On the resort island of Boracay in the Philippines you see many of these culturally and age mismatched couples.
I don’t blame you for jumping to conclusions.
You’re probably right. 🙂
Yet some of these couples are in Boracay to be married. Many men of European ancestry, past their prime, look for younger Asian brides.
It’s not always the case that the rich dirty old man is taking advantage of the young, naïve woman from a developing country, more interested in the bulge of his wallet than anything else.
There’s a perfectly innocent story behind some of these photos.
Well, we are actually home now and have been for over a week. All in all it was a fantastic trip and I can’t really say I would have done many things differently …
I’d completely forgotten about this excellent photo taken by my buddy George Novak. We were two of the first few visitors in the gate this day … a few years ago.
I’m NOT going to the Olympics themselves. This is the next best thing.
This competition is a run through for the Organizing Committee. Athletes will be qualifying in Artistic, Rhythmic and Trampoline gymnastics. It’s important.
… I’m still looking for inexpensive accommodation. Contact me if you know of any Couch Surfing or floors I can crash upon. I’ll have full camping gear.
I’ve four times crossed the Pacific this Fall. Air travel is horrible in 2011.
Departing Philippines, here are the line-ups I suffered.
1. Car entering the Airport was stopped. (1min)
2. Line-up and luggage x-ray entering building (15min)
3. Check-in and collecting boarding pass (20min)
4. Immigration (10min)
5. Security check-in (15min) … removing shoes
6. Boarding pass checked before entering the gangway (4min)
At each step it was clear to me that no real security inspection was underway. It was all theatre. Laughable.
The best article I’ve read yet on Security Theatre has been getting wide circulation online.
Charles C. Mann:
… To walk through an airport with Bruce Schneier is to see how much change a trillion dollars can wreak. So much inconvenience for so little benefit at such a staggering cost. …
Terrorists will try to hit the United States again, Schneier says. One has to assume this. Terrorists can so easily switch from target to target and weapon to weapon that focusing on preventing any one type of attack is foolish. Even if the T.S.A. were somehow to make airports impregnable, this would simply divert terrorists to other, less heavily defended targets—shopping malls, movie theaters, churches, stadiums, museums. The terrorist’s goal isn’t to attack an airplane specifically; it’s to sow terror generally. “You spend billions of dollars on the airports and force the terrorists to spend an extra $30 on gas to drive to a hotel or casino and attack it,” Schneier says.
… “We’re spending billions upon billions of dollars doing this—and it is almost entirely pointless. Not only is it not done right, but even if it was done right it would be the wrong thing to do.”
In Narita, Tokyo I was twice questioned by serious, skilled security officers. Both times outside the normal procedures. That was impressive — and scary.
In Vancouver, Canada I was selected for extra inspection, along with suspicious Russians and Iranians. That screening was very skilled and professional, too.
Jeepneys are the most popular means of public transportation in the Philippines. They were originally made from US military jeeps left over from World War II and are known for their flamboyant decoration and crowded seating. They have become a ubiquitous symbol of Philippine culture. …
I rode on top from Sagada to Banaue, Philippines. A crazy fun hour descending narrow mountain roads.
… Here’s the issue — should you tie yourself on to the roof rack? … Or take your chances jumping to safety just in case the Jeepney goes over the cliff?
I did tie myself on. But was ready at an instant to unclip in an emergency.
What’s the world record for most number of people in a Jeepney? … You don’t want to know. 🙂
Sounds like the Longs have enjoyed New Zealand best of all on their Round the World family holiday.
… We have been traveling and staying with the Closson family since we arrived. Clossons are our friends from Saskatoon, for those of you who do not know them. They are on an ambitious one year round the world tour. Kim lived here when he was younger and so still has many friends and connections. Fortunately for all of us, many of Kim’s friends have been very generous and allowed squatters in their “bach”.
A bach is typically a small holiday cottage, but our first “bach” was a luxury highrise at the beach with views of the ocean and harbor. Thanks Kim!! …
