Day 10 (Monday): Make it out of Manila - head Home

This was such a BLESSED day.

So to start we have to catch the 7:10 shuttle to the airport so we pack up the night before and get to the lobby by 7:00.  We have everything we need.  The Marriott shuttle takes us over to the Airport.  Just as we are departing, sprinkles of rain fall - nothing heavy but the storm is approaching.  We arrive at the Philippine airport with a light rain, we go inside get checked in.  We find out that they messed up the seating assignments again - but we got it fixed.  We search for souvenirs for the kids and us.  We found tee-shirts, flags, etc., also bought a neck pillow.

By the time we get to the gate, it is pouring rain.
By the time the plane boarded we were worried we might not get to take off,

Once we landed in Tokyo, we learned that 200 flights already had been canceled from Manila.  We made it out just in time.

In Tokyo Jessica and I had a super fun time shopping for souvenirs.  We even found (she found) a Pikachu pen for Devon.  It's so exciting.  We also saw traditional Japanese dress.  Jessica and I got our pictures taken with them.

On a side note, I had accidentally left the DVD player when we landed in Tokyo a week earlier - I was able to get it back today!  Silver lining.

We were so happy to finally get home.  I couldn't wait to hug my kids.

Day 1 (Friday & Saturday) - we make it to Tokyo

We are so excited!

We left for the airport at 8:10 am to be there by 8:45 am.  It was a good thing because we had some issues with our luggage.  We didn't realize they only allow one "free" check-in bag.  We were taking 5 - 2 filled with presents.  So we paid the $100 dollars to check one of the suitcases, but then took the other one as a carry on.  We also had seat assignment issues.  Cheap-O Air didn't reserve our seats as they had reported to me, so we had to get everything moved around.  UGH!  Thank goodness for wonderful flight attendants that helped us get seats together.  Our flight left Louisville at 10:45 am on schedule = here we go!!!  We had great flight - no problems.

We arrived in Chicago with plenty of time to get to our next gate and catch the flight to Tokyo.  Unfortunately, we sat on the tarmac for 1 hour so they could de-ice the plane.  BUMMER!  We weren't stressed about it at the time, but later on we realized that we might miss our connection ... it will be very close.  We travel in the air for nearly 15 hours, and made up some time, but not enough to catch our connecting flight.  On the good side.  We were all able to spread out on the plain and relax.  The flight wasn't full at all, so I had a whole row to myself.  Jessica took her Dramamine and slept most of the flight.  Mark and I read, watched movies and slept.

At one point in the flight we were over the tundra of Russia - it was amazing!  Beautiful and all white!

Once we arrived in Tokyo we were told we could not attempt to make our connecting flight to Manila, but rather that the airlines had reserved hotel rooms and reserved seats for us on another flight the next day.  It was amazing how well we took the news considering we left specifically so that we could attend church in the Hermosa ward on Sunday morning.

Mark and Jessica

Betsy

We made it through customs and to the bus - we stayed in a very  nice hotel in Tokyo but the fog was so thick that night that we couldn't see beyond the car beside us.

The next morning the fog had lifted and we could see the beautiful gardens.  We boarded the plane and headed for Manila.

view from our hotel window

view from breakfast

say good bye to Tokyo