Mabuhay, Day 13: Rain and Matcha

The rain was coming down harder than before, making it difficult to see in front of us. Tail lights and street lamps blurred red as we made our way through Clark toward the CDC area. Reaching Maison Matcha was the first test. Getting inside without getting too wet with only one umbrella was the next.

Walking quickly up the road, we stepped over a small river of water running along the sidewalk and raced for cover. My girlfriend and her sister were dry, my back partially wet, but we had made it.

The glow from behind the large windows welcomed us inside. The interior was clean, with an NYC influenced design according to their Facebook page. High ceilings, bright lights, matcha whisks sitting on shelves and along the front counter. I loved the design.

Encouraged to try something beyond my usual Americano, I ordered a sea salt latte with oat milk. The matcha drinks the other two ordered were delicious. I made a mental note for next time.

Almost every table and chair inside was taken that afternoon. Outside, however, was nearly empty. We decided to sit there and listen to the rain instead.

Sitting on a bench, enjoying our drinks, I was captivated by the giant tree in front of us, possibly a narra, the national tree of the Philippines. A few birds danced around its branches, trying to shelter from the rain and moving like the squirrels back home.

We eventually made our way back over the water streaming down the road and headed into Koreatown. We stopped at the least Filipino restaurant of the trip: Wendy's.

The menu still had a few surprises compared with home: spaghetti, fried chicken and nuggets, and a matcha Frosty. I ordered a plain burger, expecting at least one familiar taste from home. It disappointed me.

Outside, the rain kept falling; I was already thinking about returning to Maison Matcha another day to try the matcha.