My last day.... I so can't believe this is my last day for my first trip to Manila Philippines. I look back on the first day of what was going to be a long trip, full of challenging work, thinking of maybe some sightseeing, new places, new people and of course MORE stories to tell. I had no idea of what the next 45 days was going to bring as I sat at the airport in Philadelphia on that Wednesday morning.

Now Here I sit in my hotel room (The Shangri La Makati, Manila, Philippines) in this beautiful 5 star hotel. I just had my last dinner with some friends from work. I saw all the same great people that have been taking care of my every need plus more every day. We said our goodbyes and , I made sure that I had eaten everything I wanted to eat.

My dinner consisted every day with decaf cappuccino and a large glass of freshly squeezed orange / carrot juice mixed, and 1st course.. all kinds of fruits.. we had fresh pineapples, mango's, watermelon, dragon fruit, this little red fruit that looked like a prickly strawberry, grapefruit, not to mention peaches, pears and a couple of things I still don't know what they were. I would throw on some of the best cheeses the cheddar and the Swiss being my favorite. Sometimes I would add cashews.

2nd course consisted of sushi, rolls, vegetables, noodles, along with all kinds of sauces and condiments for the sushi. I always had a rectangle plate with bright orange nice chop sticks..

3rd course always consisted of a variety of things.. from the constant fresh ham, vegetables, potatoes of some kind. Then there was the Filipino adobo of chicken or pork, some kind of rice. Then at least a few times a week, I would have a chicken won ton soup. However this was always fresh and you could pick which ingredients you wanted for the soup. I always had the smoothie of the day... except when they had banana and peanut butter.. You could have eggs of any kind you want freshly made and delivered to your table. There was always pancakes of 2 kinds, great french toast, and waffles which I had sometimes.. sometimes too many times for the pancakes.

Then there were the people that took care of us. The manger of the restaurant Michael... a nice looking Indian man that was funny, cute, and also good to talk to about work issues (mostly tips on working with a different culture of people). There was Belle the best waitress of them all.. All the wait staff was great... but Belle was great. Even when she wasn't our waitress, she always made sure that we got what we wanted. She has been working there for 17 years, has 4 kids and her husband is working in Saudi Arabia. She truly loves her 4 kids. Then there is the guy with the red died hair... the man that always would find adobo for me even when they weren't serving it that day. He would go to the back, get some, make it hot and fresh and deliver to my table.

From the moment I walked in.. Hello Mr Thomas... you would have thought I was royalty. Everyone knew my name and always used it. They do know their long term guests... but even if it is just a trained behavior... for the few that we knew well.. it was heart felt greetings every time.

I won't forget the many folks that worked in the lobby, from the security folks we got to know, the men that worked the front of the hotel, to the K9 trainers and not to mention the dogs that protected us.. Scooby, Dinah, Whitey to mention a few. There was one young woman that worked at the elevators... always held the door for you, would push your room floor if your hands were full.... to the one that helped me to learn a few more words in Filipino. Every Sunday night (except last Sunday) we would watch the young men change out the flowers for the hotel. It would take at least 4 to 5 guys working more than 8 hours. Of course we had a front row seat since no one but us was up in what I called "my living room" from midnight to 5 AM on Sunday nights. Then there was Fabian... a cute young man that cleaned my room, and made sure everything was perfect for me. There was Relo in the gym... Our driver Narciso who is a very special man. He has 4 kids, and would do anything for us when we needed a driver. He drove us to work every evening at 7, and would pick us up every morning at 5:30. He would apologize if he was 2 minutes late. He would take our bags, and be there with cool air conditioned car, to bottle water and the morning paper.

Then there were the people that owned and worked in the Subway shop in Makati. I would get up from sleeping every night, take a walk around the circle out front... stop at Subway and get my sandwich of 6 inch Honey Oat, ham, cheese with just a little lettuce. Everyone knew exactly what I wanted and always had it almost ready for me. I would keep going around the circle and stop in at the Starbucks for my morning coffee. They also worked nights and would say to me Good morning ... even though it was evening.. sometimes other customers thought we were both nuts.

All the people I have mentioned I got to know. We shared stories of our lives, our families, pets, our friends, and work. We all had that in common ... work. The only difference was they make so little money, and work so much harder than I. Most of them work 6 days a week, Narciso would work his days off every time any of us wanted him to drive us someplace. The people I met every day in my place of living, my work place ... their stories I will remember, their faces, their smiles and some... their friendship and sharing of their lives

I never thought in my wildest dreams I would have such an opportunity such as what I have had these last 44 days. I am going home back to my life, comforts and luxury (compared to what these people have)... and forever be grateful of the vast wealth of blessings I have in my life. I have tried to give back more to these people that I ever received from them. I am lucky that I get to come back here at least one more time.... and on some level I really can't wait. I haven't done 1/2 the things I want to do yet. I need 5 more weeks at least to have more fun here . I take with me new stories, new experiences, and new friends. In my mind I will always see the faces of each and every one of you that has touched my life.

To you all I say a HUGE Goodbye and Salamat!!!!!!

Now I need to finish packing, have one more crazy day of work tomorrow.. but luckily it won't be a full day.. since we have to leave early to get to the airport for the trip home. I have a 4 to 5 hour flight to Nagoya Japan, then 16 hour flight to Detroit and then a few hours to Philly.. leaving 6:30 AM 9/18 and getting home at 6:00 PM the same day. I am looking forward to coming home to see Tim, Molly, all the neighbor friends, my personal friends.. and to breath fresh air, cool air, and to drive my car. I am also getting ready and planning the final stages of the next phase of my travels abroad. I am 5 days at home and then head off on the vacation we have been planning for a while now. I will be flying to Boston on 9/23, to Paris (Hello Rosemary and Dave) on 9/24, Athens on 9/25, Santorini on 9/26 and Mykonos 9/28. We are staying there for 10 days in a beautiful villa over looking the sea. On our way home we will be stopping in Paris again staying 2 nights so we can see the Paris auto show. We will be back in the states on 10/11 to Boston and then home the next day on the 12th. I am home for 4 days, and then back to Manila for work for 5 more weeks getting me home the week of Thanksgiving.... which we will be with good friends in Ptown for the holiday.

So as I close out this first part of the travels abroad blog, I look backward to a time that I will never forget for so many reasons, look forward to the next month of fun and excitement. I look forward to new places, new sights, new stories... being with great friends sharing our lives once again. I look forward to being home for even a few days. I look forward to seeing my friends, having fun, relaxing, and NOT working !!!! :)

The next time I write will be probably the day I am leaving for Boston... I will catch you up on everything from the past week. So until then.. look up, be positive, be grateful for everything you have.. love your friends, family, pets.... and look around, take time to see life, feel life, breath life, share life and contribute to life in anyway you can.

Craig