The Linden Suites, Manila, The Philippines
Saturday 2/15/14
I've landed in Manila safe and sound without a hitch. Philippine Airlines may be obdurately unaccommodating when it comes to flight changes, but they took very good care of me today. Andy, Prandy, the Lions, and the Philippine Resources for the Blind all did their magic and Philippine Airlines was primed and ready for me.
The Hong Kong staff person got me to the gate about 45 minutes early, and we had a nice chat to pass the time. She asked what brought me to Hong Kong, and when I told her I'd been teaching mosaics in India, she wanted to know more about what kind of mosaics i made. I didn't have any pictures on me to show her (they were all packed), but I told her that if she could remember my name, she could visit the marydignan.com website. She pulled out her cell phone, typed it in and started looking at the photos on my website. She clicked on my blog and laughed after she read the first few lines of my first Hong Kong post. "Oh, you've landed safe and sound in Hong Kong, that's good!"
I didn't say anything about my attempts to get Philippine Airlines to let me change my flight, and I don't think she knew anything about it. I wonder if she'll read enough of the blog to find out about all that.
In any case, I'm very happy with the way things have worked out. They tend to do that if you let them
As soon as I stepped off the plane onto the jetway after we landed in Manila, I was glad I'd changed into my skirt and sandals. It was humid and warm and just fine for short sleeves and sandals, but I would have been miserable in long pants and warm socks.
Prandy and his wife Chiqui met me right outside the baggage claim area, and we all had a great visit during the ride to my hotel. It was a long ride because some local religious cult was doing an all-day march through Manila and several roads were closed, jamming traffic everywhere.
Andy did a great job finding this place. The room is large and comfortable, and has a little kitchenette and dining area too, with a real refrigerator/freezer. I was delighted to see that, and got my serum eye drops into the freezer right away. I have enough to get me home and then some to hold me untilI can get some more made.
My eyes are already feeling better in the humidity here. They've been burning raw for weeks and the long flight from Bangalore to Hong Kong sure didn't help. I've really been going through the drops, but I have plenty to get home on.
Anyway, after a late lunch with Prandy and Chiqui here in one of the hotel restaurants, I'm off to savor a nice bubble bath and catch up on some sleep. Tomorrow Prandy and Chiqui have a little tour planned for me.
Saturday 2/15/14
I've landed in Manila safe and sound without a hitch. Philippine Airlines may be obdurately unaccommodating when it comes to flight changes, but they took very good care of me today. Andy, Prandy, the Lions, and the Philippine Resources for the Blind all did their magic and Philippine Airlines was primed and ready for me.
The Hong Kong staff person got me to the gate about 45 minutes early, and we had a nice chat to pass the time. She asked what brought me to Hong Kong, and when I told her I'd been teaching mosaics in India, she wanted to know more about what kind of mosaics i made. I didn't have any pictures on me to show her (they were all packed), but I told her that if she could remember my name, she could visit the marydignan.com website. She pulled out her cell phone, typed it in and started looking at the photos on my website. She clicked on my blog and laughed after she read the first few lines of my first Hong Kong post. "Oh, you've landed safe and sound in Hong Kong, that's good!"
I didn't say anything about my attempts to get Philippine Airlines to let me change my flight, and I don't think she knew anything about it. I wonder if she'll read enough of the blog to find out about all that.
In any case, I'm very happy with the way things have worked out. They tend to do that if you let them
As soon as I stepped off the plane onto the jetway after we landed in Manila, I was glad I'd changed into my skirt and sandals. It was humid and warm and just fine for short sleeves and sandals, but I would have been miserable in long pants and warm socks.
Prandy and his wife Chiqui met me right outside the baggage claim area, and we all had a great visit during the ride to my hotel. It was a long ride because some local religious cult was doing an all-day march through Manila and several roads were closed, jamming traffic everywhere.
Andy did a great job finding this place. The room is large and comfortable, and has a little kitchenette and dining area too, with a real refrigerator/freezer. I was delighted to see that, and got my serum eye drops into the freezer right away. I have enough to get me home and then some to hold me untilI can get some more made.
My eyes are already feeling better in the humidity here. They've been burning raw for weeks and the long flight from Bangalore to Hong Kong sure didn't help. I've really been going through the drops, but I have plenty to get home on.
Anyway, after a late lunch with Prandy and Chiqui here in one of the hotel restaurants, I'm off to savor a nice bubble bath and catch up on some sleep. Tomorrow Prandy and Chiqui have a little tour planned for me.