First and foremost, Filipino people are among the most kind-hearted, friendly people in the world. Children wave at us. People we pass, even in Manila, often say, “Good afternoon.” Others, stop us and ask, “Where are you from?” This question frequently starts a full-on chat. Perhaps there is a reason why these people are so …
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Baguio, a City in the Clouds
Right away, when we arrived, this city reminded us of Medellín, Colombia, a very pretty city whose nickname is “City of Eternal Spring.” Like Medellín, Baguio is situated in, out, up, and down several steep-walled valleys nestled in the tops of the cloud-veiled Cordillera mountains. Like Medellín, this city is verdant green, and is famous …
Puerto Princesa, Palawan, PI
Puerto Princesa is indeed a city and not a village. It is big, geographically speaking, but its population is less than half a million. The city has some very wealthy people, mostly involved with the government, but it is home to many, many people in great poverty. To illustrate more clearly, the minimum wage throughout …
Beaching it in El Nido, Palawan, Philippines
With shades of Tamarindo, Costa Rica, El Nido is a beach town sought out by water-loving visitors from around the world. Everyone walks around in shorts, flip-flops, and tans, dodging the many motorcycles and tricycles or tuk-tuks (motorcycles with metal cabs for two passengers). These noisy contraptions are the primary mode of transportation here; they …
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Philippine Trivial Pursuit
Before we arrived in the Philippines, I could name only two places here . . . Manila and Subic Bay. Everyone has heard of Manila, but it was Stan who made me familiar with Subic Bay and its main city, Olongapo. Back in 1974, when I first met Stan, he was young, enticing, and …
On Second Thought . .
Perhaps we are settling in; perhaps the colors and clear tropical seas have seduced us. Perhaps learning a little about the historical development of this country and its multi-national cultures and bloodlines has made us find more affection for this island country. Yes, the weather is still hot, but we have learned to stage our outings as brief ones, timed when the heat is not so virulent. That helps. We’ve relented, and instead of walking from …
Lapu-Lapu, Mactan Island, Cebu Philippines
This will be quite a different story. Here in Mactan Newtown, there will be no hiking, no mastering the local transportation system, very little city exploration, no strolling through botanical gardens, and no sitting in streetside cafes sipping a latte. It is even doubtful if we get to meet neighbors or friendly owners of local restaurants and shops. We are living in a resort area, …
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Taiwan Travels & Tastes
We have done our best to get to know this tiny but mighty country. We’ve thoroughly explored the city of Taipei and spent a fair bit of time in several other cities as well. Taiwan has so much to offer. We’ve traveled south, east, and west and lived in the north. In doing so, we’ve exhausted our Tpass, the 30-day unlimited travel card. Now, in these last few days here, we must pay ride …
Taiwan’s Costco Culture
Costco has a store in Taiwan. In fact, it has three locations in Taipei. Stan and I like their boxed wine. No bottles to deal with, easy to carry, comes in good recyclable packaging, and it is a relatively cheap, quality wine. We also like their hot dogs. How can you beat a delicious quarter-pound hot …
Hiking in Taiwan
Are we done with hiking? Of course not! As long as we can, we will. Quingtiangang National Park is only an hour bus ride away. On the bus, we climbed upward and around until we were no longer in the city but could see it through the hazy sky far below. What a nice escape! We …