The Cubicle is empty!!!

Hello eveyone!

Well I got to Manila safe and not so sound.  Travel time took around 33 hrs.  I got in safe but was vey tired.  Did not get much sleep on the bus nor the terminals nor the plane rides. 

 I arrived here about 1/2 hr late.  Flights in Tokyou were delayed due to planes having to go around the Typhoon that just came thru the Philippines.  By the time I got back to the hotel and got ready for some serious sleep, it was about midnight.

Woken up by construcion work on the 20th floor (staying on the 18th floor)!  The first thing I thought was WTF?  Continued sleeping the best I could until Dad called at 9am local time.  Then Maria called awhile later.  Showered and breakfasted and went right back to sleep (construction noise gone) and slept until 4pm.

Went to the Mall of Asia (third largest in the world) and went to get some toiletriess essentials.  Stuff is so cheap here.  Although the exchange rages changed by as much as 7pesos in their favor.  Exchanged at $1 for 44.50php.  Yuck!

Went to dinner at Sam’s and had their spring fried chicken dinner (best fried chicken in the world) and shrimp sinigang! Good and hearty filipino dinner.

 Catching up with e-mails tonight and more importantly catch up with more sleep tonight.

 Planning on seeing relatives tomorrow.

Until nest time,

Bahala na…………………….

“Just the facts ma’am.”  – Sgt. Joe Holiday (Dragnet)

PI Trip 2007

When:  July 19 to Aug. 16

Flights: Northwest Airline
Outbound:  Chicago-Minneapolis-Tokyo(Narita)-Manila

Homebound: Manila-Tokyo(Narita)-Seattle-Chicago

Planned stops that is subject to change:
July 20-23    Manila

July 23-25    Legaspi, Donsol

July 25-28    Cebu

July 28- Aug. 11   Bohol, Dumaguete

Aug. 11 – Aug. 16    Manila
There’s still lots of holes in the itinerary to fill but none that I can do in the states at the moment.  I’m planning of finalizing some flight and hotel accommodations when I get there.  Looks like July 21st is when I’ll be doing most of it.

Looking forward to visiting the islands again and seeing family but I’m dreading the 32+ hrs on the outbound travel.  What? 32+ hrs!!! Yes, by the time I get up to leave for the airport and by the time my head hits the pillow on the other side of the world, the elapsed time will more than likely be 32+ hrs.

Let’s do the math shall we.

I’ll get up at 1am on 7/19 to head to the bus station.  Wisconsin time 1am 7/19 Manila time 2pm 7/19.   13hrs difference.
The planned arrival time in Manila is 10:30 pm add 1:30 hrs for taxi ride and hotel check-in that’s 12:00 am  7/21.   That’s 11am 7/20 Wisconsin Time.

So, 1am 7/19 to 11am 7/20 = 34 hrs travel time!!!  Holy Crap Batman!

I’ll try to catch sleep on the bus ride and plane rides.

All part of traveling, Gotta Love it…………………

Well, becoming more adventurous as I try to link a clip to the blog. There’s probably an easier way, but hopefully the Photebucket way works.

My Links: C 4th 2006 Firework Clip

Write a comment either way. I want to know if the link works.

I hope this works.

On this site, look for my links on the right hand column.

Click on the appropriate link to view pics.

Try see if it works for you and let me know if it does.

tharnks………

Well,fortunate enough to have another trip booked to the Philippines.  Last year (2006), I went to the Philippines, after a 29yr absence, to attend my sister’s wedding.  I mostly traveled with my parents for 3 weeks and alone for 1 week. 

This time, I’m hoping to spend time with my grandmother and getting info on building our family tree from the Magdales side.  I’m really looking forward to spending more time with her since I really did not spend much time with her last yr. 

Armed with a new guidebook from Lonely Planet, I will have more options on what exciting things I can do while visiting relatives.  We’ll see where this guide book will take me.  So far, it’s been full of sugestions of things to do.

My itinerary is flexible at this time.  It will be weather dependent sometimes as I’m travelling there at the beginning of the rainy season.  I hope it will hold off until after I leave.

Sit back and I hope you enjoy my travelogue.

8 – 12 – 06

Today we head home for Wisconsin.  A long travel day indeed as we are expected to be in Milwaukee at 1am.

We checked out at our hotel near 10 am and as always with great navigating from Maria, we were at the Canadian/US border alittle past noon!  Alot sooner than I expected, but had planned since we saw the line entering the US last saturday to be long.  We actually beat the rush by mere minutes.  Not a second after we crossed the bridge into the check point the line had backed up all the way to the Canadian side.  Whew!  We got thru customs in less than 30 min.

So our plan was to head to Muskegon and check out the harbor and maritime museum that we saw in from our ferry ride into Muskegon a week earlier.  About half way thru to Muskegon, we realized that we may be able to make the 4:45 pm ferry.  We were booked for the 11pm ferry ride back to Milwaukee.  Although we might be cutting it close, we would give it a try.

We got to the ferry terminal a little past the departure time by about 5min and did not see the ferry.  Assuming that it had left, we nonetheless talked to the guard and asked if the ferry had just left and that we had reservations for the 11pm ride.

He quickly motioned for the check-in person and she mentioned that the 11pm ferry ride had been cancelled and that they are running behind.  We were like Oh S—!  What now.  Then she continued, the 4:45 pm ferry is not scheduled to leave until 7pm and that would be the last for the day.  We asked if we could be added to the 7pm ride.  After 5 tense min of her checking her computer, etc.  She came back with the good news that we are able to make that ride and gave us the tickets.  Lucky I tell you!

So we had a couple of hours to kill.  We lounge in the terminal and checked our e-mail.  I noticed in the junk folder there was an e-mail from Lake Express notifying me that our 11pm ride was cancelled.  The cancellation was to to one of the engines (4 total) malfunctioned and that it now would take longer to cross on the remaining engines.  Also, all the ferry rides on Fri was cancelled due to high waves.  Even though the boat can cross on such condition, the passengers may not like the motion that would result from 9ft waves.  We’re lucky that the last ride on Sat. was not full from Friday’s riders.  We also found out later that they left a message at home.  Lucky that I did not realize the cancellation  ’cause it might have changed our plans.

The ferry ride back was beautiful as Maria and I spent most of our time in the viewing deck.  As we arrived in Milwaukee at nightfall (9pm), the lighted skyline of the city from the lake is a beautiful sight.  Just mesmerizing!

After driving off the boat, we were at Maria’s sisters house in about 30 min and surprised Donny by arriving early.

We were glad to be back in Wisconsin, even though the Packers are losing to the chargers.  Ugggh!  It’s going to be a long season.

Anyway, we were fortunate to have everything go our way today and really for the whole weeklong vacation.  Maria and I had wonderfull experiences on this trip!  We can’t wait for the next one.  All there is left is the drive home tomorrow.

It’s sad that our trip is ending, but happy to be home, almost.

Until next trip, happy travels!

8 – 11 – 06

Today is just one of those days that you’re just excited about.  We certainly were.  But after a long travel day like yesterday, we were bound to oversleep a little.  We didn’t get going until past 10am.  After our free continental breakfast at the hotel restaurant, we headed out to discover Toronto!

Maria navigated us with no problem to downtown Toronto and to the Municipal Parking lot near the CN Tower. 

We headed for Queens Quay Terminal to book a harbor tour.  Since the tour does not depart until 12:15, Maria and I toured around the terminal and do a little shopping.  I finally got my Canadian Patch.  For a big city and with lots of tourists, Toronto is very clean. 

We got on the Oriole for our harbor tour.  We sat top deck.  The tour took you out to the harbor to the Toronto City Centre Airport (the old international airport, until a much larger one was built northwest of the city) and the Toronto Island Park (which is really a wildlife sanctuary park).  On Hanlan’s Point park, no motorized vehicles are allowed.  The only motorized vehicle allowed are the city buses that are used for training.  They train their city bus drivers on the roadways on this park.  We saw some beautiful swans and ducks along the riverbanks and got the history of the Toronto Islands from the tour narrator.  The skyline view from the harbor is very beautiful.  Lots of tall buildings, mostly all of Canada’s banks headquarters, lots of condominiums, and sports facilities and other high rises.  The tour was very relaxing as this is turning out to be a gorgeous day weather wise!  Temps in the high 70’s with a slight, gentle breeze from the west. 

After the tour, We headed to Rogers Centre (fomerly known as the Skydome) for lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe.  Rogers Centre is the home for the Toronto Argonauts (CFL) and the Toronto Bluejays.  It took $258 M of taxpayers money to be built, but Mr. Rogers (the communications mogul from Toronto, not the childrens show person) bought for $25 M.  The city wanted to get rid of doing the day to day operations of the building, but citizens were outraged that they would not get more for their investment.  Oh well, that’s business.  The Hard Rock Cafe is located in the Centre itself and you can look into the field.  The field is being set-up for an AIDS benefit concert that last from this Sunday to next Sunday.  A week long benefit for AIDS.  Oh, the lunch was good.  The view spectacular.

After lunch, we went to the CN tower for a tour.  Maria opted not to go as she has gone up the tower before.  So she went to the harbor and just chilled until I got done with the CN tour.  After purchasing the ticket.  I waited 30 min to get to the elevator to the observaton deck.  The is also a restaurant in the observation deck level.  The observation level is 1,136 ft high.  It took the elevator 58 sec. to get there.  The view from the elvevator was spectacular.  So as the views from the Observaton deck.  I also went to the world famous glass floor.  I have to admit, i was tentative walking to and on top of the glass floor.  It’s all perfecly safe of course, but it took me a couple of min. to walk across it normally.  I then proceede to the Sky Pod another observation level at 1,465 ft.  From here you can really have a spectacular panoramic view.  On a very clear day, you can see up to 100 mile out.  Some has said that you can see the mist from Niagara Falls.  But today is not one of those day.  At the distance, it’s very hazy.  The CN tour was great!  I never thought I’d ever see this structure.  It’s marvelous engineering.  It took 2,500 men working 24 hrs a day for 40 months to completely erect this building.  It is one of the tallest structures in the world.

After getting down to earth and past the gift shop, I located Maria and headed down to the harbor and sat down at a cafe and had a beer and enjoyed the sun and cool breeze.  Relax time.  At around 8, we headed for Chinatown for dinner.

 We took the Streetcar (tram), from Queens Quay all the way to Dundas St. into Chinatown to look for Dim Sum Imperial.  Although we missed the Dundas stop and got off at the College St stop, we were determined to find this restaurant.  We walked back 4 blocks at the intersection of Spadina and Dundas Sts. to look for this dim sum restaurant that the waiter at HRC had told us about.  But we didn’t see it or it’s just that we can’t read chinese.  We asked a few people but they did not know of it.  Anyway, we went to plan B.  Just find any other restaurant from the hundreds of restaurants around Chinatown. 

We started walking down Spadina and stopped at the first restaurant we ran into and checked their menu outside.  Menu looks good and the prices reasonable.  Went inside and ordered.  We had the dinner for two that include the egg drop soup, spring roll, hot tea.  Ordered seafood fried rice with szechuan beef and shrimp with oyster sause.  Very good chinese food.  Excellent is more like it.  The place was hopping at 9 pm!  Looks like we beat the rush.

After dinner, we took the Streetcar back to the harbor to chill.  We walk the boardwalk twice and took some nice picture of the skyline all lit up at nigth.  Listed to a concert and saw several sidewalk performers and also ran into some crazies roaming around.

Got back to the hotel at around 11 pm.

 Overall, one of our best days of touring a city.  I just love Toronto for it’s simplicity and it’s diversity.  Lot’s of food choices.  Aside from Chinatown, there’s also Little Italy and Little India and other assortment of ethnic restaurants that dot the city.  The tour guide mentioned that at one time, the City of Toronto had 2 people from each country of the world living in Toronto.  Amazing, very Amazing.  Toronto not only talks of diversity, they live it.  Wonderful city and I would recommend to everyone to visit this beautifull city.

Tomorrow is another long travel day.  so I better get my rest.

8 – 10 – 06

This morning we said our goodbye’s to the McDermotts.  It was sad to leave as we really had a great time with them.  They’re such wonderfull people and family.  We really had a blast visiting them in Vermont.  But, unfortunately, we have to head home.

 We left the house past 8am.  We decided not to take the ferry across Lake Champlain because a the weather forecast was not good as a storm was heading our way.  We took I89 all the way north past Burlinton to Swanton.  At Swanton a very small town in North Vermont, it took us 15 min to get through it as there was a shutdown of a section of the roadway and we had to take an inpromptu detour.  We never did find out what the deal was.  But the semis had a hard time making the turns at these local roads.

We crossed the Vermont-New York border @ Rouses Pt. and this town reminds me of Lake City, MN on the Mississippi.  Lots of sailboats on the lake and Bed and Breakfasts dot the highway along with souvineer and antique shops. 

North New York state is much like the rolling green hills of central Wisconsin.  So nothing really unusual terrain wise.  We we passed thru the St. Regis Indian Res., I noticed the amount of gas station and tobacco shops as well as the Casino’s along the highway.  I counted 10 gas station in a 3 mile stretch thru the reservation.  The casino parking lot was 3/4 full.  At the end of the reservation, the tribe built their brand new schools and govt. buildings and their health clinics.  It looks like the residue from the casino is put to good use. 

 After crossing the reservation, we cross the US-Canada border into Cornwall, Canada.  We didn’t have much problem crossing the border and they did not even checked the passports.  Just asked the same old crossing questions of what your bringing into the country and if you have any firearms and alcohol aboard.  I was kind-of surprised since the recent news regarding the thwarted effort of blowing up US bound planes from London, I thought that the border gaurds would be on high alert.  No such thing here.  Maybe this is not a high terrorist crossing.  I was somewhat surprised that it didn’t take longer than 2 mins.  Although I was glad that it did. 

 After paying $3 going into Canada, we stopped in Cornwall to get burgers at McDonalds.  The Big Mac in Cornwall, Ontario, Canada tasted the same as the Big Macs in LaX.  Globalization! 

 We travelled the Queens Highway 401 with no troubles at all except for the periods of rain.  Just light rain at the worst.  It was cloudy and gloomy ever since we left Vermont.

 As we approached Toronto, the sun punched thru the clouds and by the time we hit the city, the sky cleared and the temps. rose.  We got to the city around 3:30pm.  But, we hit the famous “traffic Jam” on the 401.  It was nerve wracking at times trying to decipher how the signs are laid out.  Finally figured the Expressways and Collectors.  When on the expressway, a sign will tell you for your specific exit but to the collector highway.  Once on the collector another sign will tell you that your specific exit is coming up.  Confuse? 

We found our exit to our hotel with no problem.  I have a great navigator in Maria and she’s been here before, althought it’s been 15 yrs. 

We got to the hotel and just rested from the long drive.  After the 2 hr nap, we headed to Prince Japanese Steakhouse just down the road from the hotel.  Their sushi is the best i’ve ever had!  We had the snapper and the white tuna sushi.  Maria had the Tempura entree and I had pork jentre japanese style.  I just can’t remember the japanese name for the dish.  But it was delicious.  The Sapporo beer was also very good. 

The excellent japanese dinner capped a long day of travel.  I already love Toronto!   

8 – 9 – 06

Today we pretty much just spent time with the McDermott family. 

Kevin and I played basketball with Connor and his friend Connor Cody.  We went at around 10 in the morning to the playground near the house.  The temps were in the low 70’s as there is still that chill in the air.  We played for about an hour.  It was fun to work out a sweat in this nice weather.  As far as the basketball, let’s just say the rim was not kind.  Have to work on the jump shot again.

 Later in the day, Carol took Maria and Me to the Sugar Shack.  It is one of those family run Maple Syrup operation.  We saw videos of the family history on the farm and how the maple syrup is made.  Very entertaining.  Of course the sample at the gift shop is very tasty and good. 

 We then stopped in Montpellier, the capital of Vermont.  It is a very small city and has that feel of state street Madison.  Very liberal city from what we understant.  Always lots of protests that snarls traffic in the city’s mostly two lane roadways.  It would be nice to spend an afternoon there sometime at some cafe.

 Kevin baked some homemade pizzas tonight that were very delicious.  He even triwled the pizza dough in the air.  He used to work at a pizza parlor back when he was in college.  He makes some very good pizza.

 Tomorrow we head for Toronto and our journey back to Wisconsin starts.

Very sorry to mislead you, but there will be no pics in the blogs until I return.  I’m having problems resizing the photos to post.

Please come and visit later to see our trip pics.

thanks…………………….