Leaving for PI

July 18, 2008

Today is the last day of school for Ben and we are going to pick him up at school so we could leave for Philippines. I am so excited to visit in PI but I feel nervous of what I am going to do with the kids- on the plane, at the airport while I got busy bringing all my luggage. I know it is not fun though.

Pick up Ben and then we head to Taco Bell and eat our lunch. We leave the car inside the base, Brian park near at the Daiei Mall gate so we could walk to the train station. We were planning to take the train from Kurihama station but it is kind of a hassle for us and we wanted to catch the express train to get to Narita airport. So, we walk and we purchase a ticket for green car. Green car is just like you are seating on the plane. You have a place to put your luggage and sit comfortably.

When we get to Narita airport, we checked in and then we find a place to eat a snacks. We were having an ice cream for all of us. The price was on the expensive side, what do you think? We are in Japan. So at about 5PM we went ahead and boarded and then say goodbye to Brian. It is really different that my husband was not with us on our trip. I had different feeling. I don't wanna come home again without him.

To pass the immigration officer was not so easy, we filled a piece of paper that we have the capacity to come back in Japan- it is an disembarkation paper that we are in SOFA agreement. I filled it up and then the kids were starting to get fussy. Benjamin is on the sensitive side of his attitude, he does not want to listen, I know they were tired. I was so glad that the gate is not too far at the security gate. Boy! if it is, I am gonna get tired more.

The plane got there on time and we left on time. The kids were getting fussy at the first hour while we were on on the plane. Finally both of them were sleeping and the hard part is waking them up. We landed in MNL Airport at about 10:20 and we finally be there at the hotel at around 1AM. Boy! this is no fun at all. I missed my friend Rosele, I did not see her at the waiting area. Oh boy! I really feel bad why I get a taxi first and then turn around where they wait for the passengers. I feel so bad. But anyways, we met at the hotel and do a little talking. We planned to go to church in the morning and then head to the airport for Davao. But we decided not to go because the kids still sleeping. We were all tired.

We head to the airport bound for Davao. I asked my friend to send text message to my sisters that we are on way to the airport. They were so excited to see my kids and not me LOL. Of course they do but the kids are just so cute to give lots of kisses and hugs.

We got to Davao safely and my sister Delle and her hubby, Bro-in-law Hans, and their friend meet us up. I am so happy then that we are in Davao.. my familiar place. My brother-in law drove to get to Matanao. It was so funny because my sister Peps wanted us to drop by at her store because she cannot come home right away in the house. My goodness, the chicken tinola is waiting for me to eat. I eat a lot but the next day, I tried not to eat a lot or else the more that I am getting fat. I gained weight, who else aren't? Of all the food but I am trying to eat less.

I think I will be stopping here.. need to do some stuff.....

Sky Watch 07.13.2008

I took a photo of this as I standing up in front of the mansion where we live. The end part where the car parking space. That is where we are standing up waiting for the bus in the morning and afternoon.



I just love the sky and so taking photos is what I like to do.

Remembering the Nagasaki and Hiroshima A-Bomb

When I was a kid, I heard about the atomic bombing in Hiroshima and Nagasaki Japan back in World War II but I just don't have an idea how bad was it. So information is available on the internet right now and I was reading about the survivors stories in bombing. Boy! it was a bad experience for little children. The city is completely destroyed and lots of injured men and women at that time and even dead. There was many reason why they dropped the bombed. Japan became an evil country- they wanted to invade in every island in the Pacific including the Philippines - my homeland. They became greedy and never thought of what is the consequence ahead of them. Some people will say, they deserved of what they got.

If you are thinking humanely then Japan did not deserved for A-bomb. As what I am understanding, there is no other recourse to stop the war. Japan attacked the Pearl Harbor in Hawaii- they finally took Bataan Philippines- the Guam. Oh gosh! The Death March in the Philippines, I saw the map where the people were marching. Thousands of prisoners of war and many Filipinos died. In my opinion, Filipinos are not deserving to die at that time. Japanese people raped women and right now, they have plenty of offspring back home.

It hurts my heart to think those dark times of my countrymen. And more war.

Right now, I am looking at Hiroshima city. The place is progressive and Japan is back on their feet and became rich country. I was looking and comparing my country that became very poor. It is a third world country. We were behind in Japan triple decades. The leaders in the Philippines are corrupt. The United States helps Philippines to rebuild the country. Even for that.... Still the country is so poor and lots of people suffering. If I am rich woman in the world then I wanna help the Philippines but I just don't have the power and riches.

Great Budhha in Kamakura

The Great Buddha of Kamakura is a bronze statue of Amida Buddha that is located on the grounds of the Kotokuin Temple. With a height of 13.35 meters, it is the second largest Buddha statue in Japan (the largest is located in the Todaiji Temple in Nara).
The statue was cast in 1252 and originally located inside a large temple hall. However, the temple buildings were washed away by a tsunami tidal wave in the end of the 15th century, and since then the Buddha stands in the open air.

My never ending story

Yesterday, I was just complaining to Brian that my job in the house is never ending- it is a never ending story. Clean here and there. Do laundry here and there and all the story I have all day- it is just like this. I did not find any interesting at all.

I was trying to put color of my days, I watch the sky everyday and took photos in it. I will just went outside for a minute- look around and take pictures. I leave Mary in the house watching TV to keep her entertain for a bit. She will just run and run if I let her come with me. But sometimes I let her come with me, I feel sorry for her cramping the house all day without any stretch.

Even I made pages for my album, putting away all my mess... Oh boy! I develop another hobby. I finally started to do sketching and started with a duck, then a seashore which is rocky supposed to be and an eagle (not finish yet). I was looking for a photos, I did not try to sketch with a still life object. I am so excited to do that. I don't wanna be slave in a photos. But hey! for a start.

Today, I just drive around the base and was visiting my friend at the Navy Lodge. They are about to leave here in Yokosuka and they are going back to the states soon. Wow! I just wanna go back too...

Being Quiet here

Wow! I just could not believe it that I was so quiet here. By the way, I am still here kicking and alive. I just don't have a time to update my blog. I have so many things to do at home. This coming July 18, we will be going to PI and stayed there for 3 weeks with me and the kids. Brian left here in Yokosuka and do his job- normal work days for him.