Days 22-25 - December 9-12 - Part I

Long time no talk to. The hotel in Baguio has no internet connection, so have not been able to blog at night like I usually do (it's actually great therapy and winds me down before bedtime). So, I have felt lost the past few days, and will try to catch you up quickly before I leave work tonight. And, oh, our first snafu. The cable from the camera to the PC suddenly quit working this afternoon --- so I cannot access pictures to upload. :( And, I had quite a few to share. Will see if we can get fixed once we get to Taipei, but in case we can't --- you'll just have to imagine what we're seeing until I get home. Sorry... am really bummed!

We drove from Manila to Baguio Saturday --- it taking five and a half hours with only two short stops --- a long trip! Once we arrived, we checked into Camp John Hay Manor --- and I can only describe it as either rustic or simple --- or both! :) Granted, if you are a nature lover or a golfer, you would love it. But since I'm neither, I'm kinda out of luck! There's not a lot to do and see. Anyway, I didn't realize how high up in the mountains Baguio is. So, it is really picturesque and cool! It averages about 69 degrees yearround. As a result, there is no air conditioning, and so I've been having to sleep with the patio door open at night in order to sleep comfortably. And, since it has been rainy and damp since we arrived, I've got a little scratchy throat today --- which I think is a result of that damp night air. Am trying very hard to combat it so it doesn't develop into any thing more!

After we arrived Gan picked us up at the hotel and we visited a fund-raising holiday bazaar that his wife, Aggie, was working. We found a few things to purchase and donate to the cause --- and afterwards we went to eat at Mario's --- a mainly Italian restaurant with a more eclectic menu than most. During the night, heavy rains came --- an aftermath of the typhoon down south. Sunday morning, I opted to not walk the golf course with Debi, Gan, and Aggie since it was so wet. They proceeded on, getting in a full game although it lightly rained on them intermittently. I instead struck out on my own and caught a taxi to the mall! How'd you guess? I spent the day there checking out all the stores and even catching a movie that afternoon - "Flags of our Fathers". I thought it ironic that I was in the Philippines watching a movie about WWII! Sunday night we went to dinner at a Mongolian barbecue restaurant --- which is the first time I had been to one! Very good! You pick out your meat, you pick out all these vegetable adders, spices, sauces and then they fry it up for you adding rice and egg if you want --- which I did want! We ended up going back through the line again it was so good. We'll have to try one of these restaurants in Dallas! Monday, I was up first on the agenda and had a really good training session! I got more questions from this team than I have anywhere else! They are a very friendly team and seem to be so glad we came to visit them. Met people I've only e-mailed for years --- Kris, Glo, Josie, Jocle) - and they are so nice! And, they all work together so well.

Monday night, we went to Shabu-Shabu for dinner with Gan and Aggie. There are these pots set into the table that have broth in them which begins to boil after being heated once you arrive. Gan ordered the food that we would cook in the broth --- beef, bok choy, Chinese yams, mushrooms, noodles, Chinese spinach, crab sticks, fish balls, and when the food is cooked, you dip it in this soy sauce that has a lot of garlic, peppers, and onions ... very tasty! It's Chinese fondue!! We are now ending the second day session as I write --- and tonight we have been invited to Gan and Aggie's house for dinner. Am excited about seeing the house that Alan lived in!! :) Gan and Aggie have been very gracious hosts, and we appreciate their giving up their time to entertain us. Well, must wrap up ... we have to make this evening an early one. We have to leave the hotel tomorrow morning at 4:30 am (yes ... am) to make the drive back to Manila so we can catch a 12:45 pm flight to Taipei. Will talk to you next from there.