2026 Trip - Day 144: Another Day in San Juan and Finding Out About the Balkans

Today is my third day in the hostel. I want to leave here San Juan. I want to leave the Philippines.

I did not do anything interesting today. Not sure whether it is even worth writing today. I only went out to get some food during the day.

I went out for breakfast and found a shop selling empanadas. The cheapest one was 75 pesos with chicken meat. I tried bargaining with him, and he agreed to sell me one without any meat for 50 pesos. I was happy. Even though I only paid 45 pesos yesterday to another hawker about an hour's walk away.

50 Pesos vegetarian cheese Espanada

I also got myself some nice street hawker food, and I was very happy about it. It was cheap. Kikiam and fish balls. The kikiam was 2 pesos each, and the fish balls were 1 peso each. I got myself 5 kikiam and 5 fish balls for a total of only 15 pesos. Later, I went back for a second order and got exactly the same thing. It was delicious and cheap!

All for 15 Pesos

Delicious and cheap hawker food

38 Pesos my favorite chocolate drink for 7-eleven

I spent all day in the hostel figuring out which country to go to next.

I wrote down all the countries I've been to, and I did not want to go back to the same countries. I also wanted to avoid any country that's hot.

I have had enough of the heat. I have experienced so much summer, warm weather, and heat waves since the start of my travel.

My Hostel and my bed at the bottom

The only countries that are cold during the months of July until September are countries I cannot afford or places I've already been to, like New Zealand.

Finally, in the end, I chose the Balkans. I decided I might go via China and stay there for a month since I enjoyed China very much and my friend has an apartment. She recently found a job and is going to get an apartment of her own, and I am so excited for her. We had such a great time travelling around China last time, and I thought it would be great to see her again before heading to the Balkans, especially since China is between the Philippines and the Balkans.

We had a chat in the evening, and I am waiting for her to sign the contract on Saturday just to make sure she is really getting the apartment before I buy my ticket to go there.

In the evening, I had instant noodles and toast with peanut butter and butter.

Today spending:

Accomodation: 510 Pesos
Chocolate drink from 7 eleven: 38 Pesos
Espanada: 50 Pesos
Kikiam and fishball: 30 Pesos

Instant Noodle: 27 Pesos

Total: 655 Pesos