OK, here is a long post about my trip to the Philippines. Some of this was written on my Nook while there and the rest is pieces of emails from me to Wakana.

I mention the peso quite often. The exchange rate is 40 pesos to the dollar.

[Written on my Nook on the first night.]

I arrived this morning around 7:10. The plane was actually comfortable. Lots of leg room but I did get an exit row.

Before we landed the two women sitting next to me warned me a bout taxis. They said the taxi is the only way to get around but to make sure I take one from airport service. They said there are plenty of taxis you cannot trust. They also told me to have the hotel call a cab for me. That way I can be sure they will take note of the license number.

After customs and immigration I wandered out to find a money exchange. A man wearing a license pouch approached me to offer taxi services. I told him I needed to exchange money first. He directed me to a I kiosk then waited for me. I was concerned he might be one of the unscrupulous cab drivers but I took some comfort in his license.

The main directed me to a room marked "Transportation Services." He and another man asked for 2500 pesos to take me to St. Luke's. I took some comfort in their licenses and paid them. They took me out to an unmarked car. I objected that the car was not marked a They pointed out the license plate and then to the plates on the marked cab. They were the same design whereas the cars driving by had a different design. I got in.

The driver was young man who spoke very little English but he still tried to talk with me. He said he had "children" but it turned out he only had one, if indeed that was actually a picture of his wife and child. The child was three years old according t him. He also managed to say "Driver hungry! Stop Jellibees?" He also said "No money." He kept repeating it until I agreed to buy him breakfast We stopped at Jollibee, a hamburger joint similar to McDonalds. He had a fried chicken dinner while I had beef tapa and rice. When we left we needed someone to stop traffic so we could back out. I had to tip the guy who did that for us.

And that seems to define the overall attitude here. Everyone is in a mad scramble for money. Children walk through traffic with their hands out knocking on car windows. People have their places set out for helping drivers park. People watch you as if you were fresh meat (though that just might be my own outlandish look and behavior).

Anyway, as we got closer to the hospital he began to try to make me understand that his daughter's birthday was coming and he had "No money." He even managed to use the word tip to get his meaning across. As I got out of the car he asked for American dollars as a "souvenir" but I pretended not to understand. I bid him good day and went into the hospital.

It turned out to be the right hospital but wrong building. It took some walking around to find the right office. And it was closed.

You see, June 12 is Philippines Independence Day. No offices are open today.

So I checked into the hotel. The room is small and the bed is like a brick but I had been up since 345 AM and I needed a nap. I slept several hours.

Later I went across the skeet to Starbuck's. I bought a dub sandwich and cafe latte and a WIFI card. I sent an email to Wakana. I stopped at the grocery store on my way back and got something to drink and some cookies.

Now I am settled into my room for the night.

@@@@@
[Email to Wakana] Tuesday, June 12, 2012 5:41 PM

Arrived safely. All offices are closed. It's Independence Day for the Philippines.

Hotel room is small but has a kitchen. Seems to be clean but bed is a match for the rice cracker futon.

I took a cab from the airport. It cost 2500 pesos. The driver didn't speak much English but made it clear he was hungry and wanted to stop but he had no money. As we got closer to the hospital he started to talk about his daughter and how it would be her birthday tomorrow but he had no money. I gave him 20 pesos as a tip. He asked American money as a "souvenir." I pretended I couldn't understand him and walked into the hospital.

I'm at the Starbuck's. The hotel has no WIFI. Here I can get on the internet but it costs 60 pesos to use it.

Not sure you'd like it here. There is no secure feeling as you walk around. In Japan people look at me and I can see curiosity in their faces. Here they look like sharks trying to decide if you are tasty. I can't see how anyone would dare get drunk here.

Two women on the plane warned me to be careful on the streets near St. Luke's. I can see what they meant. Everyone is hustling for money. The streets and buildings are dirty but there is no trash like you'd see in an American city. Cars, trucks, buses, jeepneys, scooters, motorcycles and bicycles seem to follow no road rules and the lines on the pavement seem to be only guidelines. Several times I expected to crash but we survived.

So, here I am. I haven't figured out how to make a phone call. Once I do I'll give you a call. I hope you remember to check your email.

@@@@@

[Email from Wakana] Wednesday, June 13, 2012 6:40 AM

Hi.

I'm glad you are safely in the Philippines.

I just remembered you could send emails using your Nook. Sorry, I'm late.

What a difference when you are not at home. I closed the door little early last night and I talked to the cats and dog more than usual.

By the way, were you able to meet the TakeCare people yesterday? You said all offices were closed. Any way, you have the doctor's appointment today. I hope your doctor is good and nice.

I told you the Philippines is a third world country. They know the dollar is strong and they want to get MONEY. But, 2500 pesos to get your Hotel was not bad. I thought 6000 pesos or over.

If you don't make phone calls (from pay phone or hotel), please use email. I will check my email often. Also I will have my cell phone with me when I am outside or if I go out.

@@@@@

[Email to Wakana] 6/13/12 - Quezon City

Quiet night. Bathroom has one of those rain showers with the huge shower head. Really cool. It also has no bath mat and a slippery tile floor. Really scary!

I got to TakeCare at 8:30. They told me I was at the wrong hospital, that I should be at the one in Global City. They pointed out that the referral said Global City. But they accepted me there and gave me the paper to see the neurosurgeon when his clinic opens for the two hours he is open this week! It's on a first-come-first served basis. I plan to be there at 2:00.

I am writing this at a little place next to the hospital. It is CafeFrance. I bought a large orange juice, a ham and cheese omelet, and a croissant for 200 pesos. The orange juice is really a form of orange drink, not really juice, but it comes in a glass with a narrow waist that is easily 10 inches tall. The omelet is good as is the croissant. And WIFI is free!

@@@@@

[Email to Wakana] Wed, 2012/6/13

Good morning! I am glad you checked your email. It's good to know you are well.

I could not meet with the TakeCare office yesterday. Just like them to set an appointment for a holiday. After I drink my coffee I will go up to the office to check in. They open at 8:00.

It was a quiet night last night. I watched some TV and read for a while. On the way back from Starbuck's I stopped at a grocery store but they had very little for sale. I bought some water and C2 and some cookies. I bought couple of magazines, Time and Newsweek.

My coffee is almost gone. Time to go.

@@@@@

[Email to Wakana] Wednesday, June 13, 2012 3:08 PM

Hi,

I was a good boy! Honest! It wasn't my fault.

The doctor's office opens at 2:00. I had nothing to do but wait so I decided to wait in his office. I got there about 12:45. You'd have been proud of me.

There was a note on his door saying his clinic would not be open today! Remember, it's only open once a week!

I went to TakeCare to notify them. They will try to hook me up with another doctor. They told me to go wait for them to call. Remember Hawai'i?

I am frustrated and angry and working hard not to show it.

@@@@@

[Email to Wakana] Wednesday, June 13, 2012 10:35 AM

Hi,

You did get my long email. You answered telling me you were cleaning up around the mailbox. I guess it wasn't that long.

I met with the TakeCare people this morning. They said I was in the wrong hospital. We got it sorted out. I will see the neurosurgeon this afternoon.

@@@@@

[Email to Wakana] Thursday, June 14, 2012 10:04 AM

Hi,

I went over to the TakeCare office first thing. I took them some pastries from CafeFrance to let them know I had nothing against them personally. I told them about my trip to Hawai'i and asked for their help. I told them the scar on my wrist came from a very painful and unnecessary procedure because I could not get an MRI.

I hope that will make them work harder.

I have to get back to the hotel

@@@@@

[Email to Wakana] Thu, 2012/6/14

Hi,

Last night's call cost over 3,000 pesos! No more calls. Sorry.

I saw a doctor today... finally. Apparently TakeCare requires doctors to try a few weeks of physical therapy before they will authorize surgery. Dr. Lipana says physical therapy will not fix the problem but we have to do it anyway.

So, I will come home tomorrow as planned. I will get the physical therapy in Guam and then have Stratton request the surgery. Once that is approved I will come back here to get the work done.

@@@@@

[Email to Wakana] Friday, June 15, 2012 9:47 AM

Hi,

In about an hour I will check out and head for the big mall near the airport. I will spend the day there.

My flight lands at 4:00 AM. I cannot wait to see you again and hold you and touch you.

@@@@@

[Email to Wakana] Friday, June 15, 2012 12:41 PM

Hi,

I checked out of the hotel and took a cab here to the Mall of Asia. I am here for the day. It's a huge mall. I've been walking for the last hour and still I am nowhere near my arrival point. I am now at the food court, or maybe only one of several food courts.

As I walked I passed several familiar fast food places but none are represented here. Some of the names I see are Kamay Kainan, Tom Yum Thai, Hecky's Lechon, Laoag, Fat Boy's, and Pinoy Toppings. I haven't had a real breakfast yet but I an not hungry. Later I'll go somewhere to eat and sit for a while. I might go to a movie just to kill some time. I have 10 hours till I have to be at the airport.

Security is a big deal here. Last night when I went to WalterMart (I love that name) a security guard searched my bag. Here they search it before you can enter the interior of the mall. Almost every store and restaurant has one or more guards, mostly acting as door openers but in uniforms and armed at least with a Billy club. I went to bank this morning and as I waited my turn at the ATM I noticed there was one guard outside the bank armed with a shotgun and another armed guard inside who only unlocked the door when the outside guard nodded.

The ride down here was a whole other experience. The cab driver danced his car through the traffic with a combination of horn, accelerator, and brake. At one point he passed a bus by running half on the sidewalk. There was no attitude of hurry or anger, just concentration and quick looks using mirrors and turning his head. The military would be well advised to start the training of pilots by having them "fly" through Manila traffic.

I never saw any evidence of highways. The drive to, and the later drive from, the hotel wound through the small streets of the cities. The only open roads similar to a highway were the bridges over the larger rivers.

On today's drive I noticed a few billboards for hotels that extolled one virtue I've never seen advertised before. The hotels included the phrase "NO BROWN-OUTS" in their ads. Apparently they have their own back up generator.

I guess I'll go find a bathroom and then see what is playing at the movies. More later.

@@@@@

[Notes written on the Nook] 6/15/12

I went to the movies. Lockout is a crumby movie. Wakana will miss nothing.

I had a pork dish for lunch at the food court. It was very good. It's now 2:22 and I have 6 more hours to kill. Nothing to say.

Random Observations

Driving to the mall we passed the Cultural Center, a large blocky building. The sign, chrome letters on a concrete or stone block. The letters are whole but the block is dark with mold.

In the three cab rides I've taken I do not remember any rough patches of road. The streets are in pretty good shape. I say the streets are but the sidewalks leave a lot to be desired. On my walks between the hotel and the hospital the sidewalks are narrow and broken and filled with obstacles. At one point, the narrowest sidewalk, there is a square block of concrete sticking up about four inches. It was the base for a street light. I know what it was because the jagged twisted metal of the pole still sticks up out or the block about six inches, maybe more. Remember, you dare not put a foot in the street! After that there are uneven points where new parking areas might have thrown up a mound of asphalt. Oh, and the drivers park on the sidewalks.