Make no mistake: I love Hong Kong and Chinese culture.
And, now that I've got a job lined up, I'm even more thankful that I'm based in such a vibrant and exciting city.
But, I've got to be honest and say that the crowds -- at least in the Times Square and Causeway Bay areas -- are getting to me a bit.
It seems as if -- naturally, I guess -- the restaurants and stores have just been teeming with people for the last few days.
It is Lunar New Year, after all, so I guess I shouldn't be too surprised.
But even if I got used to the crowds, I'd still have to navigate them.
And the temperature here is dropping to near, or below, 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
Frankly, the last week has felt like Christmas in America and that's not necessarily a good thing for me to deal with.
So when I was offered a chance to go to the Philippines -- for the first time -- with someone special for 5 days, I jumped.
Trouble is, the last minute tickets involved an odd itinerary: No direct flights to Davao -- our destination -- so, instead, we have to stop in Manila.
At midnight.
And wait for a 4:30 AM flight into Davao.
It's hot.
It's hot like an August afternoon in New Orleans.
Luckily, Jollibee is 24 hours here! Nothing like 2 cheese-covered hot dogs, Coke Lights, Chicken Joy, and a sundae at 1 AM!
And now we're waiting in a largely deserted terminal for a flight out of here in 3 hours while the family in front of us cranks Bon Jovi tunes on an iPhone (presumably).
For the next 4 days I'll be relaxing in the warm climes of the Philippines.
I plan on going to the beach, seeing a monkey or two, and eating like a pig as I eat suckling pig!
