NOTE: I took 224 pictures on the trip, only a few of which I could include here.  These were all digital, with 400K to 900K sizes.  Because I have only 15 megabytes of webspace available to me and realizing how long it takes to load large web pages, I had to compress the photos to about 1/20 their original size.  I lose a lot of quality by using this much compression.  If I had used the 640x480 resolution when I took the pictures (instead of 1600x1200), I wouldn't have had a compression problem.  On the other hand, a 640x480 isn't adequate for printing 8"x10"s.  Low resolution digital photos work better for the web, while higher resolution photos are better for printing.

Cat enclosure w/ cats.

Lyn gleefully planned this trip, thinking of all the places we could go and all the adventures we would have.  "Three or four weeks?", she asked.  Remembering that on our last trip I had lasted only one week out of a scheduled three before fracturing my foot, I replied, "one or two". 

I had finally finished the cat enclosure which I had been planning for months.  I ended up with a 3'D x 8'L x 10'H design, where the cats could directly enter the enclosure thru a door in the bathroom window.  By coincidence, a state building inspector, came by while I was building it.  Thru a mixup, he had come to inspect the earthquake supports which had already been inspected 8 months before, by a different state inspector.  Anyway, he said the people who read the gas meter might have a problem with it, because it was built over it.  Yes, the enclosure made it slightly, slightly harder to read the meter. 

Tubas rice fields with a well in foreground.  I showered here on a previous trip.  It's cold showers only.  You get a bucket of water and use a "tabo" or cup to scoop the water onto your body.

I decided to change the design to prevent any hassles.  I moved the enclosure 3 feet further along the side of the house and then cut it down 2 feet lower, to not interfere with another window.  Then I built a tunnel to bridge the newly created gap between the bathroom window and the enclosure.  I also made a 2'x6' "cat box" in the base and filled it with small gravel. 

When I went to pay the rent, however, the mobile home park manager told me that "I am going to have to tell you to tear it down!" Now, tact and the ability to work with people in finding solutions to problems are important qualities in a manager; a little intelligence wouldn't hurt either.  However, these qualities are obviously completely lacking in this mental midget.  She had seen the original configuration and objected.  Of course, an intelligent manager would have brought this up immediately, but not her; she waited as long as she could.  After some more inane words from her, I was finally able to explain there was no obstruction in the current design and save the cats' new window into the outside world.

Packing was done at the last minute, but I had prepared a list of things to take beforeand.  So, packing was just a matter of grabbing things on the list and tossing them into a pile.  The tricky thing was trying to get them all into our limited luggage (we took a large box and one suitcase for pasalubong [gifts to the people in the philippines: relatives, former classmates, former coworkers, friends, former teachers, etc.]).  In fact, pasalubong can be such a big financial consideration that some people can't afford visit the Philippines.

Getting ready for a jeepney ride in Unisan.

The shuttle bus was a half-hour late, but we were the only passengers.  Traffic was heavy and so we arrived about 3 1/2 hours before our flight.  Oh yes, a few days before the trip, I injured my foot training for the filipino basketball games.  I was playing "21" and had the ball on offense against two defenders when one of them came down at a sharp angle jamming and crushing my big toe.  I didn't think it was broken because I didn't hear the usual "snap" that I'm accustomed to.  But it hurt enormously.  However, I finished out and won the game and limped back home.

Luckily, I still had my cane from the fractured foot.  So the pregnant wife and gimpy husband hobbled up to the ticket counter to ask for a little extra leg room.  We were given seats just behind a bulkhead in the packed plane.  There was actually less leg room there, but no seat backs in front of us.  I was able to place my foot on the fold down table to try to keep the swelling down.  The plane was 25 minutes late for takeoff and Philippine Airlines delivered its usual disappointing meals.

Our beautiful cottage in Puerto Galera.

Manila to Tubas

Our touchdown was followed 15 minutes later by a flight from Los Angeles which led to a humongous traffic jam in immigration as we waited on the stairs for several minutes before we could even step down into the waiting area.  We finally reach the front of one of the many tangled pseudo lines.  The clerk looked through our passports, handed them back to us, and then just stared straight ahead.  I said, "you're welcome" and we proceeded to baggage.  By that time, access to the luggage carousels was blocked by people and their carts packed against the sides of the carousels.  Eventually our luggage came off the plane and I was able to wedge my way through the crowd to grab them.  Customs was a breeze and we were soon feeling Manila: the heat, the fumes, the humidity, the mass of people.

Tito and Rea greeted us warmly.  Tito went to fetch his van while a woman chased me, trying to put a lei over my head.  Eventually I gave up trying to avoid her, but as she was bringing it down over my head, Lyn, in one of her hellish displays of anger that she always before had reserved for me, ran the woman with a slew of angry words, thereby allowing us to avoid the unofficial greeting tax.

After withdrawing the max of 5000 pesos (about $100) at an ATM, we were on our way for a 5 1/2 hour thrill ride south, worthy as any I've been on at any amusement park.  We reached speeds of up to 80 m.p.h. on the freeway and sliced around car after car on two lane roads.  When we stopped one time, Tito must have still been thinking about the thrill of the drive, as he walked right into the ladies room.  We lunched on sandwiches and a huge Sapinsapin that Tito and Rea provided for us.

We stopped at Villa Escudero, a possible resort for us to take Lyn's parents to.  While a beautiful spot, it didn't seem special enough to stay for an extended visit.  There were nicely landscaped grounds and I could see a world war II era fighter plane displayed.

Supplemental Links and Articles
Philippines Department of Tourism Manila Times Newspaper U.S.State Dept. - Travel Warnings Yehey - Philippine equivalent of Yahoo Lyn's home province - Quezon Lonely Planet Guide to the Philippines WWW.geographic.org - Philippines TravelSmart.net - Philippine resorts AsiaTravel.com	Driving in the Philippines An insurance story Victimized in Manila Excerpts from a Time magazine article An editorial against American intervention An editorial criticizing the Philippines

*Ambulance - $793, Hospital - $1735, Emergency room doctor - $237, Total = $2765

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