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Published: January 21st 2012
Xander's 1st birthday!
Scott, Michele & Damiel 'Xander'My grandson, Xander, was about to celebrate his first birthday!, I was anxious to travel back to Asia, to visit my son, meet, Michele, & Damiel Xander! This is what prompted me to travel to Dumaguete, Philipines! It's always an exciting adventure to travel to Asia but this trip was a little more challenging as I missed my 2nd flight, NY-Hong Kong, thus all my flights were cancelled & had to be re-booked at JFK. My itineray was: Ft Lauderdale-JFK. JFK-Hong Kong. Hong Kong-Manilla. Manilla-Dumaguette!!! With the Chinese New Year fast approaching, flights were jam-packed! After traveling some 30+ hours & of my 4 flights, 2 were overbooked, I managed somehow to reach my destiination. I arrived an hour before Xander's party was to begin, how's that for perfect timing! It was a fun filled evening, many children of all ages, relatives & friends. Of course, I was so looking forward to seeing Scott & meeting, Michele & the birthday boy! The dishes of food keep coming all evening & were delicious, including a fat roast pig, which the family had raised. Michele's mom and grandmother cooked up a storm & fed us well! The evening ended with birthday cake &
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Nana Marilyn, Xander & Michele memories to last a lifetime.........
There are over 7,000 islands in the Philippines! Dumaguete is the most southeastern city, located on the island of Negros, which is in the Visayas island chain. It is a lush, ruggard, tropical, volcanic, island. Dumaguete is a funky, university town, with a charming boulevard which goes along the waterfront. Many are out all day long strolling, jogging & taking in the tropical breezes from the turquoise ocean. Wooden boats, known as bangkas, are everywhere, some resting & others out fishing. Lots of old churches in the city hewn from coral stone, surrounded by beautiful flowers & lots of palm trees! The Philippines is the only predominately Christian country in Asia. In the early days the island was mostly a sugar plantation. It is quite mountanous--the people are known as the 'gentle people', they love their families, stay close & take good care of each other. There are cars, but the most common transportation seems to be motorbikes & 'trikes', which is a motorbike with a side car for passengers! For a few cents, you can get around Dumaguete with ease. Rice is served with each meal, along with meat & vegetables. The climate
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Michele's mom, Luz, me, Leslie, Michele, Xander & Scott is very warm to hot, the sea is a beautiful turquoise & the tropical breezes sway the palm trees all day long.I am staying at the Bethel Guest Houes, which is on the 'Boulevard' & overlooks the South China sea. I can attest to good medical facilities as I spent an overnight at Holy Child hospital, treated for acute food poisoning.
In 1841 Ferdinand Magelan arrived on the Santo Nino & planted a large wooden cross on the island of Cebu, which is across from Negros. A few spliners were found & incorporated into a new wooden cross which is housed in a stone rotunda across from Cebu City Hall. Spain granted independence to the Philippines in 1899. A little history.....
Sunday, we all went to a very beautiful, old, historic catholic church, the Cathedral, for an English mass. Dumaguette is a world-class dive center & climbing destination.
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Roberta
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Thank you for sharing
Always enjoy your travel blogs. You do a great job and I love seeing all the wonderful places you travel. Have a happy and safe trip. See you in the Spring. Lots of snow today--our first this winter. We must have over a foot and that is not making me happy.