AT SEA (day 60)

Today we are in the South Chia Sea, International waters, heading toward Hong Kong. It got pretty exciting there for a few minutes when out of nowhere we heard the thunderous, r-e-a-l-l-y loud, sounds of low flying airplanes overhead. When we looked up we could see that they were military planes. Of course we thought that they were Chinese. Looking out from our balcony we could see ships in the distance. They did not look like Cruise Ships. Looking through binoculars we could easily see that one was an Aircraft carrier. Then there were numerous planes overhead one after the other flying towards the ship in the distance. Woody got really excited when, through the binoculars, he was able to see one land on the carrier. Our ships captain came over the speaker system to tell us that the ships in the distance were American. That in fact that they were doing maneuvers, he said that you can expect this in International waters and that all was well. By the way, the other two ships in the distance were Battleships.

MANILA, continued from yesterday...

SILVER WHISPER PHILLIPPINEO STAFF WAITING FOR THE SHIP TO DOCK SO THAT THEY COULD VISIT WITH TEIR FAMILIES FOR THE DAY

BANDS AND SINGERS AND DANCERS WAITING TO GREET US

THEY PU ON QUITE A SHOW WITH FOLK MUSIC AND TRADITIONAL SONGS

WE VISITED THE VILLAGE OF OLD MANILA, WHICH IS SURROUNDED BY THE WALLS OF FT. SANTIAGO. THE FT. HAS A GRIM HISTORY. IT WAS USED BY THE SPANISH, THE AMERICANS, AND THE JA[PANESE. IT IS NOW A PLEASANT PARK. 

I have more to show you an more to say about Manila but the internet connection is not stable so I will publish what I have now and add more later.