SCHROEDER BLOG

Magdapio Falls

2006-08-24T03:08:00.000-07:00

Shooting the Rapids

2006-08-24T02:57:00.000-07:00

Pagsanjan River

2006-08-24T02:51:00.000-07:00

Philippine Cultural Show

2006-06-25T03:42:00.000-07:00

Bamboo Raft

2006-06-25T03:39:00.000-07:00

Labasin Waterfalls Restaurant

2006-06-25T03:34:00.000-07:00

Carabao Drawn Cart

2006-06-25T03:31:00.000-07:00

Escudero Private Museum

2006-06-25T03:28:00.000-07:00

Villa Escudero

2006-06-25T03:22:00.000-07:00

Canadian Friends

2006-06-18T23:11:00.000-07:00

Relaxing...

2006-06-12T20:52:00.000-07:00

At Sunset

2006-06-12T20:47:00.000-07:00

Along the Strip

2006-06-12T20:43:00.000-07:00

The White Sands of Boracay

2006-06-12T20:40:00.000-07:00

BUDDA MARY and 1 of over 200 Japanese Caves

2006-04-27T22:07:00.000-07:00

A gift from the Japenese to the war memorial on Corregidor. It is a melding of the Buddha and the Virgin Mary.

While the Japenese occupied the island they dug hundreds of tunnels around the island, Here is an opening to a tunnels that was exposed when a typhoon hit the island.

Malinta Tunnel

2006-04-27T21:59:00.000-07:00

Built by the Americans over 10 years from 1922 to 1932, Malinta tunnel served as the main headquarters during the seige of Corregidor. It housed both American and Filipino soldiers, Gen.Douglas MacArthur, and President Quezon, as wells as a 1000 bed hospital. Many of the lateral tunnels were secret and even the workers who built them were taken to and from the tunnels blindfolded. Many lateral tunnels were damaged during the war, some are still yet to be escavated. After the surrender of Corregidor, The Japanese took over the tunnel. They occupied the island for 3 years until it was recovered in Jan. 1945. We had a chance to explore some of the tunnels with only a flashllight, you can still see the scars of war on the inside walls of the tunnel. When the Amercan retook the tunnel they trapped the Japenese inside and poured napalm down the airshafts, nyone trying to flee out the exits were met with the machine guns Shirley is standing behind. The walls of the deep shafts of Malinta still have black residue from the fires.

Pacific War Memorial and Gen. Douglas MacArthur

2006-04-27T21:56:00.000-07:00

Shown here is the dock from which Gen Macarthur reluctantly left the Island. He was told by president Roosevelt 3 times to leave before he fianlly did. This is also the place where he made his famous "I shall return" speech and promise.

This dome at the Pacific War Memorial has a hole cut at the top and a large circular altar beneath. On the altar is written: Sleep, my sons, your duty done, for freedom’s light has come. Sleep in the silent depths of the sea or in your hallowed bed of sod until you hear at dawn the low clear reveille of God." The sun through the hole in the dome falls directly on the circular altar only one day out of the year – May 6, the day Corregidor fell.

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Spanish Light House

2006-04-27T21:52:00.000-07:00

Batteries and Barracks

2006-04-27T21:48:00.000-07:00

These barrack at the time where the longest barracks ever built. Stretching slightly over a mile long, these barracks housed over 2000 US officials.
These barrack have obviously seen better days, but we still had the chance to go up and explore. I was on the third story when i realized that there was a decent sized hole in the stairs i had chosen to go down.

This is Battery Way, one of 20 batteries throughout the island. These were all set up by the American and all made from Bethlehem Steel , all the way from Bethlehem PA. The guns shown here are either 12 or 14 inch mortars and have a range of around 17 miles. The last photo shown is of a close call from a Japanese mortar, you can see the impact ans spray from the shrapnel. These shraplen holes are all over the island and remind you of what happened, much more real that seeing something in a museum.

For more great pictures (not ours) go here. http://216.117.214.84/Corregidor/Corregidor.html

Corregidor: the tadpole-shaped island

2006-04-27T21:43:00.000-07:00

Corregidor is divided into 4 major sections, Topside, Middleside, Bottomside, and Tailside. when the US retook the island, Paratroopers jumped from planes flying as low as 400 feet and and landed on topside. The drop zone was so small that only 8 jumpers could land at a time. In picture 2, we are on Topside facing the tail which curves towards Manila Bay.

Victoria

2006-04-05T22:06:00.000-07:00

Beautiful British Columbia

2006-04-05T22:01:00.000-07:00

Family

2006-04-05T21:52:00.000-07:00

Dirty South...Alabama

2006-04-05T21:46:00.000-07:00

Bellevue, WA

2006-04-05T21:40:00.000-07:00

Calgary

2006-04-05T21:34:00.000-07:00

Taal Volcano in Tagaytay

2006-04-05T20:44:00.000-07:00

Caving in Sagada

2006-04-05T20:27:00.000-07:00

Banaue Rich Terraces

2006-04-05T20:16:00.000-07:00

Mag-aso Falls

2006-01-07T02:19:00.000-08:00

Punta Cruz Watch Tower in Maribojoc

2006-01-07T02:00:00.000-08:00

DAKS & GAMS (Dagko & Gagmay=Big & Small)

2006-01-05T07:46:00.000-08:00

Tarsier...the world's smallest monkey

2006-01-05T07:17:00.000-08:00

Beautiful Bohol

2006-01-05T06:41:00.000-08:00

Bazaar shopping at Greenhills

2005-12-14T06:56:00.000-08:00

More Santiago

2005-12-14T06:53:00.000-08:00

Fort Santiago

2005-12-14T06:50:00.000-08:00

Frisbee

2005-12-14T06:46:00.000-08:00

2005-11-01T01:35:00.000-08:00

At the Fort there was a bazaar so we took a look around. Shirls found these Japanese style fountains that were only about $12CND so she bought one. The guy selling them also gave us a deal when he found out we were from Canada, because he had a brother in Burnaby. Also the taxi driver had a sister in Canada, possibly White Rock (it was loud so we couldn't understand him at times)

THE FORT

2005-11-01T01:28:00.000-08:00

NEW FRIENDS

2005-11-01T01:26:00.000-08:00

BEST LAID PLANS...

2005-10-22T21:16:00.000-07:00

Last week i had the brilliant idea that we should get a pitcher and make out own juice by boiling water in the kettle instead of always buying bottles of water. So we bought a pitcher and stocked up on drink mix. I boiled water for our drink, but got impatient and forgot to let it cool down before pouring it into the plastic pitcher. This is the result (the drink is Calamansi Ice Tea)

It shrunk to about half its original size, but it still holds water and the lid still goes on so of course i am keeping it. Even better was that when we went out and the cleaner came in he washed it out and left it for us

FRIDAY NIGHT

2005-10-22T21:12:00.000-07:00

On friday we got together with a friend of Shirley's and her friends to go watch the movie DOOM, although the movie was horrible, it was nice to get out and do something with other people. We were also invited to go play Ultimate frisbee at the Manila Polo Club with then this week so that should be good
Here's Shirls and Steph at a lounge after the movie

MANILA MEGA MALL

2005-10-22T21:04:00.000-07:00

On Sunday we met up with Shirls' cousin and his wife and took the MRT (like our skytrain) to the famous 5 story MEGAMALL. We had lunch and then went our seperate ways to explore the mall. Unfortunatly we went during the last day of a huge sale. and the mall was packed, We probably only got to really see half the mall. We did however find the ice rink which seems really odd cause it was so hot outside (high of 35º that day) We stayed for a bout 3 or 4 hours then took the MRT back to Ayala.

BUBBA GUMP SHRIMP

2005-10-22T20:56:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we ate at a resturant called BubbaGump Shrimps, where everything is from the movie Forrest Gump. When you need something from the waiter all you need to do is flip the sign over to "Stop Forrest Stop" and they will come to your table. I landed up eating my meal as well as a good part of Shirley's due to the fact that she ordered the biggest meal on the menu.

STARBUCKS AND MORE

2005-10-22T20:46:00.000-07:00

Rizal Park

2005-10-07T21:12:00.000-07:00

The 58-hectare (143 acre) Rizal Park is named for Dr Jose Rizal, renowned Philippine anti-colonialist, writer and philosopher. The park is one of the largest in South East Asia, and is a green lung much used by the residents of Manila for recreation and entertainment. The park features numerous ornamental gardens, a chess plaza and a skating rink. In a pond on the east side of the park the Philippines archipelago has been recreated in miniature. There are also some museums and public buildings within the park, and after sunset a sound and light exhibit featuring the martyrdom of Dr Jose Rizal is to be seen.

Intramuros Manila

2005-10-07T20:57:00.000-07:00

This is "Old Manila". The old city walls still surround this "city within a city". Most of the buildings such as this church are the oldest in Manila, and the Spanish influence can still be seen in this area. We hope to go back and walk along the walls that date back to 1500's (which they have now built a golf course around) Even the streets have the original cobblestone. I also saw a Wendy's which i would assume also dates back to at least the 1500's.

The World War II Manila American Cemetery

2005-10-07T20:49:00.000-07:00

The hillside cemetery contains over 70,000 white marble crosses marking rows of graves of those who died in battle. The circular memorial contains the names of those missing in action engraved in marble columns; huge wall mosaics depict battle scenes from WWII, and a small chapel is located here.

ALL HULK, ALL THE TIME

2005-10-03T05:54:00.000-07:00

This is my favorite channel here in the Phillipines, I have no idea what it is but it is always this green and so it looks like the Incredible Hulk network.

MORE MAKATI

2005-10-03T05:44:00.000-07:00

One of the many fountains at Greenbelt

Back view of the Church at Greenbelt Park, this open air dome is on an island in the middle of a pond filled with Koi and other fish, 4 bridges connect it to the surrounding banks.

Not too many of these in the city, but there are tons of Jeepneys outside in the smaller areas

Shirls in the lobby of Shangri-la Makati, we stayed at the Shangri-la Cebu last year, very fancy.

THE NEW OFFICE

2005-09-30T20:32:00.000-07:00

This is where i am set up for the next while, soon this desk will be covered in a sea of post-it notes and storyboards. I' ve nick-named it my "Kubrikal" due to all the orange it looks like a scene from The Shining.

ANIMALS OF GREENBELT

2005-09-30T20:29:00.000-07:00

SHIRL'S HAIRCUT

2005-09-30T20:27:00.000-07:00

OLD HAIR!!!

NEW HAIR!!!

GREENBELT PARK

2005-09-30T20:01:00.000-07:00

Just around the corner from the hotel is Greenbelt Park, which is connected to the Greenbelt shopping center, a giant mall, with a variety of resturants (including a BubbaGump Shimps), a cinema, and everything else you could want. Shirls has explored most of it.

NEW PLACE

2005-09-26T14:36:00.000-07:00

OLD PLACE

2005-09-26T14:33:00.000-07:00

Day 1: The Flight

2005-09-26T04:17:00.000-07:00

Our flight was due to leave at 11:55 pm Thursday night, so wednesday night we pulled an all-nighter trying to get our place ready for inspection before we left, plus i still had a storyboard to finish, We spent the rest of the day putting stuff in storage, and then headed out to the airport by 8:30 to check in. Both our families were there to see us off, and we got to spend some time with them before we left. We said all our goodbye's and went through security ready to begin our adventure, we were so glad after a panic few weeks of panic to just be almost on the plane. Then we found out our flight was delayed due to mechanical problems (oh good). At first it got pushed off till 12:45, not bad only a 2 hour wait, then it was 1:45am, then 3:15....
and then by 5 we had to leave the airport, the flight was cancelled untill further notice. now we had nowhere to go, we had already given up our apartment, we could either share a hotel room with other people from the flight or take a long taxi ride, to Shirl's parent. We chose the taxi. We got to Shirl's parent by 6 and crashed for a couple hours (Note: all our bags are checked in so we had nothing but the clothes we are wereing at the time for those counting this is about hour 40 in the same cloths for me.) We were told that there would be a flight at 5pm on friday and to be at the airport by 2pm, so after saying our goodbyes a second time we went to the checkin and were informed that this flight was delayed until 11 pm. So it was back to shirl's parents,
we killed time by watching Tim Burton's "A Corpse Bride"(very good) and going to a family dinner. At the family dinner I was lucky enough to have my pants thrown up on only a few minute before we had to leave for the airport, We checked in again, and dirty pants and all got on the plane and were finally off the ground, We both were so relieved to be on the plane, that we didn't care we had been in the same clothes for over 3 days, we passed out and when we woke up we were nearly in manila. We arrived in Manila airport at roughly 4 am, by 6 we were at the hotel (sumerset millienium) and by 8 we were having our free breakfast, we then slept for a bit, then explored the mega malls at Ayala center, We ate our first meal at Kenny Rogers "Roasters" and then headed home for a nap at about 3pm. This nap lasted till 4 am when we both woke up wide awake, luckily, it worked out that that was dyatime in Canada so we got to talk to a few people. We had breakfast at 7 and then waited for the driver to pick me up to take me to PASI. it took about 0.000125ths of a second to start sweating while waiting on the sidewalk outside the hotel. so that was day 1 and the start of day 2.

GROUNDED

2005-09-01T11:29:00.000-07:00

Due to racial profileing, Bijou will not be allowed onboard the aircraft and will be bunking with friends back home. here he is waiting for some illegal downloads for his mix CD to finish. Also it appears i have a package to pick up.

SOLD!!

2005-08-31T15:34:00.000-07:00

We have just laid claim to our first piece of internet property along the information superhighway. (right between a rest stop and a Denny's)

Our plan is to document our time working overseas so that years from now people can look back and see what a crappy digital camera we have.

we are set to head out somethime near the end of september, and will be back in roughly 6 months, thats when the exciting posts will start... but for now, feel free to read this one as many times as you like.