Once again this is only my observance and not meant to be argumentative. Your opinions are your own and not necessarially mine or what was meant by what I said.
The last few days seemed so hectic. We decided to go to the Zoo even though we had been told it was pretty miserable. Compared to American standards it was but actually for Filipino standards it was pretty nice. We actually enjoyed it. I didn’t know that the Philippines had its own alligators. I don’t think I have ever seen a horse in a cage though and they had several.
We left there and went over the Harrison’s Plaza. We ate at Subway’s again. Honey has really taken a liking to green salads with Thousand Island Dressing. That and a roast chicken sub, split between the two of us, is pretty decent. I was really quite pleased with this mall because of both the size and prices. We had considered purchasing a VCD player but could not find one that would work 120/220 volts and the prices we had been given were about P2700. At Harrison’s we found both the 120/220 volts and only paid P2300. Comically though the minute we paid for I was approached by numerous Filipinos trying to sell me "pornos". I wonder how they would have felt if they knew I held the priesthood? Well anyway Honey has 14 VCD/DVDs with karaoke on it now. I do not think I have ever seen karaoke DVDs here in the States but I really haven’t looked very hard.
We left there and got our clothes from the cleaners around the corner but it took us a long time to get there. See we made that mistake of listening to a Filipino give us directions again, of course, they sent us in the absolute opposite direction again. We had walked all the way back to the Zoo before we found out that it was in the other direction.
That night I was called by an acquaintance I had made at the Robinson’s who advised me that he had received a letter from the Embassy requesting “divorce paper’s” and that he was having a horrible time getting them to pick the papers up at his hotel. They wanted Randy and his wife to let LBC pick them up at her place of residency reported on the visa forms. I call the Embassy to see if I needed to provide such papers also. The person at the number Gene had given me had not ever responded to my phone calls. The 1-909-101-0011 number said that no K-3’s were being issued yet and would not for 3 weeks. Period. This of course sent Honey into tears again. Even Helen and Jane stopped by and could not calm her down. I think its cruel that we were told this because information I received from others would have allowed me to get Honey’s visa before I left but going by this information we changed our plans and went to Baguio for business purposes. Now I know that "if" I had stayed and gone to the “X” window at the Embassy, Honey probably would have come back with me.
The next two days were more go, go, go. We had Jane drive us to Baguio so that others we wanted to go with us could go also. She was supposed to be renting a small SUV for us. But she didn’t put down the deposit so when she went to pick it up the business had rented it to someone else. We had to get a smaller Toyota that meant that some that wanted to go couldn’t and the rest of us would be pretty cramped. Honey sat in my lap the whole trip there and back. Well I guess it wasn’t all that bad of a mistake – hehehe. She wrapped her arms around my neck and hugged me all the way there and back – to heck with PDAs. Lily, who should be with her husband by the 13th of Dec., and her brother decided not to join the group. Helen’s cousin, who has a boyfriend in Holland was able to make the trip.
Instead of getting out by 5 AM like we intended we ended up getting started at 8 AM which is really way too late. It was 4 PM by time we got to Baguio and found rooms for all of us and got checked in. Before we got to the market it was dark and many of the attractions we had intended to see had to be put off till the next day. The business I wanted to do also was pretty difficult with it being a holiday weekend. But we were able to get some good info and leads for the items we wanted. We also took this time to purchase some warmer clothing for Honey for her trip to the USA. Man I'm glad to because my flight was COLD!!! We left the market early deciding to come back early the next day. We went back to the pensione house we rented and found we were only 7 of the dozens renting there. What privacy?
The next morning was another “I’ll never forget” experience. There were 3 CRs. None with hot water or a flushing camode. The sinks were all stopped up making shaving and brushing your teeth near impossible but the Filipinos acted like it was no big deal. I guess we American’s are just spoiled. The noodle “cup of soup” I usually eat for lunch was breakfast here? It was actually very good and familiar taste, for some reason I was quite famished. The bad news was Helen. She had been throwing up all night and was still throwing up that morning and continued most of the day. It’s hard to have fun when one of your party is that sick. We finally loaded up in the car and headed to the market again where I quickly located several suppliers. We also found out that the products I wanted were made in Zamboaga and Jakarta. Honey will get more info on some of the products back in Davao today and Jane will get more info in Manila.
We decided to do something I never do. Eat at McDonald’s. Here in the USA the food is packed with fats and all my doctors have warned me to stay away but I figured that in the RP it was sugar not fats that were added. Seems like every meal at these fast food restaurants tasted like sugar was poured in. Jena, one of Honey’s cousins, said that studies show that Jolly Bee’s had copied McDonald’s menu but added more sugar.
From there we tried to cover every site-seeing place in Baguio, buying fruits, vegetables and souvenirs at each one. Sorry I can’t write their names but I just do not have a good memory for spelling. We went and rented a boat and paddled around the lake at a park across from the market. Then we went to a park with lots of native flowers and plants to take pictures. Then we went to the old Army resort and took some pictures there - real nice views of the surrounding mountains. We left there and went horseback riding and this time I did ride one so I could coax Honey onto one. Okay send the "cruelty to animal" guys over – I don’t care. From there we went to the Overview lookout and took pictures and bought more souvenirs. Leaving there we went to eat again. It was getting very late and Honey and I needed another suitcase for all the souvenirs we bought. The meal was awesome. Mushroom soup, rice, and pork and chicken adobe. I was so thirsty I could not get enough to drink. I really think I was becoming dehydrated. After the meal we left the group and hurried over to the market and purchased another bag and on our way back got to stop and observe the native dances at a little stage near the lake we boated in earlier in the day. It was really quite interesting. All the girls could say was, "The natives don’t wear underwear". Tells you guys what they are looking at doesn’t it.
Making a quick stop at the pensione house for items left there and Helen feeling better; we headed back to Manila. I had a plane to catch at 6 AM and it was 7 PM. The stress was really wearing on me. All I could think about was soon I'd have to leave Honey AGAIN!!! How do such faux pas’ occur? Several times I noticed Honey crying because she knew I was leaving very soon. I think the trip was made worsened by Jane’s driving. Sorry Jane, you’re a nice person, and will make some guy a fine wife, but you are the worst driver I have ever rode with. Since it was much later in the evening we actually made it back an hour quicker than it took to go. I don’t think Jane went over 50 MPH the whole trip and I think she made most of it on the wrongs side of the road and with her bright lights on - click-click, click-click, argggggggghhhhh!
Getting to the hotel room meant packing. Wow! I really thought we were near ready but it still took near two hours to pack. The stress and mood was getting even worse when I finally logged on to Mag-anak and saw that Chris and Mary got their K-3. That really hurt because the day before they got theirs I was told that no K-3’s would be issued. If I had gone to the x-window instead of Baguio Honey might be with me but…. You know “ifs”… most of the vacation was wasted trying to “hurry” the Embassy trying to make “ifs”, facts. We woke up a few people to get Mary’s cell phone number to ask her a few questions and then called to pass the info on to others we knew there who only lurk our forums and don’t post. I sure made a lot of guys happy – wish it had been me.
Honey decided not to wait out the visa in Manila. She really missed her friends and family so after a few last minutes things we headed to NAIA 2 to get her a ticket to Davao and then to take me to NAIA 1. Every mile got harder. Honey only wanted to bring a few things so I said I’d take all her stuff ahead. Big mistake! They charged me for the extra luggage. After checking in I headed back out to stay with Honey as long as I could. They almost would not let me and had sent Honey to the waiting area. I was aghast thinking I wasn’t going to say goodbye. Finally they gave me 10 minutes and said that if I was not back that I would not be allowed to make this flight and they meant it – thanks al-Quida; I owe you another one. I found Honey and said our good-byes. Honey had called Mary to come be with her after I left. With the exception of the death of a friend it was the hardest goodbye I ever been a part of. I smiled and talked of how soon she’d get the visa, and how quickly we wold be together when inside all I wanted to do was scream and go back to the hotel. But with the new job starting Monday and my rent already 2 days late, I just couldn’t.
The flight to Nagoya was very quiet, as was most of the flight. In Nagoya a cute Japanese girl sat beside me and wanted to talk but then a Japanese man pointed out she was in his seat and she never said another word the whole trip – to him or me? I wonder why? After the dinner meal I took melatonin and slept till about 30 minutes outside of Detroit (11 hours). Once on the plane to Houston, asleep again. Of course, my ride forgot to pick me up in Houston to make the end of my trip perfect. Oh and now I get to wash and clean all this stuff I brought with me. Yuck!!
Honey didn’t let me wake her at 6 AM like I said I would. She called me. I had only been home about 30 minutes. Gosh I hate phones. So hard to hear. Oh well, back to the praying, writing and hoping.
Bear
