Today is Saturday, May 15th, 2010 and it is now 1246 AM here in Makati, Philippines.
I left 1155 PM Wednesday, May 12th, from JFK, to Tapei, Taiwan with a hop in Anchorage for a re-fuel and cleaning. Got to Taiwan 7AM Friday morning with the dateline crossing and time difference. In reality a 22 hour haul with the hop.
In Tapei, the usual nervousness carrying Methadone but there is no Customs to go through, merely another Security Screening and Taiwan, like America, does not have the most attentive rent-a-cops.
Schedualed for 140 PM to Manila, as usual talked my way onto an earlier jumper and got into Manila in time for an early lunch.I have learned that a kind word and gentle smile wil get you bumped up past the "whiners" and "demanders" who stomp their feet and demand a stand-by seat. More often-than-not it also gets me bumped up to Business Class which I just love (especially on Cathay). This time I took China Air, 2200 US on a RT. I almost always buy 1 Way and print up a dummy itinerrary to make it past Check In and Customs/Immigration.
Airlines are liable if you are denied entry at a destination. If I am denied for only having a 1 Way, its a couple of thousand US PLUS the return fare so almost always they want proof of ongoing travel OR Return fare, the latter being far simpler.
Since I bought only 72 hours ahead of travel I was going to pay a lot regardless so it actually was less espensive this time for RT, and I can always sell the ticket, or use it as a credit.
I am finally getting a chance to enjoy this condo. Rada Regency Condiminiums is considered uber-posh in this nation. The late "Xtcxtc," a BLer and patron of the site (as in its sole financial support) had a duplex penthouse here, which is how I found my condo.
His was spectacular and his parties were to die for. Mine? A concerete box without appliances but my rent (I sub-let as I said) is less than 300 US, for a luxury building that was, until 3 years ago, the tallest in the Philippiones. Pool on the roof is great but I haven't has time to use it.
I am waiting for a flight in the AM down to Mindanao, and pick up my baby.Because people can create problems with my honesty, as I said in a recent entry, I will save the discussion of details on that until AFTER the fact.
For now my baby is in a hotel, her 1st time. Sadly, like most hotels here it has no TV, though it does have a "Comfort Room" (local lingo for "bathroom") which is so rare. Paying about 6 US per day, not bad.
She has never flown so I am not sure which conveyance we will use to get back here. Makati is part of Metro Manila (a separate city but part of the urban bloc), and sits on the largest Philippine island, Luzon. Luzon is more than 900 kilometers north of Mindanao.
The one big change has been an increase of Jews in Makati! Since the end of WWII there have always been about 300 of us, and almost all of us living here in Makati, in my district of San Jose Village or else Salcedo Villlage which is home to the Israeli Embassy and the only synagouge in the country.
Syrian-Jews like my family are very nomadic. We have our own small communities within the larger Jewish Communities in almost every Asian locale that has Jewish residents.The synagouge here was funded partly (50%) by my Clan, Dwek. I am now the only full time Dwek in the country though 3 cousins live here part time.
There is finally a Chabad House here in Makati. "CHABAD" is a Chassidic (Hassidic) movement that seeks to motivate unreligious Jews to return to the fold. "Chabad Houses" can be found worldwide. A Chbad rabbi, his wife and children set up a residence that acts as a home away from home to Jews travelling. In Bangkok I am always hanging out there for the food...but until now there weren't enough Jews here to warrant one. That is also good because Jackie wants to convert.
Speaking of Jackie...Jackie has been here, once, for her eldest brother's military honours ceremony after he was killed. At that time they came by ferry though dependants can hitch free rides on C-130s (huge transport planes). It is always standby. I wonder how she will adjust to a much different lifestyle here.
The weather here is hot as hell, as always, and Mindanao just has another small earthquake (has a couple a week). The Election violence has calmed down but there is still talk of a coup so...If there is, we may be stuck down south.
I am sure her family, most of all her ex, have flipped out by now.
Will cut it short on that note...
I left 1155 PM Wednesday, May 12th, from JFK, to Tapei, Taiwan with a hop in Anchorage for a re-fuel and cleaning. Got to Taiwan 7AM Friday morning with the dateline crossing and time difference. In reality a 22 hour haul with the hop.
In Tapei, the usual nervousness carrying Methadone but there is no Customs to go through, merely another Security Screening and Taiwan, like America, does not have the most attentive rent-a-cops.
Schedualed for 140 PM to Manila, as usual talked my way onto an earlier jumper and got into Manila in time for an early lunch.I have learned that a kind word and gentle smile wil get you bumped up past the "whiners" and "demanders" who stomp their feet and demand a stand-by seat. More often-than-not it also gets me bumped up to Business Class which I just love (especially on Cathay). This time I took China Air, 2200 US on a RT. I almost always buy 1 Way and print up a dummy itinerrary to make it past Check In and Customs/Immigration.
Airlines are liable if you are denied entry at a destination. If I am denied for only having a 1 Way, its a couple of thousand US PLUS the return fare so almost always they want proof of ongoing travel OR Return fare, the latter being far simpler.
Since I bought only 72 hours ahead of travel I was going to pay a lot regardless so it actually was less espensive this time for RT, and I can always sell the ticket, or use it as a credit.
I am finally getting a chance to enjoy this condo. Rada Regency Condiminiums is considered uber-posh in this nation. The late "Xtcxtc," a BLer and patron of the site (as in its sole financial support) had a duplex penthouse here, which is how I found my condo.
His was spectacular and his parties were to die for. Mine? A concerete box without appliances but my rent (I sub-let as I said) is less than 300 US, for a luxury building that was, until 3 years ago, the tallest in the Philippiones. Pool on the roof is great but I haven't has time to use it.
I am waiting for a flight in the AM down to Mindanao, and pick up my baby.Because people can create problems with my honesty, as I said in a recent entry, I will save the discussion of details on that until AFTER the fact.
For now my baby is in a hotel, her 1st time. Sadly, like most hotels here it has no TV, though it does have a "Comfort Room" (local lingo for "bathroom") which is so rare. Paying about 6 US per day, not bad.
She has never flown so I am not sure which conveyance we will use to get back here. Makati is part of Metro Manila (a separate city but part of the urban bloc), and sits on the largest Philippine island, Luzon. Luzon is more than 900 kilometers north of Mindanao.
The one big change has been an increase of Jews in Makati! Since the end of WWII there have always been about 300 of us, and almost all of us living here in Makati, in my district of San Jose Village or else Salcedo Villlage which is home to the Israeli Embassy and the only synagouge in the country.
Syrian-Jews like my family are very nomadic. We have our own small communities within the larger Jewish Communities in almost every Asian locale that has Jewish residents.The synagouge here was funded partly (50%) by my Clan, Dwek. I am now the only full time Dwek in the country though 3 cousins live here part time.
There is finally a Chabad House here in Makati. "CHABAD" is a Chassidic (Hassidic) movement that seeks to motivate unreligious Jews to return to the fold. "Chabad Houses" can be found worldwide. A Chbad rabbi, his wife and children set up a residence that acts as a home away from home to Jews travelling. In Bangkok I am always hanging out there for the food...but until now there weren't enough Jews here to warrant one. That is also good because Jackie wants to convert.
Speaking of Jackie...Jackie has been here, once, for her eldest brother's military honours ceremony after he was killed. At that time they came by ferry though dependants can hitch free rides on C-130s (huge transport planes). It is always standby. I wonder how she will adjust to a much different lifestyle here.
The weather here is hot as hell, as always, and Mindanao just has another small earthquake (has a couple a week). The Election violence has calmed down but there is still talk of a coup so...If there is, we may be stuck down south.
I am sure her family, most of all her ex, have flipped out by now.
Will cut it short on that note...
IT may be hot, congested, super humid and dirty, but its MY favorite armpit! Kekekeke