- Arriving in the Philippines

We flew from Charlotte to New York on American Airlines. Going wheel-chair-assisted really helped with the pain in my back and legs. And it saved a lot of time and hassle since we were able to bypass the lines. From New York we flew on Korean Air which has significantly more leg room. We arrived in Cebu at about 11pm.

The Korean Air plane that we flew to Seoul

Beautiful Incheon Airport in Seoul

Lyn’s brothers, Lorenzo and Along, came up from Bukidnon to take most of our luggage back so that we wouldn’t have to lug it all over the Philippines. We were able to do some sightseeing with them both in Cebu City and around the island.

My new best friend, Jollibee

At Megellan's Cross in downtown Cebu
said to contain the actual cross Magellan planted to claim Cebu for Spain
on March 17, 1521

At Sirao Flower Garden Park

Lorenzo and Kaye

Along and his tricycle

Kaye at the Magellan/Lapu-Lapu battle site

Brothers in a romantic setting?

At the Tops Lookout of Cebu
You can see the whole city spread out below

Kaye, seconds before being eaten by the gigantic golden lion

At the Temple of Leah

Kawasan Falls

Simala Shrine

Eating at Shabu Shabu Restaurant with David and Cecilia Fear

One day we went to the SM Seaside City Mall, according to Wikipedia the 8^th largest mall in the world. It is a circular mall on three or four levels with over 700 stores. There is a bowling alley and an Olympic size ice skating rink included. In the middle of the circle is a 50 story tower at the top of which is 360 degree panoramic view of the city. We ate lunch at a restaurant called “The Buzzz of Bohol Bee Farm.” They serve 15 exotic flavors of ice cream like malunggay (moringa) and charcoal.

SM Seaside City Mall

The skating rink

It really is "Seaside"

I'll say one thing about The Buzzz of Bohol Bee Farm Restaurant,
they have the best halo-halo I have ever eaten!

It didn’t work out for us to stay in Cebu partly because it’s so crowded there and rush hour (from 7am to 9pm) is horrific. From Cebu we flew to Clark, and from there took a bus up to Baguio.

Baguio is different. It is a city built on a mountain or several mountain peaks. The elevation is about a mile above sea level. Everything is climbing up and down, and even a few steps left us gasping for air because of the altitude. The weather was great. Night temperatures were in the mid 50’s, and one day the high temperature for the day was only 64.