July 31, 2018
1. We left for Manila today. We had the usual breakfast at Seda Hotel’s ground floor restaurant. My husband didn’t want to eat anymore. He just had a few breads and a cup of coffee.
2. The rent a car driver / owner was super swerte for having found by my husband. We were not able to fully use his services because we only went out half days and to somewhere near. Most of the time he was just waiting and resting. Today he was still at their residence when Edmund called. Still we paid him the full amount of 3,000/day. Next time we come back we’re staying for 6 days so maybe we should just send a car ahead of us by roro. We’ll compare the costs.
3. Last night we got a call from PAL saying that there would be a change of airplane. They are changing our seat assignments because there’s a different plane configuration. Economy na lang daw kami although our tickets are business class. The plane is monoclass daw.
PAL also called my husband and he readily agreed. When they called me I had too many questions. Eh bakit ganun? Pano yung tickets namin? As if I have a choice. Yes I do, it’s either I take that flight or I wait till the next day. Naku uwing-uwin na kami. Tired na ako and I was dying to see a dentist. Bwisit na ipin ito ang sakit na naman.
4. Edmund received a text from PAL advising us that the flight is an hour delayed. One hour? Ah okay lang. Even if our flight was pushed back by an hour, my husband and I left as scheduled actually half hour earlier pa. Duyn na lang daw kami magistambay sa airport. E di sige.
5.
On our way to the airport, we dropped by a newer Chinese restaurant closer to the hotel. Edmund is hosting another dinner during their first ever class reunion. Eto na yung for their class alone. Some of their classmates are coming home from abroad. We hope the food here is better. The place looks more authentic Chinese and maybe the food is authentic.
Twenty five people are expected to attend the dinner and a private room is most preferred. Edmund scanned the extensive menu and was convinced that the food here must be better than the one we had the previous night.
We also met the chef or restaurant owner or manager, Chinese na Chinese and he seemed to know the menu very well.
The place is sprawling and there’s no urgent need to reserve a room right away. Edmund will do it when he is already in Iloilo two days before their much awaited reunion.
6. We arrived at the airport at noon, three hours before our delayed flight. Sobrang aga namin. It was cloudy and drizzling.
There were a lot of people standing and waiting, yun pala the flights were delayed by two hours. Ngek! Sana natulog muna kami sa hotel.
We were given our original seats because this plane daw has business class section. Mabuti.
My husband was hungry because it was lunch time and he only had bread and coffee for breakfast. We went to this old looking restaurant on the second floor.
In case you’re wondering what this is, it’s an abstract painting using dinuguan. This is called plating by the culinary world. #halloweenfood
Buti na lang meron akong estra sensory perception. I didn’t order dinuguan, I ordered La Paz Batchoy.
This restaurant occupies a prominent area on the second floor. Airport management must see to it that the establishments located inside the airport maintain a higher standard.
7. After we ate, we entered the boarding area where there are other restaurants pala.
There’s also the PAL Mabuhay Lounge.
8. We waited and waited and waited and for our boarding. Every time there was an announcement, it was more delay. Instead of the original 2 pm flight back to Manila, it became 3 pm, then 4 pm, then 6 pm!!!!! We were so tired of waiting and sitting. We wanted to go home and stretch out on our comfortable bed. I wanted to go back to Seda Hotel and just leave the following day. When it was certain that we would be leaving at 6 pm, someone distributed Chicken Joy at the lounge. I thought that was sweet and thoughtful.
9. Finally we boarded at past 6 pm. We arrived at the airport at 12 noon, 6 hours! Happy to be finally flying home.
I am singing—- “I’m flying high, you know how I fee-hill”.
The reflection of the sunset gave the clouds a sensual hue.
It was a short 40 minute flight. Yey, we’re here, we’re landing! Ops no, we turned around and flew away and back for another 30 minutes. Airport traffic.
Touched down Manila at 7:10 pm.
10. From the airport, we went to pick up Oyen then we swung by the Powerplant Mall in Rockwell to find a place to have quick dinner.
Yen chose Yabu.
I had my favorite dish agedashi tofu.
A full meal for the bit guy.
For our dessert, Oyen bought a slice of cake from Sugarhouse. The name is very apt, sobrang tamis.
This three Chinese were also waiting for their vehicle. They were oblivious to the fact that they were standing too close to Edmund. Hindi nila pansin na nababangga na nila. Edmund moved away twice.
There was one giant king crab in our kitchen when we arrived. It was delivered daw by the driver of William Lao, one of Edmund’s best friends. Galing daw sa Zamboanga.
August 1, 2018
Antonia was ready with her be-dimpled smile when she saw me the next morning.
Edmund and I were away for four days. I wasn’t quite sure if we missed her, but certainly not her cooking. #breakfastbyantonia
