Ferdinand & Imelda Macros

Manila airport is probably one of the busiest airports we have visited, but amazingly it was one of the easiest to depart.  Just call tower, tell then you are ready, and off you go.  exit from the west helipad to the west, remain at 300ft for 10 miles, avoid the cranes and builings and cross to the north under 13's approach.  All done in minutes and the first airport we did not experience a delay.

Our departure took us out over slums built on the water and stretching for miles.  it just doesn't look real.  How do people live like this?  I am not sure what is worse living in a slum surrounded by garbage on the ground or in a slum surrounded by garbage on water.  

Our routing takes us up the Luzon, past Talac City, Dagupan, along the South China Sea to Laoag.  The beaches along this coast are not as pretty as further south on Puerto Princesa and El Nido, but nevertheless still pretty.  It appears that each small village and town has access to a municipal pool.  There are scattering of large houses among the poor shacks.  They build two storey houses in the Philippines.

We splash out tonight on a resort hotel, $100.  It was the only available place left.  It caters for Chinese tourist and as such is full of Chinese folk.  Since Chinese folk eat Chinese food, the restaurants are Chinese.  I do not eat Chinese food so have trouble with the food.  This hotel offers everything; archery, horse-riding, shooting, fishing, dune buggy rides, atv's, 50m pool, kids zoo, ho arir ballooning, and more, but nothing seems to be open, no restaurant or bar (they exist but, the lights are on but no-one is at home).  Since it has a Chinese influence it is also a casino.  

Whilst walking around the reception I notice that Imelda and Ferdinand Macros were guest here on numerous occasions, with Ronald Reagan, and Lord Mountbatten amongst famous dignitaries.

Early night to-night have a slight cold.