We left Tokyo at 9:30 in the morning and arrived in Manila after a 5 hour flight at 1:30 pm. The weather there was hot and humid. You could feel it immediately. You could also notice so many cultural / economical things. The airport was way run down compared to anything in America or even Tokyo.
As we were going through customs, the agent that was helping Jessica was so impressed by her language skill and accent; he asked if we were sisters! How awesome is that for me.
We made it out with our luggage but then couldn't find the rental car place. After being directed we found it - but they didn't have a car for us - they were expecting us yesterday (but should have still reserved it for us as I had a credit card on file). Finally they got a car for us, then drove us over to the lot with the cars. There we found out they didn't have a GPS for us. This was KEY - we need a GPS. What are we going to do. We couldn't bring one from the states because they don't pick up the roads in the Philippines, and now we are here - and I reserved one - but it wasn't reserved for us. UGH!!! It was after 3:30 in the afternoon when we left the airport.
Mark was the designated driver! He made his way, ever so slowly, through the very congested traffic around the Manila airport to the main roads. We had no idea if we were going in the right direction or not. Thank goodness all of us had a good attitude and it positive. We would roll down the window about every 20 minutes and ask a jeepny driver if we were going the right way. Early on we were told to take a right hand turn to get to the EDSA and from there, they always just said, "keep going!" But they didn't say which way ... ugh! It took over 2 hours to get through Manila.
At one point we stopped to get directions at a McDonalds. Mark didn't see the curve in the concrete and slowly bumped it. Ouch! We will have to pay for that when we get back. We will try to clean off the paint at the hotel, if we ever get there. Moving on ... Somehow we made it to Quezon City and there we took the NLEX to Clark Airport. At the exit from the NLEX we asked directions again, and a guard worker was so kind - he said he would get in our car and direct us to the next stop. Wow, only in the Philippines. He guided us to the STEC, we took it all the way into Olongapo. It is now nearly 7:30 at night and we still have to find our way to the resort. Since I like to be prepared, I had printed directions to the resort at home - (it just that they were from the Marriott) so they didn't start at the airport. Everything changed when our plane didn't come in the night before. I knew the general direction once were out of Manila because I had printed maps to the resort at home. But now it is dark and hard to see. Luckily there were signs along the way that said Camayan Beach Resort. I guess we aren't the only ones that need help getting there.
It is a very secured beach. We were so happy to see the signs announce we were getting closer 20K, 12K, 9K, 5K, 2K, 1K, YEAH!!!! We made it. We made it all by ourselves - and with an enormous amount of guidance and direction from our Heavenly Father. We knew he was guiding us the whole way. We didn't get into the resort until 9:30.
We were so happy to get checked into the resort, unpack and relax. It was a very long day!
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