Sweet As...

My apologies for falling off the blog towards the end of my trip...it was not my intention of course.

For those who don't know or I haven't seen, I am back home!
I have been back for a week and I am slowly getting my bearings.

I have some videos to post and the photos (a few picks from the different countries) have been posted on facebook and I have sent a first round of photo links. I am still going through the photos (there are ALOT)...so if you are still checking this blog, then you will get an extra post traveling treat.

98 minutes

to wash and dry my clothes. Much better than the 120 in Florence, but once again...go out and hug those washers and dryers cause you don't realize what you've got 'til its gone

;p

The elusive 007

I have to share this because it is killin' me.

I want to see the new James Bond movie, but I think it is impossible.

When I left the states, it was a week away from being released. With each place I have visited I seem to leave a couple days before this movie realeases. The closest I got was Singapore..it was out but I didn't have time. Sigh.

Now in Sydney, Milka and I went to the movies last night to see it but it was sold out. Too funny.

When I get back, if this movie is still there I would love to see it.
Any takers?

LOL

Maybe it will be on the plane ride home?

Tricky weather

..fooled me today. It was such a sunny morning so I was headed to the beach, but by the time I got out of the hostel the clouds rolled in and rain clouds seemed to loom. It was still pleasant enough to be outside so I went to the botanical gardens and had a more leisurely day than planned.

I am going to the caves tomorrow (I hope).

Credits...

have now been refilled.

As I was saying, Sydney is great. Today I went to the Museum of Modern Art across the way from the Opera House. It was a pretty mellow day. I wasn't sure if it was going to rain or not so I didn't venture very far. I think tomorrow I will chance a trip to the Jenolan Caves about 1 hour or so away...then I am planning to have dinner with my friend Kylie, who I met through study abroad.

It is very cool to visit the sites, but I am even more surprised when I visit a place that I have not seen. Such a different POV going around Sydney as a student and now. Let's just say I'm more aware of things this time around...and more interested in the history and culture of the places.

The hostel is pretty good. The location is good and the facilities are plenty. I think I have stayed here before with Karina, June and Carlos...

Postcards are calling my name.

It is no wonder...

Sydney was so hard to leave. I have arrived in Sydney and I having deja vu everywhere I go. Amazing how time times and stands still all at the same time.

I just realized I am out of credits!!!

will write more later.

The Philippines

And so from Singapore I flew briefly into Hong Kong airport and then it was off to Manila. The flight was not very long, maybe 1 hour and 45 minutes? I dozed in and out of sleep and finally arrived in Manila.

It had been almost 8 years since the last time I was here. I arrived at the airport and I saw my uncle, titas and cousins waiting for me. I was going to be picked up by family friends and I did not see them. After initial hugs and kisses we were able to call them on the cell phone. Oh, I had forgotten how handy these things are!

The plan was to stay with our family friends in the city for a couple days and then stay with family in the provinces afterwards. So I said good-bye for now to my tito, tita and cousins and we headed to the gracious home of our family friends from the airport.

During the car ride, it is confirmed to me that the United States has a new president, Obama. Wow! I can't believe it. On the news there is rejoicing and I was able to hear a replay of Obama's acceptance speech.

I hope this fairs well for our country. So far it is amazing the reaction of the world to this historical event.


We'll see.