Have Perut Will Travel...: MNL Day 5 │ Jollibee • Inkvictus • SM Makati • Fely J's

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Sunday, 30 August 2026

MNL Day 5 │ Jollibee • Inkvictus • SM Makati • Fely J's

Sampaguita — The Ink Day Begins

Today was the day I finally got inked in Manila. But before any needle touched skin, we headed out for brunch. We left the Airbnb at 11:30am, stepping out of One Uptown Residence and walking along 36th Street, crossing 9th Avenue, riding an escalator up, then moving across the footbridge to the opposite side of 36th. A left turn onto 11th Avenue, a stroll north, a crossing at 38th Street, and finally a right turn brought us onto 39th Street.

Jollibee — Brunch Before the Ink

A short walk later, Jollibee BGC appeared. For our first Jollibee meal in the Philippines, we ordered single Chickenjoy with spaghetti and fizzy drinks for PHP484 (≈ MYR31/USD8/EUR7). Just then, heavy rain began — no surprise with PAGASA’s orange alerts all morning. We sheltered inside for over an hour until it was time for my tattoo appointment next door at Inkvictus Tattoo.

Inkvictus Tattoo — The Art Comes to Life

At 12:55pm, we left Jollibee and walked over. Troy was ready, launching straight into his prep ritual: cleaning his station, laying out needles and inks, refining the sketch, and printing the stencil. Once he affixed it to my left wrist, the Sampaguita, Bahay Kubo, and rising sun framed in a postage stamp looked stunning.

The inking took a little over an hour and a half. The machine hummed steadily as Troy outlined each petal, beam, and border with confident strokes. Shading came next — soft gradients, feathered motions, and delicate detailing that gave depth to the Sampaguita and texture to the Bahay Kubo. The studio’s ambiance added to the moment: warm lighting, mellow music, the scent of disinfectant, the buzz of machines, and rain tapping gently outside.

The Walk Back — A Cool, Quiet Late Afternoon

Troy finished at 3:00pm. After a testimonial video and settling the remaining payment, we stepped out into a city freshly washed clean. The rain had stopped completely, leaving cool air and glistening streets. We retraced our steps back to One Uptown Residence, enjoying the calm, softened sounds of late afternoon BGC.

SM Makati — Fridge Magnet Hunting Begins

After dropping off my camera gear, we headed down and hailed a Grab to SM Makati for PHP165.83 (≈ MYR11/USD3/EUR2). Picked up at 4:00pm, we arrived thirty minutes later. Our first mission: fridge magnets. We found Kultura on the second floor and left with PHP4,677 (≈ MYR301/USD75/EUR65) worth of souvenirs.

Mall Traverse — SM Makati to Glorietta to The Landmark

We walked the full length of SM Makati, pausing at the main foyer where Thailand Week was in full swing — colourful stalls, Thai snacks, lively music. Then we continued through the entire stretch of Glorietta, eventually reaching The Landmark.

Greenbelt — A Calm Break Before Uptown Mall

We exited and crossed the footbridge into Greenbelt 3, rode an escalator down, and caught a glimpse of the serene Greenbelt Chapel. From there, we hailed a Grab to Uptown Mall for PHP197.76 (≈ MYR13/USD3/EUR3).

Uptown Mall — The Last Supper in Manila

Picked up at 5:30pm, we arrived twenty minutes later. We headed into The Marketplace and bought PHP1,560 (≈ MYR101/USD25/EUR22) worth of dried mangoes. Dinner was on Level 1 — the same floor where we ate on our first night. Instead of El Corazon, we chose Fely J’s for our farewell meal. We splurged on Fried Lemongrass Chicken, Sapa De Misua, Tilapia with Sweet Plum Sauce, two steamed rice, and a San Miguel Pale Pilsen for PHP2,053.30 (≈ MYR133/USD33/EUR28).

A Melancholy Finale

We caught a final glimpse of the Dancing Fountain, its colours shimmering softly — a gentle goodbye. The walk back to One Uptown Residence felt calm, cool, and a little bittersweet. Back in the apartment, the melancholy deepened as we began packing up, each item tucked away marking the end of another moment in Manila.

Steps count: 7,657 for the day.

Be sure to catch our next video as we make our way to NAIA Airport for the return flight to Kuala Lumpur!