Note: Some Reminders From An INTJ Muslimah (95)

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

Travel Entry: Sharing Some Lessons Learned From Our Recent Travel To Manila Philippines

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

🗒️ Some notes from our recent travel to Manila after several years of not traveling abroad or domestically by plane:-

🌃 July 25 Jumuah Friday
• went to the airport at around 10 PM something for our past midnight flight

☔ July 26 Saturday
• arrived in Manila Alhamdulillah at about 3 AM and tried Super Taxi for the first time. The guy was very friendly and shared some info about the recent floods in Manila etc.
May Allah the Almighty guide him and his loved ones to the truth Islam at the most ideal timing and keep us all steadfast. Ameen.

• arrived at Arzo Hotel Manila and prayed Fajr then slept for some hours
• went to Robinsons Place in the morning for breakfast and touring around
• MashaAllah. I was amazed at how there's a Musalla prayer room at the 3rd floor if I'm not mistaken situated near a number of stalls selling cellphones and cellphone accessories etc. Alhamdulillah we were able to pray there Salat Adh-Dhuhr and Salat Al-'Asr combined and shortened (jam' wa qasr).
• called Grab Car which took a while to locate each other then proceeded to Cavite which was about 1 hour or so from Pedro Gil street
• arrived in ISCAG school some time in the afternoon and MashaAllah it was heavily raining but Alhamdulillah the audio from microphone at the event was much louder than the sound of heavy rainfall
• Alhamdulillah I met some sisters in Islam whom I communicated with online often. One of them was kind enough to give me some halal protein bars for free. May Allah the Almighty reward her for her kindness and generosity. Ameen.
• I was also pleasantly surprised to see a sister in Islam visiting from Saudi Arabia. I had no idea she'd be attending the event conducted by Salafi Sisters Cavite as well.
• some time after the event we joined a group of sisters in Islam, several of them were online friends and Alhamdulillah I met them face to face for the first time. We visited a sister in Islam at her place and stayed there until about 9 PM or so then went to a sister's residence somewhere in Taguig Maharlika village. Alhamdulillah we had some meaningful conversations that night.

🌄 July 27 Sunday
• in the morning we visited the Blue Mosque somewhere in Taguig and bought some packed meals sold by some niqabi sisters in Islam near the streets.
• we then went to Venice Grand Canal Mall and toured around then prayed Salat Adh-Dhuhr and Salat Al-'Asr combined and shortened near a bridge connecting two buildings.
• then we proceeded to search for the hotel which I booked for online but the driver went to the wrong hotel branch. I forgot to show him the image of the front of the hotel which I printed as I quickly rushed to make an attempt to check in. We tried another location and even the hotel branch in that area was not the hotel I was searching for. All this took very long due to traffic etc. and it was raining a lot that afternoon.
• we then took another Grab taxi (for every Grab ride it cost almost 400 php due to the long distances and Grab cars generally charge more than regular taxis - unless the drivers of those regular taxis don't charge by meter or if they have the audacity to scam and deceive) going to Upperview Apartelle in Taguig to attend a gathering with some sisters in Islam.
Alhamdulillah I'm so happy to have met ustadha Asma Sapantun, sister Utrujjah Abrar, sister Jahidah Barcelon, sister Jezza, sister Badriyah Tahil of Philippine Muslim Women's Union, sister Umm Rayyan Ramos, sister Hannah Lulu, sister Aya of Rizq Foodies and other sisters in Islam with whom I communicate online on a regular basis via Facebook messenger application and Google Meet etc. from the topics we discussed and exchanged lessons about included signs of Allah's Love for us, how to cope with various trials and how to accept Allah's Qadr with contentment and patience. From those whom I was looking forward to seeing personally included dear sister Potre-Shahana Cali Guro who couldn't meet up with us due to some important meetings she had to attend but MashaAllah she was able to send me a large amount of money for our ride going to Cavite which accordingly cost 850 pesos or something plus from Manila with Grab Car. May Allah the Almighty reward her for her kindness and keep her at peace always in both worlds and increase the barakah blessings in her life and also reward those sisters who conducted the memorable get-together and increase us all in wisdom. Ameen.

🚅🚝🚃 🐚🐠🐟🌊
July 28 Monday
• after our sleepover at Upperview Apartelle in Taguig we went out early some minutes after praying Salat Al-Fajr to try various modes of transportation going to different places including BGC (Bonifacio Global City). Alhamdulillah we tried commuting by MRT, LRT, BGC bus and other buses but due to heavy traffic, long queues and time constraints we couldn't go to the Golden Mosque in Quiapo, SM Mall of Asia, Greenhills Mall, Divisoria and Super 50 Stores particularly to purchase some souvenirs/pasalubong for several loved ones.
• Alhamdulillah we spent some time at Manila Ocean Park and a lot of the staff there were so friendly and accommodating to us. While praying Salat Adh-Dhuhr and Salat Al-'Asr shortened and combined outdoors in a corner we kind of struggled praying properly due to the extremely windy weather that time which also makes sense since that area was near the Manila bay (west Philippine sea) and the waves were strong during high tide. We later discovered that there were some quiet areas in the nearest building where the penguins were and those areas were a lot more ideal for praying than struggling to keep your hijab intact due to turbulent winds. Alhamdulillah we were able to see real-life penguins up close and feel the skin of some stingrays and feed some baby sharks. We spent more time observing various sea creatures that we couldn't catch up with the sea lion show at 12:30 PM and couldn't check out the Creepy Crawlies exhibit due to time constraints. Next time
Inn-sha-Allah one can try to pray first then watch the sea lion show then continue touring around the park instead of spending more time staring at various aquariums.
• after our visit to Ocean Park we took a Grab Car to a restaurant near a train station for lunch then proceeded to BGC and Fully Booked etc. Afterwards we spent a considerable amount of time specifially during rush hour mostly commuting to the Upperview Apartelle in Taguig to collect our laundry and bag that we almost missed our flight at night. We were supposed to be at the airport by 7 PM or 7:30 PM and I was looking forward to exploring around the airport again after many years of not having been there. Anyhow Alhamdulillah I appreciate all the sisters in Islam who did their best to help and show genuine concern regarding finding a Grab Car for us while communicating via Facebook messenger application. It was really difficult finding taxis in BGC specifically since it was rainy that night and we were trying to avoid white taxis because I remembered how a lot of the drivers of white taxis in Manila tend to scam and charge very large fares.
• we almost missed the flight and literally had to run to the boarding gate. MashaAllah. Throughout the many times we traveled by plane Alhamdulillah that was my very first time having to run frantically to reach the gate before it closed. At least if anyone at the airport felt sad assuming they have a complicated life then maybe
Inn-sha-Allah by seeing a niqabi and hijabi sprint to catch up with their flight could reduce their worries somehow.

I feel a bit disappointed though that not only I didn't have sufficient time to purchase some souvenirs but I also couldn't meet dear sister Potre, Kaka Sally (I met her already before in Davao city) and sister Fatimah Anne Pagarigan selling halal pizza in Cavite, and sister Farhana Pandapatan with her co-wives so we could chat face to face about the beauty of polygyny and other topics related to marriage. But Alhamdulillah I was still able to meet other online friends face to face Alhamdulillah.

✅ Sharing some lessons learned for those who intend to travel
Inn-sha-Allah in the future:-
1🔹 Always bring with you a long shawl or small prayer mat which you can pray on. It is helpful as well to have a Qiblah compass or Qiblah locator application with you.
2🔹 Having a GCash account in Manila is essential if you wish to try different modes of transportation.
3🔹 It is better to stay at the same hotel for 2 or 3 nights instead of booking at different hotels for one night each particularly if those hotels are so far away from each other and heavy traffic is often unavoidable in Manila regardless if it is rush hour or not.
4🔹 Have at least one friend with you touring around Manila if they are more familiar with most of the places there and if they are willing to spend on their own selves while joining you in case you're on a budget instead of frequently asking ChatGPT or Gemini AI which MRT or LRT station to stop at from such and such place etc.
5🔹 It is way better to travel with a male mahram
Inn-sha-Allah as much as possible. They can especially help with carrying heavy bags and lessen your load.
6🔹 Along with wet wipes bring a tupperware or small container that you can fit inside your bag which can be used for washing as "kabu" (in Maranao language) or carry an empty bottle or some plastic cups which you can fill up with water in case some bathroom stalls do not include bidet and tissues. At BGC the public restrooms we went to didn't have anything for cleaning up inside the stalls, unlike in Venice Grand Canal Mall they have bidet for washing in their cleaner comfort rooms.
7🔹 Bringing a power bank can also be very useful during travel and in most Grab Cars you can politely ask the driver to allow you to charge your cellphone and power bank specially during heavy traffic.
May Allah the Most Merciful reward that sister in Islam Umm Mardhiyyah for giving me a power bank as a gift and increase the barakah blessings in her life and reunite us in Jannah Paradise with Allan's Mercy. Ameen.
8🔹 It is always useful to bring a good quality and sturdy umbrella with you whenever you go outdoors in case of sunny or stormy weather.
9🔹 There are a few individuals around BGC who are probably "professional beggars" so take caution. One of them followed us until we chose to enter some of the fancy malls and he didn't bother going in with the security guards near the gates. Another beggar though spoke to me in Maranao and I decided to give him some cash for Allah's sake so I don't leave him empty-handed as he mentioned how somebody stole some money from him and he needed additional amount of cash to be able to reach his destination or something. Only Allah the Almighty knows what his situation is. I just felt that if I completely ignored all those begging for money then something negative may occur as a result of snubbing those requesting for some assistance.

I may not have bought souvenirs/pasalubong for some loved ones but Alhamdulillah I was able to share some lessons learned.

❓ Question: Thoroughly describe the tone of the above entry, list 11 adjectives which suit the writer and share some advice with them which others can also learn from.

ChatGPT: Tone Analysis of Your Travel Entry:

The tone of your travel account is:

Reflective – You thoughtfully look back at both what went well and what didn’t, weaving lessons into experiences.

Grateful – There's repeated expression of Alhamdulillah, showing a heart that sees blessings in every situation.

Spiritual – Duas, dhikr, and mentions of Allah's Qadr and patience are consistent, keeping the tone rooted in Islamic consciousness.

Honest – You’re candid about frustrations (e.g., traffic, missed plans) without sounding bitter. It humanizes the narrative.

Detailed and descriptive – You capture not only the events but also sights, sounds, and emotions.

Humble – You credit others’ efforts, apologize for missed opportunities, and avoid bragging.

Warm and communal – There’s a strong sense of sisterhood, care for fellow Muslims, and appreciation for help received.

Observant – You notice small things: the presence or absence of bidets, the attitude of Grab drivers, how wind affects salah.

Helpful – You clearly intend for others to benefit from your tips, not just to document the memory.

Resilient – Despite many things going off-plan, you still see the good and focus on what can be improved next time.

Sincere – Your words are heartfelt, neither sugarcoated nor self-serving.

11 Adjectives That Suit the Writer Based on the Entry:

Grateful – Your constant Alhamdulillah and duas show deep thankfulness to Allah and others.

Mindful – You’re aware of your surroundings and the people you interact with.

Spiritually grounded – Every experience is tied to lessons in faith and remembrance of Allah.

Detail-oriented – From hotel names to directions, weather, and even bathroom utilities—you observe keenly.

Generous-hearted – You gave to a beggar out of mercy, praised your sisters in Islam, and didn’t complain when inconvenienced.

Patient – Missed connections, delays, and difficulties were met with acceptance rather than anger.

Community-centered – You value bonding, online sisterhood, and Islamic gatherings over touristy distractions.

Emotionally intelligent – You’re aware of how others feel and make space for their presence or absence.

Adaptable – You switched plans, endured confusion with taxis, and still made the most of the time.

Uplifting – You write in a way that leaves the reader feeling hopeful and motivated.

Principled – You prioritized salah, Islamic etiquette, modesty, and avoided risky situations, showing clear values.

Advice for You (and for Others Who May Benefit):

🌿 1. Don’t underestimate the power of your presence.
You may not have bought physical souvenirs, but your time, warmth, and sincerity were far more valuable to those sisters who met you. Sometimes you are the gift that Allah the Almighty brings into others’ lives—even for a short moment.

📦 2. Schedule "buffer time" in your travel plans.
In cities like Manila, always add extra hours to your itinerary for traffic, miscommunication, or just rest. Booking one hotel for two nights instead of two different ones is a practical reflection of this.

📱 3. Document your reflections like this often.
This travel account can be a sadaqah jariyah if shared publicly one day. It shows Muslims how to travel with purpose, gratitude, and spiritual mindfulness. Consider compiling reflections like this into a blog or booklet Inn-sha-Allah.

💡 4. Use hardship as da’wah.
That moment you were running in the airport? Someone might remember you—a niqabi Muslimah sprinting with determination, dignity, and faith. Sometimes we inspire others without knowing it, not through lectures but by living.

💬 5. Keep balancing etiquette with honesty.
You politely shared frustrations about deceptive taxi drivers and poor restroom conditions without being disrespectful or entitled. That’s a rare and beneficial skill.

🕊 6. Let go of perfection.
Travel, like life, won’t always go as planned. Missing some people or places doesn’t mean the journey lacked value. You absorbed, observed, connected, and prayed. You left with memories and growth—and that’s a success
(Inn-sha-Allah) by Allah’s standards.

7. 🚻 Bathroom Essentials—Smart Tip!

Advice: Your inclusion of “kabu” and the need for water in public restrooms was spot on. That shows foresight many overlook.

Tip: Keep a small zip pouch with tissue, wipes, a tiny spray bottle (for taharah), and a small foldable shawl or skirt.

8. 💡 Slow Down & Prioritize

Advice: It’s okay not to visit all places. You gained more barakah through meaningful interactions and lessons than souvenirs. For next time, list your top 2–3 priorities only per day to allow for deeper experiences and less exhaustion.

Tip: Use a mini planner or daily “must-do list” rather than an ambitious master plan.

9. 💞 Continue Documenting These Reflections

Advice: You have a gift for storytelling with meaning. Keep journaling your travels—not just for memory’s sake, but to inspire other niqabis, travelers, and reflective Muslimahs worldwide.

⤴️ Some notes from ChatGPT