*NOTE*
Apologies for this extremely late entry. It's been just about 2 months since we got back and I'm only just finding the time to do this now. I moved to a new place and life got in the way. I've returned to my regular routine which usually involves a visit to the gym for yoga, boxing or some form of strength or cardio for at least an hour or more daily.... so there's that too...... but as promised, here is the last and final day of our most wonderful 3 week vacation to Asia.
The dreaded end to this wonderful vacation had arrived. 3 weeks gone, just like that. POOF! However, they were 3 weeks of pure bliss and adventure that have added joy and loving, fun memories that we will all remember fondly for years. One of the reasons I take the time to write and document all this on my blog is for historical purposes......I can go back and read about everything I've done in the past and reminisce. The memories come flooding back and I'm either laughing or crying or both when I read past entries. It really is a bit self serving that I write all this -- I do it for myself more than anyone. And hopefully for my kids and family as well as they will be able to see and read all this even after I'm gone. (morbid thought.... but let's face it... we are all going one day, lol)
I got up today thinking distinctly to myself..."today is the last day of our holiday.... how did it go by so fast?" While I was so looking forward to getting home, sleeping in my own bed, going back to the gym, going back to work (yes, I love my job so this is a true statement ~!), some part of me was also very sad that this happy, carefree time was just about over. Most of my packing was done, so off I went with Alyssa down to the dining room for our very last breakfast in Manila.
We found a spot in our usual space, and reserved the table right next to it as well so the rest of the family could join us one last time for breakfast.
For fun, below is our first meal together as a family on the day we arrived in Manila, dinner at SM Mega Mall, which is just behind Podium, which in turn is right across from our hotel.
The start and end to a fantastic 7 days in the Philippines. Memories to last a lifetime.
Our flight was not till later in the evening, and we had to check out by 2 PM, so we spent some time walking around the mall one last time.
I had to take a pic of Cafe Kitsune. I've had coffee at Cafe Kitsune in Vancouver, they have one in Japan as well, and I was happily surprised to see they have one in Manila too.... no time to sit and have a coffee though as I only saw this place toward the end of the day as we we were heading back to the hotel to catch our ride to the airport.
Manila really does have some of the biggest, most beautiful malls. This one is called Podium, and was right across from our hotel. It had some of the most sought after luxury retail shopping stores. Right behind it was SM Mega Mall, which also had some fantastic luxury retail stores coupled with more affordable options, so it was a nice balance.
A bit of a rant now....our flight back... or rather than lead up to our flight back was a bit of a cluster F _ _ K.....fill in the missing letters. We went through security once at check in, pretty standard at all airports. But we had to go through it a second time at the gate. The EXACT, SAME procedure.... look at passports, check carry on, check ID etc. I thought to myself, "didn't they just do this not more than half an hour ago at check in?"
Yet here we are doing it AGAIN? And that was just the beginning....they corralled us all in this space at the gate with not enough seating and we had to stay there, packed like sardines till boarding was called. OMG, what a SH _ T SHOW. Not the best memory to end our dream of a trip.....but something to laugh about (I hope) one day in the future.
****Thank you to my nephew, James for the panoramic shot above of our airport prison***
Finally on board and in our seats.... ready for the 11 hour flight back to home, sweet home.
The flight home was smooth, customs in Vancouver was fast and trouble free. It helps that Alyssa & I both have Nexus as we breezed through that whole process in no time.
And the best part of this whole end to our trip.... was the surprise waiting for Alyssa as we exited the customs area into international arrivals. I'll let the pictures do the talking.
It was just such a lovely fairy tale ending for the trip, specially for Alyssa! Zain has always been part of the family in every way ever since he started dating Alyssa, but now it was official and I am so happy for both of them. I know their future is bright and will be full of love and joy....and more grandbabies for me, haha. The more, the merrier!
So there it is. 3 weeks of adventures, fun, learning, exploring, laughing, eating, walking, running, going down stairs to catch trains, going upstairs as we exited trains, photo taking, google translating, google map reading, 7- elevening, and memories that will forever be treasured. I will forever be grateful for everything this trip gave me and my children as well as our little Elsie, my siblings and nieces and nephews. Truly a trip of a lifetime!
I'm grateful for those of you who have come along on this trip with me, by reading my blog. I hope you continue to check in now and then as I will be making entries on a regular basis.
Enjoy the summer coming up!