i seriously can NOT get enough of this chip-er-prairie dog!

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click me

click me

click me

continued from part four.

i arrived in the Narito Airport on Friday and went through the usual motions through immigration and security before meeting up with my Aunt, who lives there. i was already in such awe. japanese writing all around me, it was just amazing to be in yet another place. my aunt really likes taking pictures too, so she took a bunch of me just at the airport, and again in the train station. i was so excited to be taking the subway, that i took pictures too, one especially of an oncoming train, my flash going off. i was later scolded by the driver as he got off the train and switched shifts.

the rest of the afternoon was spent with my cousin Yugi, desperately trying to find an ATM that worked. i didn’t get a chance to pull out any cash from the airport in Manila, so i was running low on funds. i had plenty of money in my bank account, just no ATM that would accept my american debit card, one especially that doesn’t have a visa or mastercard logo. it was also an interesting experience because Yugi is just barely learning english. so we tried our best to communicate, all the while teaching each other english and japanese respectively.

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continued from part three.

the plane we took to Calbayog was small and dated. you can tell that it was pretty old by the way the interface above you looked. it had those old push buttons to call for the attendant, big red ones with the springs below the button. there wasn’t any meal trays on the backs of the seats and the curtains and seat material reminded you of a 70’s/early 80’s tv sitcom, much like “Three’s Company”.

it wasn’t a long flight. and since the plane was so small, you can feel every bump in turbulence. but it was bright outside, and the view below was amazing. i took as many pictures of the passing islands as i could. the clouds were bright white and fluffy against the bright blue sky. i love views like that. contrasted with the luscious green foliage of the islands below, it was just a perfect sight to see.

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continued from part two.

when we arrived in Cebu early in the morning. immediately i noticed the change in weather. the view from the plane was breathtaking. crystal clear waters, with a hint of bright blue, luscious green hillsides. the weather went from hot dense humidity to a dryer sort of heat. the skies also seemed to be a little bit more blue. we were in tourist country.

we drove up to the marriott to drop our stuff off at the hotel and headed off to the church of Santo Nino, the infant Christ. the architecture was amazing. in front of the building was the Magellan cross. and inside, a courtyard to light candles, and the massive church grounds. it was at this point that the battery in my camera died and i wasn’t able to take too many pictures of the church, but not before getting some nice shots of the candles in the courtyard and before being told not to take pictures.

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