Tag Archives: Hong Kong

Metro Manila, Day 1: Joy, in The Midst of Fatigue

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Posted by on in Assistance, collaborating, Community, distraction issues, impediments, Inspiration, Personal goals, Personal Values, Service Activities, Social, Spiritual, Striving, Travel

September 11, 2024, Manila- The young couple must have been amused, watching me go through the same pockets of my well-worn pack, several times, before finding what was needed for a small task, whilst waiting for the final leg of my flight: Hong Kong-here.

Such things happen, after five hours of sleep on a trans-oceanic journey. I chose to do this, so will take full responsibility. It was still a lovely day. The flight was 2/3 full, and the ambiance was casually business-like. We even had a light lunch served-unusual, on a short hop.

My dear friend was occupied with matters of domestic drudgery, so I didn’t get to see her, but we communicated happily back and forth. There will be much time for get-togethers, in the days ahead. I did visit with one of our friends, after settling in at Ola! Hostel, which will be my Home Base for several days, while I am in Manila. I was able to help said friend with setting up an appointment, next week, to handle a long-standing concern. It took a little bit of memory jogging, to locate the Baha’i Center, after a year’s absence, and being a bit “on fumes”. I finally also was able to sort out the Philippine peso coins from random Euros that somehow got mixed in the Peso jar.

It’s humid here, but not as stiflingly hot as in the height of summer. I will do more walking as, despite the entreaties of a car rental tout, I have absolutely no plans to drive anywhere in the Philippines. The bus, jeepney and taxi drivers have my full confidence-they grew up here and can handle what seems to me to occasionally be chaos.

On this otherwise solemn, and fatigue-filled, day, I felt joy at being back in another happy place.

Small Blessings Continue

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Posted by on in collaborating, Community, Inspiration, Matters of Faith, Personal Values, Social, Spiritual, Striving, Travel

September 9, 2024, Los Angeles- Yesterday brought good news-a friend who had been momentarily displaced was back home. This morning, the young man of whom I wrote, a few days ago, is at his home, resting and determined to start on the long road to recovery.

I joined the Monday coffee klatsch, this morning, getting a solid message of good will for my trans-Pacific journey. Every little detail of the trip was checked twice, like Santa’s list, and at 12:30, my two bags and I were headed to Hassayampa Inn-my shuttle pick-up point. Getting there early, I was treated to some Big Band tunes from the 1930s and’40s, one of which was a jaunty account of the story of Rip Van Winkle, of all things. Being wide awake myself, I was pleased when the shuttle came right on time.

My seat mates on the bus were visitors from Fresno and from St. Andrews, Scotland, respectively. Both were quire impressed with our fair city, the Scotsman in particular. He was a bit envious of all the sunshine we get, though Saturday’s two cloudbursts made him a bit homesick-just in time for his return to the U.K.

The flight here from Phoenix left on time and arrived a bit early. My seatmates on the plane were newlyweds- a self-taught aeronautics expert and a historical fantasy afficionado, whose day jobs are with a small start-up that produces niche electric vehicles. They are planning to move to Arizona soon, from the Midwest. First, though, us their honeymoon, in a far-off tropical resort. I wished them all the best.

LAX was far easier to navigate this evening, than it was five years ago. Maybe the fact that American Airlines is in the same part of the airport as the Tom Bradley International Terminal had something to do with it. I also have a longer layover, which is rather enjoyable, actually. TBIT has a wealth of restaurants,intermingled with boutiques. I chose Ink.Sack’s mini-kitchen, which offered a small number of the chain’s sandwich offerings. The cordon bleu was just the right size, consistency and blend of ingredients.

I will leave here, for Hong Kong, right after midnight, and have a reasonable layover there, before a three-hour finale to Manila. I may well emulate old Rip, just not for twenty years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQKFcCuHVIo