Manila Shake

The View From Our Room

2008-09-22T17:01:00.000+08:00

This is the view from our room in Banaue. Pretty spectacular.

Doing the Dishes

2008-09-22T16:59:00.000+08:00

After serving us a great picnic lunch, someone had to do the dishes. Although they made it look kind of fun, I am better with a dishwasher.

A Hanging House.

2008-09-22T16:56:00.000+08:00

Great view, but I am not sure about the location.

Drying Rice

2008-09-22T16:55:00.000+08:00

These are rice bundles drying along the road at the hanging house.

Don't Look Behind You!

2008-09-22T16:53:00.000+08:00

I braved the bench at the hanging house. That is a several hundred feet drop behind me.

God Bless the Broken Road!

2008-09-22T16:51:00.000+08:00

Notice the banner below the grill of this jeepney... fitting. He had run out of gas on a narrow winding road up to Batad. That is the driver there on the right looking at the drop off. It drops about 60 feet into another drop of about 500 feet or so. You might also notice our tire tracks leading around his jeepney...that is why we are all climbing back in. Nobody but the driver was brave enough to stay in while he slowly maneuvered around.

That Was Easy......Ahhh, maybe not.

2008-09-22T16:37:00.000+08:00

Made to the first stop of the trek. The restaurant at the top of the trail to Batad. Cold beer was very much appreciated. However we were not even half way, come to find out.

Tappia Falls

2008-09-22T16:31:00.000+08:00

Breath taking...

Still Some Energy Left.

2008-09-22T16:29:00.000+08:00

We finally made it to Tappia Falls.

Cooold Water.

2008-09-22T16:26:00.000+08:00

You can't hike all the way to the falls and not get in. The nut in the middle is me.

Rice On!

2008-09-22T16:23:00.000+08:00

Only a handful of us braved the trek to the waterfall. Some wished they had made a different choice at this point.

Rest Stop

2008-09-22T16:19:00.000+08:00

About half way across the terraces there is a small nipa hut to get out of the sun. We were happy to see it.

Rice is Ready

2008-09-22T16:17:00.000+08:00

Some of the rice at the terraces that is ready for harvest.

Beautiful Batad

2008-09-22T16:15:00.000+08:00

This is the Batad Rice Terraces. It was a long day of hiking, but worth it!

Ready to go!

2008-09-22T16:12:00.000+08:00

In the jeepney on the way to the river. Everyone is smiling because they don't know that last night was the last full night's sleep for the next 48 hours.

Chico River Rafting

2008-09-22T16:09:00.000+08:00

The brave hearts at the beginning of a long action packed weekend.

The Warrior!

2008-09-22T16:06:00.000+08:00

Even with two guns I got shot to hell...

The weapons

2008-09-22T16:02:00.000+08:00

Instruments of destruction.

Either you have'em or you don't

2008-09-22T15:59:00.000+08:00

Just a little paintball with some friends.

Communist Scouts

2008-06-24T15:12:00.000+08:00

This is a group of young communist scouts who just graduated. They are posing in Tiananmen Square.

The Great Wall

2008-06-24T15:09:00.000+08:00

The Great Wall, just asking to be climbed. There was quite a variance in the step heights, 1-in to 18-in.

Lesson on Eating Peking Duck

2008-06-24T15:04:00.000+08:00

Steffanie and Nickie learning how to eat Peking Duck.

Peking Duck Anyone?

2008-06-24T15:03:00.000+08:00

Carving the our Peking Duck. We got VIP treatment as we had just come from the show and most Chinese eat very early in the evening. We had the place to ourselves.

Bird's Nest

2008-06-24T14:58:00.000+08:00

This is as close as we could get to the any of the Olympic venues. Still amazing to see.

Tea Time Again...

2008-06-24T14:55:00.000+08:00

We were lucky enough to get invited in for tea by a very nice couple.

Rickshaw Ride

2008-06-24T14:53:00.000+08:00

We had an nice, and sometimes scary, rickshaw ride around old town Beijing.

Dinner or a Pet...

2008-06-24T14:45:00.000+08:00

Turtles, Crabs, Crickets, Cats and Dogs; they were all at this market.

Cousins?

2008-06-24T14:43:00.000+08:00

The odds are pretty good that I am related to these goofy wankers!

HSBC

2008-06-24T14:37:00.000+08:00

Nickie, Casey and Jessica in front of the the original HSBC building near the Bund River in Shanghai.

Mangostiens & Lychee

2008-06-24T14:31:00.000+08:00

One of many vendors around the streets of Shanghai.

Dragon Ladies!

2008-06-24T14:28:00.000+08:00

Nickie and Steff walking in the footsteps of the famed Dragon Lady at The Summer Palace.

Not My Game!

2008-06-24T14:21:00.000+08:00

On the train from Beijing to Shanghai. It was 12 hour overnight trip and we killed some time playing Disney Princess Uno. I lost!

House of Porn...?

2008-06-24T14:15:00.000+08:00

There are many statues along the path to the Ming Tombs. This one is actually called the Prone Horse, however there is a typo in the main sign and it reads the Porne House.

Mao Looking Over Our Shoulder.

2008-06-24T14:10:00.000+08:00

A very hot day in Tiananmen Square. No protests.

A Long Way Down.

2008-06-24T14:06:00.000+08:00

No the hard part...getting back down.

First to the Top!?

2008-06-24T14:05:00.000+08:00

Gregg and I made it to the top. Only steps behind Pat...

Half Way Up!

2008-06-24T14:02:00.000+08:00

Resting and cooling off about half way up The Great Wall.

Beak to Beak.

2008-06-24T13:58:00.000+08:00

Greg establishing the peaking order early in the trip.

Keep Your Exlpoding Cars at Home.

2008-06-24T13:55:00.000+08:00

Good to know that No exploding cars ranks just above no horn blowing in China.

Top of the World Ma!

2008-06-24T13:28:00.000+08:00

After an hour and a half of climbing we make it to the highest point of the Wall. The smiles are merely masking the pain.

Movie Stars?

2008-06-24T13:21:00.000+08:00

What a good looking group, eh? Many were stopped for the occasional photo op with the locals. Either they thought we were celebrities or just the funniest looking Americans they have ever seen.

Day 1 China

2008-06-24T13:12:00.000+08:00

After a day of travel and an incredible acrobatics show, a beer and good food was we could think of.

Taxi Anyone?

2008-06-24T13:01:00.002+08:00

The Canals of the city are teaming with these water taxi. I was very tempted to do a James Bond and try to run across. I would have been wet.

Shanghai Night

2008-06-20T14:53:00.000+08:00

Shanghai by boat. It was a good start to our time in this booming China metropolis.

Swimmin' with the Fishes

2008-04-21T11:06:00.003+08:00

Diving in Anilao. Water temp at 60ft was about 90F.

Fresh Steak!

2008-02-28T19:07:00.000+08:00

These carabow (water Buffalo) were not a bit bothered by the shelling going on around them.

WEAKend Warrior

2008-02-28T19:04:00.000+08:00

On the way back from Pinatubo we had to wait in a dry riverbed due to a joint training op by the Philippine and US Military. We were actually only about 100 yards away from the targets they were shelling with mortars and tanks.

The Adventurous Trekkers

2008-02-28T18:54:00.000+08:00

Casey, Pat and I joined a group of our friends for the day trip to Pinatubo. It was a full and fun day followed by an evening of authentic Filipino food and cold San Mig Lights.

Mt Pinatubo

2008-02-28T18:50:00.000+08:00

After a long drive and a nice hike; the reward was swimming in the crater of Mt. Pinatubo. The water was perfect. It felt a little soapy but the temperature was nice.

Overload

2008-02-28T18:44:00.000+08:00

Nickie just can't believe how many giant sharks we swam with that day.

Gills

2008-02-28T18:28:00.000+08:00

Actually a shark, not a whale...

Head

2008-02-28T18:27:00.000+08:00

This is the head of one of the eight sharks we swam with that day. It was about 35 feet long.

Thar She Blows Cap'n!

2008-02-28T18:21:00.000+08:00

Cloudy day and this big white goofball still got sunburned.

Snorkelufagus

2008-02-28T18:17:00.000+08:00

Pat ready to jump in. The sad thing is he wear the snorkel walking around downtown Manila too.

Bring on the Sharks...

2008-02-28T18:13:00.000+08:00

Chico and Lou with our Dive Master for the day.

No Bird Flu Here!

2008-02-28T18:04:00.000+08:00

This sign is in the Airport in Legaspi, where we have to fly into when we go swimming with the whale sharks.

Happy New Year!

2008-02-28T13:57:00.000+08:00

These lanterns are hung in preparation of the coming Lunar New Year.

Not Your Average Alarm Clock

2008-02-28T13:55:00.000+08:00

The Gong on the left is for all animals and living beings in the Air. The bell on the right is rang for all living beings in Hell. Not shown, on the far left, is a wooden fish like drum/bell that is struck for all being living beings underwater.

Buddha of the Future

2008-02-28T13:34:00.000+08:00

This is the largest Buddha in Korea, located in the heart of Seoul. The temple there is just over 1200 years old. The largest boob in Korea can be seen in the foreground, freezing his nuts off (15 degrees outside).

Thai Tiger

2008-02-26T16:53:00.000+08:00

We took a boat ride through the rivers of Bangkok to a Snake Farm. This tiger was just chillin' in the shade.

Glass Dragon

2008-02-26T16:29:00.000+08:00

This dragon is on the side of a temple decorated entirely in porcelain.

Monk-e Business!

2008-02-26T16:24:00.000+08:00

How do you tell if a Buddhist Monk is taking a break or just meditating?

Birdmen Surround the Temple....

2008-02-26T16:13:00.000+08:00

The Buddhist Temple for the Jade Buddha at the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand.

Christmas Dinner 2007

2007-12-25T14:54:00.000+08:00

Merry Christmas!!

Not as much work as it appears.

Lights on the Bay

2007-10-29T01:29:00.000+08:00

The lights on the waterfront of Manila Bay. We went sailing on the bay with 12 of our friends to celebrate Casey and my birthdays.

Bright Lights of Ginza

2007-10-29T00:59:00.000+08:00

Almost like being at Time Square, only no Yellow Cabs. Tokyo is very nice in October.

Bridge to the Palace

2007-10-29T00:09:00.000+08:00

This is the bridge to the entrance of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. I was my only free day to wander around the city and as luck would have it, it was the only day that was not sunny. It rained all day in fact.

Keeping Cool!

2007-05-27T14:54:00.000+08:00

When it comes to playing in the pool, Kodi thinks she is a puppy all over again.

Cock-A-Doodle-Do

2007-05-27T14:49:00.000+08:00

They say the best Cocks come from the United States. Who am I to argue?! As an interesting sidenote, the coliseum is the same one that hosted the infamous "Thrilla in Manila" back in 1975.

Birthday Woes...

2007-05-27T14:18:00.000+08:00

Nickie tried to keep here birthday a secret, but I am terrible with keeping such sectets. So we forced her to endure a night of good food, good wine and great friendships.

2007-03-05T01:11:00.000+08:00

Casey made it safe and sound.

2007-03-05T01:07:00.000+08:00

It's not a party unless Tonji and Angelo are there.

2007-03-05T01:06:00.000+08:00

Friends helping us welcome Casey to the Philippines.

2007-03-05T00:54:00.000+08:00

Beautiful beach of Boracay.

2007-03-05T00:49:00.000+08:00

Flock of cockatoos raid the mango tree in the backyard on hot February afternoon.

2007-03-05T00:43:00.000+08:00

Plowing.

2007-03-05T00:40:00.000+08:00

New roof on the boat house.

2007-03-05T00:37:00.000+08:00

Laundry day at the river.

2007-03-05T00:33:00.000+08:00

Resting at the boat house.

2007-03-05T00:30:00.000+08:00

Not sure $3 is worth a ride on this not so seaworthy vessel.

2007-03-05T00:26:00.000+08:00

Pagsanjan Falls with Scott and Josette. Trip number 1.

2007-03-05T00:24:00.000+08:00

Cool dragonfly!

2007-03-05T00:21:00.000+08:00

$660p for a bunka boat ride to the falls, about $14.50US. Expect to get a little wet.

2007-03-05T00:16:00.000+08:00

Haulin' Drew's ass over the rapids.

2007-03-05T00:14:00.000+08:00

Pagsanjan Falls with Drew, Linzi and Cassidi. Trip number 2.

2007-03-05T00:03:00.000+08:00

Makaiti City is where we live and spend most of our time.

Welcome to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

2006-12-13T15:08:00.000+08:00

Awesome!

2006-12-13T15:04:00.000+08:00

From the bottom up.

Rainy night in K.L.

2006-12-13T14:58:00.000+08:00

Great lightning show from the 24th floor lounge.

Roughing it

2006-12-13T14:55:00.000+08:00

It is not easy catching all of my good side at the same time, but, well, here it is.

Ready for anything!

2006-12-13T14:49:00.000+08:00

Waiting for our ride to the Batu Caves.

Batu Caves

2006-12-13T14:44:00.000+08:00

270 plus steps to the top! Monkeys, Lizards and Snakes... Oh my.

The one on the right looks fresher!

2006-12-13T14:40:00.000+08:00

In the better restaurants you get to choose your meat before they cook it. Not really. These two, along with a python, were available for pictures at the Batu Caves. I don't know if the Iguana is native to Malaysia, but I did see several Monitor Lizards on our trip to the caves.

Monkey Snack

2006-12-13T14:30:00.000+08:00

Half way up the steps to the temple we encountered about 10 monkeys. They like to beg for food and are well known as pick-pockets. We were instructed to keep hold of our cameras and wallets.

Tea by the Towers

2006-12-13T14:24:00.000+08:00

After a long hard day of wandering the streets of Kuala Lumpur a spot of tea by the towers is quite refreshing.

More fish!

2006-12-05T00:41:00.000+08:00

Fish farms in the bay.

Fish!

2006-12-05T00:38:00.000+08:00

Fish farms all along the river. Ther region south of Vigan is one of the largest sources of farmed fish in the Philippines. There are farms on many of this regions rivers.

Lone Donkey

2006-12-05T00:31:00.000+08:00

Just waiting take someone for a ride through the peaceful streets. Many little shops to visit where you can pickup hand-rolled cigars, homemade vinegar, pottery, or countless woven goods.

Me in the streets of Vigan

2006-12-05T00:22:00.000+08:00

Posing for a quick picture after lunch in Vigan. Good lunch - pancit and a calamunci juice. Vigan is a village in the northwestern province of Luzon that has retained much of its Spanish architectural influence.

Only one thing missing.

2006-12-04T23:59:00.000+08:00

This could be home. The only thing missing is float plane tied up at the dock.