By Ruth J. Katz

Photos provided by Regent Seven Seas Cruises

It’s hard to imagine that there is feverish activity below decks, while you are more or less inert, above deck, sunning languorously poolside, with a frothy, umbrella-adorned beverage in hand. Such is “the life” on deck 11, on an at-sea day on Regent Seven Seas Cruise Line’s stunningly appointed Explorer, with its exquisite décor—punctuated by its extensive, on-board art collection, valued at some $6 million. 

But, on levels one, two, and three, there is unremitting bustle, a floating beehive in perpetual motion.  Your seamless and cosseted experience is possible only because this well-oiled hospitality locomotive—comprised of both “machinery” that boasts DNA as well as inanimate machinery—is constantly rechoreographing its balletic acrobatics, reacting to guests’ needs and assuring their comfort and well-being. 

Your experience is not about the state-of-the art sundry engines and sophisticated equipment that chug along without your being aware of them and which contribute to your seamless journey.  But, more importantly, it’s about the 2,200-odd legs and arms that belong to a crew of more than 550, a cohesive corps who inherently want to spoil you and the other 745 passengers on board.

Among the upmarket cruise lines, Regent stands arguably alone when it comes to truly embodying the meaning of that “all inclusive” sales message: No tipping; no add-ons for alcohol (save, for example, for a Connoisseur Cognac Tasting); no fees for the more than 2,000 diverse shore excursions, in over 500 ports of call.  (NB:  There are some tariffs for a handful of over-the-top adventures.)

Always on the qui vive for enriching and previously-uncharted experiences for its customers (many of whom are brand-loyal to the core), Regent staff and its boots-on-the ground excursion partners plumb their imaginations and local geography and history to dazzle you with alluring excursion programs.  Recently added to the mix are Behind the Design Tours and Eco-Connect Tours, all touching on popular themes.

In keeping with the mantra that pampering knows no bounds for Regent guests (clients fly Business Class to and from their ships, on intercontinental flights from the U.S. and Canada), the 4,443-square-foot Regent Suite on the Explorer—the ne plus ultra cabin—is outfitted with a $150,000 Savoir No. 1 bed, which takes 120 man hours to hand-build, and which sports a mattress-topper lavishly layered with horse-tail hair, lambswool, pure cashmere, and even Mongolian yak hair. The company refers to its Regent Suites (one per vessel) as the most exclusive addresses at sea.

But even if you are not in a Penthouse Suite, outfitted with a pillow menu (gel, memory foam, down, buckwheat-hull—you get the idea), you will find luxury and service above your wildest expectations.

And while you slumber in comfort, that city that never sleeps below you is humming 24 hours a day: The engines, the mechanical systems, a desalinization plant, the laundry and dry cleaning plants, staff quarters, food and alcohol stores, butcher shops, galleys, room service staff, and crew-training facilities, are all purring efficiently, keeping everything ship-shape, just for you.

It is here in the wee hours of the morn that a half-dozen or so pastry chefs are knocking out thousands of rolls, croissants, brioches, muffins, donuts, Danishes, and even gluten-free breads for breakfast alone, while the crew in the laundry are washing and pressing thousands of napkins and tablecloths daily.  And the housekeeping staff are loading their carts with thousands of freshly laundered towels and getting ready to pounce like Ninjas to clean your suite after you have left for an excursion, and, of course, to replenish Nespresso pods and the L’Occitane Mer & Mistral line of toiletries in your marble-clad bath.

Multiple traffic cops and computer systems are in place to keep this human “appliance” waltzing smoothly, so that the many galleys are never bereft of, say, soy milk. During a typical seven-day cruise, more than 500 gallons of milk alone are consumed. In fact, on a galley tour, if you snoop around the refrigeration units, you’ll see they are filled with regular milk, heavy cream, half-and-half, 1% and 2% skimmed milk, regular skimmed milk, as well as almond and rice milks—maybe even a cow secreted away in the fridge.  On a typical seven-day cruise, the 82 galley chefs might blitz through 900 dozen eggs, 800 pounds of butter, 600 pounds of lobster, 700 pounds of cheese…and guests will consume 4,800 bottles of wine and nearly 1,000 bottles of Champagne!

Another fascinating aspect of the galley—and throughout the ship, in fact–is the separation of trash. Mindful of global ecology, Regent is striving to cease supplying guests with single-use plastics and in an effort to cut down on paper waste, the company has shifted paperwork to digital formats. In the galley, trash is scrupulously segregated:  Pulpable waste, shells and bones, plastic, cans, paper, non-pulpables, and so on, all have their own receptacles. And don’t think for a minute that the refuse you drop into your cabin garbage bin isn’t sorted.  Batteries, razor blades, plastics, are all separated.

But all these numbers and policies mean nothing, unless the services behind those facts and figures are delivered with a smile and style.  And, that they are. Regent is holistic in its approach to training staff and maintains a school in the Philippines, as well as a teaching facility on board. What is most important to the company, however, is to hire people who comprehend that they are the public ambassadors of the brand and its philosophy. Regent is committed to its mantra of serving guests with the utmost care, always remembering that they are the face of the company, and that the attention they give to details—anticipating and exceeding guests’ expectations—is Regent’s “normal.”  The crew, from nearly 50 countries—be it Kyrgyzstan or Mauritius—must love their jobs, as they repeatedly return to work on a Regent vessel.  Many have worked for the company a very long time, including Theodora, an employee in Prime 7 (the on-board steak house), who has been a Regent employee for more than 25 years.

You may well find that after your first Regent journey, you become just as regular a Regent devotee as its longtime employees and other guests. Bon voyage!

Regent’s six ocean-going vessels sail all year long, to seven continents, to more than 100   countries and 350 ports of call; more than 2,000 complimentary excursions are offered.  Average pricing for most Regent cruises starts at approximately $3,999 per person.

Additional Info: rssc.com

What Else is Cooking?

In between lazing about, eating, attending enrichment lectures, and heading shoreside for excursions, you will definitely want to save two hours for at least one of Explorer‘s Culinary Arts classes—assuming you can snag a place for these waiting-list-is-the-norm cooking classes. These hands-on, instruction-filled lessons were designed to enhance guests’ appreciation and understanding of a local port’s culture, history, and, of course, singular culinary profile. Taught in a state-of-the-art kitchen-classroom (deck 11, starboard, with sweeping, floor-to-ceiling window views), each student’s station is equipped with an induction cook stove, stainless steel sink, and quartzite work counter.  The program was designed by executive chef Kathryn Kelly, a graduate of and former instructor at the Culinary Institute of America. She first joined sister cruise line Oceania in 2011, when that company launched a highly successful seafaring cooking school on its Marina vessel. Regent’s classes include basics for those interested in things like knife skills, but the program excels at truly innovative, interesting classes, focused on ports of call…such as Epicurean Safari, which highlights delicious cuisine from Morocco, South Africa, and Namibia.  — RJK

© 2024 Ruth J. Katz   All Rights Reserved

The post Regent Seven Seas Cruises appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Survivor

I’m embarrassed to say this but I succumbed to temptation. Over 20 years ago, I was a true blue follower when this started but I soon quit when I realized it was taking too much of my time. However, early this week as I was skimming through my Roku channels, curiosity got the best of me. Bless me father for I have sinned. I watched Survivor.

Hard to believe this TV show that premiered on May 31, 2000 is now on its 43rd season (that’s 622+ episodes). The big advantage now is one doesn’t have to wait days for the continuing episode. One can binge watch old episodes on Pluto TV for free (free in Roku but it includes commercials) or at a paid subscription at NBC (where you have more choices).

FYI: Many of the series were located near my Mom’s ancestral home where I spent my summer with my Dad recently.

Why the fascination? I dunno. For me, it’s the reality TV of human drama where adults act like emotional spoiled brats … sharing their strategies of conniving, lying and cheating. Sociologists and psychologists, here are your lab rats.

I was not aware that the show was franchised to other countries … but none of them (especially the shows made in poorer countries) are as successful as the original American version. Is it because we Americans are more self-centered, more entitled, more articulate about our demands in life?

THE BIBLE
Survivor is a microcosm of the history of human interaction. It reminds me of the Bible. If you’ve never read the Bible, you would think it’s just a book full of boring commandments but it is actually the history of man and his interaction with God. The lying, the cheating, the conniving — those are all there too. Sure there are outright instructions of dos and don’ts but more often, the narratives present situations where you need to figure out the lesson. Many lessons come in several layers. The deeper you dig, the more profound it gets. You come out with a more accurate understanding of God’s love and how He operates. There are free copies everywhere. You can even read it online and you can read it in different versions. There’s really no excuse not to read the best selling book of all time. How’s this for a shameless plug?

Only one person gets the million dollar prize in Survivor. In the Bible, it’s clear that a bigger prize is available to anyone. Don’t miss this fascinating catalogue of the reality and meaning of life. As the song goes: “Read your Bible, pray everyday … and you’ll grow, grow, grow!”

TGIF people!

Raoul

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Rodger of London

Videos of the Week

Thanks to Mike of New York for this man’s suggestion for Car Manufacturers.

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre. CA for this embarrassing rendition of the British National Anthem by a host nation.

Parting Shots

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA

Thanks to Naomi of N Hollywood, CA

Thanks to Wyne of Kalentong, Metro Manila

Thanks to Garie of Paranaque, Metro Manila

These I found

The post Lost Wallet appeared first on Traveling Archive.

I’m going to share a very personal and practical account of my travel from Los Angeles, California, USA to Dalipuga, Lanao del Norte: Mindanao, Philippines. I hope this will help many post pandemic travelers as they access the globe. You will find more tips at the end of the article.

David Z was my Lyft driver to LAX (Uber drivers were available but they were about $5 more expensive). If you’re in Los Angeles, I highly recommend David Z. He drove a 4-door sedan, but it reminded me of a mini-limousine. Because of the pandemic, we still had to be cautious and roll down the windows (no AC) and David had a wide transparent plastic sheet separating passenger from driver. He even fashioned black curtains on the passenger windows in case his customers want to be protected from the sun. He had a small video player to project my choice of Spotify music. The one thing that amused me the most was a small passenger table made of a glass bowl on a carpet with a complimentary bottled water in the center and candies around it. I found out that he graduated from Alabama and came to LA to produce video shows. Fate brought us together because I patched him up with one of my clients who was looking for people like him. We hugged when he dropped me off at the airport.

CHECK IN AT LAX

I had to show my passport, proof of vaccination and a 2-day old negative Covid Test result. I was surprised that I needed a Philippine Health pass. My online research didn’t mention any need for that. Fortunately, I was directed to a website that allowed me to fill it up online (www.onehealthpass.com.ph). This hassle reminded me of a few days earlier when I dropped by the AAA (Automotive Association of America) in Alhambra, CA to inquire about the necessary documents for Philippine travel and the sales agent tried to sell me Travel Insurance claiming it was still required by the Philippine government because of COVID. I was suspicious so I asked him to show me where it said it was required and (surprise! surprise!) he couldn’t find evidence to his claim. I saved myself a couple hundred dollars. I don’t trust AAA anymore. 

WHAT TO WEAR 

For the long flight, wear something lose and comfortable. Tight clothes will only make you squirm even more. Many travelers wear shorts and T-shirts. Be prepared for back and butt sores. Unless you’re traveling in First Class, the regular seats do not have thick cushions. After a few hours it will feel like sitting on a wooden chair without any pillows.

SLEEP

There’s plenty of entertainment on each seat but you will tire and want to sleep during long flights like this. I don’t find those neck pillows helpful at all. So I got myself a gartered eye mask that loops around the back of the airline headrest. This is perfect. It prevented my head from bobbing up and down. And I wore my N5 Face mask which kept my mouth shut.

BAGGAGE

Most flights (especially international flights) allow one hand carry and two baggage with a max of 70 lbs each (check the website of your own airline). But if you will be transferring planes, you should really consider the rules of the local flights where they tend to have smaller weight allowances to avoid paying hefty overweight fees. In my case, Singapore airlines allowed two baggage while Cebu Pacific Air (a Philippine airline) only allowed one baggage and a lighter maximum weight. I had to pay for the extra bag and extra weight. Plan around the least common denominator (i.e., base your baggage allowance on the more restrictive airline) and avoid unexpected fees.

For your hand carry, use as big a bag as allowed. An expandable knapsack will do just fine. If your baggage tips the scale over the limit, you can transfer your extra weight into your knapsack.  Fortunately, I found that the people at the check-in counter aren’t that particular about weighing your bags. They don’t charge you for going ten pounds over. It seems to be an unwritten rule to be lax about the weight.

I was planning to bring a guitar but my sister said that would be considered an extra carry on. That wasn’t true. You could bring your guitar and the flight attendant would park it somewhere in front with no extra charge. They do it for baby carriages and wheelchairs too. 

AT THE SCANNING MACHINE

Belts, shoes, wallets, cell phones, shoes and coins need to be placed in a basket to be scanned. Laptops also need to be placed in a separate basket. iPads can remain inside your carry on. It’s best to wear comfortable slip-on shoes or you will be tying your shoes in the middle of the frenzy. 

SINGAPORE LAYOVER

I passed the international date line and was on my second day of travel from Los Angeles to Cagayan de Oro in the Philippines. If your cell phone is set to point out your geographic location your clock automatically adjusts to local time. To save your sanity don’t worry about how much time you’ve lost or gained… the only time that really matters is the local time because that’s what everybody else around you is functioning by. This is very important to know especially if you have a connecting flight. You don’t want to miss your flight.

After 11 grueling hours I arrived at the Singapore airport at 3 a.m. It was a ten-hour layover before my connecting flight to Manila. I was excited to land in this airport because of the videos I saw about how cool this airport was. But to my horror, the waterfall and eateries were closed until just about the time I had to depart. 

TWILIGHT ZONE

I stepped into the Twilight Zone where and time needs to reset. The airport at the wee hours of the morning is when pilots, stewardesses, ground crew, and other airplane personnel go to dreamland. I imagine this is where passengers who opt for the bargain flights are dumped, where toys wake up and where dogs and cats start walking with their hind legs and engage in intelligent conversation. The whole complex airport building was eerie and empty. There were other stragglers like me sleeping in different corners of the airport. It’s first-come-first-serve at the sleeping lounge where there were comfortable lounge chairs. Most sleepy heads created make-shift beds by pulling chairs together. The lazy ones simply slept on the carpet floor using their bags as pillows. Security guards and cameras follow you wherever you go. It was safe to sleep in any little corner of the empty airport and not worry about theft.

Inviting though the aroma of warm Ramen was, I resisted the temptation because I didn’t want the hassle of exchanging currency I would never use again. Besides, I’m used to fasting and skipping meals, so this was not a problem for me. Starbucks Coffee, 7-Eleven and a few local establishments were open but one would need to exchange one’s currency to Singapore dollars to purchase anything. Surprisingly there was one Foreign Exchange booth (with a real person working) near the D section claiming to convert currency with zero commission. If you ever do need to exchange currency in the Singapore airport, this is the only one of its kind.

Singapore is a very cosmopolitan country with many ethnicities (I did notice a very strong presence of Asian-Indians traveling, but not sure why). In fact, my plane ride there was a microcosm of the United Nations. I sat in the middle seat. On my left was an older Vietnamese. On my right was a Cambodian. In front were Koreans. Behind was a Panamanian headed for Indonesia. Of course, some old wounds never heal; the Vietnamese didn’t want to talk to the Cambodian because he said their countries hated each other.

NINE HOURS LATER

Five hours into my Twilight Torture Chamber, my legs began to hurt from all the walking. I found a cozy cushiony chair near the Information Center and managed to grab a few winks.

I woke in a panic because the Schedule Board listed that my flight was leaving in 30 minutes. I made a dash for the departure gate and I saw the plane taxiing away from the retractable tunnel. The people from that section were walking out and I begged them to call the plane back. Well, it turned out that it was another flight after all. Although I had mud on my face, it was also a welcome relief.

To avoid confusion with my real flight, I decided to wait beside the designated departure area. There I found a bevy of Filipinos waiting patiently for the gate to open. I befriended two OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers) who were on their trip home for a much-needed vacation after years working in Milan, Italy. They shared their struggles and blessings working a lifetime away from their homeland. They both spoke fluent Italian; unconsciously saying “Si” instead of “Yes.” They said some OFWs are more fortunate than others (the unfortunate ones wound up in Middle Eastern countries where they are abused to this day). They spoke of one famous Italian actor (I think they said “Ronald”?) who adopted the child of one of his servants. They said the Italians (as a whole) were generous and decent employers. They had established a professional working environment where the OFWs paid taxes and fed into their Social Security (their retirement benefits would average about $600 a month by age 65). One of the women was able to bring her husband and her kids to Italy. The other had a son studying to be a doctor. The older woman suffered from cancer but believed it was now in remission. The one with her family in Milan turned out to be a member of the JIL church in the Philippines (Jesus Is Lord church). The older one had no concept of the spiritual bond I shared with the younger one. We were three peas in a pod sharing a yearning for home inside the vast travel bubble of the Singapore “Changi” Airport.

MANILA

Our Boeing jet plane circled the Manila landing strip for 20 minutes before we were allowed to land. Bad weather was to blame. I was getting panicky again because my final plane ride from Manila to Cagayan de Oro was leaving Manila in less than two hours upon landing. That meant I had to go through Immigration, Health Check and secure my baggage within that little window of time. I prayed. The long wait to deplane was excruciating. But to my delight, I breezed through all of the lines with more than an hour to spare. I guess it pays to be a senior citizen with an American passport and a big smile. Outside, domestic planes were lined up for takeoff because the storm delayed the departures as well.

As I settled in my final departure area, a woman was screaming at the top of her lungs with words I could not understand. Airport security and personnel surrounded her. Apparently, she was autistic and (nightmare of all nightmares) her plane left without her. The gentle Filipinos did not complain. All were deeply concerned. I prayed for her too.

We landed at the Laguindingan Airport in Cagayan de Oro at nine in the evening. A friendly face, Tata, our family’s trusted helper, was there to lead me to our family Isuzu Trooper. I was surprised to see my sickly father inside the Trooper waiting with our driver. They’d been waiting for two hours. Tata said my 94-year- old Dad insisted they prepare for the airport ride as early as six o’clock. My sweet Dad was that excited to see me.

It took us a good hour whizzing in and out past the slower vehicles to our ancestral home in Dalipuga, a small beach village on the Western side of Iligan City. I chatted with Tata and the driver along the way: me with my Americanized Tagalog (the Philippine national language) and they with their thick Visayan accent (the language of Southern Philippines). My Mom spoke Visaya so I grew up understanding but not speaking Visaya.

When the large faded blue steel gate opened, I knew I was home. It took about two days from Los Angeles to Dalipuga. And now the real adventure begins: immersing into a culture long forgotten and helping my aging Dad understand the real meaning of the Gospel before it’s too late. It’s a sad fact that not everyone will get to heaven. And no words of wisdom can change a person’s heart towards the Gospel. Real conversion comes from the Holy Spirit. With the short time I have with my Dad I will be sharing and I will be praying — and if he chooses to remain in his disbelief, at least I know it was never meant to be. This is what I believe. It’s that important to me. And this is why I traveled this far.

Booking Tips

• The closer you are to the date of departure, the more expensive it gets. But then comes a magical period when the airline has empty seats they’re just dying to give away and if you list yourself as a chance passenger, you can really get amazing discounts. My round trip ticket in Singapore airlines cost less than $900 (all inclusive) when I booked for a weekday departure four months prior. I checked and within a month off departure, it had already doubled.
• Check all your flight options going to and fro. Many airlines like Singapore Air and EVA Air (Taiwan) offer huge discounts if you decide to stopover in their country for several hours. What that means is you land in their country during their last flight and you stay inside the airport when most shops are closed and you walk around in zombie land till the flight crew wakes up. Uninviting though it may be, it forces you to have precious “alone time” for reflection of where you are in life with a backdrop of a different culture in God’s great kingdom.  

Local Air Booking

• Air travel in the Philippines is really just between three airlines: PAL (Philippine Airlines), Cebu Pacific Airlines and Air Asia. PAL, the flagship carrier of the Philippines, does international as well as domestic flights. Cebu Pacific and Air Asia are strictly local. Air Asia has the fewest routes. Local flights are about $50. Naturally, PAL is more modern and cleaner but I’ve had nightmares with PAL. The management system (at least five years ago) leaves a lot to be desired. One needs to really plan one’s itinerary well. Do that and life is beautiful. Make changes to the itinerary while you are on vacation and you release the dogs of hell. You can read all about it in my article about “The Crooks of Philippine Airlines” in T-Boy. 
• Throughout my trip, most of my fellow travelers kept their face masks on.
• I like to travel as inexpensively as possible. Doing so not only saves money but I get to mingle with the common crowd. Immersing into the culture is what traveling is all about for me.  Of course if you have money to spend, don’t bother with my tips.

Tech Tips

There are things we take for granted while living in America. We forget that technology may not be as advanced elsewhere. And if we aren’t careful, we may be unwittingly wasting money. When you get out of the US and Canadian borders here are things to remember:

• ROAMING CHARGES: Your US-based internet and cell phone providers will charge you about $2.05/MB, up to $3/min, $0.50/message sent, $130/photo or video message sent. So before you depart away from the US, be sure to disable your text and calls. Turn off your “DATA” in your settings or you will be charged every time you talk or text.
• ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF COMMUNICATION: Viber and WhatsApp are two popular apps you should download on your phone. They both allow you to text, talk and enjoy video calls to anyone in the world that has internet access. No extra charge. Of the two, Viber tends to shut down if idle for a minute or so. You do not have that problem with WhatsApp (this is definitely better). Be sure to inform people whom you want to communicate with (family, friends, business relations) while abroad to also download those Apps. Both parties need to use the same program. Viber and WhatsApp run on different technologies so they do not communicate with each other.
• No need to worry about email. As long as you turn your “DATA” off (to ensure you aren’t being charged for ROAMING), your cell phone will pick up your emails using available Wi-Fi (just like your laptop). This is free. Just be aware that any public Wi-Fi is not secure
• In developing countries like the Philippines, you can purchase data minutes at increments you choose. Rather than explain the details, it’s best you ask the locals. I just want to assure you that you can still use your cell phone if you really want or need to.
• Most airports are internet friendly. They have free Wi-Fi and offer several charging stations. You need to go to your SETTINGS and log on to their Wi-Fi. Most of the time you will need to give out your name and email address before you can avail of the free internet access. It’s not entirely free; you do get advertisement but that’s okay. Let me reiterate that using your phone or pad in public areas is not secure. If you can help it avoid doing any online banking or business.
• Be sure to tell your banking institution(s) that you will be traveling. Give them the dates so you won’t raise red flags with your purchases abroad.
• TWO STEP VERIFICATION. Your access to some of your favorite websites require two-step verification. While that is good when you are in the US, it may cause a problem when you are abroad if the verification code is sent via phone text. It’s best to have verification come in the form of email.

The post Long Road to Dalipuga: From Los Angeles to a Little Village in Southern Philippines appeared first on Traveling Archive.

An Inconvenient Truth About Hamilton

Raoul

” What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name .”
— Acts 4:16-17

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Peter Paul of S Pasadena, CA for sharing this joke.

Video: Filipino Call Center

Thanks to Imelda of San Francisco, USA.
This is Bethany Gail, a real Call Center worker whose accent has turned him into a viral sensation.

Don’s Puns

Thanks to Don of Kelowna, B.C. who sent this original pun.
I should have shared this 3 weeks ago but I lost the joke. I hope it is still relevant.

Parting Shots

Thanks to Maan of Pasig, Greater Manila

Thanks to Ed of Studio City, CA who sent this original joke.

Thanks to Nani of The City of San Juan, Philippines

Thanks to Jun of Encino, CA for this curious joke.

The post Seeing-Eye Dog appeared first on Traveling Archive.

I need your help to solve a mystery. This email is being sent a little late because I’ve had too many things going on.

For the past couple of days I have been trying to find a leak in an underground pipe. I’ve compared prices of several plumbers and narrowed my choice down to the premiere leak detection experts who charge a pretty hefty sum of about $3,000. The plumbers came and pumped helium on the pipes and brought out their top-of-the-line listening and smelling devices so they could pinpoint within a foot where the leak was, I was quite impressed.

Then I remembered reading about a primitive method called “DOWSING.” Jokingly, I asked them if they ever tried it.

“Strangely enough, it works!” said the 2 plumbers; “In fact, we have one inside the truck.” So they pulled out 2 L-shaped copper rods and showed me how it was done. I couldn’t believe my eyes because the 2 rods crossed right on top of the spot their expensive contraptions said the water leak was. I kid you not! It really worked!

Below is a link to a quick video I took of the plumber demonstrating how the dowsing rods worked:
DOWSING DEMO

Do you have any explanation for this? I don’t. I really don’t.

“However, there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will take place in the latter days This was your dream and the visions in your mind while on your bed.”

— Daniel 2:28

TGIF people!

Wise Advice

Shared by Mike of New York

Don’t Avoid Vegetables. Save the Children
Sent by Richard of La Mirada, CA

I’m sure you parents can relate to this Kid drama that performs every time a child is told to eat his/her vegetables.

WATCH VIDEO

The First Filipinos in America
Sent by Art of Sierra Madre, CA

Not sure how accurate this guy is and where he based his research on but it seems correct. And in case you didn’t know, Filipinos (not Philipinos) come from the Philippines. Why? I’m guessing it’s because Filipinos spell words as they sound.

WATCH VIDEO

The Daniel Prayer
Sent by Don of Kelowna, B.C.

If you aren’t into spiritual stuff, please move on. This video isn’t for you.
I didn’t know Billy Graham had a daughter. And I was pleasantly surprised that she is a solid believer just like her Dad. Interesting talk about the spiritual world mentioned in the book of Daniel in the Old Testament.

WATCH VIDEO

Don’s Puns

From Don’s collection of puns

Parting Shot

Thanks to Rodney of Manitoba, B.C. who shared this photo

The post Eternity appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Today is Atticus’ birthday. That’s not his real name but people close to him know who I am talking about.

As many of you have guessed, that name comes from the book/movie “To Kill a Mockingbird.” Atticus Finch was the steadfast lawyer who defended a black man who was accused of raping a white woman in the deep south. Despite racial peer pressure, he stuck with his principles of justice. In the midst of the turmoil, his young daughter could not understand why people whom she considered friends were now hostile towards her. In a poignant scene a mature neighbor consoles her about the character of her father: “There are some men in this world who are born to do our unpleasant jobs for us … your father is one of them.”

The movie left an indelible mark on “Atticus the 2nd” when he watched the movie as a child. From the little I know of him, he grew up to be a lawyer and a scientist. And he reached a lofty position at the EPA in Washington, DC … doing research and traveling the world to educate local leaders about the environment. Like the original Atticus he showed integrity as he contended with the politics in the government. Early this year he left his government job to work for a large urban planning firm in the Philippines. I can only imagine the good he is doing.

(To be honest, I have had major differences with Atticus II. Our debates are legendary. But I never lost respect for him. Disagreeing with people doesn’t negate the value of their position. We can and we should learn from each other.)

If you were ever in doubt about how much we are influenced by movies and the media as a whole, the story of Atticus II is a reminder of a life redefined by a single movie. What a daunting responsibility writers and movie makers have on our subconscious.

Garbage in … garbage out. Let’s choose wisely what we watch … choose who we listen to. Let it be love and grace that we trickle down to friend and foe. Our world could use a lot more Atticuses.

But this is just me.

Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.
— Abraham Lincoln

Golden Arm

Shared by Tom of Pasadena, CA

Candid Camera: License Plates
Sent by Art of Sierra Madre, CA

How would you react if you were issued an insulting car license plate? Would you take it? Pretty funny reaction — especially from the young lady.

WATCH VIDEO

Getting Out of a Sports Car
Sent by Don of Kelowna, B.C.

What was this guy thinking? Just because you signed up with the NFL, it doesn’t mean you have to buy a Lamborghini. There are other ways you can show off without looking stupid.

WATCH VIDEO

Eco-Friendly Washing Machine from Junk
Sent by Joel of Singapore

Creative Filipino creates a washing machine from junk and starts a new business.

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Don’s Puns

From Don’s collection of puns

Parting Shot

Thanks to Naomi of North Hollywood, CA who shared this photo

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