IVE CROSS THIS BRIDGE ON FOOT

I toured sydney on foot, by sub way and train.
from Chatswood , NSW i could take he city rail to downtown Sydney and work my way there to Manly, airport, Zoo, Bondi beach. for 2 months commuting to Sydney ad farther a field makes me a little confident in Australia
i cross the harbour bridge from north point to central
sydney......

THIS CITY HAS FULL OF MEMORIES FOR ME, I first visited Sydney in 1970's with my parents, we stayed a week in Wentworth Hotel, it was july then , and very cold in sydney, QANTAS tail livery then was V jet not the present oz livery or airline logo

in 2005 i traced my footstep toward wentwoth hotel, i stayed at the lobby, the park in front, besides still exsist the old Qantas office where my dad use to make his upgrade to first class.

until now we have video mm of this trip to a very starnge city for me thenm very few filipinos stayed at australia in the 1960's, My father while in foreign tour usually rent a taxi to tour us in the city, the local place, his best restaurant, stories about laws and customs of the place, I remeber theface of our australian driver who looks like kevin costner. i remember the submariner school, the suicide cliff..... i dont recall city center, only the opera house and harbour bridge exist then ( pronounced haba bridge)

our plane was a boeing 707, at first class the stewardess give s me a hard copy book of rintintin and his travel with his dog????? (who is rin tin tin?)

Hacienda Heights, California. Temporarily living like Americans during summer breaks

EVERY SUMMER VACATION, I SPENT IT ON MY COUSINS PLACE HACIENDA HEIGHTS

there is nothing much to do there except do some scale plastic models,

and temporary live like Americans for a couple of months

It was really a culture shock for me, ever since 1967, almost yearly, my family spend several months in Los Angeles, yes acting like Americans, there we learned about icee cold drinks, McDonald's hamburger, blue stamps, soup and sandwich for lunch, Heinze Ketchup, how to fry bacon, cereals, microwave , genie garage opener. Ate Deanne, my cousin (she was the one who named me "my nick name" s so patiently and diligently teaching us living in the USA. She and her Husband Kuya Fred Castillo (eugene's dad) really help us understand the American culture.
They have a sub urban house 25km from downtown LA, along Pomona freeway.
nights are so lonely at their place, very silent, compared to my place in Manila area. We could hear sonic boom at nighttime, when US air force test their jets in nearby riverside airbase, smell skunk at night too,

MY FAVORITE : T BONE STEAK

THE BEST T BONE STEAK IS SERVED AT THE DEFUCT HUGO'S RESTAURANT AT
THE (NOW CLOSED) HYATT HOTEL, ARLENE AND I BOTH ADMIT ITS THE BEST
NEXT IS SUBIC BAY, LONE STAR STEAK HOUSE

The best steak shoul be eaten without sauces or condiments.... only salt and pepper....

charbroiled

the very first time i tasted steak was in 1968, i was grade one then it was in one of the night clubs along roxas boulevard, "bayside" but the best steak for me is served at the "chimney" also at roxas blvd. my mother later regularly cook steak for me but the taste never par with steaks in dark steak house........ my consolacion was "magi steak sauce"

those times, every afternoon, most motels and restaurants send us food mostly steaks i remember it arrives at 3pm

playing to live like americans in new york 1974

WE TOOK THIS PATH TRAIN TO CROSS THE HUDSON RIVER FROM HOBOKEN NEW JERSEY TO WORLD TRADE CENTER, BEFORE WE BOARD NYC SUBWAY TRAINS

from south Munn street in suburban East Orange, Near Newark NJ, my mom, sister te and nana, hop into a New Jersey train in east orange, along main street towards Hoboken New Jersey, towards PATH train to cross the Hudson river to the PATH-NYC subways at NYC there we explore whole of Manhattan area, by foot, by taxi, by bus, by ferry.

when we were in New Jersey, during my fathers study in Livingstone, we did 3 months of shopping everyday except Sunday to Manhattan, every time we went back to our rented furnish apartment high rise, my sisters and I always bring toys toys and toys, one time i bought a air hockey which i just left in our place in NJ because no surface and airmail will accept it to be ship to manila. we spent three months plus there, at first, my mothers best friend ate Linda stayed with us and my uncle mama odeng. I remember the place so well till now, i watch the TV program, I dream of genie, Gilligan's islands, beat the clock there at night time.

ocean cruises and sea voyages

this is my dream cruise vacation.... via wind star line
it is a sail powered cruise ship, that at night time you will only hear the waves and wind and see the clear night sky full of stars. there is a short course in astronomy and navigation on deck


Joanne resting in her cabin after a city tour while on port of call , the air conditioner in these cruise ship are so powerful hat when you return to your cabin after a hot day tour the controlled humidity and coolness of the ac is so soothing just like having a shower


this is the navigation deck or bridge of the legend of the seas

LEGEND OF THE SEAS. CENTER PIC
MEDITERRANEAN CRUISE, BARCELONA TO TURKEY
PIC ON LEFT, STAR LEO, CHINA, VIETNAM AND HK
ON THE RIGHT IS MV GALAXY CRUISES IN NORDIC COUNTRIES


cruise ships are very special for me, I first met Arlene during a cruise to hong Kong via Philippine cruising ventures MV Reyna Filipina 1979.

we boarded the MV reina Filipina at south harbor on a Holy week cruise, we are expecting a cruise ship just like the MV Dona Montserrat by Negros navigation,(which we tried it to Sicogon island and Ambil island cruise) but unfortunately the MV reina Filipina was an Italian made in 1948 just after the second world war.
in the first day it was un eventful trip, sunny and peaceful South China sea, round the tip of Bataan to Pangasinan to Ilocos, we are aware that a low pressure area is in the area. at around 2pm the ship just stop , all engines conk out.. for 2 hours we are like a dead log in south china sea...

some passengers just wanted to return o manila, some still want to push thru, until we were all re assured by the captain that the engine just run out of bunker fuel and no engine damage of defects. how ever from the start of the trip the mv reina filipina does not have an air con

as we continue our trip to Hong kong it was so dark and the wind became chilly, but the ship is travelling so slow that the smoke in the funnel is travelling ahead of the ship and it was releasing black soot. we are regularly visually inspected by several Royal Navy rescue sea stallions to verify if we need help in the China sea crossing.

At nightfall the waves are so high, the wind is always gusting, we pray hard for our safe journey. I swear in my cabin that I will never ride a ship again, i put on my black socks, in preparation for abandon ship

when we reached HK my whole family right away looked for a hotel to sleep and book a flight home via any airlines, because we are so afraid to ride it back to manila

Arlene's family did return back via reyna filipina with tons of shopping from furniture and appliances

PAN AM LONDON TO JFK INNAGURAL FLIGHT

IN 1 970 I WAS ABLE TO FLY IN PAN AM'S INAUGURAL FLIGHT
FROM LONDON HEATHROW TO JFK, NEW YORK

it was my first time to ride a jumbo jet, it was so large, i use to ride on 707, DC 8,
I was so proud for this very special flight, the gave each one of us certificates
signed by the captains and the Pan Am , London chief certifying me as a pioneer of London to JFK westbound flight



I just found out that this flight was one of the three daily flight to JFK and this inaugural flight we took was the same flight and time the PAN AM 103 did take the Lockerbie bombing..... LONDON to NEW York

c class for sspension, 3 series for speed and handling

THIS BEATS BMW 320 IN SUSPENSION AND RIDE. BUT SHOULD HAVE A LARGER ENGINE

CCTV - I HAVE SPEND A SMALL FORTUNE TO SATISFY MY SECURITY REQUIRMENTS INMY HOUSE

IN MY HOUSE ALL THE ROOMS AND AREAS IN THE GROUND FLOOR ARE COVERED BY SECURITY CAMERAS............ I EVEN HAVE A 30 DAYS RECORDER USED IN THE BANK, which i only used it once when we vacationed in switzerland.

in addition to this ... i also installed an Israeli made MAESTRO alarm in the house with Infra red moton detector,
Iam a security buff eversince, in my travels i always buy some nice and exotic alrm system infrared beam, perimetr defense, touch sensitive.

mazda 6, new zealand north island drive tour

we rented this mazda 6 from auckland - roturua - wellington
This car is very economical at 2.2 liter engine, but has difficulty in uphill drive

The Mazda6 or Mazda 6 (known as the Mazda Atenza in Japan) is a mid-size car produced by the Japanese car manufacturer Mazda since 2002. The Mazda6 has sold over one million units worldwide since its introduction, hitting that sales milestone faster than previous Mazdas.[1]

The Mazda6 was the first example of the company's new Stylish', Insightful, and Spirited design philosophy followed by the Mazda 2 in December 2002, RX-8 in August 2003, Mazda3 in January 2004, Mazda5 in the summer of 2005, MX-5 in October 2005, and Mazda CX-7 in November 2006. The Mazda6 is the successor of Mazda 626, also known as Mazda Capella and Mazda Cronos. The 2002 Mazda6 is essentially the 4th generation Mazda 626 as the Mazda6 continues on the G-platform, progressing from the GF-platform 626/Capella to the GG-platform Mazda6.

The Mazda6 is currently raced in the SCCAPro Racing Speed World Challenge Touring Car Series. Mazda finished first in the manufacturer's championship standings.[2] Mazda6 drivers also finished first and second in the Touring Car driver points.[

MY FATHER'S RADIO COMMUNICATIONS IN 1967

WHEN i WAS IN KINDER OUR HEADBOARD HAS A PORTABLE RADIO JUST LIKE USED IN VIETNAM, IT IS SO NOISY, THIS IS MY FATHERS RADIO IN WHICH HE GIVES ORDER FROM HIS BEDSIDE... IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT WHEN THERE IS A FIRE OR OTHER MAN MADE OF NATURAL CALAMITY THIS IS SO NOISY.

HE MONITORS AND GIVES URGENT ORDER FROM HERE AT NIGHT,, THIS IS THE REASON WHY I WAS SO ATTUNED FOR 2 WAY RADIO COMMUNICATIONS FOR MY JOB AND FAMILY USE

when ? when? when?

MY DREAM CAR IN 1979.....

in in the 70,s i really want a motorbike, all my classmate has scrambler xcept me, i ask my father to buy me a small honda monkey bike, he bought me a bnew Lancer gl lL type instead....

the top of the range mitsubishi car then was Lambda, its 106,000 then, while the lancer was 42,000

HOTELS from rome, paris london zurich new york..

this is the new york Baltimore, we stayed here for 3 days in our round the world tour with my mother and ate Linda (joey's mom) it is one of the best hotel in new york city just besides the grand central, and even have a grand central theme and design.



THESE ARE SOME OF THE HOTEL WE STAYED IN PARIS.... IN 1970, MY FIRST TRIP TO PARIS, THEY STILL DON'T HAVE CHARLES DE GAUL LE AIRPORT THEN, WE LANDED AT ORLY AIRPORT , BESIDE IT IS PARIS ORLY HILTON. OVER OUR WINDOW I COLD SEE THE 1970 PARIS AIR SHOW. AND I EVEN SEE THE SMOKE OF A TUPOLEV TU 144 WHEN IT CRASH IN THE ORLY FIELD.

AT THE ORLY HILTON COFFEE SHOP, I REMEMBER THE WAITRESS WERE SO ACCOMMODATING TO SAY NO... WHEN I ORDER A HAMBURGER FOR BREAKFAST, THE WAITRESS POLITELY SAY THEY DON'T HAVE HAMBURGER AT THE MOMENT BECAUSE FRENCH AND MAINLAND EUROPEAN JUST EAT BREAD AND BUTTER, BUT THAT IF WE COULD WAIT A WHILE THEY WILL GET ONE FOR ME IN THE MARKET

PARIS RUE DU ROULE
IS THE HOTEL WE STAYED IN DOWNTOWN PARIS, ITS A SMALL HOTEL BUT NICE, YOU HAVE TO BRING YOUR BAGS UPSTAIRS, UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE 16 LARGE SUIT CASES

GLARNISHOF, IS OUR HOTEL IN ZURICH JUST NEAR BANHOFSTRSSSE, A BOUTIQUE HOTEL

MY BIKE.. LOW PROFILE, LOW GAS MILAGE

THIS IS MY MOTORCYCLE........ CAFE RACER

A CAR USES 9 KM PER LITER
MY BIKE BURNS A FRACTION OF THAT

THIS IS DE LA SALLE MANILA
THIS IS WHERE I SPEND 7 YEARS OF GRADE SCHOOL
1968 TO 1973

Dito sa La Salle Taft, napansin ko mas ma higpit at english ang usapan dito, sa La Salle Greenhills bihira lang english doon

na abutan ko pa dati 1968 pag missing homework ka may palo ka sa principal, lalo na pag red mark sa grade

MY FUEL SAVER....

This is a Honda wave 125 cc. one of the cheapest and most reliable under bone today, alot of people look down on it as " for messenger" " baduy" every time i hear this comment on this underbone of mind i feel more proud of it.
I just want them to know that I've been a been there done that guy, Ive driven and owned, nice and wonderful mercs and bimmers to Volvo....and driven all over the world, owed 4 different BMWs, 3 merc, and alot more, but nothing is more fullfilling that driving one of this nice fuel saving cheapskates.....HONDA WAVE.

In the early part of my riding scooters, I feel awkward, some people ridicule me, makes fun out of me.......
now I'm ready to face a new era of fuel crisis while those people , are now just starting to balance on their riding a motorcycle






HONDA WAVE- THE MOST ECONOMICAL BIKE AND RELIABLE .
ITS THE RIGHT BIKE TO BEAT THE RISING PRICE OF FUEL
ONLY HYPOCRITE WILL SAY THAT THIS IS "BADUY" FOR MESSENGER ONLY I HATE THOSE PEOPLE WHO CRITICIZE THIS BIKE...ONE FULL TANK WILL LAST 120KM

above is daniel, my mechanic from honda Shaw, i had a flat tire somewhere

TANAY MARKET, CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN

I feel at home when I am in a market, i like spending time and money there, maybe because my father is a farmer who later on becomes a maket vendor in his youth.


AT THE TANAY PUBLIC MARKET, FRESH AND CHEAP VEGETABLES

MY FACINATIONS WITH SHIPS SINCE CHILHOOD , EVERY VISITING WARSHIPS MEANS A JOURNEY TO PIER 13. and my nautical collections

MY FASCINATION WITH NAVY SHIPS WAS TRULY SATISFIED WHEN WE VISITED IN DETAIL THESE TWO VIETNAM ERA WARSHIPS OF THE 7TH FLEET, THE USS OKLAHOMA CITY, WHICH WAS DOCKED AT PIER 13, DURING XMAS SEASON 1970, MY FATHER ASK ME TO GO WITH HIM TO BE THE CAPTAINS GUEST FOR LUNCH IN THE US S OKLAHOMA CITY, WE WERE GUIDED THRU OUT TE SHIP FROM THE STERN TO THE BOW FROM STARBOARD TO PORT SIDE TO THE BRIDGE TO THE KEEL
LATER WE HAD TURKEY FOR LUNCH WITH THE CAPTAIN AND 4 OTHER OFFICERS , AS WE BID FAREWELL, WE WERE TOLD THAT THE OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE USS OKLAHOMA CITY WILL DISTRIBUTE TOYS FOR OUR CITY INDIGENTS ON 24TH DEC AT OUR HOUSE, WITH IN 24 HOURS 5 TRUCKS 6X6 OF US NAVY FROM SANGLEY BASE PARK IN FRONT OF OUR HOUSE TO UNLOAD THE TOYS FOR THE CHILDREN FOR DISTRIBUTION

"the uss Oklahoma city was a light cruiser and very large compared to Philippine Navy coastal patrol boats, back then I'm always day dreaming of riding the CL5 to Correigidor Island."



ANOTHER SHIP WHICH WE TOURED IS THE USS OKINAWA, AGAIN IN PIER 13, THIS TIME WE TOURED IT NOT SO DETAIL AS THE CRUISER OKLAHOMA, THEY SAID THAT DURING THE VIETNAM WAR THE PASSAGEWAYS ARE FULL OF CASUALTIES...

" One time we were able to travel by ship from Philippine Navy HQ to subic bay on a very stormy sea. we used RPS Mt Samat #21 ( use to be the presidential ship of President Magsaysay"

" i was able to go to Mindoro island via PT boat"

" I was frustrated one time when we went to see a US Navy submarine dock at pier 13, but we were not allowed below deck because of security concerns, i just have to be contented with the conning tower"

" i was able to go inside a full mock up German U boot or U boat at Fisherman's wharf and at the Imperial war museum in London" that was my closest thing in to a submarine.

" when the USS America had a Goodwill visit here, my father was invited again but i was not able to join them because of school, how i wish i have toured that carrier of the US navy, they said it was a test bed for new types of aircraft... "
later i just bought a scale model of USS America by revell