A Long Pause.

I haven't posted since last year; the last entry was posted in the mid-days of December 2013.
It was a very long pause, indeed.

Pause is a temporary activity. Rest can be arbitrary, either awhile or permanent.

When we talk about rest, many things come to mind. Rest and recreation for one.

If you scan your facebook account, you'd notice friends and friends of friends posting photos from their vacations or long rest or for those in the IPO (call centers), their trip-incentives or group events are taken as respite from their monotonous work load.

Planning for a much needed rest sometimes leads to stress. Whether it's a local tour or overseas, scheduling for flight, accommodation and itinerary can be nerve-wracking and strenuous.

When I was regularly flying from Canada to P.I., I used to rotate booking my flights from several travel agencies. And lately, with just one agency, which was a stone's throw away from where I used to live.

On a long drive to the Big Apple from Canada, at the Rockefeller Center in Manhattan

Taking long drives within the East and West Coasts in the U.S., and in Canada was my preferred way of taking vacation. That way, I controlled my own pace and saw and appreciated places which were hidden in tour packages.

But of course, I also joined some group tours, especially out of U.S. and Canada.

Travelling locally and in East Asia, I find it better to book my own trip/s.  With the help of Internet resources, it's now a breeze to select cheap flights and accommodation, even "banca" trips in remote islands.

On a past trip to Singapore without help from travel agent

In the early eighties, I went on a trip to Mountain Province in the famous Rice Terraces and made a side trip to Sagada. Back then, the road leading to Bontoc and Sagada were so much treacherous than today, and the jeepney our group hired on a whim going to Sagada, thank God, proved sturdy enough for the gravel-paved mountain trek.

On a trip to Caramoan last Summer, I personally booked the beach front accommodation on the island, and relied on "customer reviews" and travel blogs for the intricacies of the vacation. And on a trip to Boracay, I did away with an expensive package which a sister took for her group, and instead, booked my own flight and hotel.

A Boracay trip arranged thru Internet

In my extended family, I have always been asked to take charge of arranging "get aways" for the whole clan. I don't complain.

So, if you're planning for a summer get away locally, consult the numerous travel blogs and book via the various booking engines.

For international vacations, I might just do what I am training myself to do: be my own travel agent.
For instance, a neighbour said it's cheaper to fly to Australia via Singapore.

Becoming one's travel agent maybe too much work, but if one can save hundreds of pesos or dollars, it would be worth the try.

A Beautiful Flight

Singapore and Malaysian Sojourn

 

Eureka, Merdeka, Tae ka.

EUREKA.
After four days exploring the City of the Lion, we flew from Singapore to Malaysia's capital, Kuala Lumpur. No, we were not the advance party of President Noynoy.






















TOP Merlion, a top attraction at the Sentosa Park in Singapore.

In Singapore, we learned the subway system quickly. We landed at the Changi Airport and our nephew picked us up
and hired an MB Van to haul seven of us to his Apartment somewhere in the northern part of the city called Sembawang.




















Sembawang was a very clean and lovely piece of Singapore. Beneath my nephew's apartment was a food court which sold Singapore and Chinese cuisine, and was open 24/7. On our second day, before exploring Universal Studios at the Resort World, we partook of rice, beef, chicken and noodles in this busy eatery. And one late evening before we headed back to the apartment, we had dinner in this never lonely Chinese "turo turo."

Food prices ranged from 2.50 to 9.00 SGD. Tiger Beer sold in big bottles cost 4.50 SGD. At the Universal Studio,
one regular bottle of Tiger
sold for 9.00 SGD, and at the Chinatown, it cost me 5.00 SGD.

And at the Sembawang MRT station, there was another food court syle restaurant where combo meals fetched for as low as 3 SGD.

While we were there, the Singapore dollar was almost at par with the US dollar, at 1.23.

Across Jei and Dina's 130 plus-square metre Unit is the Sembawang MRT station where we took endless rides. From Sembawang to Universal Studios, we paid each 3.00 SGD. We had to transfer from the Red train to Purple train at Dhobby Gaut, and took a monorail going to ResortWorld, for 2.00 SGD.

RIGHTMOST. Chinatown was two stops away from Harbourfront, is a haven for bargain priced souvenirs.
Like any other tourist, our group, wherever we went, took pictures of ourselves and of scenes, for the benefit of the FaceBook world.

Singaporeans are a disciplined people. We didn't find any chewing gum at the stores.

The MRT stations and trains were immaculately clean and crowded all the time. My companions who are all used to riding cars in Manila had to hustle for seats while the Singaporeans stood firmly on their feet.

On our first day walking, I wore my Islander flip flops with my shorts and tee shirt. On the second day which was billed Shopping Day, I bought a pair of beige suede Aldo sneakers at the Harbourfront Mall. It
was not on schedule but I could not resist the look of that comfortable pair of Aldos. At home, I have two shoe cabinets full of shoes of which I wear only three on a regular basis.

Ms. Universe, TOYZ, bought a pair of Aldo's sunglasses, Singapore t-shirts and three bagfull of souvenirs and give aways. My two sisters, nephew, niece and bro in law were always looking for currency exchangers and ATMs to cover shopping expenses. IPad (32 MG) was a bargain at 600 plus SGD.

At Jei and Dina's, we enjoyed "sinigang na salmon," fried coiled fish, and spicy chicken on our first dinner.
We took over two big air conditioned rooms and one toilet/shower for the duration of our stay.

On our third day which was my birthday, Jei and Dina took us to a Korean restaurant at the Takashimaya for a sumptuous 'shabu shabu" -style dinner.

On our fourth day, we went shopping at Chinatown after mass and lunch. Jei bought us a glass of the Singaporean "halo halo." It was good but nothing compared to our local "halo halo."

Singapore's Chinatown, much like the rest of Singapore, was clean and very organized. There's haggling for prices and the salespeople knew some Tagalog phrases such as "mura, and maganda."

Singapore is home to thousands of OFWs. One time as we struggled with the MRT ticket system, a Pinoy who looked Chinese taught us how to get a ticket.

And in Kuala Lumpur, at the KL Sentral, two Pinays gladly took us to the ticket counter, talked to the clerk and got us headed to our Hotel via two 13-Malaysian Ringgit "teksis" in contrast to a 35-RM per "teksi" ride outside Sentral.

TOP RIGHT. The world-renown Petronas Tower in Kuala Lumpur, featured in the Sean Connery- Catherina Zeta Jones movie, The Entrapment which houses several malls.















RIGHT, A leap at the park across the Petronas Tower.

MERDEKA.
On March 7th, we took a Tiger flight to Kuala Lumpur. As per Jei's instruction, we could take a van to our KL hotel. We soon found out that the van ride would cost 150 RM. A booth nearby was selling AeroBus tickets for 8 RM per passenger and told us we could get a BIG taxi for seven of us at the KL Sentral for 25 RM.

At KL Sentral, we first discovered how "business-minded" Kuala Lumpur drivers were. Outside the station, one cab driver demanded 30 RM for the trip to the hotel. Thus, two cabs would cost 60 RM. When we didn't buy their prices, they got edgy and drove away.

With the help of two Pinays, we settled for two "teksis," for 13 RM each. The trick is, you have to get a cab inside KL Sentral. You pay inside and present the stub to the cab driver.

Getting a "teksi," soon became a joke and a nightmare. On the side of a cab, the government warning is plastered. "Always demand that the driver flag down the metre and ask for a receipt."

"Teksi" drivers were a varied lot. Most charged a flat rate, but some followed the legal way of metred fares.

RIGHT, A structure at the Merdeka Square in Kuala Lumpur.

For example, going home from KL's Chinatown to our hotel, the Cititel Express Hotel, (BELOW) one driver was charging 35 RM. We finally got a "teksi" for 20 RM. Another "teksi" driver was asking for 35 RM to drive us to the Malaysian Immigration at Demaran but we found one for 20 RM. On the way back, the "teksi's" metre was down and only charged us 12 RM.

From walking and shopping, to haggling with "teksi" drivers and getting surprised with too spicy foods, we took a respite and went to the Bintang section of Kuala Lumpur. At Bintang, the main attraction was Massage. You got all types of massage, from Swedish massage to reflexology to fish spa.

One whole block of Bintang housed massage parlours. Masseurs lined up the street outside their parlours like the "tindera sa Quiapo" hawking their wares. Our group chose a Chinese-run massage parlour. It cost 45 RM for 45 minutes of half body massage.

After the refreshing massage, we walked to Chinatown.

TOP RIGHT, A Hotel in the Bintang Walk area
TOP LEFT, A massage parlour in Bintang, KL.

TAE KA.

On our last day in KL, we debated on whether to go on a guided tour to Putrajaya then straight to the airport in the evening for the trip back to Singapore, or to explore more of Kuala Lumpur on our own.

One sister with her family or the majority of the group won and so we went exploring on our own. I suggested Tugu Negara or the National Monument. We took a bus in front of our Hotel, and got down at the Merdeka Square.

The mid-morning sun was quite blazy, but there was breeze to cool us down. Merdeka Square used to be the Colonial Capital of Malaysia.

Merdeka Square (or Dataran Merdeka) is situated in front of the Sultan Abdul Samad Building. It was here the Union Flag was lowered and the Malayan flag hoisted for the first time at midnight on August 31, 1957. Since then, Merdeka Square has been the usual venue for the annual Merdeka Parade (National Day Parade).

Today, the Malaysian flag proudly sways atop the Monument. There are old houses that show Malaysia's old British grandeur. We took snapshots here. Then we saw the Christian cross across the wide Merdeka Square.

"It's St. Mary's Church," I told the group upon remembering reading it on- line. I said, "let's walk on the grass."

Elder sister with her daughter in tow walked ahead of us, fully covered with umbrellas and followed the narrow alley towards St. Mary's.

There was a heap of garbage bags and one motor biker was stopped, so we had to walk gingerly upon reaching that section.

Then we heard a shout. Then we saw our sister on the ground. My immediate impression was " was she run over by the motorcycle?"

Then it hit us. Her purse was snatched by the biker. She was knocked to the ground by the force. My next thought, "did she have her family's passports on that bag?"

I headed right for the street to pursue the criminal. But there were other bikers on the street, and our group, four at the tail, was way behind my sister and her daughter. I told them maybe the biker would dump the bag after taking the valuables, so I followed the trail, left then right and checked garbage bins on the side streets.

While doing my inspection, the others went to a tent where there were tourists and Muslims praying. They found two Pinays part of a tour, and tried to get information.

Then we decided to cross over to St. Mary's. We didn't realize it was Ash Wednesday.

The Church guard, upon being told of our sad fate, recounted how many people a day approach their church to tell of similar sob stories. He guided us to the office where a lay person gave us the address of the Philippine Embassy and advised us to head straight there instead of the police. As per police and "teksi" drivers' count, about twenty purse snatching take place everyday in the streets of KL, or at the Merdeka Square alone.

These snatchers and criminals are the shit of the streets. Mga Tae.

The Philippine Embassy instructed us what to do: First, have passport pictures taken at the Petronas (KLCC) Mall, next to Balais Police to report the mugging incident, and lastly, back to the Embassy for a temporary permit to exit Malaysia.

We went to the Balais Police and filed a report. It was the first thing that should have been done.

It was twelve thirty in the afternoon when the mugging took place. By the time we left the Embassy it was four thirty-ish. There was a humongous traffic by KL standard, going to the Malaysian Immigration.

We were all praying inside the cab. As the cab pulled over, the driver directed us towards the Immigration Building. it was four fifty in the afternoon.

We took the escalator to the second floor and the clerk when told of our dilemma told us to come back the next day. We protested and told him we had a flight back to Singapore late that evening. He instructed us to go first to fourth floor and if that was closed to head up to sixth floor.

At the sixth floor, nobody talked to us even if there were Immigration people eyeing us. A lovely Muslim Immigration officer finished with another customer approached us and my sister told her story. I volunteered and showed my sister's bruises on her left arm. The Immigration officer uttered, "I'm sorry," and proceeded to help my sister.

It was past five and the Immigration Boss, a Chinese-Malaysian came to the desk and had a chat with us. He was a friendly government employee who showed interest and gave us respect. He even spoke few Tagalog words, and assuaged our fear that my sister would have a hard time getting back to Singapore and onto Manila.

The Immigration Office in Singapore interviewed my sister thoroughly but assured us that she would be granted entry, and it was all protocol.

At the Malaysian and Singapore airports, we had late dinner and early breakfast.

Our flight back to Manila was at 6:30 in the morning. Everything fell into place.

SWERTE KA.
We were lucky we made it to the Malaysian Immigration Office on time and that the Officers there helped us. We were lucky that the Philippine Embassy staff extended its help when it was already past embassy office hours.

We were lucky we found bargains in both Singapore and Malaysia, designer clothes, cosmetics and electronics.

We were lucky that family, Jei and Dina and Gab and Michael welcomed us into their home.

INGAT KA.
Advise to Pinoy travellers. Wherever you travel, be always on guard and take care of your belongings and valuables. Tourists are easy prey - criminals know that tourists travel with money and electronics. And if ever you get into a similar situation, always seek the police and file a report, then head to a Philippine Consulate or Embassy.

Always have a photocopy of your passport and other IDs with you, it is easier to establish and prove your identity. Call your bank in Manila right away to lock your ATM so withdrawals on your account could not be made. Remember, criminals have a way of hacking your PIN. Lastly, always have another wallet tucked somewhere in your body that has some cold cash, because if you're travelling alone, you cannot rely on someone to give you spare change.

Flea Market.

BELOW RIGHT, Dapitan Arcade in Dapita Manila at Kanlaon. 

When I was still living in New Jersey, there was a huge Flea Market which visiting relatives and friends insisted on going to.   That was my

first encounter with Flea Markets.

Back here in Manila, I've discovered quite a few Flea Markets. I've tagged along to the Dapitan Arcade, located at the corner of Kanlaon in Quezon City.  Then, there's the Tiendesitas in Pasig, the huge Flea Market at the PICC, the one at St. Francis Square in Mandaluyong, and while driving home, I found a flea market located around the Mandaluyong City Hall in Boni Avenue.

I'm not quite sure if the term "flea market," applies to these bargain bazaars and expos, but judging from the way "flea market" has evolved through the years, from selling purely used and antique, and now including brand new bargain-priced  stuff, I'd safely say the places mentioned above resemble a flea market.

Flea market comes from the French "marché aux puces," a name originally given to a market in Paris. The fleas were thought to be in the goods, because they were of the kind to attract vermin. The earliest English use found dates from 1922. 

In the U.S. and Canada, people have no qualm shopping at flea markets, bargain basements, and second hand stores. The Filipinos have adopted this habit when the "ukay ukay" stores quickly sprouted throughout the islands.

I don't mind driving and browsing at flea markets because I find items here which are very useful and sometimes not found in regular stores.  I'm talking about tools and stuff I can use for do-it-yourself projects.  When I was asked to go to the "Noel" sale at the PICC, I found this small vase-like container full of very small screw drivers for 150 pesos.

RIGHT, St. Lawrence in Toronto has a flea market on Sundays.

Back in Toronto during the height of the "Blue Sunday," law when shops, groceries and department stores were closed on Sundays, flea markets used to make a killing. We used to drive as far as Pickering to the east and Mississauga to the west just to shop at flea markets, the only places in addition to drug stores, that were allowed to open on Sundays. We've also made regular trips to the St. Jacob's fresh and flea market in the German-town of Waterloo in Ontario, and of course, to St. Lawrence Market in downtown TO which has a flea market on Sundays, and where my good friend Olga sets up shop.

Yesterday at the "Market Market," I browsed through sections of wood furniture and paintings, and ended up at the Japan store where I purchased cleaning products which I don't find at the regular supermarkets. 

These are the things I miss.  Good cleaning products, good-quality duct tapes, good, affordable cables and splitters, sturdy bathroom accessories, hanging hooks which don't fall easily, paint brush and odorless paint, dust pan that is levelled to the floor, and a skilled electrician, and car mechanic.

I miss my CAA and Triple A services so much. Last November at the NLEX going to Nueva Ecija, just past the first Petron station and after a hearty brunch at Pan Cake, one of my tires blew out. We drove to the service road, and attempted to change the tire.  My brother in law who was in the country for a medical mission crawled under the car in order to secure the jack .  Minutes later, an NLEX patrol stopped by and asked if we wanted auto service.  I said yes.

The service arrived when we were already tightening the bolts on the spare tire. I asked the two guys how much they'd charge. 800 plus pesos for towing.  They do not change tires. I declined, so they called their HQ and said the call was cancelled.  So, I asked them to help tighten the bolts.  One of the guys obliged and I gave him a tip.

With my CAA, anytime I have a problem - flat tire, keys left inside the car, battery needs charging, etc, I dial and a service truck would arrive, whether you're at home or in the middle of the road, anytime.  You just have to have an annual membership, for a measly $70 Canadian yearly.  With this membership, you don't have to worry while in Canada and even while travelling across U.S.A.

RIGHT, A great selection of hats at the St. Lawrence Market, for those who fancy hats.

Back from the Football Country.

My first time to take Korean Airlines back to Manila. Not bad at all. Except the leg room was tighter and of course, they didn't serve enough food, but wine was served freely.

I am used to flying NWA (Delta), Cathay and Air Canada where food, although still plane food, is served throughout one's flight. Delta and Air Canada stuff you with sandwich, etc. during those hours when you're supposed to be snoring or catching up on your movies. Air Canada even provides hot Ramen-style noodles when you need it most (pitch black hours).

This morning I had a change of plane in Seoul at 4:08 in the morning and I was starved and the restaurants and coffee bars were closed. I went to the departure gate first and took a nap, and around 5:30 am, I dragged my carry on several gates back and found a coffee shop.

'Am back from the football country. When I left, the Ohio's Cleveland Browns lost to Pitts' Steelers and my sis' household was in pain. Then, Brett Favre's wife was interviewed by Oprah for her new faith-filled book and she did fine despite the sex scandal facing her husband, the Minnesota Viking's QB, whose team lost to the Green Bay Packers last Sunday, Oct. 24th.

I'm in mourning, too, not because the Browns lost nor because of the tight mayoralty race in Toronto, but because my red and white wines won't be tasted anymore. Doc's order.

BACKYARD TOURIST.

Hello September!

September has always been a beautiful month.  Although it's the end of summer in Canada and the U.S., it signals the start of Fall, the season of changing hues, of falling leaves, of cooler days and nights, of falling back into routine, of cheaper air fare, of football and hockey, of a new TV season, of seeing friends back in school, of reminiscing about summer vacation and of friends/love found during that brief time.

I'm flying back to Toronto in September for a visit. My flight stops over at HK, and I hope they'd be friendlier over there by the time I fly.

Last year, I was here in Manila from September to October, to see my late mother and to attend to very important matters.

Travel is cheaper from September.  People usually visit Europe or take a cruise of the Mediterranean in September or early October. 

Land travel is cheaper, too, either by bus or train.  If you're driving, take note of road construction and detours because road repairs done during summer may have extended into fall.

If you're using a GPS, download the latest updates from the internet.

I brought my GPS to Manila but I'm not sure whether it works here, since Manila may not have satellites in place and because of the confusing street configurations here. I maybe wrong.

For instance, in our hometown in Nueva Ecija, the streets have no names.  Our ancestral home is located in a Barrio called "Pulong Matong."  The old church was simply referred to as the "simbahan, or Plasa." The approach to my grandparents' house is called "Luwasan."  How would a GPS locate these streets?

Few days ago, I fetched a carpenter from Avenida Rizal.  My cousin gave directions from Santa Mesa. She said, "at the Rotonda, make a right on Lacson Avenue."  I said, "that's Legarda."  

"No," she said, "there's another first right. Don't go straight because that will take you to Malacanang."

So, I drove last Saturday. The old Sta. Mesa Rotonda was unrecognizable. There was a flyover, and there was street below with a sign to "Espana."  I went up the flyover which says Mendiola, and turned right. Oops, I ended up in Legarda.

Luckily there was a break where I was able to make a U-turn. I had to take the street below the flyover to make a left turn. I asked a "tambay," if I could make a left.  "Yes, you can, just follow me."  Like a cop, he went near the middle of the street and before the green light, he directed me to make a left on Lacson. But there was really no left turn in that intersection.  Whew.

The carpenter knew the side streets of Manila. He directed me to less traversed roads where there's no traffic. But going home in the afternoon, he confessed he didn't remember the streets in the subdivision. The household help had to accompany him to the marketplace where he took his ride home.

If the GPS were functioning, it would have been a breeze going from point to point, province to province. 

I remember years ago when we all drove to Nueva Ecija for the town fiesta. It was mid-afternoon just after a hearty lunch and we were playing black jack when an avid suitor of a sister came huffing after a long drive from Manila. We couldn't help but admired his guts for driving alone and for having found our house. He showed us a map - that's how he found my grandparents' house. We were thinking, map?Did Pinoys ever use a map?  Or maybe he just trailed a Baliwag Transit into our barrio. 

Chow Times.

Local Tourism.

LEFT - Vacation house of a cousin in Nueva Ecija.

I've never really explored the Philippines. I've gone to most states of the U.S, and some of the provinces in Canada, and I'd seen most of Europe, but  I've only gone as far as Vigan up north, and have never been south.  Shame. 

I'd been to Sagada and Tuguegarao, two beautiful  but less visited places by both local and international tourists mainly because of its treacherous road (Sagada) and hot weather (Tuguegarao).

I'd travelled to Lucena in Quezon, Catanduanes, Camarines and Naga in the Bicol province, and of course to the other well known vacation spots (Baguio, Pangasinan, Laguna, Batangas, Tagaytay, and other parts of Luzon).

I've never been to Boracay, though, so this is upcoming in my calendar.  A sister is coming home in October and having a medical mission in La Union, so we might tag along as part of the volunteer group.

A sister in law of a sister is another visitor and wants to visit Cebu or Bohol, and again we were asked to join them.

A sister who's lived most of her life in the United States and now a regular visitor to P.I. recently commented that it's only now that she's really discovered the true beauty of the Philippines.  

So, I'm taking a cue from her and would start to enjoy the scenes of the Pearl. 

Backyard Tourist. T is for Tulip Festival.

Where: Skagit in Washington State

When: Mid-April (2010) of each year

Backyard Tourist. S is for San Francisco.

Square at Downtown San Francisco features a chronicle of the American-Spanish War of 1898.

BELOW, Remember Forest Gump and his friend Bubba's shrimp business? And Crooked Street.

LEFT, The Golden Gate.

ALSO, San Francisco's famed Street Car.

Backyard Tourist. R is for Mt. Rainier.

Hey, it's me.

What are the standard proof of identification in any country? Passport, driver's license, postal I.D, voter's I.D, and social security documents are just among the many.

In Ontario, you can add to the above, your health insurance card.

Before 911, Canadians crossing the border to go the U.S. could just present a driver's license or health card, or a birth certificate.

American GI's have dog tags as additional I.D.

Wouldn't it be nice if we can all wear a similar contraption. A dog tag which contains personal data including health data that could take the place of all other IDs. This should be digital, and should include a photograph and signature. So at the airport and at borders, the security would just scan it and an international system would show all relevant information.

I'm sure this idea has been featured in some scifi films which I have probably not seen.

This dog tag can also include a fingerprint so any time you cross a U.S port of entry, you don't have to be fingerprinted anymore (Canadians don't get fingerprinted).

Carrying an international driver's license can sometimes be perilous when you are stopped by a traffic enforcer in Manila. Though recognized globally, an international driver's license indicates you are a foreigner - a tourist or a guest worker - or a balikbayan or a returning OFW. Thus, you woud be presumed to belong to a dollar earning group, and are expected to be generous.

I once got a ticket for not wearing a seat belt. I just boarded the vehicle coming from a mini mall in Quezon City, and was about to leave the street where I parked. An MMDA guy approached me and asked for my license. My passenger, my sister, was wearing her seat belt but not me. I explained that I was just about to drive, so technically I was not driving without a seat belt. The MMDA insisted on seeing my license.

Without fanfare I produced it and did not ask for any favor. I preferred to have a citation. The next day, I went to the Quezon City Hall and paid for my confiscated license. It took less than an hour to have my I.D. back.

What violations did I commit driving in Canada or the U.S.A? Driving in Canada or the U.S.A I almost always stay within the prescribed speed limit, and if ever I over speed, it would not exceed ten above the limit. But now with speed limits reaching 70 mph in most U.S states, I don't find the need to go overboard.

I always wear my seat belt, I stop at all stop signs even at the wee hours of the morning, I don't tailgate, and basically, follow all traffic rules and rules of road courtesy, most especially, letting pedestrians cross at crosswalks and driving cautiously at school zones.

But there was a two-year period wherein I collected speeding tickets in New Jersey and Pennsylvania but which have all been paid for. This episode cost me a lot of money so it taught me a lesson not to beat the limit.

Carrying a local license would be best if you intend to stay longer in a foreign country. This way, you become one of the guys, and you can blend in with whatever "system" is prevailing.

Backyard Tourist. P is for Parade.

I've been to Disneyland (California) and DisneyWorld (in Orlando) a couple of times

but each visit there would not be complete without watching a parade, and seeing the fireworks.

Celebrate was the theme of the Parade last time we went there.