Crown Regency Hotel And Towers Cebu

... alkoi levita huoli/paniikki ja ihmiset alkoivat painaa paitaan alas ja huusivat henkilokuntaa auttamaan - osalle jaettiin oksupusseja. Yleisen sekasorron vallatessa sijaa edessa istuva vanhempi nainen kaantyi meita kohti ja sanoi etta "This is not good". Han myos ilmoitti uskovansa etta kapteenin on oltava humalassa. ..ja silloin se tapahtui: Kapteeni paatti pistaa pari pykalaa lisaa silmaan ja alus alkoi harpata jyrkkia ...

... otetaankin siis suunta Visayasin luonnonkauniiseen saaristoon jossa aiotaan harrastaa "Island Hoppingia" parin viikon ajan (seuraavan parin viikon aikana ei toivottavasti tarvitse murehtia muusta kuin siita onko aurinkorasvaa tarpeeksi mukana...). Panokset kuitenkin kovenevat entisestaan kun odotettavissa on noitatohtoreita, mystiikkaa seka mustaa magiaa! Next destination : Siquijor...

"Fly in the Ointment"

-I-

... the field and hearing fluent English in response. Filipinos inherited temperament from their Spanish colonizers and noisy conversations are ubiquitous.
The cuisine is not as bad as its reputation, although a few times I wasn't able to choose from 6-8 pots in a food stall window. There is a full range of meat in offer, chicken, beef as well as pork, however often not as pure meat, but with a lot of fat. Filipinos are not big fans of vegetables, and ...

Philippines, part 2: The story of the first couple of days is quickly told. Nora got the flu in Boracay and passed it on to me (or then it was the barbecued chicken hearts I ate). We spent four days more or less penned up in the hotel room in Iloilo, watching ****** TV and playing cards. I was so sick, I couldn't even finish my Quarter Pounder, which is a very, very rare thing to happen!! After four days I finally felt fit enough to continue and we took a ferry to Bacolod, from where we ...

Back to Cebu for a day or so to plan my new trip. I had plenty of information about Mindanao. All not good. One Aussie traveler told me about going on a ferry down to Mindanao. Saying it was more like a 3 star cruise for the price of about 2000 pesos. It would end up in Davao. via General Santos. General Santos was the home of Manny Pacquio. The Philippines most prized sporting export. A champion boxer. And it could be quite easy for a westerner to meet him ...

... internet cafe real quick to write and check my email while they finish eating here, at the food court :p We also rode on some jeepneys which are really cool. They remind me a lot of "combis" (types of mini vans) from back home in Peru. Actually, most of the Philippines in general reminds me a lot of back home. The Spanish influence is very evident ,as it is in Peru. Just random different aspects about Philippines which are really similar. Anywho, off I go!

... at home and they're saving up to buy shoes for Christmas. Kix tried to become creative by designing this blank paper and placing there our message. Then we wrapped the money with it. When it's time to give them our monetary gift, we were so blessed ourselves as we see the excitement in them and the big smiles on their faces. They gave us a big hug and we could just see the gratefulness overflowing from them. Just seeing them so happy is priceless.

Had a good day of travel on Friday, flying Aisana Airlines from Beijing to Seoul, South Korea, and onto Manila for an overnight stay. All flights left late, so I managed to rush through Incheon airport to catch my connecting flight. Very impressed with the airport, and also the service they offer English-speaking foreigners to South Korea: you can purchase a translation "volunteer card" which you carry with you throughout your stay, and whenever you have a translation problem ...

... separating the customer from the money changer. Once inside the building the door was promptly closed and locked behind us. I could feel the uncomfortable presence of a rather large Filipino man standing a few feet behind me. I casually glanced around to quell my discomfort only to realize that he's packing a sawed-off shotgun, and has a stoic, intimidating stance.. he's the protection.... Okay. Also adorning the walls of the ...