Scooter's Crazy World: The International Dateline is mind boggling

Yes, we have been back from the Philippines for over over 48 hours. The jetlag is definitely better today than yesterday. Damn that 16 hour difference can really mess with you (I write at 11pm Wednesday, meanwhile it's 3pm tomorrow afternoon in Manila). Unfortunately both Noel and I have headcolds too I think from all the A/C in P.I. and 16 hours on the plane. Though things are looking up, and we both got back in our routines with working full days and even the gym tonight.

So let me look back on our last day and a half in Manila.

I woke up at 9am Sunday the 6th. Noel had left earlier and gone down the block from our condo to the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf and brought back some sweets and a large coffee. What a good husband! The sun was out (much of the trip was warm but overcast)...so I went to the pool and laid out along with dipping in the pool. So nice! Magic then came over for lunch down from Quezon City. We both cleaned up and she took us across town from Bonafacio Global City to Pasig City and the super yummy PANCITERIA SAN JACINTO: http://www.panciter

iasanjacinto.com/. Yes, if you know spanish this means the House of Pancit! She knew what I like, tons of different types of pancit, and adoba, and dim sum.

Then we went down the street to the big Market, and seeked out a huge wooden spoon and fork. We were on a mission for the Spletzers (and secretly us too!) It was a huge market and lots of cool stuff. There was also a dog show going on. They were all so cute but all so hot. It was funny to see all these big fans blowing on big Chows and little poodles.

We then went back to our hood and went shopping at the fancy stores (like the Gap, Nike, Aldo, Von Dutch, etc.), and waited for Noel's Mom, Dad, and brothers to show up. We were going to have our final dinner at this funky modern Filipino restaurant where I was excited to have Corned Beef Sinigang (usually chicken, fish or tofu). No one was hungry at the time of our reservation so Noel suggested we go back to other mall 'Market! Market!' and look for some fast food or a coffee shoppe and just chat.

DEAR GOD! Never go to the mall in a Catholic country after church on a Sunday. It was crazy packed. I've never seen such a thing in my life. Millions of Filipinos and me crammed onto 5 stories of escalators.

Long story short the family and I ended up at an American deli called Chelsea, and I had a Ruben sandwich after 2 weeks of Filipino food and such. Hilarious. Noel's family is so nice. I think his Mom finally warmed up to me by the end, and was real sweet. At the end it sounds like his parents may be coming to Seattle in the Spring of 2012 and us returning to Manila in the Spring of 2013. When we do go back we have a long list of places we want to go like Bihol and the island of Palawan. We all know that Noel still wants to swim with the whale sharks too...

MONDAY, MARCH 8th -

We got up at 7am and the landlords of the condo came to check us out and give us our deposit back at 8am. It was a cool condo with a loft, and such a great location.

We taxi'd to the airport by 9am because that is what Asiana Air recommended, 4 hours before (yikes). When we got there the ticket counter didn't even open till 10am, so there we waited...the start of 4 hours. Then there was a 3 hour flight to Seoul, Korea. Some where in there Noel lost his iPhone and my ear plugged up so much I got a migrane and thought I was going to die. (My ears are still partially plugged right now). Then we had only minutes to transfer to the next plane from Seoul to Seattle. The 10 hour flight was all in Korean with beautiful Korean flight attendants. The only bad/funny part is that a couple were total plane nazis. Everything was demanded but in a quiet, sweet geisha like way, all with a smile. Kinda hilarious.