Back in Manila and it's hot and crowded again

Caught a 12:15 jet to Manila today. Arrived in bright sunshine. Now I realize how much I enjoyed being in Cebu. The relaxed atmosphere has it way over Manila.

Went to a delicious and cheap Philipino food buffet for dinner. Tried some dished I'd never had before.

Will just go to bed early tonight; I still am nursing this cold I picked up in Panglao.

"Here Comes the Sun King" ... (I hope)

Left Panglao yesterday on the SuperCat fast boat to Cebu City; a 2 hour ride instead of a 4 hrs. + ride. It was a very smooth ride ... until it started to rain .. the seas got a little rough and so did the ride. It was a 2-pontoon boat and so much smoother than a monohull, so it was still very comfortable.This rain is unusual for this time of year; it's supposedly the dry season. It rained so much there was a lot of flooding in Cebu yesterday, but it has subsided.  The rain didn't stop ... and continued into the morning. After breakfast, we took a taxi to the dried fist market. There were huge baskets of dried fish of all kinds: squid, lapu-lapu, and some other local fish that I'd never seen before. I would love to post some pictures of this and pics for my last blog, but the internet connections are so bad that I'm lucky to be able to post the text most times. I'll keep trying on the pics.
It was a shame to hear about the bombing in Manila. The terrorists have not been identified yet or have they taken responsibility for it yet. This incident cause some concern about our going back to Manila tomorrow. But, in today's world, the terrorists are everywhere and nowhere is really safe anymore. You just have to have faith and be lucky, I guess.

So great to be by the beach, but . . .

Alona Beach is a beautiful place... it's been raining on and off every day so when the sun is out it is a real treat. I've included some pics that were taken in Manila and here.
While in Manila I met Henry's friends- Ninita, Monica, Lyssa and Nicole, Lyssa's sister. They are all from the Visayas, south of Luzon, living in Manila. They are fun-loving people who laugh, joke and enjoy life even though life in Manila is not so easy. Lyssa is a marketing consultant and Nicole works in an Italian restaurant. Ninita's daughter, Monica, is one of the happiest 3 years-olds I have ever seen. She laughs all day long and enjoys the simplest things that only a 3 year-old can enjoy. I find it fascinating that when Ninita talks to here daughter she switches back and forth between 3 languages: Tagalog, Visayan and English. Only a young child could absorb this information so easily.

Last Saturday we we took the one hour flight from Manila to Tagbilarin on Bohol. Life is so much more relaxed in the provinces. The people are very friendly and enjoy a much slower rhythm of life.
Had a great dinner last night at a local restaurant. It was a good change from the "ok" food on the beach, and much cheaper. Chicken Adobo, $2.50; Noodle soup, $2; grilled squid, $5; very large grilled prawns and rice, $4. Amazing prices and was very fresh too.
Finally went for a dive yesterday... to two spots called Diver's Heaven and Black Coral Garden. First dive disappointing, but second was just wonderful with many large fish, unspoiled coral heads, many blue starfish and huge anemones. Well worth the effort of the 35 minutes boat ride out to the reef.

Today will be a day to relax and take it real slow. Tomorrow we're off to Cebu City.

Arriving in Manila

Internet connection was spotty or unattainable in Manila. Yesterday we flew to Bohol and landed in a tropical downpour. The 30 minute taxi ride took us to the Lost Horizon Resort. The sun finally came out but the rain was on and off the rest of the afternoon. Alona Beach is beautiful and not too crowded. The guests here are from all over, mostly German, Austrailan and Swiss. Food is ok, but a little over priced. More later.

Listening to Marley and waiting...

So much waiting... Good thing that the flight's at a late hour tonight; I spent the whole day tying up loose ends, doing things that needed to be done. I'm beat. Hope that I'll get a good sleep on the flight. Just thinking.. that the air is always so bad on the plane... they sell little bottles of booze... why don't they sell little bottles of oxygen? I wonder how you'd feel with just a  little extra O2  while flying. Probably arrive feeling a lot better. . .

Potstickers to Pancit

Time flies, and as my friend Allen said, "When there's two weeks to go and it seems like a long time... you turn around and it's one day away!" That time's come and tomorrow's the day to make the trip. Packing's like an exam sometimes.... you wait until the last minute then you cram. No worries because I've got all day to do all those last minute things.. the flight leaves at 11:30 pm. Looking forward to sleeping the entire time if I can - ah, the convenience of night flights! This trip is not a direct one; it stops in China... I'll be waking up in Taipai and maybe have some potstickers for breakfast during the 3 hour layover.  Then, it'll be a 90 minute flight to Manila. From potstickers to pancit....

"... the waiting is the hardest part." -Tom Petty

Two days before departure and I can hardly contain my excitement. Posting some of the pictures from my last trip to Bohol on this blog brought to mind a series of experiences and people I had not thought of for a long time; the friendly people, the awesome diving, the new food delights, the smells, the sounds, the beautiful shorelines and the sunsets that just take your breath away...