?my light will shine when all else fade.

Thursday, April 26, 2007

hey guys..it's been a long time since i posted here on my blog..anyways, i just want to share you my experience on my 6-day trip to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

April 21, 2007 - bye Atlanta..hello Philadelphia!

We went to Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (Atlanta, Georgia) around 7am. Our departure time is 7:15 am. After 1 hour and 35 minutes, we're in Philadelphia International Airport na! as easy as that..

We check in at Holiday Inn hotel since this hotel was in the center of the city and the Philadelphia attractions was just nearby the hotel. All I have to do is to walk! good thing i brought my comfy slippers (havaiianas) and my rubbershoes..my must-have items includes: sunglass, cap, jacket (since mejo malamig dun), sunblock, camera. I also asked the hotel receptionist to give me a Map of the city so I can walk around the city with it.

Our first stop: Betsy Ross House. Im surprised that there's a lot of tourist in here. Some of them are from other state (texas, minneapolis, hawaii). Well this is the house of Betsy Ross house, who made the flag of America. There's a lot of Historical details about it but i don't want to mention them here. It's a learning experience for me since i know little about the history of America. I took some pictures for you.. see below for the compilation of photos..

Next Stop is the US mint. This is the place where the american dollars were being made. In here, you can see how it was produced. Another interesting place..

Next is the Benjamin Franklin's Burial Place. As we all know, Benjamin Franklin is another historical figure here in America. There's a lot of people buried in this place and I can't recognize most of them.

And then we went to the National Museum of American Jewish History. This is a religious place and I have to follow some restrictions in entering the place. It's like an ordinary museum but the Jewish Culture and believes were the highlight of the museum. There's a lot of sculptures and paintings there. It's a very quiet and peaceful museum.

After that, we went back to the hotel since I'm tired na. We have to rest muna and save my energy for my next adventure.

after my rest..diretso na ako sa Elfreth's Alley. It's the oldest street in America. Irish community as they call this place. And guess what, there are still a lot of people who were still living in the old houses! I've met an old woman who was visiting here from Hawaii. She said I can call her if I want to visit their place someday..

it's getting dark na so i've decided to go back to the hotel..we went to the restaurant called 'Cebu Restaurant'. I thought it's a restaurant with filipino workers but we're wrong. All of the people there were Americans. The manager/owner is a Filipino but he was born and raised here so he can't speak tagalog. The food was fine but it was far from what i expected. The adobo has a different taste! hmpf..i still like the original adobo in the Philippines.

April 22, 2007 - Pinoy Ako

me and my mom went to the Reading Railroad Market. It's a place where you can eat different kind of foods..japanese, chinese, british, name them..they got it all! Whili eating, we've seen two filipinos who was at that place too. We talked to them and guess what, they're from Batanggas too..whatta small world huh? we shared some stories with them about philippines, philadelphia and atlanta. It's fun talking with them and I've learned a lot from them.

after that, we went straight to the Visitor Center to get tickets for the tour bus. We're the first tourist who arrived there. Around 9:30am, we were on the bus na. We went to 27 attractions in Philadelphia (Independence Hall, Batsy Ross House, Elfreth's Alley, Philadelphia Zoo, etc.). the tour guide is really funny and he also came from Atlanta so may connection agad kami sa kanya.
I've met two Japanese girl who was studying at University of Pittsburgh. They're also visiting Philadelphia. They're funny and cute!

after our trip, we went to the Shopping Center called 'The Boarse'. It's a big shopping center. We roam around to see if we can buy souveneirs (I bought t-shirts for Inez, Ashley and Grace. then I also bought key holders). While inside the store, we've seen four filipinos there. We approached them since my mom and I are positive that they were filipinos. Ate Jonalyn, her husband-kuya Jon, kuya Jon's pamangkin-Miguel, and Lolo Manuel. They're from New Jersey (it's just 2 hours drive from Philidelphia.). Miguel is just visiting here in America. He came here last March 30. and he'll be back to the Philippines in May 15. He is studying at San Beda College. Actually, nung nalaman nya na nag-aral ako sa UST, ang unang reaction nya agad "champion kayo sa UAAP dba?". Ang sagot ko naman, "yup..ehh champion kayo ng NCAA dba?"..haha..we have a lot of things in common. We're the same batch as well. second year na xa this June. Then nalaman ko din na UST graduate din si Ate Jonalyn (She's from College of Arts and Letters). Whatta coincidence..It's been 8 years since she visit the university and we agreed to visit UST together, someday.

We all went to the Independence Hall and Liberty Bell. While we were taking pictures, there's an american guy who approach us. He said he overheard us speaking tagalog. It turns out that he stayed in the Philippines for 1 month and still want to come back there..! whatta a small world huh?

it's time to say goodbye na to them..they're going back to New Jersey na.

April 23 - Philadelphia Zoo

around 9am, we went to the zoo na. This is the first zoo in America that's why I'm excited. It's a big zoo and there's a lot of animals in there..giraffe, zebra, lions, tigers, elephant, rhinoceros..there's a lot! almost whole day kami dun..

April 24 - INDEPENDENCE hall and Benjamin Franklin's Science Museum

a fun and learning experience for me..i really like the 'big heart' part their

I've met Russell Smith at the Hotel lobby..a nineteen years old guy who was in the US military! He said that they check in at holiday inn hotel for two days before they will go to Washington..hehe..he's a funny guy and he gave me his email address and phone number.

i also met two Japanese; a boy and a girl. The guy was studying at university of pennsylvania while the girl is just visiting her brother..they're nice naman. They're very rich. As in nakita ko silang bumaba sa limousine. Grabe..they were also check in the hotel.

April 25 - Aquariun

the aquarium place was really nice but i didn't enjoy it that much since there's a lot of students there..

around 6pm, we've decided to eat at the restaurant inside the hotel. It's a very big restaurant but only few people eating there. We've met Jayson Sia and he's a filipino! well, I was talking to him in english and nakakaintindi naman pala ng tagalog! He was working in the restaurant. Ang galing nya mag-english! pero pag kausap nya kami, he was speaking tagalog (ang cute ng tagalog nya kasi may accent na). He was born in the Philippines. His aunt adopted him and at the age of 3, they moved in California. Jayson's aunt died when he was 11 years old. Ayaw na daw nya bumalik sa pinas kasi ma-drama daw ang buhay nya doon. He met his mom at the age of 11 but his mother has her own family na in the philippines. Basta ang dami nya kinwento about his life. He started working at the age of 17. Last year, he moved here in Philadelphia alone. He's 23 years old now. Natutuwa nga si mama sakanya kasi makwento xa. Pinipilit nya talaga mag-tagalog. Nami-miss na daw nya ang mga Pilipino since he grew up in a filipino community in california. My mom get his contact info (mobile #, email, address in philadelphia) in case na mag-visit kami ulit dun. He promised na itu-tour daw nya kami next time. He reminds me of my brother..makulit, makwento..

april 26 - bye philly..!

it's a beautiful day..i still want to stay longer pa sana since naging super friendship ko na yung mga receptionist and room service girl sa hotel..
it's a nice trip..i've met different people from all parts of the world plus i've seen a lot of beautiful places in Philadelphia. I will be back here someday!

SMILE...you're with me!