Venue Arrival

July 31, 2008,

Here at the venue in Manila. It would be called a firetrap in the United States and they would shut it down. It is old, broken down, dirty, but it will work for the 5 hours it will be used by Passion. They shut the number of tickets sold off at 7600…that is several hundred more than capacity with the stage the way it is set. They had to turn down 750 more very upset students the past couple days…who wanted to register 2 days before the event. That is the culture here in Manila, they like to wait till the last minute and usually show up late. It is a shame we did not have a bigger venue, but you never know.
It is very hot and humid. For load-in there is NO air conditioning on and it is Houston hot and humid after a big downpour.

Apparently this is the place to get jeans “designed” and hand made however you want them. Most everyone is doing that and paying anywhere from $90-$170 US Dollars per pair. But, they are said to be the top of the line, hand designed however you want them. I am just not that person. Now, if Todd were here…

Jim

Manila Arrival

July 30, 2008, (I think) 5:15pm

Whew! That was a long flight! BUT, I have learned, I am sure most of you know this already, that if you are going to fly LONG International Flights, Business Class is the way to go. You actually CAN sleep and stretch out, relax and really rest. I also figured out why we went to Detroit, MI. I know I am saying the obvious to most, but remember, I am a “virgin” International Traveler. We flew the curvature of the earth and went up into Canada and over Juneau, Alaska before coming down to land in Nagoya, Japan. That was not on our itinerary. It is just a 2 hr. layover, but now I can say I have been to Japan. I know the last leg, in October I will be back to Tokyo, but this was a surprise.

So, Here I am in the Nagoya Airport in Central Japan awaiting to get back on the plane I just got off to finish this first trip to begin Leg 2 of the Passion World Tour. I am so looking forward to this part of the tour and see what God has planned for the students of the East.
I may not be able to post this blog until I arrive in Manila. We will see.

Wednesday Night, 2330 hrs (11:30pm)
Well, A long 2 days but I have finally arrived here in Manila, Phillipines. Where's Todd? Miss you bro; sorry, I will not say that again though, I know it hurts. Ok, so the Hotel is nice, it is dark so we did not see much upon our arrival. Will see and visit the venue and City tomorrow before the Event on Friday.
I want to get this out and to bed as I have not slept yet since I left to make sure I have no Jet Lag. I think it will be great because I did not sleep for more than 2 hours as of yet.

Leg 2 Begins with a Strikeout!

July 29, 2008,

Well, here it is, Leg 2 of this extraordinary journey around the world in “less than 80 days."
Today is my oldest son’s birthday. He is no longer a “teen-ager”. Yea!
Todd is NOT with me as Houston PD is so shorthanded that he was told he could not go. He is very disappointed and I am not sure how things will go without him.
My family is “in the middle” of moving to Austin. I have to be there within a week of my return and my wife Donna is still getting the house ready to sale. I just heard yesterday that our loan is approved for the “new” house in Dripping Springs. WAHOO!

NOW BACK to this journey. I am sitting in Houston Airport awaiting my flight to Detroit and then on to Manila. Let’s see, it is hot in Manila, Malaysia and Jakarta. Then on to Southern Hemishpere, where it is winter time and COLD in Africa, South Africa, Johannesburg & Cape Town. Apparently, we will have a 1 day SAFARI. Wow, that sounds like fun, we will see.
Anyway, a lot to do and so little time and no one to share it with this time. My wife, Donna is not here and my bro, Todd, is not here for a Passion event, strange!
Sign off for now, no pictures yet and I hope I can do as well as Todd did on the blog for the first leg. I like to write the adventures, just usually, never find the time.

On the plane, Northwest Airlines; going Northeast from Houston...to get Southwest to Manila; strange. Go figure! And gas is at a premium?

I have 2 of the best bosses in the business. (I hope they read this). We are always short-handed and to lose a Regional Supervisor for weeks at a time. I know it makes things a little more difficult for everyone involved. I know I had calls from a State and Local agency that I had to pass on to someone else. Maybe I will have to let my bosses beat me in golf next time out. Speaking of golf, I have to play with some of my brothers again to rid myself of this "pink putter." For those wondering. When any of the (5) brothers play golf together, the highest score of the day has to keep the pink putter in their bag until he beats one of the brothers the next time to get rid of it. This was my first time with the pink putter and hopefully the last.
Well, we are descending into Detroit, MI for about a 2-3 hour layover before my trip across Western US and the Pacific to Manila. I have some work and emails to do before I leave the US and hope I can blog and post this before I leave with perhaps a couple photos.