Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Passionfest
Celebrating Bonifacio's 150thYear

This past weekend Edi and I attended the Passionfest here in Bonifacio.  The festival celebrated Bonifacio's 150th year and commemorated one of the Filipino heroes, Andres Bonifacio...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andr%C3%A9s_Bonifacio

On Saturday there was a fun run where runners were given red bandannas and flag belts.  They had to dodge people trying to steal their flags, and they had to go through a couple of obstacles.  There were at least four waves of runners, so there was lots of participation.  There were games set up for the old and young alike.  Edi and I participated in a word game where we were given a word written in tagalog.  We had to say the word as many times as we could within five seconds.  I said my word sixteen times, so I got to pick a prize - a chocolaty snack...

Saturday night was Rock Supremo.  Several rock bands performed and included songs they had written about the hero.  Most of the words were in Tagalog, but we enjoyed the music just the same...

Of course listening to rock bands stirs up the appetite, so we had some pizza at Nolita's.  Turns out lots of people were in the mood for pizza. The only available seats were at a communal table and there were no stools to sit on.  That was okay as the table was high and we could stand; however this guy offered his seat to me which was very nice.  Then this lady behind Edi told us that we could share their table.  About that time some people left and Edi was able to pull up a chair but we thanked the lady.  Ah, nice people in the world, gotta love it...

On Sunday we went to the parade - La Pareda de la Kalesa.  There were bands...

Flags...

Drummers...

And decorated kalesas -  they were beautiful...

We had a lot of fun - it was quite the festive weekend!

Monday, December 2, 2013

Being Thankful

The Thanksgiving Holiday just passed, and even though it is not celebrated here in the Philippines, I was greatly aware of all that I have to be thankful for.  I am thankful for the opportunity of living in a different country and seeing how another culture lives.  Although traditions are different, people are really the same.  We all try and make a living the best way we know how, we take care of day to day responsibilities whatever they may be, and we try to have a little fun.  On Thanksgiving day, Edi had to work, so it was just a regular Thursday here; however, I am thankful for Chuck's Deli which is right around the corner.  They make great sandwiches and soups, and they just so happen to have a sandwich called the Pilgrim on their menu.  This Pilgrim comes with all the trimmings: turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce, and gravy.  So, after running a couple of errands, we stopped by Chuck's for sandwiches and onion rings...

I keep seeing this post on facebook that just because Thanksgiving is over, being thankful needs to continue.  I agree wholeheartedly!  I am thankful that I get to share this experience with Edi.  It seems that whatever we are doing whether it is enjoying a festival here,  running to the market and trying to cross the street, or taking Kona for a walk, we are having fun and laughing an awful lot.  I am thankful for technology - email, facebook, skype.  Technology is allowing me to keep in touch with my family and friends back home.  I absolutely love that I get to skype Mom and Dad every day and actually get to see them!

Every morning I begin my day with a reading in my Daily Guideposts Devotional.  The Bible verse on this year's bookmark reads, "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (I Thessalonians 5:18)  So, I give thanks for this opportunity, for all of the kind people who have helped us to get settled in here, for my family and friends that I love so much, for health and happiness... the list goes on and on :)

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Running Errands

We are definitely learning how to run errands a whole new way.  In Decatur, we would make our list of all of our stops with all of the items we needed to pick up.  We would then hop in the car and make our rounds.  When we got home, we would unload our cargo and put it all away.  Easy as that.

Now, running errands takes a little more effort and planning on our part.  One, because we walk everywhere.  Two, because we can only buy what we can carry.  So, running errands now looks something like this...  Leash up Kona, go down the elevator and take him on a walk around the gardens.  Back up the elevator to get him settled in apartment, get keys, purse, etc. and then back down elevator.  Walk to mall where the Ace Hardware, department store, and grocery store are.  Get items needed at Ace.  Carrying Ace bag continue on to department store where we decide what we can buy and carry especially if we still need to pick up a couple of things at the grocery store.  At the grocery store, we now decide that we can only buy ingredients for one meal instead of two and that will be pushing it. On the way home, we find we forgot water and stop by the mini mart for a 6 liter bottle of water.  OK, so now we have a full load!

And, why don't we take a taxi some may ask...  Well, the mall is literally across the street, so...  Actually, they will deliver your groceries if you want.  A guy will push the shopping cart across the street and up to your apartment.  I guess we may get to that point. I do enjoy getting out each day and doing the errand thing; it really is fun - a different way of doing things, and it is great exercise!

Monday, November 18, 2013

Big Dogs in Manila

There are not many big dogs here in Manila.  Most dogs are little dogs like poodles and shih tzus, so Kona is quite the oddity around here.  People are either intrigued by him or very afraid.  People will either come up and ask questions about him or walk as far away from him as possible.  Kona really has been so good - he's getting used to having to be on the leash all the time...

He's even gotten used to the elevator which I think baffled him at first from just looking at his funny expressions :)  All of the guards here at Serendra (apartment complex) have been super nice.  Some have really warmed up to Kona.  One guard in particular would shy away every time he saw us walking, but with time he has come closer and closer.  When he sees us coming now, he takes off his glove and gives Kona a good petting :)  He has even told his wife that he wants a labrador retriever!

Several evenings ago we went to Gelatissimo for some gelato.  We took Kona with us as High Street has all kinds of cafes with outside tables. While we were enjoying our treats, one of the guys that worked there came outside and asked if he could take some pictures of Kona - of course we said yes...

I'm hoping that this experience will not only be a positive experience for us but for the Filipinos as well.  I hope that they will learn that big dogs can be friendly and gentle and a lot of fun.  When all is said and done, whether the dog is big or small, the owner has to take responsibility and be the pack leader :)

Sunday, November 17, 2013

My birthday here in Manila

My day began with quite a surprise.  I turned on the computer to make sure our internet plug-in was working, and Google was wishing me a happy birthday...

Shortly there after, I heard the skype ring and Mom and Dad called to sing happy birthday to me.  Skype has been a wonderful thing as I am able to talk to Mom every day just like I'm back at home!  We actually celebrated my birthday before we came to Manila, so I did get my delicious butternut birthday cake Mom always makes me...

Edi and I spent some time at the pool just relaxing in the sun.  We took a couple of walks with Kona around the gardens here at Serendra.  He is getting used to being on a leash and going up and down the elevator.  All of the little dogs around here bark and go crazy, but Kona just goes about his business.  I am proud of him...

Edi and I headed to Royal Cupcakes for peanut butter cupcakes which were delicious but did not hold a candle to my butternut cake...

Of course with a fresh produce/flower market here Edi had to get me a cute, little flower arrangement...

Edi took me to Las Flores for dinner.  We went there when we were here during the summer, and it is now one of my favorites here.  We opted to sit inside as it was a sultry evening here in The Philippines.  On our way out, Josephine the lobby guard here told me someone had told her it was my birthday and wished me a happy one.  They stay on top of things here at Serendra!  At Las Flores we had to order dessert (even though we had peanut butter cupcakes waiting on us) as all proceeds were going to the Yolanda Typhoon Relief Fund.  We had a yummy, sweet breakfast this morning...

With all of the well wishes from my family and friends, I couldn't have asked for a better day.  I am truly thankful!

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Well, we escaped the typhoon Haiyan or Yolanda as they are calling it here.  It hit south of us, so we just got rain and wind. The orange dot in the picture below is Manila.  You can see that the smaller islands to the south got pounded and were not as fortunate as we.  There is a huge relief effort going on here...

We had a really nice weekend.  We found a great pet store called Bow and Wow, so Kona is set with food, dishes, chew bones, you name it.  We went to the Sky Park which is green space on top of the SM Aura Mall.  It is a beautiful view from there and quite peaceful.  There is a chapel there where they hold church services every day and Samsung Hall, but I'm not sure what events are held there...

The last couple of days we have been concentrating on finding an apartment to live in.  We have been looking at 3 bedroom apartments as this 1 bedroom we are staying in now is getting smaller by the day.  We got it narrowed down to 2 and finally made our decision this morning.  I can't wait to get moved in and settled!

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Our DHL shipment did arrive yesterday - all 4 suitcases (two of the cases are our scuba diving gear) and 3 boxes.  The boxes were a little beat up but no worse for the wear :)

Our French Press was in one of the boxes, so we were able to have real coffee this morning in our apartment - ah!  Our small DVD player was also in the shipment.  I was excited to be able to watch an episode of McLeod's Daughters, or Dr. Who (DVDs we brought with us to watch), but when Edi plugged it in, we heard a pop and saw smoke escaping the machine - yep, our DVD is toast!  Oh well :)

 Because we had to reorganize and get this wifi thing straightened out, Edi worked from the apartment for part of the afternoon.  He enjoyed some time working out on our balcony :)

Our first few days

October 31 - November 3, 2013

Our trip here to Manila was flawless.  We flew first class on Delta, and it is definitely the way to go!  We had a short layover in Tokyo and arrived in Manila at 10:30 Thursday night.  Our driver was waiting to take us to the Seda Hotel.  People were in costume roaming the streets going to and from Halloween parties - it was quite festive.  We arrived at our hotel and talk about comfort!  It was just what we needed after being in transit for 24 hours.

After having breakfast at the Seda Bistro, we met Liza at Serendra  Two.  She got us settled into our apartment and showed us around the property.  Serendra is really great - there are three pools, a workout facility a meandering garden with a man made, rocky stream.  It is so peaceful - difficult to believe we are in the middle of the city :)  We explored the area and checked out the new mall and supermarket within walking distance.  Of course we were killing time awaiting the arrival of Kona.

Kona arrived at 10:30 P.M.  We were so glad to see him!  Air Animal did a great job getting him to us :)  We walked the grounds to let him get acclimated and then headed to the apartment - it is going to be a different lifestyle for him!

Saturday was a great day enjoying the apartment (our view is beautiful!) and exploring the area.  We took Kona for a nice, long walk to one of the parks in the area.  Even though it was dark (the sun sets at 5:30) it was still humid, sometimes difficult to catch a deep breath.  We will all get used to that I suppose.

Sunday was another great day.  Just relaxing and letting our systems get used to the time change and climate.  Of course Edi had to go into work today (Monday).  It was a 16 minute walk for him - a straight shot from our complex.  What a nice commute!  I am hanging around the apartment today.  I think DHL is supposed to deliver what we shipped today - I can't believe it has gotten here so fast! 

Our Move to Manila, Philippines

November 2, 2013

First of all let me say that Edi and I have always known that we were blessed, but our move to Manila has let us know ten times over just how blessed we are.  Our support system is truly incredible.  The well-wishes, positive thoughts, and prayers we have received throughout the moving process have humbled us.  There are no words to describe how we feel about our families and friends - they have supported us, prayed for us, given us encouraging words - all of theses things have helped us through this stressful, exciting time.  It was so difficult to leave family and friends behind and to leave the comfortable lifestyle we had built; however, we know that we would have regretted not taking this opportunity.  Making it through the selling of our house (well, it is under contract), the selling of our car, seeing Kona off on his three day journey, the 24 hour travel day we had, we are finally here, and we are already having a great time!

Manila, Philippines August 30, 2013

Today we walked Bonafacio High Street, a street filled with shops and restaurants.  We began our adventure at Bo's Coffee Shop...

We window shopped and just explored the area.  There was a 3D painting on the sidewalk...

No, I'm not about to fall on that crevice!  We made our way down to Market, Market Mall...

There is an open air produce/flower market at the entrance...

The mall itself is huge - 5 levels including a cinema...

There is an Ace Hardware and a Wendy's in the mall!  The grocery store is actually on the basement level of Metro Department Store.  We picked up a few groceries and stopped for a Jamba Juice on the way back to the apartment :)

Manila, Philippines 8/26-27, 2013

The flight from Atlanta to Seoul, Korea was very long but actually not too bad.  We had a two hour lay over in Korea...

The 3 1/2 hour flight from Korea to Manila was painful-I guess because we were so tired!  Our driver was waiting for us when we arrived, and we got to our apartment at Sebu Suites safe and sound.  

Edi went into the office on Tuesday - I took a picture of him walking to work from our window.  What a nice commute!

While Edi was at work, I did some reading by the pool...

We walked to High Street where there are shops and restaurants.  We decided on Italiano's for dinner.  After dinner we walked through Market, Market Mall and found a proper super market:). After a nice walk back to our apartment, we called it a day :)