely delicious! Definitely a win for trying somewhere new.
A Surprise Festival and (More) Fish!
After a solid food coma and a long nap back at my hotel, I woke up right around evening. I took a stroll through a large park nearby and noticed people setting up for a massive event.
I asked around, and it turns out there's a huge traditional music festival happening tomorrow! Talk about lucky timing. I'm definitely going to check it out.
By then, my stomach was rumbling again, so I headed to a seafood stall I had visited once before. For another 30,000 rupiah (about $2 USD), I got my fish fix for the night.
I wrapped up the day chatting with the friendly locals at the stalls near my hotel. Today was full of deep thoughts and great food, but I am so ready for tomorrow's festival!
