We Are Up, Up And Away!

Joe and myself are off to meet up with Diana and her family,

first stop Bangkok airport where luckily they were no disruptions to the flight,

one trolley each and we were on our way, we flew Cebu Pacific, non stop just on 3 hours, it lands at Fort Stotsenburg as it was formally know, now the more familiar Clark Air Base in Angeles City, the flight was about one third full, every other time we have flown there the fight was 100% full, we arrived at about 3 in the morning, but our rooms were ready for us, we stayed in the Phoenix Hotel, a 100 peso ride from the center of town,

nice easy bar and restaurant with TV's showing non-stop sports, if you are into that sort of thing,

at day break a quick phone call to Diana and here she was,

first stop, money exchange, just 67 pesos to the £, have to watch the budget!

the main street in Angeles City looking towards Margarita villa,

then we were off to meet the family, we went by the local means of transport a 3 wheeled motorbike and sidecar (tricycle), the is going away from the main city to where Diana's parents live,

and all of the family were there, from left to right, Sandio, Donna, Daisy, Diosalyn, Diana's Mum, Joe and myself,

as with many of these social functions food was non-stop, Joe really like these pork cracklings or chicharon as they are called locally, they are so neat in that they come with their own vinegar sauce in the bottom of the packet, and the beer was non-stop too!

Diana's grandfathers younger brother was showing Joe how to be a bingo caller,

much to the amusement of the players,

eyes down look in!

then time to go, this is a view of the street Diana's parents house is in,

and then Joe's ride back to the hotel, I stayed a little longer with the family,

it was a bit of a tight squeeze for Joe,

but he made it in the end,

then a nice surprise, Diana's family had bought me a present for my birthday,

a new leather belt,

then it was our turn to return to the hotel, courtesy of Diana's father,

a bit of a tight squeeze for me as well, diet starting soon!

then the family and friends called round to see us off,

we decided to do a little 'bar hoping' as it is called locally, first stop Dr. Holm's, I thought it had something to do with Sherlock, but apparently not!

as we had started, we had to finish, so on to Eruptions,

a better view of the outside, if you have never been to Angeles the road that leads to town has so many bars like this it is almost impossible to go to every one in just a few days - but we tried!

next on our list, that sounds like we were organised or some thing, but nothing could be further from the truth!

after a few there it was back to the hotel for a wash and brush up, it was Sandio's birthday, he was 9 years old, Joe had very thoughtfully driven in to town and bought a cake,

Joe and Mary Joy who he meet at Diana's parents house playing bingo,

Diana and myself,

we took the family to the Oasis Hotel,

full salad bar, the hotel describes itself as Oasis Hotel, one of the leading hotels in Angeles City, the meal did not let it down,

'Cheers!' and a salad for Joe and myself,

Mary Joy enjoyed fried mushroom starter,

a medicinal red wine and prawns for me,

and very nice they were too,

Joe with his French onion soup with cheese on the top,

birthday boy Sandio, Papa and Daisy,

Diana had chicken bbq, Dioshane and Mum sitting next to her,

Mary Joy had pork bbq for her main course,

diana's sister Dioshane with her choice, a steak,

'Cheers!' from all of us,

and a happy birthday to Sandio,

sandio as usual is all smiles,

and for him the best bit of the meal,

a very proud father with Sandio and Daisy,

Diana had to do the hounors and cut the cake,

Dioshane enjoyed the cake as well, infact we all did,

after we said our goodbyes to the family the party it was time to head into town,

first a shuttle to the main road,

then on to an evening of 'bar hopping', first club Atlantis,

then another whose name I have forgotten, this epic story to be continued in the next post!