February 18, 2011... I have been so busy this trip with work... and fun OF COURSE.. but have neglected my blog.. Sorry.. Will put up some pics of the Chinese New Year celebration ... Year of the Rabbit.. the videos wouldn't post so the pics will give you an idea. From there the pics will be of the my last weekend.. and then stories along the way.

I am wrapping up this 3 week period here in Manila. Work has been steady and long hours.. but I got to meet and work with 2 co workers that I have known but never met live before. That was a great time. Being with Gail and Sandy made work a lot more fun.

Last weekend I had a great time for the most part doing 2 things... The first.. Saturday Feb 12th.. Here in the Philippines they have the 2nd annual Philippine International Pyromusical Competition. This event is every Saturday night from Feb 12th to March 12th at San Miguel by the Bay. Basically they are held in Manila Bay down by the Mall of Asia. Little background. My friend Donald a Filipino friend from work and I were going to this event after hearing about it from folks at work. It sounded like a great time. I had also wanted to go to the Mall of Asia (MOA) ever since I got here. I think that this is the largest Mall in all of Asia. it is HUGE!!!!!! I mean HUGE!!!!! it is at the end of Edsa Rd which is a main rd that goes north south thru Manila. The fireworks and music that night were between Korea and Spain.

Well Donald came to the hotel on Saturday afternoon and we headed down to the mall by taxi. Now remember we work all Friday night and get off work at 7 AM on Saturday. Both of us didn't get any sleep that day so we were starting off on a little less steam than usual. It was a beautiful day full of sunshine and the smog was somewhat under control. Well we get down there.. and we pull into this area of the mall. It is HUGE.. many buildings with this really cool Globe in the front. It is right on the Bay of Manila.. I had never seen any place so big.. and so many people!!! I mean it is like a people everywhere. The mall is crowded but not overbearing to me. I realized much later in the week that the reason that it wasn't overbearing with the crowds is that I was taller than a majority of them. Makes a big difference when you are taller vs shorter the average. We went shopping and walked around. Around 5:30 we said we had to start to get to the side of the Mall where the bay was to see the sunset. I think it is the best place in Manila to see the sunset. We started scoping out the options for hte fireworks/music competition. We ended up doing the VIP section which was right at the bay in this park like area right up against the wall sitting in chairs. We sat and talked and watched the sunset.. then the stars come out. 1/2 moon and al Fireworks was supposed to start at 7 PM with Korea and they got started around 7:30. They had music of the country along with entertainment. The fireworks were the best ever. I saw fireworks there that I have never seen anywhere else in my life. I have had the great fortune to see some great fireworks in my day but this was by far the BEST.!!!!!!! They went on for about 20 mins and then took a break and Spain took their turn as well. Since we were kind of tired we both snoozed a little bit during Spain. They were not as good as Korea.. I give my vote that night for Korea.

The festivities were over around 9:30.. and then we were back into the millions of people at the mall and then end of the fireworks competition. We decided to eat there at the mall which Donald chose an Asian restaurant that had Filipino/Japanese/Thai food. We had a great meal at a cheap price and another opportunity to eat native food which I thoroughly enjoyed. Well it was around 11 PM and we headed out to the front of the mall to get a taxi. Well, I have never seen more people trying to get many different modes of transportation in my entire life. This taken from Wikipedia:

With a population of 1,660,714 in 2006, Manila is the second most populous city in the Philippines behind Quezon City. The populace inhabit an area of only 38.55 square kilometers, making Manila the most densely populated city in the world. However, Metro Manila is the most populous metropolitan are in the Philippines and the 11th in the world with an estimated populateion of 16,300,000. The great urban area is the 5th largest in the world with an estimated population of 20,654,307 people.. and then you add in me.

Well let me tell you when I say there were a TON OF PEOPLE and the lines for all transportation ever in my life.. I am NOT exagerating at all. Well we were going to take a taxi back to the hotel and then home for Donald. Well that was going to take hours... so for not a great decision to have been made we decided to take a public bus out of the area and then get a taxi in just the regular Saturday night in the busy bustling metropolis of Manila. Well not a good idea at all. However no one had told me or warned me.. but I should have known... that for me taking a bus is just not a good idea. The reason is in general due to all the people, pick pockets were everywhere. and being an american I just stick out as an easy target with out even doing a thing out of the ordinary. All the time I have been here I have always been cautious of my surroundings, and the my friends and co workers have always been on the look out for me and my protection when we are out and about. I had pulled out a 20 peso (50 cents) to give to Donald for the bus for both of us... and not even thinking even to put my wallet at least in my front pocket, put it back in my back pocket with the button done and squeezed onto this public street bus which at least had air conditioning. Donald was a little bit apprehensive but wasn't quite sure why. I felt no tension of being on the bus at all.. I should have but didn't. Well I wasn't on the bus 30 seconds and knew that I had lost my wallet. At least they unbuttoned my pocket.. and it was gone. THEN all the thoughts of what was I thinking flooded in to my head.. tired as I was since I had been up for 3o some hours at this point. Donald felt horrible like he had failed to keep me safe, but I blame only myself for this situation I found myself in with Donald. Well we took the bus all the way up to the Ayala Transporation center where we caught a taxi to the hotel.

Once I got back to the hotel and got a new room key, made a few 1/2 dozen calls.. I finally got to bed at 2:30.. with NO credit personal or corporate, no cash what soever, dead tired but have had one of the greatest nights of my life spending time with Donald at MOA, the sunset and the fireworks competition.

Now you say.. could you have done it any other way that was safer? Well, yes we could have. With the hotel I have access to a car service to go anywhere I want, to get picked up anywhere I want.. and all i had to do was give them a call and they could have picked us up. But then at the time it wasn't an option. It was my first time there and I didn't know the situation of the location, was up for some 30 hours, and just tired and too relaxed for my own good. Basically I looked at it this way.. No one got hurt, little cash taken and most of it can be replaced minus 2 things of my dads which I have a little regret.. but only a little...

Now on Sunday... I had made plans with friends from work to go running at the University of the Philippines known as the UP (with the accent on the first letter Youpee) which is about 4 km up north on Edsa in Quezon City. So I get in a taxi to go to Market Market which is where we work. It is about a 2 mile ride. I get this very nice taxi driver named Dan. He was quite animated and talkative which was nice. He asked me about my experiences of being here, asked my age, and then proceeded to make a point ... and I mean he turned around and said to me.. Don't take any buses, they are very dangerous!!!!!!! I just had to laugh. He had NO IDEA of my night before.. and I didn't tell him after that precaution, but i did think to myself ... Dan.. where were you yesterday???????

I got to Market Market which is a mall area and met Kevin, Than, and Gigi. they all had heard of my experience from the night before.. News spreads fast amongst the group. Well we weren't sure who was going to go running.. but after a little while the 4 of us take off for the UP in Quezon City (QC). Now remember this is about 4 miles away.. but with the traffic, it would have taken us forever by taxi. So this is our trail of transportation to the UP. We took a bus (not the city type for a nicer touring type bus) to the Ayala Transportation Center. It looks so much nicer in the day time... :) Then we took the MRT which is an about ground subway type train to QC. Now on the way up there we realize a few things. Where are we going to change into our running clothes and where are we going to put our bags since we are hoofing it on public transportation..... Well we ended up getting to a mall in QC, changing our clothes in the bathroom of the movie cinemas (the only bathroom Than knew of that had stalls, then dropped our bags off at the Landmark store bag check... and then proceeded to get on a jeepney to the campus of the UP. Well if you don't know what a jeepney is, google that and see. I had always wanted to ride a jeepney and now today was my today to experience this mode of transportation. So if you can picture this.. I am walking thru the transportation area to the jeepneys (in my running clothes) with 3 filipino friends getting on the jeepney that was packed. I don't have to do ANYTHING out of the ordinary to stand out in a crowd and have everyone around me just stare at me. It must have looked hysterical for a white boy like me, an obvious american looking guy come walking out of the cinema bathroom in my running clothes. If that wasn't enough, I don't think that anyone on the jeepney had ever seen an american get on one let alone in running clothes. I am very adept to just not noticing the stares anymore.. but if only I could be a fly on the wall of life looking at my comings and goings. I am on the jeepney having a great time with my friends.. thinking.. if ONLY my friends in USA could see me now.. We get to the UP and this is a very beautiful campus which we started running. By this time it was dark.. but a lot of runners and walkers everywhere. We got done, and back tracker our paths... Jeepney back to the mall (this time a little sweaty), the Landmark to get our bags, the cinema bathroom to change clothes and off to Taco Bell for dinner. We all ate plenty of food at Taco bell (5 of us for a grand total of about 13 dollars). By this time it was past 10 PM and the MRT stopped running at 10. So we started talking about how were were going to get back to Manila (Makati area) and I could see that this was leading to the discussion of a bus.. the type of local city bus that Dan the taxi driver had said NOT to get on because it was dangerous, the type of bus I had been on 24 hours earlier and had gotten pick pocketed. I started laughing and just said I don't think I can do a bus for a while longer. I asked how much could a taxi cost??? and how long could it take to go 4 KM ? Well Sunday night the traffic is probably the lightest in all the week... and we got into a taxi .... dropped me off at the hotel, kevin at the Ayala transportation center (he had a 2 hour bus rides home) and then Gigi and Than off to the Market Market area where they live. All grand total of 300 pesos.. which is about 8 dollars which I gladly treated.... :)

So bottom line is I / we took a taxi, bus, subway, jeepney about 6 miles total to just go running at the UP for 3 mins.... taxi home.. which took us about 7 hours.

I got home and upstairs to the bed... and all the thoughts of my weekend going thru my head. Aside from being pick pocketed, I had one of the GREATEST weekends of my life. Spending time with new friends, the fireworks, sunset over Manila Bay, MOA, running at UP, riding the Jeepney... not to mention just seeing everything I had seen in both days.... I was so grateful for the weekend.

Well getting back to work on Monday night everyone had heard of the incident on Saturday night and poor Donald hasn't heard the end of it. He takes the ribbing very well. Everyone just laughed at the thought of me in my weekend.. and what it must have looked like. It is such a different look when you are looking out into the world vs the world looking in at me. I was thinking what a great reality show this would be.. Craig in Manila... :)

This last week I spent with Sandy from Minneapolis (originally from Iowa) along with Spencer and Kim. Well Sandy and I spent 2 mornings/afternoon at the pool.. and I have never laughed more in my life. Folks say that Sandy is the female me, and I am the male Sandy. We had a great time and it sure made work a lot more fun. Today the last day here Sandy, Spencer and I went to the pool which I stayed up there after they left to go to bed. I have been up again for almost 20 hours, and strangely wide awake. I am packing and getting ready to go to work/and then leave for home tomorrow morning at 6. I have my last spa appointment this afternoon which I can't wait. Maybe some dinner, 1/2 day at work and then a 30 hour travel day from door to door.

Looking back on the last 3 weeks I am just grateful for a wonderful time here in Manila, with my friends, and work, and more great stories. So here are some pics of the Chinese New Year, my weekend, and some of my "running" friends.

I look forward to coming home for 2 weeks, getting caught up on many things and then back to Manila for what may be my last time here. I already have some stories for the next trip and haven't even done them.. should say plans... which will be good for the blog. I hope I make it thru to tell the stories....

Til the next time.. Live life.. and enjoy.... P.S. Valentines Day flowers in the Lobby and the present flowers today....

Good Evening/Good afternoon:

Well this was a fun week here in Manila. It started out celebrating the New Year (Chinese year that is) and it ended with a 10K run, relaxing morning and then the afternoon at the Spa... and then to BED. Have I told you that the bed in my hotel is a huge king size and soft yet firm, 4 huge down pillows, white crisp cotton bedding... and well this afternoon... it felt SO good just to lay down and sink into it..

Well back to New Years.. On Monday there was little celebrations around the hotel. Some buildings behind us had some fireworks and the dragon dances ... not sure they are dances but that is what it seemed like to me. Then at noon at the Shangri La the upper management gathered outside the front doors where you drive up.. the band came out... and here were our dragons.. we had 3 of them. I think there were 2 or 3 guys per dragon. We had fireworks set up along the driveway and then ... it started to mount. They also have cabbage hanging from ceiling with a red cloth.. The dragon eats the cabbage and then spits it out at the feet of the management.. not sure what that represents... but it was nice. I took some videos and will try to post them. There is one now that is posted on facebook and I will get the rest of them there too. Once the presentation was over outside, they brought them inside the lobby and continued around the huge rabbit of flowers that is still on display in the lobby. It is beautiful. But I miss the changing of the flowers on Sunday night (now). So it is just the cleaning people, security people and me... in my HUGE beautiful living room.

Work was crazy as ever but on Thursday there was a diversion and Gail (my coworker that is with me this week) and I went to the offices of the other company that is doing the same work for my company... It is an american based company vs an Indian based company which is what the company I am working with. Not sure it is much better over there.. a few things that I got in the middle of kind of scared me.. anyway. work is crazier than ever and we hear more layoffs this summer. Now I don't think this is working out, my team is short handed now and behind in so many ways.. and they want to lay off more of us. I believe they are making decisions that are comical, beyond common sense, if anyone had any caring left in them.. it is gone. So we will see about my employment this year.. but there is life after AT&T and I will have 29 years.. so I will be fine.

Now to the end of the week.. there were some folks that I work with (friends as well) that were running this road race called Run for the Dolphins. They call road races here just marathons which then they have as varying distances. So they had a 5K, 10K, 16K, 21K, and 42K distances. There were 30,000 runners approximately. A few weeks ago Mar had asked me if I wanted to run and I said of course I did. We did the 10K. So on Saturday I tried to get some rest, eat some carbs and get ready for Sunday. I had been running here this week and walking but not really enough for a race.. but I figured it was only a 10K and I could get thru it. I did get some training in but the weather here is not conducive for running. Little weather history here. February is the basically the winter here... and the coldest month of the year. Now that being said it still averages 75 and night and maybe 80 in the daytime. The humidity is less, there are more breezes, and haven't seen any rain. Now the funny part is since I have been here in Aug, Sept, Oct, and Nov... I can tell you there is a huge difference in their winter and summer. RELATIVELY, it is much cooler.. That being said, I got up on Sunday morning at 4AM. I had a little breakfast, little coffee and waited for Mar and Than to come to the hotel to meet me. A couple of things that were GREAT... The race started on the street behind my hotel. So that meant that i could walk to the starting gates, not have to fight thousands of runners for the port o potties.. and no parking woes etc. I had planned on wearing shorts and a orange tshirt that I got at the Philly ING 1/2 marathon last year. I walked outside and at 4:30 AM I could tell that it was way too warm for sleeves... I went back upstairs and changed into a singlet and then went to get started. I have never ran a race in the dark so that was interesting.. have to be careful for the road grooves / potholes etc. I also haven't ran a race outside of the US.. which was interesting... I did see a few other foreigners... but they seemed to be alone. I on the other hand had my posse of friends/coworkers/protectors. And then we were off.

I knew that I would be faster than them all, so I had my phone with me so I could find them at the finish line. I found it to be very HOT very quickly. The roads had good lights and then on the dark spots on the route the had added a lot of extra lighting so that was good. They had plenty of water stops.. also had sponges with VERY COLD water which was great. I was enjoying the race as much as one could while dying of heat exhaustion.. I slowed my pace a little .. after the first few water stops and also pouring it on my head. I thought I was going to be find.

In Manila there are too many people for this city / space / island.. one thing that they do that I haven't mentioned is that they basically ration cars on the streets by day and even in some cases by the hour of the day. So some people can't drive their cars on certain days of the week, some can't drive for instand after 7 PM at night. One of our local district managers are in that boat.. They do get a round that though.. Mar for instance can drive his car Monday, Wednesday, Friday... but not Tuesday and Thursday. So they have multiple cars and registered with the city and then their other car can be driven on Tuesday and Thursday.. Well Mar and his brother share the 2 cars and it works pretty well. One other thing they have a lot is elevated highways.. double stacked highways etc. I have never seen worse traffic in my life... EVER... ANY PLACE!!!!!! sometimes on Thursday/Friday nights during the monsoon season and if it is raining, it would take our driver an hour to drive 2 miles.

The purpose of that story is I was feeling good and then the road takes a turn (I am only following the crowd since I don't have the exact route in my knowledge base) and then we are directed up the ramp on the elevated highway. Now it is not like I haven't run hills before, but this was like a concrete man made hill... and my mind was like.. "are you kidding Me???" So I got up that and finally got my breath back.. and then I was really heated.... So I took advantage of every water stop/sponge stop. I was fine and was really looking forward to the end of this race. kind of reminded me of last years Broad Street Run.... with no hills.. Well I am coming to the end.. THEN at 8K of the 10K race, there is another ramp to run up to the elevated highway.. My thought at that moment was.. WTF???? are you kidding me???? I had to stop and walk on the flat area leading up to the ramp.. or I was just going to have a heart attack right then and there. (I also had forgotten to put my emergency info on the back of my bib #... so remembering that I thought this is NOT the place or time to have a heart attack). I got to that ramp cursing the whole way, and started.. I put my head down low so not to look at it.. keep my eye on the ground.. and just went for it.. I got to the top and just visualized the same distance to the finish as if I was on Kelly Drive. I was absolutely saturated either by sweat or the water I had dumped on me... and breathing hard.. and was just HOT.. still mind you by the way I was having the time of my life.. I was looking at the buildings running by, looking at my fellow runners in a different way than I have ever looked at fellow runners.. and was feeling elated at this opportunity. Well got close to the finish line... knew where I was since it is where I work.. This area is called The Fort. I saw the finish line up ahead and decided I need/want to sprint the last 1/2 K. I had to make up some of the time I lost on the race. I stepped up my pace. and sprinted into the end... I felt so good doing that.. Got into the finishing gate.. and then into the area of the resting. There were all kind of vendors, sponsors, media, free give aways... I was just sitting there soaked, sitting on the ground watching everyone.. I am sure that I didn't look pretty at all.. where most of them looked great.. like they were used to the weather... :)

I met up with my friends.. and everyone did pretty well since they are really not runners.. except Than.. He kind of passed out once.. and was hurting with blisters on both feet. He had to borrow shoes and not sure if he had socks on or not.. I have been trying to convince him to let me help him get some running shoes.. maybe now he will let me take him shopping.. :)

After walking around we eventually left and went over to Prashant's house. Prashant is an indian manager at the office and he lives with 4 other of the Indian managers in a 2 bedroom condo. We all got there and we ordered some take out food.. nothing healthy mind you but that fried chicken and mojo's (french fries) tasted so GOOD.. we were starving.. I didn't eat too many so I didn't feel sick afterwards. We hung around and watched tv... movies and extreme martial arts sports competitions. I needed to get back to the hotel so I could get to The Spa for my afternoon of pampering.. so Mar, Than, and Prashant all walked me up to the street to get a taxi. They are my protectors.. as well as my friends.

I got back to the hotel, just in time to meet Gail and we were off to The Spa. I had the exfoliation with sea salt scrub which was INVIGORATING to say the least, then the massage which was so good... and then facial, manicure and pedicure.. I was sleeping thru 1/2 of them.

I slauntered back to the hotel and couldn't get into that bed fast enough. Oh by the way the entire bill at the Spa for all treatments and tips came to $95.00 US dollars.

I got into bed and looked at this day and review it from beginning to end.. So many new things, new sights, new people, new experiences, extreme pampering.. racing, eating, and had a perfectly wonderful day. Again I say I am one lucky guy.

Got up at 10 PM... went and a nice dinner at this restaurant, came back and did some work, updated my paperwork, and now sitting downstairs in what I call my big living room while there are cleaning people, security people and me.

The local time here is now 4:14 AM on Monday Feb 7th. Going to try to download the videos from New Years, and the pictures from the race yesterday... the internet is spotty tonight so not sure how the videos will go... but if I don't get them on now, check back later.. I will keep trying.

So winter continues here in the tropics.. and it is brutal... This week more work, some training, some running and walking and working on next weekend's activities.. The Spa on Sunday for sure and maybe something new on Saturday.. which there will be pics of that too. We will see.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend, and if you get a chance to get out of your comfort zone.. TAKE IT, RUN TOWARDS it.. You will be so glad you did.. For there is so much life out in the world.. and it is worth seeing..

Oh I forgot.. Back to Manila for 3 weeks in March. I am off to Florida in April with Tim for the family reunion (please don't let me get hurt horse back riding). I also got word from my neighbor in Paris...(they have the house here in Philly across the street) and they are going to be around in May. May's trip to France for a week and Amsterdam for a week (will be staying with Carl J) ... Strong possibility back to Manila for 3 weeks in June, and then Ptown for bear week, and then off to Capetown South Africa with Tim. He has a Education conference. So my travel blog will be a buzzing..

Now.. off to the movies and pictures.. (hopefully). They wouldn't load.. so go to facebook and see them there.. there is one there now

Hello and Happy New Year to one and all.

I am reviving the travel blog again this year for my travels. I thought last year was a year.. but this year is coming to be a bigger and better year than last. So far Manila is definitely in the cards.... (I just arrived tonight), and maybe a few trips to Manila this year of short duration, Amsterdam is pretty positive as well as Capetown South Africa. So.. with that.. Let me start this new year with my recent trip to Manila.

I was due to leave at 9 AM on Delta thru Detroit and then to Nagoya Japan and then Manila. Well due to the storm we had in Philly on Wednesday and the 15 inches of snow, my flight this morning was cancelled. I called Delta and thought to myself.. this 28 hour day is going to be longer than I thought.. !!! Well Delta got me on a later flight to Detroit on US Air which was great. I thought I would get there but my luggage wouldn't.. but I hoped for the best. In Philly I got body searched and patted down. Now since this started last year, I have been patted down 3 times.. so I think I am way above the average for the population. He was cute and nice.. so it wasn't so bad !!

I got to Detroit just fine. I was meeting a friend and co worker Gail in Detroit. Well it was 2:30 and I still hadn't seen her. Our flight out of Detroit was at 3:30. Then all of a sudden I hear my name over the loud speaker to report to our gate. I thought it was Gail paging me. I got there.... no Gail. They just wanted to change my seat closer to the front... where the is 5 inches more of leg room.. YEA!!!! I started checking on Gail. Her flight was delayed due to maintenance and then the flight she got just got her in. She showed up as we were getting on the plane.

Well we get on the plane.. She gets a bulkhead seat up front and mine had extra leg room and there was NO ONE in the middle seat for either one of us. I was shocked... We settled in for our 14 hour flight. Once we had dinner I took my 5 mg of valium and off to sleep I went. We pulled into Nagoya, Japan for a short turn thru security and back on the plane. As I was waiting for Gail, AGAIN, my name is called over the loud speaker to report to the international connecting desk. I thought what the heck is going on? I get up to the desk and the 2 guys that I have seen before on previous flights (they have the wildest hairdoo's) asked me how I was feeling. I thought that was awfully nice of them to ask, but knew there was more to it than just being extra nice to me. I said I was fine. Someone told them that I had been sick on the plane coming over and had vomited. We clarified my name, and row and seat. I assured them that I was great the entire time and haven't been sick in along time. They looked at me like "now what do we do????". They asked me a few more questions and then appolgized, bowed and said have a great flight to Manila. I went to the internet tables and met this really nice Filipino couple that have lived in the states since 1969. Ironically the gentleman was sitting to the guy that got sick. His bag kind of got throw up on it and he was wiping it off when we met. Too weird.

We get on the plane for 4 more hours and voila.. we are in Manila. We get thru imigration, go to the baggage claim and my bags were 2 of the first 10 bags off that carousel. I was shocked. Of over 300 people my bags are first. AND I was worried that US Air to Delta would lose them.. :) We get thru customs, and we meet Narciso our driver and before you know I am back at the Shangri La Hotel Makati in Manila. It almost felt like going home. The folks at the hotel were so nice and excited to see me. I got a hug from Maureen at the front desk. One of the door men even jokingly said.. Welcome Home Mr Thomas... The lobby was popping since it was Saturday night.. There is a bar upstairs quite popular with the younger crowd.

I noticed the lobby flower arrangement was this BIG rabbit!!!! was great.. see pics.. This year is the Chinese New Year of the Rabbit. So since this is a Chinese Hotel chain, that is the reason for the rabbit. So before they take it down.. I snapped some pics and posted them here. I unpacked, got my clothes ironed, and everything is all set like I never left here.. except I don't have as many clothes here this time.

Tomorrow (later this am - It is 4:20 am local time Sunday 1/30) I am going to hit the gym at 5. I am going to start my walking a few miles every day, sit in the steam room and enjoy that.. and then weigh myself to see if I gained any weight since Nov when I weighed myself when I left. Then little later go out and start running. I have a 10K race here in Manila next Sunday and I have to get some running to get used to the heat. Then breakfast, some shopping at the mall and show Gail around, see my friend Richie and Larry that are here as well.

Then my Sunday afternoon ritual is resumed.. The Spa!!!! I am taking Gail to The Spa for a couple of items.. I of course am doing my 5 star pampering for myself. Then later I am meeting a couple of the guys from work, then dinner with Gail and Richie.. and off to bed to get some sleep til about midnight. Then up for the night - will watch the changing of the lobby flower arrangement, gym, food and then off to bed on Monday morning so I will feel refreshed and ready to go for work on Monday night.

So life is good.. weather is 80's during day, 70's during the night with humidity, 5 star hotel and working here with people that I have gotten to know and call my friends. These 3 weeks will be quick and short... but I am going to enjoy every last minute.. I may be back sooner than I know.. haven't seen my work schedule for March.. but it could be 3 more weeks here.. I am so hoping..

Until the next time.. Live like there is no tomorrow..

Hello !!!! I have come to the end of my journeys for 2010. This has turned out to be more of an experience than I had ever imagined. I am coming down to the last 3 days here in Manila. I will be coming home after an amazing almost 4 month journey around the world and back. To recap.. Manila on Aug 4 until Sept 18, home to Philly for a few days.. then vacation to Greece with stops in Paris on the way and the return home...(Sept 23rd to Oct 12th) and then back to Manila from Oct 16th to this Saturday.

I don't know where to start. Life is so wild and crazy... I have made some wonderful new friends here in the Philippines that are both Indian and Filipinos. I have seen some amazing places, spent some wonderful times with friends both old and new, have worked my ass off like never before and yet found plenty of time to live life to the fullest all along the way.

Some highlights.. competed on a international volleyball team (came in 4th of 6th), an international 4 person bowling team (came in 1st of 6th and only by 7 pins !!!!! Way to go Hemi, Jeff and Raoul) went to Zambales on the China Sea, The Peoples Park in the Sky and Enchanted Kingdom, lived many Sunday's at "The Spa" Thank you Erick D... lived in a 5 star hotel where I even became one of their "Guest of the Day"... interview and picture.. and if you can treat a person better than they did before... they treated me like a king and queen even more after being their guest... This is a place that everyone knows my name. Went on a great vacation to Paris, Athens, Santorini, and Mykonos with best friends.

I met so many great people and some of them will be friends going forth. There are so many experiences that I can never explain or describe.. but know that my life has been changed forever on some level.

Now to try to catch you up on the last week or so and bring this blog to a close for now. More on that later.

Last weekend the folks at work wanted to go out on an outing and they wanted to make it special for me. We took a jeepney (finally got to go on one - google it and you can read and see all about it) to Tagaytay City to the People's Park in the Sky. You can also google this as well. This place was built for President Reagan and Nancy on their visit to the Philippines in 1984. The trip never came to be and the place was never finished. Today it stands unfinished, in ruins from neglect of doing nothing to it.. to making it tourist friendly. I remember the day Ferdinand Marcos was overthrown.. Today Imelda is in her early 80's and is technically a Congresswoman in one of the provinces in the north (lives in Manila in some mansion), her daughter is also a congresswoman, her son Ferdinand Marcos Jr is a National Senator (and major pain in the side to the current President Ninoy Aquino. The government is still trying to find the wealth, jewels, land, property and belongings of the Marcos clan that was stolen during his reign as dictator. I walked around and took some pictures of the place and view trying to see what it must have looked like back in 1984. You can see the tile where the pool is before it was filled in with dirt, you can see what was the pool house which now sells concessions, they had these beautiful pillars with round sconces and some are still there today in tact. The view is breathless from the 2 tiers of what was outdoor patios. Parts of the main building is closed down due to dangerous ceilings caving in as well as water and weather damage over the years.

When I say the folks from work, I mean to say it was a total of 24 of us.. mostly Filipinos, 4 Indians and 3 Americans.. mostly voice people and 1 guy from data. After spending some time at the Peoples Park in the Sky, we went to Leslie's for lunch. This was an open air restaurant that was huge and packed. The view was breathtaking over looking the volcano within a lake within a volcano.. We had a great lunch of all kinds of foods.. tried beef marrow, and also this shrimp sauce that went with this pork dish. Then we were off to Enchanted Kingdom which is a good size (I think the largest in Philippines.).. also can google this for more info. We rode the rides, got wet on the rides, got wet in the rain, and kept going back for more fun on the rides. It was one long day that started at 5:30 AM and ended back at Market Market by jeepney and then taxi to the hotel by 10 PM that night.

The folks I work with have turned out to be friends that I will have forever. They have truly taken me in as a friend and colleague. They have taken care of me in so many ways and always had the concern that I was having fun and a good time!.. I am not sure if they have ever met anyone like me... and I am so sure.. that I have not met anyone like them. I could name them all by name and all have a story I have gotten to know.

One of the best things in my life is the people that I have met through out my life. The people I have met here in Manila through work, living at the Shangri La Hotel not to mentions the folks in Europe on vacation, has been one of the most enriching experiences of my life.

The hotel.... I have to share some funny / crazy stories. Being a long term guest living in a 5 star hotel, is like living as a king and queen in your own palace. When I say that they know your name, I mean almost everyone from day 2 will constantly greet you my name. Good Morning Mr Thomas, Good Evening Mr Thomas... people from the men that greet you at the car, to the people working the door for security, the people working inside the door at the lobby, to the restaurant people, the front lobby staff, even to the young ladies working the elevators not to mention the K9 handlers of the bomb sniffing dogs to the dogs that work every day 12 hour shifts keeping us safe. I have treats I give 2 of them every morning when I return from work. I had such service that every evening after work for dinner, I didn't have to ask for my carrot and orange juice mixed (freshly squeezed) and my decaf cappuccino... they just brought it to me, they would bring my newspaper to me, I even had folks bring me my food to the table or help me carry my plates from the best buffet known to mankind. The staff here was the best ever known to the world.

Now the kicker is they even got better... and the folks that knew me but didn't know my name.. knew my name and started using my name with the greeting after I became their Guest for the Day. I was interviewed and photographed for this honor. One funny story that happened recently. This weekend when we got back from Enchanted Kingdom, I went to bed right when I got back to the hotel. I woke up about 4 hours later sicker than a dog. It was quick starting, painful in the stomach, and lasted for about 24 hours.. I didn't eat, go out, or get out of bed except to constantly go to the bathroom. By Monday night I was feeling like I wanted to die.. but had to get up and go to work. I had taken a pill for what was wrong... (my doctor in Philadelphia is the GREATEST DR in the world) and it was working for the most part. I hadn't eaten in 24 hours, hadn't really slept in 24 hours, and generally felt week and tired. But I thought I would get up and get my routine going for my work day.

I don't remember if I had told my routine before but quickly I get up leave the hotel and walk around the park across from the hotel. There are stores and restaurants and office buildings and malls everywhere. So I head out to the right and walk around until I am basically across from the hotel to the Subway Sandwich Shop. I stop and get my sandwich which I take to work for lunch. They they know me and treat me like a king as well. I continue on my way around the circle and stop at Starbucks where I get my coffee before work. They also treat me like a king and queen as well. Of course they know my first name (which they ask for the coffee) unlike everywhere else it is always Mr Thomas or Sir Thomas.

Well this evening I am feeling so sick but I put on my gym shorts, my Ptown yellow t-shirt, and Boston Red Sox ball cap and go downstairs. Well the Philippines celebrates Christmas like no other place on earth. They start almost in September in the malls with music, decorations and all sorts of lights all over the place. Now remember it is still averaging 90 degrees and it is the monsoon season during this time. Well the lobby they decorated this past weekend for Christmas. It is like Christmas threw up all over the lobby and surrounding areas in the hotel. This particular night they had this major celebration for lighting this huge Christmas tree in the lobby. It was a major gala that include singers from the University of the Philippines, The Ambassador of China to the Philippines (The Shangri La hotel chain is Chinese) not to mention all sorts of local and provincial dignitaries. EVERYONE was way dressed up and enjoying this Christmas Gala all over the lobby and front of the hotel. Here I come down looking like a bum, feeling sicker than a dog and I am trying to sneak out of the hotel to get my sandwich and coffee. From the time I got off the elevator and outside to the street there must have been at least 40 people (not exaggerating) that greeted me and tried to get me to stop to talk to me. I could have died. I just wanted to get out and get away.. I was so under dressed, feeling sick.. but you would have thought I was dressed for the gala and one of the honorees. I have had the pleasure to have met the general manager of the hotel a few times, head of security (for other funny reasons) down to Fabian, Henry and Noel who have taken care of me in my room, laundry etc. to all the folks in the restaurant and the hotel staff, and gym as well.

The nice thing about Subway and Starbucks and they knowing me is that when there would be a line at either place, the employees all knew what I wanted, and silently took care of me, and i was out before anyone even knew I was there. If I ever have to open a door besides my own hotel room which even times I had help on that, it would be amazing. I am not sure I even know how to open my own door.. being that of a building or a car.

Well I have done my last minute shopping, I am packed 4/5th of the way. I have 3 more work days, and a lot of goodbyes to say and pictures to take. I am sure I will shed a few tears on the goodbyes, not to mention a few hugs as well. I have had a great time and look forward to coming back in the new year. I am looking forward to returning home to my life, my family, my home and my wonderful neighbors and friends for which with out the generosity of them all, this adventure would have never been possible. To all that helped in one way or another, Thank You so much for what you have done for me, Tim and Molly.

So I leave the hot weather... which I will miss, Saturday for home, Tim and Molly and BellaLuna, the colder weather and the wonderful Holiday season... which I am way behind on the normal things. I can't wait to see everyone and try to spend some normal life times again.

It appears that I will be returning to Manila again in the new year for some time.. not sure exactly when or for how long. When it comes to pictures I have put most of the albums on facebook from all the journeys, vacation hot spots, and here in Manila. I am going to put some pictures here of the this past weekend, and the lobby of the hotel decorated for Christmas. The full album of last Sunday will be on facebook. I will put all the final pictures I will take up until the time I leave on Saturday in one final album on facebook. It will be pictures of mostly people for memories.

So this blog which was kind of crazy how it started was a great idea. I hope you all had a great time reading it as much as I did writing in it. I will bring it back to life again when I start to travel again which will be sooner than late I am pretty sure. I will let you know.

Until then.. I can't wait to see the folks back home very SOON, Good-bye to my friends here in Manila. To all.. live life to the fullest, enjoy every moment you can in all sorts of ways. Life is precious, short, and yours to do with what you will.. so seize the day... and live.

In life..

Craig

now the pics