November 21 - Day 9 On our way home

The trip home took about 24 hours......  The kids are great on the planes.  It's the transition in between that is tough.  I'm glad we could be there to help Kacey out.  

This is another play area in the Narita airport (Japan) that they played in for our 2 hour layover.  

And right before we boarded the 747 for the LONGGGGGGGGG  flight, Payson (with a little help from Grandpa Roger) dipped a few of his McDonalds Frys.

What a WONDERFUL adventure we had.   A once in a lifetime trip.  So glad we went, and many many thanks to Landon and Kacey for their love and caring and hospitality.  

November 20 - Day 8 American Cemetery

JEEPNEYS - a left over relic from WWII.  They were ubiquitous !  Check that word out Dad !!  They were EVERYWHERE !!  So color and bright.   As you looked around, all of the cars were newer cars (owned by rich people), and you couldn't see ANY old beater cars like you do in the states.  That is because the poor people literally can't afford ANY car.  They travel and get around exclusively on Jeepneys or Tricycles.  

We caught a taxi and tried to get to the American Cemetery.  You just had to hope and pray there was no accident, because car seats were not an option.  We never got going really fast though......

because traffic was gridlocked most of the time. 

At the American Cemetery in Manila.  You can't tell it by this picture, but the whole map is made up of hand placed tiles that are colored, and about 1/2 inch in diameter.  Amazing.  There were dozens of maps just like this one.  

Very majestic. 

All of the names listed here are NOT buried in the cemetery, but have unknown graves.  We found the name of Ronald Tonks Luckey, a relative, and Marge Mortenson's brother who died on in a Japanese POW camp, and was buried in the Philippines.  See his findagrave memorial here.  I added the picture of his name at this American Memorial there.  

Beautiful, sobering, quiet, respectful, sad, thankful.  As I watched little Payson run around, totally oblivious, and 70 years removed from those dark days in 1944 and 1945, I was so grateful for the sacrifices that the members of the greatest generation made for us. What a different world we would be living in, if they had not given what they did. 

Back out on the streets - I thought this was a pretty interesting building. 

Garbage Truck - loaded by hand

See the two little ones?  

Colorful houses on the river

Back to the Mall of Asia

This is right outside the mall, and is usually lit up, but they are working on it. 

Inside, Pays decided to ride another ride :)

November 19 - Day 7 Ruins and Trip to Manila

Ha ha too funny of a face :)  Love you Hon !

Click on the picture to read what Payson's pre-school teacher had to say about him !  

Since our plane was delayed for two hours to go to Manila, we had time to go to The Ruins.  It's a huge house, that was burned during World War II.   Click here to see more about it. 

They were afraid Payson was going to fall in the koi pond

It was pretty hot !   We were glad to get to the airport......

....where they have this cute room for kids to play in while waiting for flights. 

Boarding the plane to Manila

Daddy didn't get much sleep last night (he worked), and he was supposed to keep Brightyn awake, but as you can see, he failed miserably :)

Hauling all of the luggage AND the kids around is quite the ordeal. It is good to finally get the bags checked in Manila, and they go all the way to the states and we don't have to handle them again. (Except in customs at LA, which was a total joke, huh Kacey!)

Manila - forever more when I think of Manila, one word will come to mind  TRAFFIC !

Our Hotel

All decked out for the season

This little display kept Payson totally entertained.  You dropped pesos in, and a little Santa Band played a Christmas song. 

A view from our hotel, looking towards the bay (but you can't see the water)

We went to the Mall of Asia, it is one of the top 5 biggest malls in the world.  WOW

The kids were starving, and TGIFridays was a much needed dinner.  You should have seen Payson chow down on the spaghetti, and Brightyn ate every piece of anything you put in front of her. 

This mall has it all - bowling, ice skating, movie theaters....you name it !

Soon after we headed back to the hotel for some much needed sleep.