Tokyo to Manila (From June 19th)

June 19, 2007
[note: I am typing these entries on my laptop as they happen, but I will probably be posting them all together whenever I have internet access]

I’m in the Tokyo Narita airport. The 12 hour flight from Chicago to here was pretty hellacious. I watched the same episodes of The Office and How I Met Your Mother. Twice. I had never really watched The Office before. I love Jim. I love him. I do.

I tried to sleep. I tried to read. But I was just damn uncomfortable most of the flight. I took two Dramamine and down one of those little bottles of wine; so, I was feeling hazy and sleepy but didn’t really get any sleep.

I was on the end of the aisle sitting next to a large, older white man who wore a “Baptist Church” fanny pack with a heart on it. Next to him was a guy who was reading/referring to a Bible while writing what looked to be a sermon. Yeah. We didn’t really talk. AND, every time it seemed like I finally found a comfy second and was beginning to fall asleep, one of them would have to go to the potty. Right then.

I’m hearing Eminem come from some older Filipino man’s laptop right now. I think that’s where it’s coming from. Ah. Globalism. Aaliyah was playing in the Duty Free Shop.

It’s so quiet and clean in this airport. AND there is a smoking lounge. I bought a pack of crazy Japanese cigarettes. The box is pink (reason #1 why I bought it) and has little diamond/fake jewel stickers on it (reason #2). Not bad. Menthols, but that’s OK. They were $2.65 US. That’s like, almost free, right?

So I get into the Philippines tonight at 9ish. So, I will really be able to take a peek at things on Wednesday. I am staying with my Tito Rofel in Makati, which is (I think) a nice part, bourgeoisie part of Manila. He has a pool in his apartment complex. Woot!

I supposed that’s it for now. I am exhausted.

Packing. Erm. Packed.

I fit everything into my red backpack.

Impressive, no?

I stuffed everything into smaller stuff sacks and managed to get my sleeping bag in there, too. AND I stuffed my hiking boots, Chacos (I know, I know--I swore I'd never wear them again, but they're only for hiking), flip-flops, and sneakers in between all of that.

And this is how I felt after I closed it:

Packing, apparently, has made me grow a mullet.

I also, to recognize my bag right away, tied leopard print ribbon to several parts of the outside. I am girly-travely-outdoorsy.

I promise this blog will be more interesting once I am actually IN the Philippines instead getting ready for it.