Solo Philippines
Trip Start
Oct 08, 2006
1
12
15
Trip End
Dec 12, 2006
Manila, Philippines
Friday, December 8, 2006
Today was a travel day from Myanmar to Thailand and then to the
Phillipines. The first two airports were uneventful, but the third
changed the course of the trip. As we passed through customs they
wouldn't give Ugne a VOA (visa on arrival) stamp to enter the
Philippines. We went off into a side room where she was detained until
the next morning. Nothing we said made any difference.
I finally stepped outside to meet my mother and explain the situation.
She flashed her Diplomat card , nothing. Over at the US Embassy Don
made phone calls through the chanals but couldn't get anywhere. The
next morning, Don's bosses at the embassy gave a try talking to the
different people. I suppose she looks a like a terrorist, everyone's a
suspect. All avanues were exausted and Ugne still had to fly back to
Thailand.
Now the trip has shifted, Ugne caught a flight to Krabi to chill on
some beach for five days. Now the focus was on me and Mom in her new
home. This is Mom's first big trip and its 4 years-ish long. They
arrived in Manila two weeks ago and are just settling in to their new
condo. A bling pad on the 22nd floor with grand views of the American
cemetary in the foreground and the cityscape in the background. They
brought the dog and cats to their new home. She is also nesting in her
new little home, because they are going to livel their for a long time.
We explored the cities malls which are very impressive looking for
little Christmas gifts for children at the embassy. The malls are huge
with all the major brands you would expect to find in the states. The
funny part is that prices seem to be the same, while people here many
$5-10/day. Why on earth are shirts sold for western prices, I was
statled after being in Thailand and Myanmar. The escalaters were
packed. In the Phillipines they begin celebrating Christmas on
September 1st and climax in late December.
In the evening I went to the VA Christmas party at the US Embassy, I
had to give them my passport in to get in. The theme was an Idol
competition where they played videoke. They love to sing and they got
the whole place hopping by the end of the night. A great party complete
with a silly hat competition.
I arrived as a traveller and started to get anxious after two days in
the same location. So I booked a flight down to a Alona Beach near
Bohol for the weekend with Mom.
