Friday, February 22, 2008

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.

11 comments:

Liza on Maui said...

Inggit naman ako... And sasarap ng mga request nila (naglalalway na ako dito...)

Have a great vacation :)

Jeannie said...

hi Raq, happy Manila days to you and your family! Pictures! :)

God Bless
Jeannie

-sorry about the pink / sore eye

Heart of Rachel said...

Hi Raq. Glad you had a smooth flight. I hope you're all enjoying your vacation. See you soon.

BTW, I have an award waiting for you on my blog.

Daisy said...

This sounds like a great trip for you and the kids both!

Mixednuts said...

Welcome. Enjoy the food!

Anonymous said...

Sounds like you are all having a lot of fun. I won't say anymore that I am inggit--- ikain mo na lang ako.

Anonymous said...

Enjoy your stay in the Philippines :) ! No wonder you were missing in action. Thanks for the tip for the special pass from the DOT. The line is pretty long whenever we arrive in MNL so it's very helpful to breeze through the line.

Anonymous said...

Hi Raq,
I went to the website of DOT, I can't find the info on getting a special pass. How does one get it?

Thanks,
tina

Jan said...

wow raq, food trip straight away ha. nakakainggit. you have a great vacation with family and friends!

btw, you are awarded. you may grab when you have time. :)

http://j3net.blogspot.com/2008/02/awards-time_29.html

Vk-mahalkaayo said...

sus nakainggit ang mga pagkain sabi mo.....ako rin gusto ng kumain kahit ano....


kahit traffic, enjoy din ang mga bata mo,....

sigi, enjoy and have more fun there...

inggit ako sa iyo....homesick na rin ako....sana makauwi din,

thanks for sharing your pinas activities.....

balik2x ako dito, to know more news about your trip there....

pics, ha share ka rin..........

raqgold said...

hi moms, thanks for your visits. our menu wishes did come true :D we savored the food and embraced the great company.

KK - i just heard from my friend that the project from DOT's been cancelled already. sayang nga e kasi talagang this VIP project would really make your passage thru the immigration a breeze. we got someone to meet with us sa airport but it was only done because a friend knows someone at DOT.

janet and rach - thanks for the awards. will try to search it sa sites nyo soon :D