Philippines Day 1-3: Traveling and More Traveling

Our flight departed SLC at 8:15 P.M. on Thursday. We arrived in Manila around 7 A.M. on Saturday, having traveled for 24 hours through no fewer than 14 time zones and across the International Date Line. During that time we just about experienced enough adventure to just turn right around and call it a trip! We arrived at LAX at 10 P.M. and had a 4 1/2 hour layover. We spent it in the Asia-bound area of the airport. We all felt like we must surely already be in Asia; I had never been around so many Koreans and Chinese people in my life! After some debating with the front desk we were able to go to the Korean Air's Sky Club (because they are partnered with Delta). At this point it was midnight MST and the kids conked out in sundry positions. After two hours it was finally time to board the plane. Jacob uttered the fateful words: "It smells like urine." We checked the boys, who have been guilty parties in the past and thought the coast was clear. Then I picked up Lucy, who was DRENCHED in urine. In all my (excessive even!) preparations for the flight I had neglected to pack an extra pair of undies or outfit for her. Luckily I had an extra dress of mine in my carry-on, so we made a maxi-dress of it and told her to keep her legs crossed! We shamefully sneaked out of the club and made it to our flight to Taipei just as they made the final boarding call. The 13-hour flight went great. The 2-hour flight to Manila was brutal as the kids reached the end of their ropes but we survived. All eight bags made it but somehow our boosters ended up in MOSCOW! They showed up at our apartment building yesterday. More later....

 

 At the airport in Salt Lake with eight large suitcases and boosters. So much for my mantra of packing light!

Lucy in my dress going au natural for 18 hours.

In front of a living wall in Taipei.