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Philippines Toll Could Reach 1,300 (NYTimes.com)

Plain and simple. That’s all there is to it. It’s not as if Filipinos don’t understand the severity of a typhoon. The rainy season started just recently, and as far as I know typhoons (hurricanes to us on the other hemisphere) always happen during the rainy season.

In my eyes, there is no good reason that the ferry (owned by Sulpicio Lines) should have been given the OK to sail. Ferries are sometimes the only efficient way to travel between islands in the Philippine archipelago, but knowing full well that typhoons cause turbulent waters… I don’t see why it set sail at all. Sure, the passengers may have needed to go somewhere, but there were already reported casualties on land. How could you, in good faith, attempt something that may and did cost so many more lives?

I completely agree with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo:

[She] said Wednesday that Sulpicio Lines should be held accountable.

But there isn’t. And I’m beginning to forget what comes when. Here’s another smattering of the pretty.

Calachuchi — easily my favorite flower in the world. I wish I could have taken home a whole bouquet and then some with me — but I can’t. I managed to catch this one as it fell from the tree. Its scent was already gone. They smell like a bit of heaven.

You probably know it better as plumeria… Anyway, since at this point, the sickness was upon us (not quite me yet), under the cut are some more bits of the prettiness.

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I think it was Monday. But I almost forgot one from Sunday. A Filinvest kind of view.

And yet more….

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I guess I can’t really classify myself as a true travel blogger (maybe I’m just being hard on myself now), since I wasn’t able to update as much as I wanted to, and in addition, wasn’t able to take as many relevant pictures as I wanted to. I blame this on the sickness.

We got to Manila (or at least got settled) on Jan 19, Saturday. Sunday, there was jetlag — except for me. Monday, we went out with childhood friends of my mom. Tues-Thurs, my parents were sick. Friday, they were getting better. And I was struck down that weekend — Saturday through Monday. I can’t lie, the flu put a damper on our final week there.

But, I have pictures! (below the cut)

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I’m back in NY. Apologies for not posting as much as I should have.

I had the flu. And the Philippine internet just did not like loading my site. Browsing just took too much time that I didn’t want to spend 10USD for 45 min of internet usage. I had other things to do with my time. Like recover from the flu.

Can I just add that I hate the keyboard here? Bear with my typos.

I’m a bit sore, and I forgot my paper journal with all the things I had intended to write out here. The source of my soreness can most likely be traced back to Bikram yoga yesterday. Up until then, I have never seen myself really sweat, till I tried this out. Okay, I’m a lot sore, but I’m trying to be tee-arts (I have no clue if I’m spelling that right) and not try to let it bother me. A sequence of the same 26 poses in 90 minutes in a super hot room (85F, I was told) with 60% humidity. I can see how it would also be cardio (believe it or not), especially having done it. I got light-headed a few times, but I’d definitely do it again (considering I’m enrolled in the beginners intro package, where I have to go to 3 classes in one week)> I go with my cousin, so it’s definitely not suffering alone.

A day and a half full of activities and that’s all I can come up with? It was definitely the most… notable activity of the day. Without a doubt. More yoga tomorrow and Friday. Cebu over the weekend (yay! beach!). Going out with my mother’s friend’s children (reportedly the best clubs in the country) on Thursday. And that’s all I know so far.

Time to head to the mall.

You’d think that after spending a bit more than 15 hrs (yes, when we finally boarded, the in-flight info program said it was 14h 59m — which, including taxiing and take off and landing is more than 15 hrs) on a plane I would be more welcoming to stand on my own two legs. Which is where I am now. At one of the free Internet standing room only areas in the HK Airport. I’m starting hour 3 of my 8 hr stopover before the connecting flight to Manila.

And I’ve seen at least 5 other flights leaving for Manila in the last 3 hrs. Why such a long stopover? We think it has something to do with our free ticket (read: frequent flier miles) standing. No freakin room. Gotta pick from what’s available. And it has resulted in a rather ill-timed stopover for 8 hrs. Why ill-timed? With all the awesome food offerings… I have little desire to try any of them. Why? We got here at 1am NY time. 2pm HK time. It’s now 4a NY time (5p HK time). I won’t have any desire to eat for at least another 5 hrs. Which is about the time we should be at the gate and ready to board. Again. For a significantly shorter flight. Thank god.

I like Cathay Pacific Airlines. And their in-flight entertainment. A lot has changed since the last time I’ve been on a plane (2004). In flight movies? Finally, we can pick and choose. And in-flight games. And TV shows. And all the radio playlists + CDs to choose from. And thank god for international flying. I don’t have to pay for anything. Like I did when I flew Delta back in November. Seriously 5$ for a “meal” that didn’t even have all its parts due to the screwup with their caterer.

But that’s not an issue (nor was I paid to name drop in the paragraph above).

I’m going to contemplate what I can pick up between my cushy orange seat in the airport and the gate… to anticipate what I might eat on the plane later. I wouldn’t mind Aji Ichiban. I like that store. Japanese? Chinese? Congee? ChowKing? (Oh wait, that’s Filipino)

Cathay’s food selection is quite yummy. And they get all the thumbs up in my book for offering Cup o Noodles as a SNACK. And it’s not the super salty kind I get at the supermarket @ home. It’s got chunks of pork and scrambled egg and is very mildly flavored. I’m totally in love with them for that.

And I got a kick out of the sanitizer (think Purell) dispenser in the toilet stalls to disinfect the toilet seat with. That’s just awesome. Like beyond awesome. You can sanitize your toilet seat to your heart’s content (and satisfaction) before you go. That’s just so considerate!

I’ve got to go and be more considerate to my knees now. Next time you hear from me — I’ll be in the Philippines!

By the way, temperature when we left NY = 47 F. Temperature when we arrived HK = 68 F. Awesome.

Well. I have a theme. That’s one step closer. My sidebar isn’t ready yet — but that’s not the point.

I’m off to the Philippines (or at least on my way to the airport in a few hours)! I’ll be back February 3. What I hope to do is post quasi-regularly from there. Hello little travel blog.

I’ve always kept written journals for every trip I’ve had there (save for the first one). Now it’s time to put pen to… well, keyboard, and have an online record of my vacation.

I’m still not completely done packing (typical), but once I get on the plane and have nothing else to do (besides eat, and sleep, and play solitaire) I’ll be writing. Then when I get access, obviously, I’ll be attempting to post, assuming I remember what my login is.

Always fun.

Happily, after the JFK to HK leg (nice 14 hr flight) and after the HK to Manila leg (not as long as the one first one, thank god)… I’ll be in warmer weather, and more inclined to type a lot. Rather than this half-frozen state I’m in now.

Anyway, I’ll finish up here, and next time I post — I’ll be in Asia! Yay!

Oh, I also forgot to mention. I’m bringing my stuffed puffin with me –> Adventures of the Puffin in Asia. Pictures to come later. Depending on the tech situation either as it happens or when I get back.