ten ₱esos

In ten months, October 5 to today, I drove my Jetta 15,300 miles.  I wonder what the tally will be at the one-year mark.  I’ve decided to not drive to and from Baltimore on Labor Day weekend.  »→

On this date in 1969, American Neil Armstrong became the first man to stand on Earth’s moon.

I have gone to Barber Motorsports Park in Leeds, Alabama to watch motorcycle racing.

June 14, 2011

The U.S. Department of State warns of the risks of terrorist activity in the Philippines, particularly in the Sulu Archipelago and on the island of Mindanao.  Terrorist attacks could be indiscriminate and could occur in other areas, to include Manila. Targeted sites may be public gathering places including, but not limited to, airports, shopping malls, conference centers, and other public venues.  This Travel Warning replaces the Travel Warning of November 2, 2010, and updates specific regions of concern and reflects continuing threats due to terrorist and insurgent activities.

Travelers should exercise extreme caution if traveling to Mindanao or the Sulu Archipelago. Regional terrorist groups have carried out bombings resulting in injuries and death.  Sporadic clashes have occurred between lawless groups and the Philippine Armed Forces throughout Mindanao, particularly in rural areas. U.S. Government employees must seek special permission to travel to Mindanao or the Sulu Archipelago. »→

The State Department warns U.S. citizens of the risks of terrorist activity in the Philippines, particularly in the southern Philippine islands of Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago.  Terrorist attacks could be indiscriminate and could occur not only in the southern islands but also in other areas, to include Manila.  Targeted sites may be public gathering places that are frequented by expatriates and foreign travelers, including American citizens.  Such sites could include, but are not limited to, airports, shopping malls, conference centers and other public venues.  This Travel Warning replaces the Travel Warning dated April 2, 2010, to reflect continuing threats due to terrorist and insurgent activities. »→

at E & A Budget Hotel in Penang, in which bedbugs fed on my legs one night last year

See the truck owners’ website, OnceAroundtheWorld.com or EinmalUmDieWelt.Ch.

I have left Panama City to drive north to Birmingham Motorsports Park, in Leeds, Alabama, for a weekend of watching IndyCar racing & Grand Am racing.

»→

The State Department cautions U.S. citizens against travel to eastern Sabah, in Malaysia, due to threat of violence against foreigners from terrorist and criminal groups. 

  There are indications that both criminal and terrorist groups are planning or intend acts of violence against foreigners in eastern Sabah, notwithstanding the Government of Malaysia’s increased ability to detect, deter and prevent such attacks.  The Abu Sayyaf Group, based in the southern Philippines, has kidnapped foreigners in eastern Sabah in the past.  Criminal elements are also responsible for kidnapping and piracy against foreigners.  »→

Here is Uncle Sam’s latest take on the Philippines for Americans intending to visit it:

“November 6, 2009

COUNTRY DESCRIPTION:

The [Republic of the] Philippines is an emerging economy [it's an economy?] with a democratic system of government.  Located in Southeast Asia, the archipelago consists of more than 7,000 [7,107] islands, of which over 800 are inhabited.  The major island groupings are Luzon in the north, the Visayas in the center and Mindanao in the south.  Tourist facilities [What are they?] are available within population centers and the main tourist areas.  English is widely spoken [how does one speak widely?] in the Philippines, and most signs are in English.  »→

American Citizen Services section of U.S. Embassy in Manila:

phones (632) 301-2000, extensions 2246 & 2567

Mondays through Fridays
between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. »→

I flew from Kuala Lumpur to Narita, Japan to Chicago. No hassle at immigration checkpoint in Chicago’s O’Hare Airport;  took only several seconds.
Perhaps the radio frequency identification tag in the front cover of my passport allowed the ‘system’ to call-up my file and display my photo on a clerk’s screen as I approached.

The clerk took my booklet, looked at the photo page and asked, “How long have you been out of the country?” I replied, “Seventeen months.” He stamped a page, returned the passport and said, “Have a nice day” or something similar.
Going through U.S. Customs wasn’t as easy.

Business trip? Family vacation?

Long trips are actually easier on your car than day-to-day driving — but a breakdown far from home can ruin your day -and a vacation or business trip. Extra phone calls, delay of plans, towing charges, rental car cost and a repair bill may be avoided by inspection and preparation of your vehicle, by you or a qualified automotive technician. »→

disservice from Banana Travel and Tours and Banana Cafe:

I had to depart Malaysia by May 30, so I thought that I’d ride a bus or train north to Thailand.  Rather than ride a slow, narrow-gauge  train 19 hours to Bangkok, which may have been an interesting trip, then wander in Bangkok making tourist photos, then come 19 hours back, I opted for an easier solution: a Toyota van ride from New China Penang to the Malaysia/Thailand border just to exit then later reenter Malaysia. »→

This afternoon I bought van tickets for a one-day ‘visa run’ from Penang to Thailand’s border and back, because my Malaysian  Social Visit visa will expire on May 30. I need to exit the country, you see. I can reenter almost immediately and be granted another three-month social visit visa. Many van, bus and train tickets to nearby Thailand are sold each week in George Town to tourists who want to visit Thailand and expats who need to exit New China Malaysia.

In Kuala Lumpur yesterday, I visited the very nice aquarium in the basement of the convention center and visited the Petronas Twin Towers Skybridge again. I walked through downtown to find an affordable hotel and a Thai restaurant. I didn’t make my way to the top of Menara KL (KL tower), which I had half-intended to visit ( for 38 ringgit/$10.78). Maybe next time – in two to three weeks. And I didn’t photograph the twin towers or Menara KL at night, either. I hadn’t taken a camera with me to dinner. »→

I’m ‘stuck ‘in Kuala Lumpur overnight to await the opening of American Citizen Services at 9 a.m. The U.S. embassy’s American Citizen Services will only serve Americans from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Mondays through Fridays except Malay holidays and American holidays. Wow — what exemplary service. So … what do American Citizen Services employees do the other six hours of each workday? »→

A New York Times travel section article in January pegged Penang as number 22 of ”The 44 places to go in 2009.”

My friend Dominic and I flew two hours yesterday, from Clark International Airport in Pampanga, Philippines to Kota Kinabalu International Airport in Sabah, eastern Malaysia. Today we slept late before exploring the city of Kota Kinabalu on foot. Tomorrow morning we’ll fly at 7:00 to Pulau Penang, west of peninsular Malaysia. Penang Island is in Penang state, northwest of Malaysia’s capital city, Kuala Lumpur. »→