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Carefree
Advanced Member
Philippines
4212 Posts |
 Posted - 21 March 2016 : 14:21:47
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I'm in Bismarck ND, on the way back to the Philippines. I called the airport when I found out the bus station closed at 4:30; just to make sure they would be open all night. They said, "Sure, we don't close." I asked how much the taxi fare was to the airport and was told about 9.50 - not sure the driver took me the most direct route, because it was 14.30.... Well, I just tried to check in and was told they couldn't take my suitcase because they close at about midnight for about 3 1/2 hours ... and it's supposed to be about 20 degrees and snowing tonight. So now I will have to pay for another taxi back to town, sit in a convenience store for 3 1/2 hours, and then take another taxi again back out here in the early morning. Doesn't that sound like a great beginning to a trip?
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richfed
Average Member
United States
999 Posts |
Posted - 21 March 2016 : 14:34:15
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| Good time to work on coding?!? Good luck on the rest of the journey. |
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Carefree
Advanced Member
Philippines
4212 Posts |
Posted - 21 March 2016 : 17:32:49
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| Well, it is primarily a huge pain in the rectum. I'm confined to a wheelchair and I have my laptop bag, my bag full of electronics and medicine, and a suitcase. So now I have to get someone else to drag the suitcase when I am ready to go ... and I have to carry the other 60 pounds or so on my lap. My back and head hurt quite a bit, but I cannot medicate myself because there's no security to watch belongings. Fun trip. |
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AnonJr
Moderator
United States
5768 Posts |
Posted - 22 March 2016 : 13:15:40
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Sounds like a book in the making... if it wasn't for that nagging bit about poor access to the laptop.
I'd offer to help, but ND (much less Bismarck) is a bit too far away for a day trip.  |
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Doug G
Support Moderator
USA
6493 Posts |
Posted - 23 March 2016 : 12:04:47
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Ah, Bismarck. The only place I ever ran out on a parking ticket, back in the 70's I flew in to service some equipment, it had snowed a lot and no parking near the office where I had to work, so I kinda angled in the snowbank as best I could. Came out a few hours later to fly back to Denver, and there was a parking ticket on my rental. I didn't feel obligated since the city hadn't (couldn't) clear parking places on the streets.
Isn't the terminal heated and couldn't you stay there? I spent quite a few overnighters in airport terminals over the years.
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Doug G
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Computer history and help at www.dougscode.com |
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Carefree
Advanced Member
Philippines
4212 Posts |
Posted - 23 March 2016 : 13:49:33
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| I ended up spending most of the night in a Denny's. When the taxi took me back to the airport, I saw that people were already there at 2:45 .. and someone just opened the door for me. Probably could have stayed there the entire time if it wasn't for the bureaucrats. Had a minor heart attack on the leg of the trip from Dallas to Tokyo. Blood pressure was 208/193. They wanted to admit me, but I couldn't afford to stay there and potentially miss my municipal tax appointment. So now I am back in the Philippines. |
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Doug G
Support Moderator
USA
6493 Posts |
Posted - 24 March 2016 : 14:01:50
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| I'm glad you are back safely and maybe done traveling for a while. |
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Doug G
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Computer history and help at www.dougscode.com |
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Carefree
Advanced Member
Philippines
4212 Posts |
Posted - 25 March 2016 : 08:48:29
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| I went about 2 hours north of Manila today, spent the day with the family of a nice lady. Traffic was horrible, like normal in Manila; since the metroplex has about 19 million people, you can imagine what the traffic can become. |
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Doug G
Support Moderator
USA
6493 Posts |
Posted - 25 March 2016 : 19:44:20
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| Never got to Manila, back in 'Nam days our ship would drop in to Subic Bay once every couple months. Closest I got to Manila was Clark AFB where I stayed for a day and a half waiting for a MATS hop to Tokyo. |
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Doug G
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Computer history and help at www.dougscode.com |
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Carefree
Advanced Member
Philippines
4212 Posts |
Posted - 26 March 2016 : 00:14:45
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| I was stationed at Clark when Mt Pinatubo erupted in 91. Angeles City (outside Clark) was known as the "whorehouse of the Orient" for a while, now Thailand (as a country) has acquired the title. I also spent some time at Subic, Cubi Point, Camp John Hay, Cebu, etc. |
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Doug G
Support Moderator
USA
6493 Posts |
Posted - 26 March 2016 : 16:00:23
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quote:
I also spent some time at Subic, Cubi Point, Camp John Hay, Cebu, etc.
Bringing back nice memories of sitting in the EM Club at Subic sipping (well, drinking) San Miguels :)
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Doug G
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Computer history and help at www.dougscode.com |
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Carefree
Advanced Member
Philippines
4212 Posts |
Posted - 27 March 2016 : 10:55:22
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| They are re-opening Subic, creating a new USN port there. San Miguel is the only really regulated beer here (as far as alcohol content). Red Horse is a toss-up. One bottle might be 3.5%, the next might be 14%. Used to laugh at the newbies who would drink a couple of the lower alcohol content bottles, think they could drink it all night. Then drink one which was 14-18% alcohol and end up falling down drunk. |
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Doug G
Support Moderator
USA
6493 Posts |
Posted - 28 March 2016 : 00:35:23
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It seems to me there were not many choices of beers in the Enlisted Mens club.
By the way, are there still lots of colorful jitneys roaming the streets of Olongapo City? |
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Doug G
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Computer history and help at www.dougscode.com |
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Carefree
Advanced Member
Philippines
4212 Posts |
Posted - 28 March 2016 : 12:39:30
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| In Olangapo and every other city in the Philippines. |
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Small Towns
