Where is Manila?
Friday, January 30, 2026
Where is Manila?
Pappu:
It all began so simply.
One day, Mika said, almost casually, “Shall we go on a trip again? ”
Immediately, my heart leapt. Our first adventure together in Thailand had been unforgettable — full of crazy laughter and memories that still make me smile. So when she suggested another trip, I didn’t even need a second to think. Of course we would go. Of course we would do this again.
After tossing around ideas, we settled on Manila — a place that felt both exciting and unfamiliar, the perfect backdrop for another sister adventure.
***Comedy Alert***
I was sitting in a classroom at a high school with my students working on an assignment when Papu asked," Where is Manila?" with an innocent face. It made me laugh out loud!!! The kids looked up at me and I had to control my laughter.
Even that is a miracle! When we were wondering how to manage the trip, God opened a completely different positive option that we didn't even imagine and made things possible in a joyful way!
For the next couple of months, even working as a sub was very interesting because I spent the time at the school researching about Philippines and looking up flights and tours. I was getting paid while planning the trip!
By June 2025, we were already deep in planning mode. Flights were booked that very month. And just like that, we had something precious: eight whole months of anticipation.
Eight months of counting down.
Eight months of dreaming.
Eight months of imagining ourselves walking unfamiliar streets, trying new food, and laughing over inside jokes only we understand.
But this trip wasn’t just about logistics and itineraries. Every single week, we prayed together over WhatsApp — sending voice notes back and forth, lifting up every detail to God. We prayed over our families and the situations surrounding us. We prayed for smooth travel, for good health, for favorable weather. We prayed that there would be no political unrest, no unexpected disruptions. We surrendered everything — the known and the unknown — into His hands.
In those months of waiting, something beautiful was happening. The trip wasn’t just approaching on the calendar; it was being covered in prayer, layered with faith, and wrapped in anticipation.
And then, after all the waiting, all the planning, all the praying — the day finally arrived.
The adventure we had dreamed about for eight months was no longer in the future.
It was here.
Despite the severe snowstorm in Boston, Mika made it through. No cancellations. No missed connections. No unexpected delays. She boarded, flew, and arrived in Chennai right on time — safe and steady.
I could feel God's grace in every step of the way. Even the 15 hour plane ride was not tedious and the sheer amount of snow on the ground made me wonder how the airports were operational. They were shoveling snow with the bulldozer and dumping it into big trucks that melt the snow and pour out the water into the drain.It was interesting to see :)
God is good!
It was unmistakably the goodness of the Lord. In the middle of icy winds and uncertainty, He made a way. What could have easily become a stressful beginning turned into a testimony instead.
That was when we truly began to feel it — His covering. His mercy going ahead of us. His faithfulness in the details.
Even before we stepped onto foreign soil, we saw that this trip was already wrapped in grace.
We even managed to go wedding shopping , which turned out to be such a joyful experience. At Kyfa, we found some beautiful dresses, we had the best time trying outfits, laughing, and helping each other choose. We even got a dress that looked the same!!!
Pavam Pavam Pussy Cat...Enna Seyya !!! 
And finally, the day arrived.
One small anxiety had been quietly sitting in my heart — I was worried that I might get my periods during the trip. I had taken a tablet hoping to delay it, but there’s always that uncertainty. Yet by God’s grace, throughout the entire trip, I didn’t get them. It may seem like a small detail, but for me, it was such a relief. I was free to enjoy every moment without discomfort or worry. Another gentle mercy.
That morning was full of excitement. I went to pick up Mika from her house, and you could just feel it in the air — this was it. After eight months of waiting, we were finally on our way. The drive to the airport was filled with chatter, nervous laughter, and that constant “I can’t believe this is happening!”
We had booked Scoot, Singapore’s budget airline, and we had very carefully calculated our cabin baggage — exactly 10 kilos each. Or so we thought.
At the check-in counter, we met the lady we later nicknamed the “2D lady” — her expressions and features were so flat with a drawn lip more than a lipstick that the name just stuck. She was quite stern with us. She asked us to place every single bag on the scale — handbags, backpacks, everything.
"2D Lady" was a terror! How can my purse be a backpack?!? Who weighs backpacks!!! From now on I will run away from ladies at the counter.
When the final number flashed, our luggage was 6 kilos overweight.
For a moment, our excitement paused. We stood there trying to process what to do — should we reshuffle? Should we purchase extra baggage?
Every ounce of stuff in our bags were necessary for the 7 day trip. We couldn't just throw 6 kilos of clothes. What else could we do?
It took time, quick calculations, quiet strategizing, and a bit of stress. It wasn’t exactly a “hassle,” but it was definitely an unexpected bump right at the start.
Still, even in that moment, we were together — figuring it out, problem-solving, and learning that every adventure begins with a little test of patience.
We somehow sorted out the baggage drama, paid what was needed, reshuffled what we could, and finally got our boarding passes. One hurdle crossed.
Checking in our bags actually helped us be hands free and travel light in Singapore. We didn't have to look for a luggage storage area.
We walked toward the next stage — immigration — thinking the stressful part was over.
But there, waiting for us, was another surprise.
The immigration hall was packed.
Oh when, O when would they install the digital immigration booths like Singapore? Digital India...catch up please!
At least a hundred people stood ahead of us, and the line was barely moving. Not slowly. Not inching. It felt completely frozen. Our excitement quickly mixed with panic. The clock was ticking, and after eight months of waiting, planning, and praying, the thought of missing the flight right there — at immigration — felt unreal.
We stood there, watching the minutes pass, calculating how much time we had left, silently hoping the line would suddenly surge forward.
And then, in the middle of that tension, came one of the funniest moments of the day.
***Comedy Alert***
I was holding my neck pillow in my hand. Mika casually offered, “Kudu naan Matti viduren!!” She meant tying it onto my bag for convenience. But in my already anxious state, I thought she meant tying it around my neck right there in the immigration queue — as if I was preparing to sleep standing up!
The image was so ridiculous that I just stared at her in shock for a second. And then it hit us.
We burst out laughing.
I laughed so hard I thought I might pee! That exact moment our vacation started :)
There we were, stuck in a never-moving immigration line, possibly late for our flight, laughing like two schoolgirls over a misunderstood neck pillow.
And somehow, in that moment, the fear loosened its grip.
We made some friends in the immigration line like the boy from Kadalur. He gave us some tips about Singapore.
Somehow — by sheer mercy — we crossed immigration. We just hurried toward security, thinking, Okay, one last step and we’re safe. But there it was.
Another massive queue. From the frying pan into the fire!
At least 150 people stood ahead of us in the security line. And to make matters worse, boarding for our flight had already begun. In less than thirty minutes, the gates would close — and we were still so far away it felt impossible.
Game over! How are we going to face our cousins at the wedding. After all the hype for months and the goodbyes...how can we go back home after missing our flight?
For a split second, panic rose again. Is this really how our eight-month-awaited trip is going to end? In a security line? How would we face others?
And that’s when something unexpected — and honestly cinematic — happened.
Two pilots walked in.
One of them, I’m not exaggerating, looked like an angel. Aha!!!
Calm, confident, and glowing in that crisp uniform. Ahem, ahem...
We gathered our courage and asked, “Sir, our flight has started boarding, and we’re stuck here…”
He looked at us kindly and said, “Maybe you should go to the front and show them your tickets.”
That was all the permission we needed.
As they started walking forward, I quietly followed — almost like an unofficial tail (Star-crossed tail)— trying to keep conversation going, as though we were somehow associated with them.
I don’t know what came over me(I know what came over you...), but God gave me this sudden boldness and quick thinking. We politely asked again, “Sir, should we ask them once more?” — all while staying close enough to look like we belonged with the pilots.
And miraculously, the crowd didn’t object. Perhaps it was the presence of the uniform. Perhaps it was the calm confidence. It was pure grace. But people let us through.
We reached the front.
But even there, another mini-queue waited near the security scanners. Time was evaporating. We hurried again, showed our boarding passes, and pleaded, “Our flight is boarding — could you please let us through?”
Dik Dik moments...Will we make it to the flight on time? The officer sighed, half-annoyed, half-resigned. “Everyone is saying that… what can I do?” Then after a pause — “Okay, okay, come, come.”
We rushed forward.
Just when we thought we were safe, my bag was pulled aside for checking. Of course. The officer was stern. “Open it. What’s inside?” My heart sank. Oh no. Not now. Please, not now.
We opened it quickly. He inspected it. For a few long seconds, it felt like time had completely stopped. Then finally — “Okay, okay.”
***Comedy Alert***
I wanted to use the restroom before I boarded the plane. So I left my bag in the security line and went down on the escalator to the restroom near the gate. Halfway down I realized that if they needed more inspection of my bag and if they couldn't find the owner of the bag, it could further delay and complicate the situation. I wanted to go back to the security area but there were no stairs leading up. I panicked and started running up the escalator that was going down. It was like going on a treadmill...I keep climbing step and it kept moving me down!!! I was thinking that I might end up in a viral video of crazy people on escalators!
The steps were challenging because the top of the escalator where the steps were starting seemed like an optical illusion making me kinda dizzy but I could not hold on to the handle because it was moving down. I was able to finally win the battle of the moving steps!
That was it. Our release.
We grabbed everything and ran.
We ran like children late for school — through corridors, past signs, hearts pounding. All I could think was, Please let us make it. Please let Manila not remain a mystery. Please let us actually go and discover where Manila truly is!
And then — we reached the gate.
They let us in.
We stepped onto the aircraft. Walked down the aisle. Found our seats. Sat down.
And only then — only when the seatbelt clicked into place — did we finally exhale.
A long, deep breath.
We looked at each other and just felt it:
We made it.
After snowstorms, baggage drama, immigration shock, security chaos, grumpy officers, and angel pilots — we were finally on board.
The adventure had officially begun.
May angels fly with you wherever you roam and guide you back to family and home!
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