The Smartest Pilot in the World

Stranded in Vigan, one of the prettiest towns in the Philippines.  It was too rainy for the beach, but I could have puttered around the pottery kiln, explored the Crisologo museum, or hopped on a bus to Laoag or Abra province.  Instead . . .  .
  
  
  
  
I hunkered down in the Salcedo Hotel, moping over the weather.  Thunder woke me up the [...]

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Here There Be Dragons

Protesters stormed the ASEAN summit in Thailand.  Thais celebrated the big Songkran holiday, throwing pails of water and squirting Super Soakers at each other.  In the Philippines, on Easter Week, we also had  a wet, stormy story.
My last trip to Vigan.  “Last” is a scary word.
   
    
  
  
  
  
This story will hog the Slow Learners page of this blog for [...]

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Voyages to Vigan

I flew to Vigan four times during the Easter Holidays.  Enough for honorary citizenship in Diego Silang’s Yloko Libre.
We found a charming boutique hotel.  Ate the best dishes Ilocos has to offer.  Sat quietly in the 18th century Cathedral.  Prowled the flea market on Maundy Thursday, fasting on balut and twin popsies.  A real Holy Week hardship.
Explored a bookstore full of quaint old editions — Isak Dinesen essays, [...]

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Mike Finds Oil!

There is an old joke about the three steps needed to ensure success in life:
1.  Work hard
2.  Sleep early
3.  Find oil
Do all three, and you will have a rich and fruitful life. 
Mike found oil at San Fernando, and ensured that he still has a life.  
  
  
  
 

  
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
 
  
  
 
  
 
San Fernando, La Union has a [...]

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The Cross Country Carlo

I was 6,000 miles away in San Francisco when Carlo did his first solo cross-country in the Philippines, a month ago today.  He called me before setting off from Omni Aviation at Clark Field in Pampanga.  I gave him some encouraging words that were really meant to calm my nerves.
This is the second-clumsiest person I know, who [...]

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