Manila, Manila

Finally, I got the chance to blog again. You see, IC's got sore eyes, which added more confusion to the already chaotic schedule we have. We left for Bangkok early morning last Monday because the new airport is at least an hour drive. And with Bangkok still alive at 3 am on a Sunday, what would you expect on a Monday morning when most people would have to go to work, attend school, etc? Nope, we dont want to take the risk of missing our flight.

Since I'm already too excited to sleep, I simply daydreamed the night away and I was so happy when it was already 4 am :) It went faster when we were in the airport and through the check ins. But it was a real bumpy flight! I had to drink my water in one gulp as I was afraid to get wet. Good thing the kids slept all throughout the 3 1/2 flight to Manila or else we'd really have a problem.

Touch down went ok. We passed through the immigration in a breeze because we got a special pass from the DOT. Although the immigration officials have always been helpful esp whenever they see travellers with small kids: we have always been given a special privilege to proceed to the next available lane :D

And then our drive to the hotel was another experience for the girls. The traffic: the jeepneys, the tricycles, the sidecars, the motorbikes, the bikes, the trisikad -- all of them fighting for their own way through the very busy streets and intersections. And the Jollibee and McDonald"s signs that greeted them along the way, they cant believe they are all over the place!

We checked in. I unpacked the gifts. And proceeded to my parents' house for the traditional family dinner. My kids got to meet and play with their cousins although they were already too tired. And what was for dinner? My husband and the kids requested for the following: puchero, inihaw na baboy with spicy dip, hotdogs, chop suey, and rice; while I specifically asked for a daing na bangus (marinated milk fish).

Sarap! (Delicious).

Around 10 pm, we got back to our hotel. Nope, not yet ready for bed. I still had to unpack. And the kids were too excited to sleep! We slept around 12 midnight just because our body just gave in to the excitement, finally :D

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Analyse talks about Temple Hopping Guides in Bangkok at PMN: Travel while Mary shares her enthusiam on yard sales at PMN: Home and Garden.