LEARNING TO DANCE IN THE RAIN

Saturday, July 26, 2014

JUNE 15-22, 2014: MANILA, PHILLIPINES Part 2

MANILA, PHILLIPINES Part 2

JUNE 15-22, 2014

We arrived in Manila at about 3:30am Monday morning. We went through immigration, Amy got her stamp, we claimed our luggage, and walked through customs. We came out into this one room area that was old, decrepit, and just had a few people sitting with their carts of luggage. We had no money. We had forgotten to get our paper printed maps from Vernon so we just had our maps on the laptop. I then realized I didn’t even know the exchange rate or what the currency was called here. Sort of forgot to look up that detail.

We found a foreigner and casually asked the exchange rate.

We found an ATM and figured it out and got out money with I hope only a $2 charge. We had a security guy who kept trying to help us and tried to offer us a ride for $1500 pesos (Philippine Pesos) but we didn’t take it.

We went outside because we had a map that we thought would help us find the subway so we could get ourselves to the hotel, but we just were in a hole and couldn’t figure out how to get out. We finally went to the metered taxi station and took a taxi to the hotel. We decided that if we could get there for $20 or less, then we at least didn’t spend as much as the security guy tried to sell us.

We did arrive at the hotel safely and for about $600 Pesos. I hope we did OK. Sort of stressful. I don’t like being taken advantage of and getting ripped off.

We checked into our hotel and took showers and went to sleep.

Our "door key" or rather a "door stick", sets in a slot to turn on

the electricity in the room.

About 1pm we got up and got ready for the day.

We checked email and I found out that Dad sliced his finger pretty good this morning. He went to have it checked but they didn’t give him stiches so they just cleaned it up good and there was no cost!!! Dad was a happy camper.

We signed up to take a free hotel shuttle to the mega mall and then walked up the street a bit as we waited. We found an ice cream cone at 7-11.

The mega mall is huge!

We walked around a lot and found a nail salon that has big fluffy bright pink chairs in it that we think would be fun to

visit on a “Pamper Self” day.

This dental clinic had te most clever door handles!!!

We found an atrium area with lots of people gathered and figured out some sort of celebrity was coming.

At the top of the mall, in the midst of all the noise and "hub-bub" is this chapel.

We ate dinner at a Japanese restaurant called Teriyaki Boy.

Amy had Sushi and I had Teriyaki chicken. It was good and we were both happy.

Amy's meal was a piece of art. The sushi were lines up like a dragon's body with a cray fish head and tail at each appropriate end. It was fun!

We saw the singing star, Shane Falin, as we left and he was signing autographs.

We grabbed a few snacks and microwave popcorn at a grocery store before we caught the shuttle back.

We relaxed in the hotel room, ate popcorn and watched “The Magic of Ordinary Days.”

The bag from the grocery store!

JUNE 15-22, 2014: MANILA, PHILLIPINES Part 1

MANILA, PHILLIPINES Part 1

JUNE 15-22, 2014

At 4:00, Amy and I headed off for our trip to the Phillipinnes. We had our packed bags with us at the Seminary Recognition and had planned to walk to the subway, but Brother Hiatt offered to take us to the main train station to save us time. We were very grateful and our gratitude increased as we went through the next few hours!!!

We arrived at the train station and it was of course crazy busy with tons of people. We went through security and headed upstairs only to find out that we had to purchase tickets somewhere else. We went back downstairs and back outside and looked around and finally found the ticket office down the corridor and to the side corner of the station.

We got in a line and slowly made progress for just over 30 minute. The person 2 spots ahead of us took FOREVER figuring out their tickets. Finally, they finished and the ticket attendant put up a sign, lowered their blinds half way and we were told that the last person they would help was the person in front of us!!!!! AAAARGH!!!!!!

We had waited all that time and were worried about getting to the train we wanted and now we had to start all over at the end of one of 10 other very long lines!!! We went around to another line and by that time, I figured out that the digital board above each window told how time frames it would be open. In hindsight, now I realize that we could have stayed there and it would have opened up 30 minutes later, but at the time I figured out that system we were all ready in other lines.

I got in one line and Amy got in another line for a window that was scheduled to open in 15-20 minutes. So about 15 minutes later, I made it to the window and we bought tickets for the bullet train to Shanghai. The problem we now have is that the train we are scheduled on doesn’t leave until after 7pm and our flight to Manila leaves at 11:45pm. We aren’t sure we can make it!

BUT -- now we at least had a ticket!!!!

This is a random person at the train station. Interesting shirt.

Amy and I hurried to get back through security and up to the platforms. Brother Hiatt had told us that if we couldn’t get a ticket for the train we wanted then we should try to see if a security person would let us through and then just hop on an earlier train.

With that information, Amy and I watched the train schedule board and figured out what the next train to Shanghai was that we could take. Next problem: your tickets won’t let you through the metered gate until only 15 minutes before the train leaves. We can’t get through the gate AND we can’t find a security or gate agent to negotiate with!!! AARGH!!! Very stressful.

We decide to place ourselves with the group that is waiting to enter the platforms. We start watching people trying to figure out a plan. When they authorize the next set of tickets for the train we want – which we DO NOT have tickets for – we watch and wait to see if an agent will come. As I watch, I see a man slide through the gate entrance right behind another person who does have the correct ticket. Viola!!! I have a plan. I told Amy to place herself a few people behind me and to slip through like I do. I think squish my way into line and get right behind the person in front of me and when he goes through, a stay right on his heels and I get through. I just keep walking as if nothing happened and go to the top of the stairs towards the platform. I wait a bit and start to get nervous when I don’t see Amy coming. I try not to watch because I don’t want to look suspicious!!! I just broke a major rule and breeched security!!! I think this is the worst thing I have ever done against the law!!!

Finally, I relax a bit when I see Amy come through the doors. We make our way down to the platform and just stay congregated with the people because we then realize that we are with the group of people for the train before the one we want. We just sort of hang out there until the group of people are authorized and come through for the train we want then we just mosey on over to the platform for the train we want.

The train came about 20 minutes later, we still haven’t been arrested and we board the train. Brother Hiatt had told us to go to the dining car if we didn’t have a seat on the train we boarded but that plan failed because the dining car was tiny and it was packed full. We just found a wall space between cars with a few other people and waited. The train departed and we were on it and still hadn’t been arrested.

The train was very crowded.

Just a couple of minutes after the train departed, a ticket agent came by and asked for our tickets. My heart stopped. We handed her our tickets, she looked at them for a minute and then she punched the bottom edge of the ticket and handed them back and walked away. We weren’t kicked off the train and no one came to arrest us to our relief. We did arrive in Shanghai at the main railway station and got off the train, found subway line 2 and boarded it to go all the way to the end of the line to the Pudong Airport. We were now in good shape time-wise, but it was quite stressful up to this point!!!

A "guess how many flip flops are in this bin" ad that we found in the subway!

We arrived at the airport, got checked in, Amy’s bag had an extra security check, but then we made it to the gate and were fine. We boarded our red-eye flight to Manila, Philippines and were off.

PICTURES AT THE PUDONG AIRPORT