A RAINY NIGHT IN SHANGHAI

THERE IS AN OLD CHINESE PROVERB THAT SAYS- IF YOU LOVE SOMETHING- LET IT GO- IF IT COMES BACK TO YOU, IT'S YOURS, IF NOT, IT WAS NEVER YOURS IN THE FIRST PLACE.
MAYBE THAT SUMS IT UP ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE IN ANSHAN.
TWO MONTHS LATER- I RECEIVED AN E-MAIL FROM CHINA LOVE, THE MARRIAGE AGENCY IN ANSHAN. THEY TOLD ME THAT LI AHN LEFT A MESSAGE FOR ME.
SHE WANTED ME TO KNOW THAT I SHOULD FORGET ABOUT HER AND FIND ANOTHER WOMAN IN CHINA FOR A WIFE. SHE SAID HER DAUGHTER VERY VERY ILL AND SHE HAD TO BE THERE WITH HER IN  CHINA TO TAKE CARE OF HER.
I WAS NOT SATISFIED. THE WAY I FELT, REGARDLESS OF HER DAUGHTER'S HEALTH, SHE HAD NO RIGHT TO SHUT ME OUT OF HER LIFE. MAYBE THAT WAS AN EXCUSE TO COVER UP THE FACT THAT SHE WAS LYING TO ME ALL ALONG ABOUT LOVING ME.

I LEFT ANSHAN AND FLEW TO SHANGHAI AIRPORT TO CHANGE PLANES FOR NEW YORK. WHILE I WAS IN THE WAITING AREA OF THE AIRPORT, I CRIED  UNASHAMEDLY
WHILE I WAS ON THE PLANE WAITING TO TAKE OFF-IT WAS RAINING OUTSIDE-I COULD SEE THE RAINDROPS AGAINST THE WINDOWS OF THE PLANE. I THOUGHT OF LI AHN AND WHAT SHE WAS DOING AT THAT MOMENT. SHE WAS THINKING OF ME I WAS SURE.
THE RAINY NIGHT OUTSIDE WAS A METAPHOR FOR MY OWN TEARS IN MY HEART.
SHE KNOWS WHAT SHE DID WAS WRONG AND SHE OWES ME AN EXPLANATION. SOONER OR LATER, SHE WILL GIVE ME THAT EXPLANATION- THAT IS MY ONE SATISFACTION.
TIME TO MOVE ONWARDS.

FATE

THIS WAS A PAINFUL EXPERIENCE FOR ME. THE NEXT DAY LI AHN WAS SUPPOSED TO MEET ME IN THE HOTEL LOBBY. SHE DID NOT. HER FRIEND TOLD ME LATER THAT SHE LEFT ANSHAN EARLY IN THE MORNING BY TRAIN FOR DALIAN. SHE SAID SHE TRIED TO CALL MY HOTEL ROOM BEFORE SHE LEFT- I DID NOT KNOW- I WAS NOT IN MY ROOM.
MY PLANS WENT UP IN SMOKE, I WAS HOLDING HER ENGAGEMENT RING - I NEEDED TO SPEAK WITH HER SO VERY MUCH AND SHE LEFT. I FELT A MIXTURE OF BETRAYAL, ANGER AND BITTER DISAPPOINTMENT.
WHY WOULD SHE DO THIS TO ME? THERE WAS NO REASON- ABSOLUTELY NONE. I LOVED HER AND BY HER OWN WORDS AND E-MAILS TO ME, SHE FELT THE SAME.

I SPENT ONE MORE DAY IN ANSHAN BEFORE I  LEFT FOR SHANGHAI AND THEN HOME TO NEW YORK. THE FLIGHT HOME WAS LONG AND LONELY.
GOING HOME, THE AGENCY SAID THE LADY FROM MY FIRST VISIT IN JUNE WANTED TO SEE ME. IT WAS  SMALL CONSOLATION. HER , HER DAUGHTER AND ME HAD LUNCH TOGETHER. ALL OF US KNEW THIS WAS GOODBYE. SHE GAVE ME A NICE GIFT- A JADE PILLOW. I WILL KEEP THAT AS A REMINDER OF ANSHAN.

ANSHAN IS A VERY NICE CITY BUT IT WAS TAINTED BY THE MEMORY OF WHAT HAPPENED THERE.

UNEXPECTED FAREWELL

TO CONTINUE- WHEN I SAW LI AHN , I WAS THE HAPPIEST MAN ON EARTH. WE SPENT THE AFTERNOON IN THE PARK IN ANSHAN, ME, HER AND HER FRIEND WHO SPOKE ENGLISH  VERY WELL AND ACTED AS AN OCCASIONAL INTERPRETER SINCE LI AHN'S ENGLISH WAS NOT VERY GOOD. WE CAME BACK TO MY HOTEL, AND AFTER RELAXING
FOR A WHILE ,WE WENT OUT TO DINNER AT A WONDERFUL RESTAURANT IN ANSHAN.
WHEN WE ARRIVED, LI AHN'S CLOSE FRIEND JOINED US AT THE TABLE- I SUPPOSED SHE WANTED TO SEE ME UP CLOSE. OUR MEAL WAS DELICIOUS, WE HAD DONKEY! IT WAS MY FIRST TIME EATING DONKEY- APPARENTLY IT IS A POPULAR DISH IN CHINA- NO- IT DID NOT TASTE LIKE CHICKEN-HA! IT TASTED LIKE WELL- DONKEY  WE ALL HAD A SEVERAL ROUNDS OF COLD CHINESE BEER. WE WERE ALL FEELING HIGH FROM THE BEER AND THE GREAT FOOD.

AFTER DINNER, ALL OF US TOOK A SLOW WALK BACK TO MY HOTEL. IT WAS GETTING LATE AND I ASSUMED I WOULD SEE LI AHN TOMORROW MORNING BEFORE I LEFT FOR NEW YORK, WE KISSED PASSIONATELY IN FRONT OF THE HOTEL AND SAID OUR  WAN AN- THAT IS CHINESE FOR GOOD NIGHT.

I TOLD LI AHN BEFORE WE PARTED THAT NIGHT- THAT I WANTED TO TALK TO HER IN THE MORNING ABOUT SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT. IT WAS.
BEFORE I LEFT NEW YORK, I HAD BOUGHT A VERY NICE ONE CARAT DIAMOND RING FOR HER. I WAS GOING TO GIVE IT TO HER IN THE MORNING AND ASK HER TO COME TO NEW YORK ON A FIANCE VISA. WE COULD THEN GET MARRIED SOON AFTER.
I WANTED HER AND HER 14 YEAR DAUGHTER TO COME TO AMERICA- I KNEW WE COULD HAVE A GREAT AND HAPPY LIFE HERE IN THE STATES.

I SLEPT GOOD THAT NIGHT- NOT KNOWING WHAT WAS TO COME THE NEXT DAY.

LIFE IS FULL OF TWISTS AND TURNS- THIS WAS A 180 DEGREE ONE.

EPILOG

I RETURNED TO ANSHAN IN AUGUST, 2008. UNINTENTIONALLY, IT WAS AT THE START OF THE SUMMER OLYMPICS IN BEIJING.  I DID NOT PLAN THAT, IT WAS JUST THAT LI AHN HAD SOME FREE TIME AND SHE WANTED TO SPEND IT ALL WITH ME,NATURALLY I JUMPED AT THE OPPORTUNITY AND I ARRIVED IN SHENYANG AIRPORT AROUND THE 12TH OF AUGUST. SHE WAS NOT AT THE AIRPORT WHEN I ARRIVED, THE HEAD OF THE CHINA LOVE AGENCY WAS THERE TO MEET ME. RIGHT THEN I HAD A FEELING SOMETHING WAS NOT RIGHT. HE EXPLAINED TO ME THAT LI AHN WAS IN ANOTHER CITY NEARBY-DALIAN. HE DID NOT KNOW WHEN SHE WOULD ARRIVE IN ANSHAN TO SEE ME-BUT IT WOULD BE SOON. THOUGH I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED- I HOPED THAT THIS WAS NOT A PERSONAL SNUB BY HER ONLY A CONFLICT OF SCHEDULES.
 I SPENT THE NIGHT AT A PLAIN BUT CLEAN HOTEL IN ANSHAN. THE NEXT DAY, THE AGENCY BOSS INFORMED ME THAT LI AHN WOULD BE COMING FROM DALIAN TO SEE ME IN THE EVENING. MY MOOD SOARED HIGHER THAN A 767 JETLINER!

IN THE LATE AFTERNOON, I WAITED IN THE HOTEL LOBBY FOR HER.
SHE ARRIVED AND SHE SMILED SO BEAUTIFULLY AT ME. WE  EMBRACED AND KISSED AND FOR ME- THE WORLD WAS MINE- I HAD EVERYTHING I WANTED OUT OF MY LIFE.
I ASSUMED SHE FELT THE SAME WAY.
LITTLE DID I KNOW THAT THE CLOCK WAS RUNNING OUT ON OUR TIME AND OUR FUTURE TOGETHER.

RURAL DENTISTRY

Thanks to Lemuel Craft
When my husband suggested we start a goat cheesedairy I thought he was crazy. What did we know about goats or making cheese? We found a great plot of land outside of town and immediately bought 20 goats – 20 goats! I was way out of my element so I spent a lot of time working on things inside the property like going to www.satelliteinternetbroadband.com/ for internet and talking to security companies and tour companies. My husband’s been doing all the farm work and he’s got all the fences and working with the animals and he’s actually way better at it than I ever imagined he would be! I can’t believe we’re actually about to start making our own cheese and selling it to people and I know my life’s about to change like crazy. I guess this goes to show you never really know how things are going to end up or what you’re going to be when you grow up so you’ve got to be open and prepared for anything that comes your way!

LI AHN

I SPENT THREE DAYS WITH HER IN ANSHAN- IN MANY WAYS-MY LIFE CHANGED AFTER THAT- BOTH FOR THE GOOD AND THE NOT SO GOOD. SHE CAME INTO MY LIFE LIKE A GODSEND- MAYBE SHE WAS. SHE WAS DIVORCED LIKE ME AND HAD A TEENAGE DAUGHTER- I HAD A TEENAGE SON.
WE HIT IT OFF RIGHT AWAY- I COULD FEEL THE ATTRACTION- LIKE I KNEW HER IN A PREVIOUS LIFE.
WE  WENT MANY PLACES IN ANSHAN- BUT WHEREVER IT WAS- IT SEEMED LIKE MAGIC- EVERYWHERE WAS DISNEYLAND BECAUSE WE WERE TOGETHER.
SHE FELT THE SAME ABOUT ME I KNEW. MAYBE THAT WAS WHY I WENT TO CHINA AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME AND PLACE - TO MEET HER.

THESE PHOTOS DO NOT DO HER JUSTICE- SHE IS EVEN  MORE BEAUTIFUL IN PERSON-
DURING MY TWO NIGHTS WITH HER- WE WERE INTIMATE AND IT WAS BEAUTIFUL BETWEEN THE BOTH OF US.
WE WENT DINING OUT WITH MY GUIDE FROM CHINA LOVE- THE AGENCY WHICH TOLD ME TO COME TO CHINA. IT WAS  AMONG THE HAPPIEST THREE DAYS OF MY LIFE.

I KNEW I HAD TO SEE HER AGAIN.  I DID IN AUGUST.

A SPECIAL MEMORY OFANSHAN

THIS IS A VERY PERSONAL POST FOR ME - IT WAS MY FINAL THREE DAYS IN ANSHAN BEFORE I LEFT TO RETURN TO NEW YORK. THESE DAYS WILL STAY IN MY MIND AND HEART FOREVER.


UNFORTUNATELY, THERE WAS NO REAL CHEMISTRY BETWEEN ME AND MY LADY WHO INVITED ME OVER TO ANSHAN. TO BE HONEST- SHE WAS NICE BUT COLD AND DISTANT
TO ME. MY INTRODUCTION SERVICE WAS AWARE OF THIS AS I TOLD THEM ABOUT HOW I FELT TOWARDS MY LADY.
THE MANAGER OF THE INTRODUCTION AGENCY WANTED TO MAKE MY LAST THREE DAYS IN ANSHAN AS ENJOYABLE AS POSSIBLE. HE SAID TO COME BACK TOMORROW- HE WOULD HAVE ANOTHER LADY FOR ME TO MEET.
I CAME BACK THE NEXT DAY NOT EXPECTING ANY FIREWORKS WITH A NEW WOMAN-
I COULD NOT HAVE BEEN MORE SURPRISED! WHEN I SAW HER- I WAS FLOORED!
TO BE PERFECTLY HONEST- THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE EXPERIENCED" LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT"- I THOUGHT THAT WAS NOT POSSIBLE- NOW I BELIEVE!

MORE TO COME.

FLYING HIGH WITH ACES HIGH MAIDEN

I JUST READ A LONELY PLANET BLOG- IT WAS AN INTERVIEW WITH BRUCE DICKINSON- ONE OF THE SINGERS FOR THE NUMBER ONE HEAVY METAL BAND IN THE WORLD- IRON MAIDEN.
THE GUY IS INCREDIBLE- HIS ENERGY IS SEEMINGLY BOUNDLESS. IN ADDITION TO BEING THE SINGER FOR MAIDEN- BRUCE HAS BEEN AN ACCOMPLISHED COMMERCIAL AIRLINE PILOT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS NOW. TALK ABOUT LIVING YOUR FANTASIES!
I MYSELF LOVE FLYING AND TRAVELING.

IF YOU LOVE TRAVEL  BOOKS, CHECK OUT CANADA POST. THEY HAVE A STUNNING ARRAY OF TRAVEL GUIDES TO SUIT  EVERY ONE'S INTEREST PLUS A WORLD OF OTHER 
PRODUCTS.

Educational Shows That I Want To Watch

If someone would have told me that when I reached my mid-twenties that I would be tuning my satellite TV, that I got after seeing these http://www.directstartv.com/direct-tv-business/bars_and_restaurants.html, into educational shows daily, I would have scoffed and walked away. Shows that considered themselves educational used to be bland, low budget setups that I was forced to watch back in school. Professors droning on and on about pyramids and castles could not be anymore boring. These are not the shows that are on today though.
Quite a few people have hyped up 'shark week' and I attempted to stay out of it for as long as possible. I finally decided to check it out in its third year to see what the buzz was all about and could not be more surprised. These action packed documentaries had the most thrills of nearly any show I have ever seen on TV. Watching fifteen ton sharks flying fifteen feet into the air in an attempt to catch prey had me hooked instantly. This eye-popping footage was only the start, there was shark-themed show after shark-themed show with shark behavior that was unbelievable. Educational shows are no longer the painfully dull programs that substitute teachers forced us to watch. I am now a proud fan of shark week and a handful of other phenomenal learning and educational shows.

ANSHAN

I ARRIVED IN ANSHAN IN JUNE 2008. I HAD ANOTHER INVITATION FROM A WONDERFUL LADY TO SEE HER THERE WHERE SHE LIVES. IT WAS ONLY A SHORT FLIGHT FROM BEIJING. I WAS PLEASANTLY SURPRISED. I HEARD THAT ANSHAN WAS A MANUFACTURING CITY- I EXPECTED A NOT SO CLEAN PLACE WITH LOTS OF SMOKE AND FACTORIES- I WAS REALLY  PLEASANTLY SURPRISED. ANSHAN IS A MEDIUM SIZED CHINESE CITY WITH BEAUTIFUL STREETS AND PUBLIC PARKS. IT IS EXTREMELY CLEAN.

MY LADY MET ME AT THE AIRPORT. WHILE IN ANSHAN- WE ENLISTED A INTERPRETER FROM THE AGENCY AS MY FRIEND HARDLY SPOKE ANY ENGLISH.
OUR GUIDE WAS WONDERFUL AND SHE MADE  COMMUNICATION SO MUCH EASIER.

DURING OUR STAY IN ANSHAN- WE WENT TO A NUMBER OF WONDERFUL PLACES- BUT

ONE PLACE THAT STANDS OUT WAS THE TEMPLE OF THE JADE BUDDHA. THIS BUDDHIST TEMPLE HOUSES ONE OF THE LARGEST STATUES OF THE BUDDHA IN THE WORLD. IT IS AROUND 8 METERS HIGH, WEIGHS AROUND 260 TONS AND IS MADE OF GREEN JADE. I WAS DEEPLY IMPRESSED BY THE BEAUTY OF IT. A PHOTO IS SHOWN ABOVE
THE BUILDING THAT HOUSES THE BUDDHA IS 33 METERS TALL- REPRESENTING THE 33 LAYERS OF HEAVEN IN BUDDHISM.

MY LADY FRIEND AND I SAID PRAYERS AT THE INSIDE OF THE TEMPLE GROUNDS. IT WAS A VERY MOVING EXPERIENCE FOR ME. IF YOU ARE IN ANSHAN- YOU MUST VISIT THIS SACRED PLACE- A VERY WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE INDEED.

ANSHAN HAS WONDERFUL SCENERY. THERE ARE MOUNTAINS NOT FAR FROM THE CITY ACCESSIBLE BY BUS. WE DID NOT GO TO THE MOUNTAINS BECAUSE IT WAS JUNE AND THE WEATHER WAS HOT. I TOOK A RAINCHECK- MAYBE SOON.

NEXT STOP- ANSHAN

WHEN I CAME BACK FROM CHENGDU- I STAYED IN NEW YORK FOR A FEW MONTHS- I HAD MANY THINGS I HAD TO CATCH UP ON.
I RETURNED TO CHINA AGAIN IN JUNE- 2008. THIS TIME I WENT TO ANSHAN. I WOULD NOT HAVE CHOSEN THAT PLACE HAD I WENT THERE ALONE- BUT AGAIN I WENT THERE AT THE INVITATION OF A LADY WHO I HAD A FRIENDSHIP WITH ONLINE. I WAS GLAD I WENT THERE- IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST MEANINGFUL TIMES OF MY LIFE.
MORE ON ANSHAN TOMORROW IN MY NEXT POST.

TO THOSE OUT THERE WHO ARE HOPEFULLY  READING MY BLOG- SORRY I CANNOT POST MORE THAN ONCE A WEEK. I AM CURRENTLY TAKING A TESOL COURSE- TO TEACH ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE. I WILL FINISH THE COURSE IN A FEW WEEKS AND THEN I HOPE TO TEACH ENGLISH IN CHINA BY THE END OF THE SUMMER.
I HOPE TO TEACH THERE FOR ONE OR TWO YEARS. MY FIANCE IS IN XIAMEN, CHINA- I HOPE TO BE WITH HER THERE.
MORE TOMORROW.

LEAVING

AFTER SIX  WONDERFUL DAYS IN CHENGDU, IT WAS TIME TO LEAVE. MY LADY RODE WITH ME TO THE AIRPORT AND SAW ME OFF ON THE PLANE TO BEIJING AND THEN HOME TO NEW YORK.
AT THE AIRPORT I TAUGHT HER A PHRASE IN ENGLISH- WHICH SHE REPEATED PERFECTLY -" HAVE A  NICE JOURNEY HOME."  SHE MEANT THAT TOO. I WILL ALWAYS
TREASURE MY  TIME IN CHENGDU. I HAVE NOT GONE BACK THERE SINCE, BUT MY FRIEND AND I KEEP IN TOUCH REGULARLY VIA E-MAIL.
A FEW MONTHS LATER- CHENGDU HAD A CATASTROPHIC EARTHQUAKE IN APRIL 2008 - I CALLED HER- THANKFULLY HER AND HER FAMILY WERE NOT AFFECTED.
MY LADY FRIEND HAS SINCE MOVED FROM CHENGDU TO SHENZHEN, BUT WE WILL MEET AGAIN SOON I FEEL.

I MUST ADMIT- I HAD A STRANGE EXPERIENCE IN CHENGDU. DURING MY STAY, WE WENT TO A  TEMPLE- THERE WERE BUDDHIST SHRINES IN A LARGE PARK- I FORGET WHAT THE NAME OF THE PARK WAS. WHILE I WAS THERE, I COULD FEEL A PRESENCE-
OF SPIRITS, GHOSTS-  IF YOU WANT TO CALL IT THAT. I COULD FEEL THE PRESENCE OF ENTITIES AROUND ME. I HAD THE IMPRESSION THAT THE AREA I WAS IN WAS A SACRED PLACE. I HAVE HAD NO PARANORMAL EXPERIENCES IN MY LIFE- BUT THIS WAS THE CLOSEST TO IT. I WAS NOT SCARED IN ANY WAY- JUST THRILLED. I BELIEVE THAT LIFE DOES CONTINUE AFTER DEATH- THIS WAS AN INDICATION OF IT. I DID NOT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT IT TO MY FRIEND CHANG YU- MAYBE SHE WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED AT ALL.

I HAD TO LEAVE- NEW YORK WAS CALLING!

MORE CHENGDU

I HAD A WONDERFUL TIME IN CHENGDU, I ESPECIALLY LIKED THE TIMES I SPENT WITH MY FRIEND'S FAMILY. WE ATE DELICIOUS CHINESE MEALS TOGETHER AND HAD A WONDERFUL TIME. IT DID NOT MATTER THAT THERE WAS A LANGUAGE BARRIER- WE COMMUNICATED VERY WELL ANYWAY.

THERE WAS A SECOND PLACE WE WENT TO BY BUS FROM CHENGDU- IT WAS THE DUJIANGYAN IRRIGATION PROJECT. BUILT OVER 2,000 YEARS AGO- IT WORKS PERFECTLY EVEN TO THIS DAY. IT IS ONE OF THE OLDEST IRRIGATION PROJECTS IN THE WORLD.

MY LADY, CHANG YU, HER FRIEND AND ME WENT TO THE PROJECT FOR A DAY OF SIGHTSEEING. WOW- I WAS VERY VERY IMPRESSED! THERE ARE ANCIENT CHINESE TEMPLES ON HIGH HILLS OVERLOOKING THE PROJECT- BUILT AT THE TIME OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE AREA OVER 2,000 YEARS AGO. WE VISITED THE TEMPLES OF THE ANCIENT EMPERORS, AND THEN WE WALKED AROUND THE DAM AND PROJECT AREA. IT SEEMED HARD TO BELIEVE THE CHINESE HAD THE TECHNOLOGY TO BUILT THIS REMARKABLE SITE 2 MILLENNIA AGO- BUT THEY DID. A TRIBUTE TO THEIR INGENUITY. 

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE FASCINATING FACTS

THE PANDA BASE

MY TIME IN CHENGDU WAS SHORT. I WAS ONLY THERE FOR A FEW DAYS. MY LADY AND I WENT TO MANY PLACES BUT 2 PLACES STAND OUT IN MY MIND. ONE WAS THE PANDA PRESERVE AND RESEARCH CENTER IN CHENGDU. THIS IS THE LEADING CENTER FOR PANDAS IN THE WORLD. THE ENTRANCE IS SHOWN ABOVE.

ON A WONDERFUL SUNNY DAY WE WENT TO SEE THE PANDAS. IT WAS MY FIRST TIME SEEING PANDAS UP CLOSE. THEY ARE WONDERFUL TO WATCH. THEY ACT ALMOST LIKE HUMAN CHILDREN SOMETIMES. WHEN PANDAS ARE BORN THOUGH, THEY ARE USUALLY TAKEN AWAY FROM THE PARENTS. THERE HAVE BEEN CASES OF THE MOTHER PANDAS ATTACKING AND SOMETIMES EATING THEIR YOUNG. THEY ARE RAISED IN THE PRESERVE BY HUMANS UNTIL THEY REACH A CERTAIN AGE WHERE THEY CAN BE ON THEIR OWN.

THE PANDA'S DIET IS SIMPLE- ALL THEY EAT ARE BAMBOO SHOOTS SO THERE IS PLENTY OF BAMBOO TO GO AROUND IN THE PRESERVE.

IF ANY OF YOU ARE NEAR OR VISITING CHENGDU, SEEING THE PANDA BASE IS AN ABSOLUTE MUST. IT IS WONDERFUL AND EXTREMELY EDUCATIONAL FOR KIDS AND ADULTS ALIKE.

LETS ALL HOPE THAT THE PANDA DOES NOT BECOME AN ENDANGERED SPECIES AND WILL CONTINUE TO THRIVE AND PROSPER FOREVER!


TO SEE MORE ABOUT PANDAS-CLICK

MY FIRST TIME IN CHINA

I FIRST ARRIVED IN CHINA IN NOVEMBER,2007. I WENT TO CHENGDU AT THE INVITATION OF A WONDERFUL LADY WHO I MET ONLINE IN SEPTEMBER OF THAT YEAR.

I WAS VERY EXCITED ABOUT GOING TO CHINA. I LOOKED FORWARD TO THIS FOR A LONG TIME.
CHINA EXCEEDED ALL MY EXPECTATIONS. I FELT MORE THAN WELCOME THERE. THIS WAS THE BEGINNING OF A LOVE AFFAIR THAT I HAVE WITH CHINA AND THE CHINESE PEOPLE.
I SPENT 5 DAYS IN CHENGDU. MY MEMORY OF MY TIME THERE WILL LAST ALWAYS!
CHENGDU LIES IN SICHUAN PROVENCE ,IT IS WHERE THE PANDA BASE IS, THE LARGEST PANDA BEAR PRESERVE IN THE WORLD. THIS PRESERVE IS REALLY BEAUTIFUL AND IT IS WHERE PANDAS RULE AND PEOPLE ARE THEIR SERVANTS- HAAA!

FOR A COMPLETE GUIDE TO CHENGDU- CLICK HERE

MY LADY WHO INIVTED ME THERE- CHANG YU AND HER FRIEND ACTED AS MY GUIDES AND INTERPRETERS. MY HOTEL ROOM WAS VERY NICE AND HUGE- 4 ROOMS AT A VERY LOW PRICE, AND TO TOP IT ALL OFF- A MCDONALDS RESTAURANT WAS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET. I HAD BREAKFAST THERE EVERY MORNING. I WAS PERFECTLY AT A HOME AWAY FROM HOME.

BETWEEN CHINA AND THE PHILIPPINES

I REALLY ENJOYED THE PHILIPPINES AND THE PEOPLE THERE. THE ONE PLACE THAT I LIKE MORE IS CHINA. I WAS THERE AROUND A TOTAL OF 12 TIMES. I HAVE BEEN TO QUITE A FEW CITIES ALL OVER CHINA. I INTEND TO GO BACK THERE SOON TO TEACH ENGLISH FOR 2 YEARS OR SO. MY FINANCE IS THERE AND SO I WILL GO TO TEACH WHERE SHE CURRENTLY IS NEAR XIAMEN.

I HAVE NOTICED SOMETHING DISTURBING THE LAST FEW YEARS. THERE IS A VERY STRAINED RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHINA AND THE PHILIPPINES. A NUMBER OF TIMES, CHINA HAS RESTRICTED THE NUMBER OF FILIPINOS COMING TO  CHINA FOR WORK OR PLEASURE. THERE HAVE BEEN INCIDENTS OVER THE PAST YEAR WHICH HAVE CAUSED A REALLY SERIOUS PROBLEM BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES.

VERY RECENTLY THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT EXECUTED 3 FILIPINOS FOR ALLEGEDLY SELLING DRUGS IN CHINA. WHETHER THE EVIDENCE WAS INDISPUTABLE OR NOT- I DO NOT KNOW. THERE WAS OUTRAGE NATURALLY IN THE PHILIPPINES.
PERSONALLY I FELT THE SENTENCE WAS WAY TOO HARSH- THE THREE SHOULD HAVE BEEN DEPORTED BACK TO THE PHILIPPINES NEVER TO RETURN TO CHINA AGAIN.
YOU SEE, CHINA FOR ALL ITS PROGRESS- IS STILL A POLICE STATE, A COMMUNIST NATION- IT'S LAWS ARE SOMETIMES VERY STRICT AND THE PENALTIES ARE SEVERE.

IN SPITE OF THAT- NEXT TO AMERICA- CHINA IS MY FAVORITE COUNTRY.

RETROSPECT ON THE PHILIPPINES

A FEW THOUGHTS BEFORE I LEAVE THE SUBJECT OF THE PHILIPPINES. I WILL RETURN THERE SHORTLY TO SEE MY FRIENDS. HOWEVER I DON'T WANT TO GIVE THE IMPRESSION THAT THE PHILIPPINES IS A UTOPIA- WITH NO PROBLEMS.  FROM WHAT I HEARD AND MORE IMPORTANTLY FROM WHAT I SAW THERE- POVERTY IS WIDESPREAD. EVEN IN MANILA, THE CAPITAL, I SAW CHILDREN AND ADULTS BEGGING FOR FOOD OR MONEY IN THE STREETS. THERE IS CRIME THERE, LIKE MOST EVERYPLACE ELSE IN THE WORLD AND THERE IS CORRUPTION. THAT IS THE PRICE TO PAY FOR LIVING IN A DEMOCRACY I SUPPOSE.

BUT THERE IS ALSO A WONDERFUL SENSE OF PEACE THAT I FELT WHEN I WAS THERE- THAT SOMEHOW EVERYONE WILL SURVIVE AND HAVE A CHANCE AT TRUE HAPPINESS AND A BETTER LIFE THERE. EXPATS CAME THERE VOLUNTARILY AND MOST ARE LIVING HAPPY AND PRODUCTIVE LIVES. THAT SAYS A LOT.

TO SEE MORE INFORMATION ON EXPATS - CLICK

LEAVING ANGELES

MY TIME IN ANGELES WITH MY FRIENDS WAS WONDERFUL AND MEMORABLE. WE HAD A GREAT TIME SINGING KARAOKE AND ENJOYING SWIMMING IN THE POOL WHERE I WAS STAYING. IF YOU ARE IN ANGELES, YOU MAY WANT TO CHECK OUT THE LEWIS GRAND HOTEL,PICTURED ON THE TOP OF THE PAGE. IT IS A VERY NICE- OLD STYLE HOTEL AT A REASONABLE PRICE. THE SWIMMING POOL IS OPEN ALL NIGHT FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO LIKE NIGHT SWIMMING. MEALS AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES ARE LOCATED IN THE HOTEL ALSO.

I MET MANY WESTERN MEN THERE WHO RELOCATED TO ANGELES TO ESCAPE THE HECTIC PACE OF LIFE ELSEWHERE. I CAN UNDERSTAND THE REASONS WHY- THE PHILIPPINES IS A PLACE WHERE ONE CAN SLOW DOWN A BIT- AS THEY SAY- STOP AND SMELL THE ROSES.

PHILIPPINES FACTS AND INFORMATION






FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ALWAYS ARE HUNGRY FOR MORE INFORMATION- A BRIEF INTRO -  THE PHILIPPINES IS AN A COLLECTION OF OVER 7,100 ISLANDS. THE PHILIPPINES IS THE 12TH MOST POPULOUS COUNTRY IN THE WORLD WITH A POPULATION OF 92 MILLION PEOPLE.

THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGES OF THE COUNTRY ARE FILIPINO AND ENGLISH. THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PHILIPPINES IS A DEMOCRACY AND OVER 90% OF THE RELIGION OF THE COUNTRY IS CHRISTIAN.

SPEAKING ONLY FOR AMERICANS- YOU DO NOT NEED A VISA TO GO TO THE PHILIPPINES. YOU CAN STAY UP TO 2 WEEKS OR MORE WITH JUST A VALID PASSPORT.

OVER THAT TIME YOU WILL NEED A VISA OR AN EXTENSION FOR A PROLONGED STAY IN THE COUNTRY.

FOR TRANSPORTATION TO THE PHILIPPINES, I ONLY KNOW THAT FROM NEW YORK, THERE ARE NO NON- STOP FLIGHTS TO THE PHILIPPINES. YOU HAVE TO CHANGE PLANES USUALLY IN TOKYO OR HONG KONG TO FLY TO MANILA.

WHEN YOU ARE IN THE PHILIPPINES, THE MONETARY UNIT IS THE PHILIPPINE PESO. THE VALUE CHANGES FROM DAY TO DAY, BUT APPROXIMATELY ONE PESO IS EQUAL TO 45 US DOLLARS. AMERICAN MONEY GOES FAR IN THE PHILIPPINES.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippines

FOR MUCH MORE

CLICK THE LINK ABOVE.

ANGELES

MY STAY IN ANGELES WAS WAY TOO SHORT. AS YOU CAN SEE, MY FRIEND ARNIE IS VERY BEAUTIFUL AND SHE SHOWED ME AROUND THE CITY OF ANGELES. THE SHOPPING MALL THERE IS LARGE AND VERY NICE. WE SHOPPED THERE SEVERAL TIMES DURING MY STAY. THE FOOD IS MUCH CHEAPER THERE THAN IN THE USA , AND IT  IS OF VERY GOOD QUALITY. FRUITS AND VEGETABLES ARE ALWAYS FRESH.

WE PICKED UP A LOT OF CHICKEN THERE AND TOOK IT BACK TO ARNIE'S HOUSE. SHE AND HER ROOMMATE MADE TERIYAKI CHICKEN FOR ME ONE NIGHT- IT WAS DELICIOUS- I LOVED IT SO MUCH!

ONE NIGHT WE TOOK A MOTORBIKE TO THE CHINATOWN SECTION OF ANGELES AND HAD CHINESE FOOD. IT WAS GREAT, THE SAME AS I HAD IN CHINA. ON THE WAY BACK WE TOOK A LONG WALK THOUGH TOWN, THERE WAS A LOT OF ACTIVITY EVERYWHERE, ANGELES REMINDED ME OF A MUCH SMALLER VERSION OF TIMES SQUARE ON A SATURDAY NIGHT. ANGELES HAS A UNIQUE CHARM ALL IT'S OWN.

ANGELES CITY

I RETURNED TO THE PHILIPPINES AFTER AN ABSENCE OF NINE MONTHS - IN MARCH OF 2010. I SAW MY FRIEND ARNIE AGAIN- THIS TIME, I SAW HER IN HER HOME CITY OF ANGELES- ABOUT 100 MILES NORTH OF MANILA. I MET HER AGAIN IN MANILA AND WE TOOK A BUS TO THE HOTEL IN ANGELES. WE STAYED AT A NICE, LARGE HOTEL CALLED THE LEWIS GRAND. EVEN THOUGH I ONLY STAYED A FEW DAYS- IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST ENJOYABLE TIMES OF MY LIFE. HER FRIENDS MADE ME FEEL VERY WELCOME AND SPECIAL AND THEY QUICKLY BECAME MY FRIENDS TOO.

ANGELES IS VERY BEAUTIFUL- IT IS NEAR THE FORMER AMERICAN NAVAL BASE IN SUBIC BAY. THE NAVAL BASE CLOSED DOWN SOME YEARS AGO. THERE ARE ALSO A LOT OF BRITISH AND AMERICAN EXPATS LIVING IN ANGELES. MANY OF THESE MEN MARRIED FILIPINO WOMEN AND ARE HAPPY LIVING THERE.

I TELL YOU- IF I COULD FIND WORK THERE- I WOULD NOT MIND LIVING THERE MYSELF. I WOULD DEFINITELY CONSIDER RETIRING TO ANGELES.

LEAVING MANILA

I HAD TO TAKE A MORNING FLIGHT ON MY DAY TO GO BACK TO NEW YORK. MY FRIEND ARNIE RODE WITH ME TO AQUINO AIRPORT-PICTURED ON THE RIGHT. AS THEY SAY - PARTING IS SUCH SWEET SORROW!

JUST BEFORE WE LEFT THE HOTEL TO LEAVE FOR THE AIRPORT- I WAS WATCHING THE NEWS ON TV IN THE HOTEL ROOM. I SAW A STRANGE SIGHT INDEED. IT SEEMS HUNDREDS OF PRISONERS AT A MANILA JAIL WERE PAYING A TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL JACKSON. THEY WERE DANCING IN UNISON IN THE COURTYARD OF THE PRISON. THEY WERE DANCING TO A STRING OF JACKSON'S HITS THROUGH THE YEARS.. WOW- THAT WAS NICE OF THE PRISON AUTHORITIES TO ALLOW THAT- I THOUGHT TO MYSELF. THAT WOULD NEVER BE ALLOWED BACK IN THE STATES!

THAT WAS A TRIBUTE TO THE SINGER, THAT EVEN PRISONERS WERE PAYING HOMAGE TO JACKSON AFTER HIS DEATH.

I HAD TO BOARD MY FLIGHT AT MANILA AIRPORT- SO MY FRIEND AND I PARTED COMPANY BUT ONLY FOR A FEW MONTHS- WE SAW EACH OTHER AGAIN IN HONG KONG IN SEPTEMBER.

MANILA RETURN

ON MY NEXT TO LAST DAY BEFORE I LEFT FOR HOME- ME AND MY FRIEND WENT TO SEE HER COUSIN IN THE OLDER SECTION OF MANILA. HERE IS WHERE THE POVERTY OF THIS COUNTRY WAS VERY MUCH IN EVIDENCE. THERE WERE PEOPLE LIVING IN RUN DOWN HOUSES AND CHILDREN PLAYING IN THE STREETS LOOKING LIKE THEY VERY HUNGRY AND NEEDY.

RELIGION RUNS VERY DEEP AMONG MOST PEOPLE HERE IN THE PHILIPPINES. THAT IS WHAT HELPS THE POOR IN THEIR DAILY LIVES. IT GIVES THEM HOPE AND STRENGTH FOR THE FUTURE.

MY FRIEND, HER COUSIN AND ME HAD A GREAT TIME IN THEIR HOUSE- SINGING KARAOKE FOR A FEW HOURS. BEFORE WE KNEW IT IT WAS DARK AND WE HEADED BACK TO THE HERITAGE HOTEL.

THE NEXT DAY WE WENT TO A BEAUTIFUL GIANT SHOPPING MALL NEAR THE HOTEL- IT IS CALLED THE MALL OF ASIA- ONE OF THE LARGEST SHOPPING MALLS IN ASIA.

WE SPENT HOURS WANDERING AROUND AND BUYING A FEW THINGS ALONG THE WAY. IT WAS ONE OF THE LARGEST MALLS I HAVE EVER SEEN. WE WALKED IT SEEMED FOR MILES TO COVER THE WHOLE AREA OF THE MALL.

TOMORROW- RELUCTANTLY, I HAD TO LEAVE MY FRIEND AND MANILA.

BACK TO MANILA

I RETURNED TO THE PHILIPPINES IN JUNE, 2009. I LOOKED FORWARD TO IT VERY MUCH AS I HAD BEEN AWAY FOR ALMOST 2 YEARS.
THIS TIME I MET A FILIPINA FRIEND-PHOTO ABOVE. SHE LIVED IN ANGELES, AROUND AN HOUR'S RIDE AWAY FROM MANILA. SHE MET ME AT A MANILA HOTEL CALLED THE HERITAGE- PICTURED ABOVE.
WE SPENT 4 DAYS IN MANILA JUST RELAXING AND GETTING TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER.WE FOUND WE REALLY LIKED EACH OTHER AND WE GOT ALONG WONDERFULLY.THE WEATHER WAS BEAUTIFUL ALSO- NOT LIKE THE FIRST TIME I WAS THERE- IT RAINED. THIS TIME IS WAS SUNNY AND WARM EVERY DAY I WAS THERE.
I ARRIVED THERE AROUND THE END OF JUNE.JUST BEFORE I LEFT NEW YORK, MICHAEL JACKSON HAD DIED. EVEN IN THE PHILIPPINES, THAT WAS THE NUMBER ONE TOPIC OF CONVERSATION IT SEEMED. I WAS IN SHOCK FOR A WHILE AS WERE MILLIONS OF OTHER PEOPLE.

OUR HOTEL, THE HERITAGE WAS WONDERFUL- IT WAS REASONABLY PRICED AND THE ROOMS WERE JUST THE RIGHT SIZE- NOT TOO LARGE OR SMALL.
THE HOTEL HAD THE MOST DELICIOUS BREAKFAST BUFFET I EVER HAD. ALL YOU CAN EAT OF BOTH PHILIPPINE AND WESTERN CUISINE. MY FRIEND AND I BOTH FILLED UP AND STUFFED OURSELVES- WE WANTED TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE, AND WE DID. HEEE!

WHEN I COME BACK TO MANILA- I WILL STAY AT THE HERITAGE- YOU BET!

THE END OF MY STAY

AFTER A FEW GREAT VERY ENJOYABLE DAYS WITH MY FRIEND IN MANILA- IT WAS TIME FOR ME TO GO BACK HOME TO NEW YORK. MY FRIEND HAD TO GO BACK HOME TO GENERAL SANTOS CITY IN THE SOUTH PHILIPPINES.



ON OUR LAST NIGHT- SHE, HER AUNT AND ME HAD A QUIET DINNER IN THE HOTEL. AFTER THAT-HER AUNT AND HER LEFT THE HOTEL TO GO BACK HOME. I STAYED OVERNIGHT IN THE HOTEL AS MY FLIGHT HOME WAS THE NEXT MORNING. I HAD TO LEAVE AS I HAD RESPONSIBILITIES BACK HOME.





MY ONLY DISAPPOINTMENT WAS THAT IT RAINED EVERY EVENING- SO WE COULD NOT SEE ONE OF THOSE FAMOUS SUNSETS ON MANILA BAY- LIKE THE PHOTO ON TOP.

WHEN I WAS ALONE IN THE HOTEL- I REFLECTED ON MY TIME HERE IN MANILA. I THOUGHT, WHEN I REACH RETIREMENT- I WOULD SERIOUSLY CONSIDER RELOCATING TO THE PHILIPPINES. THE CLIMATE, THE NICE PEOPLE AND THE RELAXED PACE OF LIFE HERE HAVE A GREAT ATTRACTION FOR ME. I SHALL SEE.
THIS WAS NOT MY LAST TIME IN THE PHILIPPINES. I RETURNED TWICE MORE.

THE MANILA ZOO

THE NEXT DAY WE WENT TO THE MANILA ZOO. I HAVE ALWAYS LIKED ANIMALS AND WILDLIFE SO I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. THE ACTUAL ZOO ITSELF IS SMALL COMPARED WITH THE BRONX ZOO IN NEW YORK OR THE SAN DIEGO ZOO IN CALIFORNIA. AT LEAST WHEN I WAS THERE IN MANILA THEY HAD NO LIONS AND TIGERS- A BIG LETDOWN FOR ME. THEY HAD A LOT OF SMALL ANIMALS AND ALLIGATORS AND HIPPOS. WE HAD A GOOD TIME I SUPPOSE BUT I WOULD NOT GIVE THAT ZOO ANY RAVE REVIEWS.





I HAD AN INTERESTING EXPERIENCE ON OUR WAY OUT- THERE WAS A MAN HOLDING A YELLOW SNAKE- I DON'T RECALL THE NAME- IT WAS NOT POISONOUS- I FELT IT- FOR THE FIRST TIME I FELT A SNAKE! IT WAS DRY TO THE TOUCH AND I COULD FEEL THE STRENGTH IN IT'S MUSCLES.
THAT WAS THE FIRST AND LAST TIME I TOUCHED A SNAKE.
THEY ARE NOT ONE OF MY FAVORITE ANIMALS TO SAY THE LEAST.





MY FRIEND AND I WALKED AROUND THE AREA NEAR THE ZOO- IT WAS VERY HUMID AND HOT SO WE WENT BACK TO THE HOTEL EARLY. LATER WE WENT OUT WITH HER AUNT TO A GREAT BARB-B-QUE RESTAURANT CALLED KANSAS CITY- AHHH- YES -TASTE JUST LIKE GOOD OL AMERICAN STYLE RIBS.



THERE ARE A LOT OF AMERICAN RESTAURANT FRANCHISES HERE IN THE PHILIPPINES. PEOPLE THE WORLD OVER LOVE THAT AMERICAN INVENTION- FAST FOOD!

LIVE THE DREAM- WORK OR RETIRE TO THE PHILIPPINES!

BASIC EXPATE
Click Here!

MANILA- DAY TWO

OUR SECOND DAY IN MANILA- MY FRIEND AND I WOKE UP REFRESHED. WE HAD A DELICIOUS BREAKFAST IN THE HOTEL DINING AREA. WE WENT OUT IN THE EARLY AFTERNOON AND STROLLED AROUND THE AREA NEAR OUR HOTEL. I WAS SURPRISED WHEN I WENT INTO A SEVEN ELEVEN STORE NEARBY. THE GUARD AT THE FRONT DOOR WAS TOTING A SUB-MACHINE GUN! WOW! I ASKED MY FRIEND ABOUT THAT, SHE TOLD ME THERE HAVE BEEN MANY ROBBERIES IN STORES IN MANILA, THAT WAS THE REASON. I THOUGHT THE GUARD WAS PROTECTING AN ARMORED CAR FOR A MOMENT.A MACHINE GUN WILL BE A GREAT DETERRENT TO ANY ROBBERS I THOUGHT.


MY FILIPINA FRIEND HAD TO GO SOMEWHERE, SO I TOOK A STROLL DOWN TO A SHOPPING MALL- IT IS CALLED THE SHANGRI-LA MALL. I STAYED THERE FOR A FEW HOURS WINDOW SHOPPING.I CAME ACROSS SOMETHING I THOUGHT I WOULD NEVER SEE IN THE PHILIPPINES- AN ICE SKATING RINK- PEOPLE WERE ACTUALLY ICE SKATING THERE! HAAA- REMINDED ME OF ROCKEFELLER CENTER IN NEW YORK DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON.


MY FRIEND AND I ENDED THE DAY WITH A NICE DINNER AT JOLLIBEE'S- A POPULAR FAST FOOD PLACE IN MANILA- LIKE MCDONALD'S.

I WAS GETTING TO LIKE MANILA VERY MUCH- IT REMINDS ME A LOT OF MIAMI,FLORIDA. SAME CLIMATE, SAME LOOK AND FEEL TO THE STREETS, THE SAME LAID BACK ATMOSPHERE. I'M GLAD I CAME.

LIVE IN THE PHILIPPINES. BASIC EXPAT GUIDE
>http://Click Here!

GOING PLACES IN MANILA

I WENT TO MY HOTEL FROM THE AIRPORT. MY FILIPINA FRIEND WAS WAITING FOR ME IN THE LOBBY OF THE HOTEL. THE HOTEL WE STAYED AT WAS THE RICHMOND HOTEL- VERY NICE, GREAT FOOD AND I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT IF YOU GO TO MANILA. IT IS PICTURED ABOVE.
I TOOK ME A WHILE TO GET USED TO THE CLIMATE IN MANILA- IT IS TROPICAL THERE AND I CAME RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RAINY SEASON- EVERY DAY IT RAINED IN THE LATE AFTERNOON TILL THE EARLY EVENING.



I WAS REALLY TIRED FROM MY 18 HOUR FLIGHT FROM NEW YORK AND TOKYO- WE BOTH RETIRED LATE I HAD TO UNPACK AND UNWIND FIRST- WE SLEPT REALLY WELL IN THE NICE AIR CONDITIONING.



TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY.



LIVE IN THE PHILIPPINES

CLICK HERE - >http://Click Here!

MANILA

I FIRST CAME TO THE PHILIPPINES IN AUGUST 2007 AT THE INVITATION OF MY FILIPINA FRIEND WHO I HAD ESTABLISHED AN FRIENDSHIP ONLINE FOR OVER A YEAR. I TOOK A FLIGHT TO TOKYO JAPAN AND CHANGED PLANES FOR MANILA. I PLANNED TO STAY IN MANILA FOR AROUND A WEEK.

I MUST ADMIT I WAS NERVOUS ABOUT FLYING AFTER AN ABSENCE OF 12 YEARS ON AN AIRPLANE. AFTER AROUND 1 HOUR IN THE AIR HOWEVER I REGAINED MY "AIRLEGS" AGAIN. THE FLIGHT TO JAPAN AND THEN ON TO MANILA WAS VERY SMOOTH AND ENJOYABLE.

AFTER AROUND 14 HOURS, I ARRIVED AT MANILA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AROUND 10 P.M. PHILIPPINE TIME.

I BREEZED THROUGH CUSTOMS AND IMMIGRATION. THEN I TOOK A CAB TO MY HOTEL. AS SOON AS I LEFT THE AIRPORT AND WENT OUTSIDE- I KNEW I WAS IN THE TROPICS- THE AIR WAS LIKE A SAUNA!

VERY HOT AND HUMID EVEN THOUGH IT WAS 10 P.M.

HELLO PHILIPPINES!

THE PHILIPPINES

I HAVE BEEN TO THE PHILIPPINES 3 TIMES IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS. I WISH I CAN GO MORE OFTEN. IT IS A BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY- THE CLIMATE IS A LITTLE TOO WARM FOR MY TASTE- BUT BEAUTIFUL NEVER THE LESS.
THE PHILIPPINES ARE A COLLECTION OF OVER 7,000 ISLANDS IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC. THE COUNTRY IS NEAR SOUTH EAST ASIA.

YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED FROM LOOKING ON A MAP THAT MANY OF THE CITIES AND PLACES IN THE PHILIPPINES HAVE SPANISH NAMES.
THAT'S BECAUSE FOR A LONG WHILE THE PHILIPPINES WERE A COLONY OF SPAIN. THE COUNTRY ATTAINED FULL INDEPENDENCE AS A NATION ON JULY 4, 1946.
FOR A REALLY COMPREHENSIVE HISTORY OF THE COUNTRY-CLICK BELOW.
http://pinas.dlsu.edu.ph/history/history.html

LADYBOYS AND SOME FINAL THOUGHTS

THAILAND IS A COMBINATION OF THE NEW AND OLD- THE MODERN AND THE TRADITIONAL, LIKE MANY OF THE COUNTRIES IN ASIA-THE BUDDHIST PHILOSOPHY IS PREVALENT IN THAILAND. THE PHILOSOPHY THAT IS INCLUSIVE, NOT EXCLUSIVE. ONE THAT TEACHES TOLERANCE AND ACCEPTANCE OF ALL THINGS.

HERE IS AN EXAMPLE- THERE ARE MANY TRANSGENDERED PEOPLE IN THAILAND FROM WHAT I SAW. THE THAI EXPRESSION IS"KATHOEY" OR LADY BOY. THESE PEOPLE ARE ACCEPTED IN THAI SOCIETY AND AS FAR AS I KNOW- DO NOT EXPERIENCE THE KIND OF DISCRIMINATION THAT EXISTS IN WESTERN COUNTRIES. LADY BOYS ARE EMPLOYED IN MANY AREAS OF THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR. MANY OF THEM HAVE UNDERGONE SEX REASSIGNMENT SURGERY TO BE PHYSICALLY FEMALE IN APPEARANCE. LADY BOYS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A PART OF THAI CULTURE.

I FEEL THAT IS THE WAY IT SHOULD BE- A PERSON SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO LIVE HIS OR HER OWN LIFE AS THEY SEE FIT, TO BE RESPECTED LIKE ANYONE ELSE DESERVES TO BE - AND TO BE ALLOWED TO DEVELOP THEIR LIVES TO THEIR FULLEST POTENTIAL.

MAYBE AMERICA CAN TAKE A LESSON IN TOLERANCE BY SEEING WHAT I SAW IN BANGKOK.

BANGKOK IS A WONDERFUL FASCINATING PLACE FOR TOURISTS , WHETHER I RETURN THERE OR NOT, BOTH MY FRIEND AND I WERE VERY GLAD WE CAME.

LEARN MANDARIN CHINESE THE FUN, FAST AND EASY WAY- ROCKET CHINESE

http://Click Here!

OUR LAST DAY

WE SPENT OUR LAST DAY IN BANGKOK EATING A DELICIOUS LUNCH AT A SEAFOOD RESTAURANT. WE HAD PRAWNS- MY FIRST TIME FOR THAT- SHE HAD THEM MANY TIMES. WONDERFUL. AFTER THAT WE WENT SHOPPING AND THEN BACK TO THE HOTEL WE WENT OUT IN THE EVENING AND WENT TO A NICE THAI RESTAURANT NEAR OUR HOTEL.

WE WERE ADVENTUROUS AND ORDERED OSTRICH STEAK! WOW- THAT WAS A REALLY PLEASANT SURPRISE! YEP- YOU GUESSED IT- TASTED JUST LIKE CHICKEN! AFTER DINNER IT WAS GETTING LATE AND SO WAS OUR TIME IN THAILAND.

AN INTERESTING FACT- DID YOU KNOW THAT THAILAND IS ONE OF THE FEW ASIAN COUNTRIES THAT HAS NEVER BEEN OCCUPIED BY A FOREIGN POWER? IT MAKES THE THAI CULTURE ALL THE MORE UNIQUE AND INDEPENDENT OF FOREIGN INFLUENCE.

SHOPPING

THE NEXT DAY MY FRIEND AND I WENT TO A LARGE JEWELRY RETAIL
CENTER, THE ROYAL LAPIDARY NEAR THE ROYAL PALACE IN BANGKOK.
THAILAND HAS ONE OF THE LARGEST SOURCES OF GEMSTONES IN THE WORLD AND THIS PLACE IS WELL KNOWN FOR IT'S VAST SELECTION OF GEMS. WE WERE VERY IMPRESSED BY THE BEAUTY AND CRAFTSMANSHIP OF THE GEMS ON DISPLAY THERE. WE DID NOT PURCHASE ANY JEWELRY AS WE WERE ON A BUDGET- WE BOUGHT SMALL SOUVENIRS FOR OURSELVES.

ON THE OTHER HAND, THERE ARE MANY STORIES AND ACCUSATIONS OF SCAMS THERE. CLAIMS THAT THE GEMS ARE NOT AUTHENTIC OR THAT NO REFUNDS ARE ALLOWED AFTER PURCHASE.
I DON'T KNOW- WE DID NOT PURCHASE GEMS- IF YOU GO THERE- YOU WILL HAVE TO DECIDE FOR YOURSELF.

WE SPENT THE REMAINDER OF THE DAY WALKING AROUND, WINDOW SHOPPING AND GOING TO THE INTERNET CAFE NEAR THE HOTEL.

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g293916-i3687-k4006426-l29230006-Scammed_Insert_Expletive_My_Royal_Lapidary_Purchase-Bangko...

RIVER TOUR

ON OUR SECOND FULL DAY IN BANGKOK, ,MY FRIEND AND I DECIDED TO TAKE THE RIVER TOUR AROUND THE CITY. THE BOAT RIDE TAKES AROUND I HOUR TO CIRCUMNAVIGATE BANGKOK. WE WERE THE ONLY ONES ON THE BOAT BESIDE THE DRIVER. WE PASSED OFFICE BUILDINGS, TEMPLES, HOUSING PROJECTS AND OLD AREAS OF THE CITY. MANY PEOPLE WAVED TO US AS WE PASSED BY. ON OUR RIDE A LADY IN A SAMPAN PADDLED UP TO US AND OFFERED US REFRESHMENTS. WE HAD FRUIT JUICE- TASTED EXTRA GOOD! EVEN THOUGH MOST OF THE HOUSES ON THE RIVERBANK WERE LITTLE MORE THAN LARGE SHACKS- THEY HAD A SPECIAL DIGNITY AND CHARM.
WE DID NOT WANT THE RIDE TO END- IT WAS WONDERFUL!
AFTER- WE HAD LUNCH IN THE AREA ,THEN WE HEADED BACK TO OUR HOTEL. WE PUT THE AC ON HIGH- A GREAT RELIEF!

A TRAVEL TIP - IF YOU ARE SIGHTSEEING IN BANGKOK- DO IT IN THE MORNING OR EVENING. THE AFTERNOONS ARE VERY HOT MOST ALL YEAR ROUND.
FOR MORE INFO ON BANGKOK RIVER TOURS CLICK BELOW.
http://www.tour-bangkok-legacies.com/river-cruise-in-bangkok.html

TAKING IN THE SIGHTS

THE NEXT DAY MY LADYFRIEND ARRIVED- I PICKED HER UP AT THE AIRPORT. SHE MISSED ME AND THE FEELING WAS MUTUAL. WE ASKED A CAB DRIVER WHERE IS A FAMOUS BUDDHIST TEMPLE. HE TOOK US TO THE WAT PO TEMPLE. THE TEMPLE WAS BUILT 200 YEARS BEORE BANGKOK BECAME THE CAPITAL OF THAILAND. THE TEMPLE HOUSES THE FAMOUS STATUE OF THE RECLINING BUDDHA. THE STATUE IS AROUND 18 METERS HIGH AND 48 METERS LONG. IT'S SHOWN IN THE PHOTO ON TOP. THE TEMPLE IS HOME TO THE FAMOUS THAI MASSAGE, FIRST LEARNED AT THE TEMPLE A HUNDRED YEARS AGO AND PRACTICED WORLD WIDE EVER SINCE. THE TEMPLE HAS MANY AREAS OF INTEREST AND IS DEFINITELY WORTH A SECOND VISIT. THE TEMPLE WAS A GREAT ENDING TO OUR DAY.
ON OUR WAY HOME, A THAI MAN ASKED ME WHERE I WAS FROM- I SAID NEW YORK. HE SAID HE HAS A FRIEND NEAR THERE- IN SEATTLE. HEEE, NO MY GOOD MAN- WE ARE 3,000 MILES APART.