OH CHRISTMAS TREE

This is our third Christmas here in the Philippines. Our first year here, we were staying at my cousin's house, we really didn't have a Christmas tree but we did have a white ceramic tree that my sister-in-law gave us one Christmas back in the States. It is 10 inches tall and needs 2 AA batteries for its lights to glow. Here it is:

Beside the white tree is the plaque of the tiny baby Jesus with an angel quietly watching over him while he slept.  It was a gift to us from our dear friend, June Loggins-Hicks a while back and we brought that with us also.  The white tree and the plaque made up our Christmas decoration on our first Christmas here in the Philippines.

Then last Christmas, feeling nostalgic, we went into the pasture to look for a “perfect tree.” This tree, called “manjakaba” by the locals, grow in abundance and is used as fencing to mark one's property. Sort of the hedge apple trees in Kansas farms. I remember using it to make our Christmas tree when I was growing up. I was the decorator in the family so I enjoyed doing it myself. Here is the “manjakaba” tree used as fencing.

Here's a close-up of how the branches look like:

As you can tell by this picture, once you take the leaves off of it, you will have a tree to work on to transform it into a Christmas tree.

 

I like to use it to make our Christmas tree because its branches jut out straight from the trunk on all sides. All you need to do is cut the branches to the desired length and symmetry. You can either have a slim tree or wider tree. I have two choices for my style, either I wrap each branches in green or white Japanese paper that's cut in strips, or I could opt for the Ivory soap process where I lather the white soap with my hands until the lather becomes stiff. I would then cover each branches with the stiff lather. The result is like that of a tree covered in snow. Both options are tedious and takes patience. Last year I used the Japanese paper to cover the branches for our tree.

I sectioned the paper strips then curled them before wrapping the branches to give each branch a little body. But last year I found out, because our windows weren't done yet, we get blow-ins from the Easterlies that prevail during this time of year. “Easterlies” by the way is the wind cycle here in Asia that occurs between November to January. It's wind gusts that sometimes almost feel like typhoon and usually brings with it torrential rain. That's how we get blow-ins. The poor tree got sprayed in from the outside rain plus strong wind blowing in. Before Christmas was over the curly paper that covered the branches became straight and just sort of "hanging" in there. So we called it our "Charlie Brown" Christmas tree. Still, I had the chance to take out our decors and hung them on the tree. That was last year.

This year we debated whether we should buy a fake tree instead, we decided not to. On my trip to Maasin with JJ a couple of weeks ago, we bought several garlands. I had a wonderful idea and I think it works. Here is our staircase all decked out and the middle pillar wrapped with the garlands. This is our Christmas tree this year. As long as I can hang our decorations for me to enjoy I am happy. You see, the decorations on our tree have lots of memories for me. There's an ornament that bears our first Christmas (1987) as husband and wife, Joshua's, Zach's, and JJ's first Christmas ornaments, their ornaments made when they were in Kindergarten, or their laminated pictures shaped like angels they made in their Sunday school classes. Ornaments that mom and dad and my sister-in-law attached on each presents they gave us through the years (mostly dated). Christmas ornaments given by family, friends and colleagues.  I kept them all because I don't want to forget any of them and I want to be reminded of how blessed I am to have them in my life and how God sent them my way. That's why I hang them every year on our tree even on our "Charlie Brown" Christmas tree last year.

Our Christmas tree this year:

Here's one that Zach made when he was in Kindergarten at Faith Christian Academy back in 1998:

This one was made by Josh when he was 3 years old at Sunnyside Baptist Church during his Sunday school class:

Zach proudly took this home from Sunday School in 1996:

Judson's grandma gave this to him for his first Christmas:

Then Judson brought home from his Sunday School class his ornament:

Each year during Christmas when it's time to decorate the tree, I get sentimental and my heart overflows with thanksgiving for all the people God had brought to me, starting with my family, my husband Michael, and to the newest person I met the day before. Our tree does not have the newest shimmering balls or tinsels like others' trees but each time I look at it I am reminded of how great our God had been in our marriage, our families and our friends. Our Christmas tree to me is a strong testament to God's faithfulness throughout the year. TO GOD BE THE GLORY!

Thank you all for following. HAVE A BLESSED CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY.  YOU ARE ONE OF GOD'S MANY BLESSINGS IN OUR LIVES and we love you all!!!

Hong Kong Epilogue

Thirty years ago Mike went to the Jumbo Floating Restaurant with his buddies Gary Lawler and Mel Woods.  He wanted to take me there for our anniversary dinner so after our break, we headed to the Jumbo about 4:00 pm.  By the time we finally found the place it was already dark but the pier is very well lit so that it's hard to miss.

 There is a ferry for the customers docked and ready to take anybody across to get to the restaurant.  The restaurant itself is hard to miss - because of its shimmering lights that's amplified by the water's reflection.  In fact I was tempted to put my shades on because of the brightness.  Once you get in the boat you can't help but notice the typical Chinese decors lavishly painted red and gold.  Like the two giant dragons at the entrance to the stairs that lead to the main receiving area.  We enjoyed a good meal of soup and shrimp and authentic Chinese tea.

After eating we took the ferry back to the pier and headed to Central Piers to take the Star Ferry across the harbor. The view of the lights from the ferry on the harbor is so beautiful, and compared to the pictures from 30 years ago, Mike had a much better camera.

About 30 years ago

Star Ferry pier about 30 years ago

About 30 years ago

After our trip across the harbor on the Star Ferry we headed back to the hotel.  Our flight was the next morning at 8:30 am.  The buses and subways do not start running until about 6:00 am which was cutting our check out time close.  We were unsure if we could get a cab at 5:00 am, but did notice on the map that the subway station appeared to be within walking distance of the hotel.  So, we planned on checking out of the hotel at 5:00 am and walking to the subway station to catch the first train.

Some final thoughts about Hong Kong:

While waiting for the shuttle one morning we picked up the day's paper and came across the editorial that showed how that newspaper felt about President Trump's visit to the region.

Not without controversy, there was a sign about how dangerous the Falun Gong occult is. By the drawing in the picture, one would think they are dangerous vampires. However, and with some superficial research, it appears Falun Gong is a new wave spirituality quasi religion that is at odds with Chinese communism and the Chinese government is trying to quash them. Even though I do not agree with the religious beliefs of the group, I believe, and in America, they would have the right to practice their religion.

As most sites are within walking distance to subway stations, it is recommended to print off a Google street map (for the technologically inept) with your destination and nearest subway station for reference.  For the technologically savvy, you can use your I-Phone.  Or, I am sure there are some good travel guides that can be purchased.  When Mike was in Hong Kong 30 years ago he had the benefit of the Navy providing travel guides.

 

We checked out of the hotel at 5:00 am and walked to the subway station. Got there with time to spare to catch the first train.  We made it to the airport on time and started our trip back to the Philippines. We arrived in Manila about 10:00 and exchanged our left over Hong Kong dollars back to Pesos. We had lunch at the Army Navy Burger and Burrito restaurant in the airport and waited for our flight to Tacloban. We arrived in Tacloban about 5:30 pm and took a jeepney to the the bus terminal. The jeepney driver kept goosing the throttle and we were jerked back and forth the whole trip. At the terminal we found a van for Hinunangan . The driver wanted to wait to see about filling the van. About 7:00 we were still the only customers so we went ahead and left. Mike has not had motion sickness very often, even when at sea, however, Mike started to feel motion sickness at the half point in the trip. Again, the driver was goosing the throttle and the speeds he was driving made for an erratic drive. The driver made the trip in under 2 hours. It takes us about 2 ½ hours when we drive it and that is with Mike pushing it. We were glad to be home and out of that van.

It was a good trip (with the exception of the van ride). Thinking back to when Mike was there 30 years ago, he had the benefit of being there several times and for 3 – 4 days each time.  The 2 days that we had there this time was nice, but Hong Kong needs more than a couple of days to explore. We found we could do one attraction in the morning, have lunch in that location then head to another attraction. At the second attraction we could enjoy supper. With the subway systems the way they are, it did not even matter if the attractions were across town. And, if you are really adventurous, it appears the subway ties into light rail going to Peoples Republic of China. Thirty years ago Mike had the unique opportunity to go to Peking, the Great Wall, Forbidden City and Tianamen Square and Mike recommends these areas.

Thank you for following and God bless y'all.