Category: Bongcarpio.com “Travels” Category
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Bicycling in the 70s (with Ray Anthony Nario)
The year was 1977, and Ferdinand Marcos was still the Philippine president. A few months back, Jimmy Carter was sworn in as the 39th President of the U.S., and I had just completed my freshman year in college. It was our summer vacation and so, earlier that week, Ray and I decided that we would…
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The Temples of Thailand
I already felt the humidity of Bangkok the moment we stepped out of the plane to wait for the service bus that will take us to the main airport terminal. The bus’ air-conditioning hid this fact for a few minutes, and so, the muggy air blasted onto my face anew as soon as we stepped…
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In The Streets of Manila – 2005 Reprise
I knew it would be hot and humid, but I went with my wife to visit Manila by the end of March. After all, it had been almost three years since I last sauntered upon its streets — to see again the places that had been mute witnesses to my frivolities in the early years…
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Coffee for Five in Santa Ynez Valley and Beyond
My sister called the night before that it was better to start the journey from her house in Santa Cruz, which is about a 40-minute drive from Fremont. And so, very early that morning, just several minutes after we had gingerly packed the Tupperwares with our favorite breakfast and had filled the thermos bottle with…
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The Grapes of Highway 29
The Vigan ‘longanizas‘ (sausages from Vigan, which is a town about 250 miles north of Manila and noted for its rich Spanish heritage) smelled even more garlicky that morning as I placed the remaining links on a clear bowl. The sausages casings’ red-brown color together with the fat that dripped from the fillings, blended oh-so…