Ilocos Norte, Philippines

This trip to the Philippines wasn't going to be about traveling to new places and discovering new things.  But sometimes, when traveling, things just seem to happen for a reason.

As I sit here, on this desolate beach, I have to wonder why it's not filled with people?  Now... I probably know the reason why (or at least think I do).

But, sometimes you just have to stop questioning and accept it just for what it is.

A desolate beach.

A outrageously beautiful and unbelievably gorgeous... deserted beach.  Pure, natural, and unspoiled.  Simply a place where one is forced do absolutely nothing but enjoy its beauty.

and 21 Years later..... The stories continue....

Last week, I was digging through a dust covered box in the closet and happened across two of my old passports.  It was fun to sit down and relive some really great travel memories.  Unfortunately, this visit (My first to Philippines, April 1993) was not one of them.  Now, I have told the story many times over the years and perhaps it has even changed just a little.  But, that very first visit to Manila, Philippines in 1993 was an unpleasant one.

Nobody (and nothing) could have prepared me for Manila.  The heat, humidity, onslaught of people, chaos and foreignness of such a big city where all just a little too much (at one time) for me to handle.  I look back at it all now, chuckle, and wonder if I was really that naive or was it really that bad?  I contend, it was a little bit of both.

I'm not going to tell the full story, but the one thing that sticks out most in my mind was the overwhelming strong smell of mold in the airport.  Maybe it was more of a combination of the moldy smells and the darkness inside the airport that overwhelmed me.  Sure, I arrived late at night, but the airport was really dark inside.  You know the kind of darkness that comes from just a few incandescent light bulbs swinging from a tall ceiling kind of darkness.

Then it hit me..... the hoards and masses of people.  I swear (to this day), I have never been assaulted by so many people at once in my life.  The grabbing, pulling, yelling and all that sensory overload that happens with people trying to get your attention.  Panic began to set in and my only thought was.... how am I going to get through all these people toting a suitcase?  It's all rather comical, now as I remember it.  I should have been a tad bit concerned that I did not have a place to stay, any local currency or how I was going to find a taxi stand.  But, all I could think about was how was I going to get through this mob of people!

Flash forward 20+ years.  A new airport with no moldy smells, well lighted, no crowds, no chaos, wallet full of local currency, and a place to stay.  Needless to say, now I look forward to my visits to the Philippines.

This week, I'll be back in the city that I've grown to love.  The city that I have called my 2nd home for so many years.

Stay tuned.....


BTW, Manila's NAIA Airport Terminal 1 is still standing.  It's been upgraded several times, but still ranks high as the World's worst airport.

2013 Christmas Cards from 54641

For those that received Christmas Cards from me, one of these may look familiar?  The real story here is where they were mailed from.  Wait, not just where they were mailed from, but where they were "postmarked".

54641 is the unincorporated community of Mather, Wisconsin.  A massive township population of 52.  Yes, that's fifty-two people within the entire township area of 10 square miles.  The Post Office is open 6 days a week, for 2 hours a day (But only 1 1/2 hour on Saturdays).  Needless to say, I think the Postmistress was happy to see me!

The Postmistress proclaimed that she hadn't postmarked letters, by hand, for years and wasn't even sure if she was still allowed to.  But after a couple of telephone calls, she was given the green light to go ahead and hand postmark (cancel) my Christmas cards.  I was happy that I could be of some entertainment value to her.

I'm sure there are quite a few small Post Offices still open around the USA, but this one has to be one of the smallest.

BTW, the first two pictures used in my Christmas Cards were taken at my Mother's house located just outside Mather.  The fireplace (no explanation needed) and the second photo is of the Christmas tree with the a red Philippine Parol that I brought back several years ago from the Philippines.

Merry Christmas from 54641

Not quite "Heaven" but.....

As most of you know, I am passionate (OK, I get really excited) about food trucks.  If I had described the Hollywood, FL food truck experience as exciting,  I could only describe this past weekend's as way over the top!

Let me tell you.... This delight was four years in the waiting.  To put that into perspective, that equals out to about 1200 social media messages that I have read from this one food truck.  Yes, indeed many of them have included photos of their menu items. To which, you might be able to understand my anticipatory anxiety leading up to this pinnacle event.

Señor Sisig

(This is where I prompt you to check their website out.)

www.senorsisig.com/

They describe their truck as "Señor Sisig is a Filipino Fusion Food Truck located in the San Francisco Bay Area".  It is nothing short of phenomenal.  I knew that their burrito was going to be great (because the 15 people in front of me ordered it) so I decided to try the pork sisig salad instead.  Those who know my eating habits know that I am NOT a salad person, but the "tweet" that lead me to this event included a picture (of THE salad) and it looked simply delicious.

(This is where I insert a picture of the salad)

Yes, it was that good.  I didn't want to be a "pig" and lick the bowl clean and yes, I do realize that there were a few morsels of cheese and lettuce that I couldn't quite scoop into my mouth.  But you get the idea?

• appetizing
• delectable
• delightful
• exquisite
• heavenly
• luscious
• savory
• tasty
• tempting
• yummy
• divine
• lush
• ambrosial
• delish
• fit for king
• gratifying
• mouthwatering
• sapid
• scrumptious
• titillating
• toothsome

So the next time you are in the Bay Area, DO check out Señor Sisig.  I promise you will enjoy it just as much as I did.  And don't forget that everything tastes better with a cold bottle of Sarsi.

A couple final thoughts.... Señor Sisig does everything right. They are very into Social Media (absolute must for 2013). You can find them on all of the popular Social Media outlets: Facebook, Twitter, Yelp, Instagram and Youtube. Their website is simple yet concise, very mobile friendly and you can always geo locate them (critical for a mobile food truck).  It is no wonder they have a cult-like following and were voted as SF Weekly's Best Food Truck 2013.  Besides, their food is just damn super sarap !

(OK, I couldn't leave you hanging and not post the photo)

The one... The only... The Panama Canal...

I really can't imagine a better way to finish my "June 2013" travel blog but with a visit to the Miraflores Locks of the Panama Canal.

A short 20 minute taxi ride from Old Town and I was at the entrance to the Panama Canal Miraflores Visitors Center.

If I raved a bit much about the Canal's History Museum, this was equally and much much more exciting.  This is where it all happens, it is where it has happened daily for the last 100 years.  Not just has it happened daily, but it has happened the same way every day for the last 100 years.  The system has not changed (at all) since it opened.

They have a really good "functional" museum with exhibits from all aspects of the locks and dams.  Inside is a theater that shows a 15 minute 3-D movie about the Canal (must see).  There are also observation decks on the 1st, 2nd and 4th floors.

I arrived about 10 am and shortly afterwards it was announced that there was a ship entering the locks.  I wasn't about to miss this and headed up to the 4th floor and wow, it finally registered that I was overlooking the Panama Canal.

Albeit not the largest ship that came through that day, it was still exciting.  OK, it was really exciting to see my first ship go through.

I watched about 6 or 8 ships go through that day, using both channels.  Decided I should take a break and had a fantastic lunch buffet (to the tune of $40, but worth it) at the Canal's 2nd floor restaurant.

Before arriving at the Canal, I really never had a desire or need to go through the canal in a ship/boat.  I really just wanted to see it.  See how it works, what it looks like, how it operates, etc.  But now, having seen it... I want to take a ship through it !

So, there's just no way I can express the excitement, but it was certainly the pinnacle of my June 2013 travels.  It is a man made wonder of the world, one that American's should all be proud of (since the French couldn't finish building it).  This experience ranks high in my top 5 travel experiences, maybe just below watching the sunrise over the Acropolis in Athens.

This was the largest ship to come through while I visited.  According to the Canal, this ship paid about 250K to go through the Canal.

Thanks for letting me share some stories and photos of my June 2013 travels.
Until the next time....

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails.  

Explore.  Dream.  Discover.” 

– Mark Twain