Welcome Home, Doc Alan

[Arthur Little]

Our "globe-trotting", resident medic is due to return to base :airline: this week sometime ... following his nostalgic, memorable and - by all accounts from the man himself - hugely enjoyable reacquaintance with the Philippine Islands [which he last visited in 1977!].

I'm sure Alan's many friends here on the forum - eagerly awaiting the latest update on his adventures over the last three weeks - would wish to join me in extending to him a very warm :welcomex: back to the fold!

[keithAngel]

I think the medical term Arthur is "coitus overloadus"

The prognosis is good however:D

[liane]

We miss you at the forum Doc and waiting for your stories about your stay here in the Philippines ;)

[aromulus]

Strewt Arthur............:doh

Give the bloke a chance to get jetlagged first and get over it, and then welcome him back....:cwm3:

[pennybarry]

He is speechless at the moment!:D:Rasp::icon_lol:

[RickyR]

Welcome back Alan, hope you had great time.

[Sim11UK]

Has he landed yet? Somehow, I think he will have plenty to tell us. :D

[Arthur Little]

Has he landed yet? Somehow, I think he will have plenty to tell us. :D

:anerikke: ... don't know! But you're right, Simon - I'm sure he WILL have lots to share with us! :)

[bornatbirth]

i heard he got detained at customs for smuggling dried fish :action-smiley-081:

[Arthur Little]

Strewt Arthur............:doh

Give the bloke a chance to get jetlagged first and get over it, and then welcome him back....:cwm3:

Well ... just thought it'd be a nice gesture for the homecoming of one of the forum's most prominent and highly-respected members - a token of our friendship, in other words! :anerikke:

[Alan]

212 days until Christmas!!

Al.:)

[keithAngel]

Strewt Arthur............:doh

Give the bloke a chance to get getshagged first and get over it, and then welcome him back....:cwm3:

:omg:

2:icon_lol:

[Doc Alan]

:omg:

2:icon_lol:
Yes I got back to sunny Scarborough this afternoon after an amazing trip! Thanks so much for the welcome:xxgrinning--00xx3:
The KLM flights (Manila-Amsterdam and Amsterdam-Manchester) were acceptable, with no undue delays and adequate food. Leah's husband Chris was on the flight to Amsterdam (although we didn't get a chance to meet), and I hope he would agree with me that KLM can be recommended. I stayed overnight at Travelodge and caught up on sleep before the 3 hour train journey home.
Maybe I was lucky, but I got no stomach upsets and avoided sunburn throughout the trip. No jetlag either. Staying well hydrated and avoiding alcohol helped. :xxgrinning--00xx3:
On the flights I met two filipinas who live in the UK and had returned to the Philippines because of deaths in their families. Each had a bus trip of several hours to reach the airport, and each resumes work in a residential home later this week. Stopped me even thinking about being tired !
These are just my initial thoughts on return to the UK. It would be completely inappropriate to single out one event which made the trip memorable (but having Juliet from Aegis stroke my hair while singing on stage with her is hard to forget!:))

[keithAngel]

Welcome back Alan Ive done my best to keep the rumours going:xxgrinning--00xx3:

1:omg:

[Doc Alan]

Welcome back Alan Ive done my best to keep the rumours going:xxgrinning--00xx3:

1:omg:
Thanks so much for your conscientious and unselfish efforts Keith !:) I said I was not jetlagged but somehow your spellcheck was switched off and you may not have noticed that in your post it appears as getshagged...:yikes:

[sars_notd_virus]

It would be completely inappropriate to single out one event which made the trip memorable (but having Juliet from Aegis stroke my hair while singing on stage with her is hard to forget!:))

Star Struck or Love Struck?
Welcome back Doc..picture pictures of your wonderful trip in phils

[Steve.r]

Welcome back Al :)

[KeithD]

..picture pictures of your wonderful trip in phils

He needs to get them developed, he hasn't caught up with all this tech stuff yet :D

[mickcant]

Hi Alan, :Jump:
Sounds like all was ok, look forward to hearing more when your ready.
Welcome home.
Mick.:xxgrinning--00xx3:

[Doc Alan]

He needs to get them developed, he hasn't caught up with all this tech stuff yet :D
The pictures are over-exposed but not under-developed, especially Mercy from Aegis Band :yikes:
Haven't forgotten you, thanks for the welcome home (first home Scarborough, second home Philippines...but which part ?). Please be patient :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[Steve.r]

Please be patient :xxgrinning--00xx3:

We are all waiting quietly in the surgery Dr Alan :D

[stevewool]

welcome back

[triple5]

Welcome back Alan :xxgrinning--00xx3: Do you also have pics from your first trip all those years ago? Be good to see pics of the same places back then and today to compare the differences.

[Doc Alan]

Do you also have pics from your first trip all those years ago?
I do have pics in the format of transparencies / slides, so it's possible to scan them :xxgrinning--00xx3:. When I was last in the Philippines in 1978 it was the time of martial law under President Ferdinand Marcos. Cellphones and computers didn't exist as we know them today. While the traffic seemed bad then, it is worse now and the same Jeepneys seem to be in use:yikes: Shopping Malls have increased in size and number ( no Marks and Spencers or Debenhams in those days). Call centers didn't exist. There weren't so many Overseas Filipino Workers such as nurses. Certain singers, popular then, are still around (Claire dela Fuente, Sharon Cuneta, Apo Hiking Society). I was surprised then to see so many Japanese tourists (they're still visiting now). Filipinos / Filipinas were just as friendly and hospitable then as now, and the latter just as beautiful :) NAIA had yet to be thought about; in 1978 the Cultural Center for the Philippines (patronised by Imelda Marcos) and Heart Center for South East Asia had recently been opened. The climate was different - when I was in Manila this time there had been less than 30 mm rainfall for the year ( average 150 mm). Disease patterns have changed - "lifestyle" / non-communicable diseases are commoner. All possible topics for future threads if you're interested ...:xxgrinning--00xx3:

[sparky]

and how did the women compere to 78?:do_it::xxgrinning--00xx3:

[KeithD]

and how did the women compere to 78?:do_it::xxgrinning--00xx3:

He wouldn't know his only played at 45!!! :rolleyes:

[Sim11UK]

and how did the women compere to 78?:do_it::xxgrinning--00xx3:

Probably with a microphone, like they do now? :Erm:

[jimeve]

He wouldn't know his only played at 45!!! :rolleyes:

whats it like played at 33.......slooowwww:laugher:

[Doc Alan]

and how did the women compere to 78?:do_it::xxgrinning--00xx3:It was a cultural trip, I was told by a forum member I could look but not touch :doh But they look just as good :xxgrinning--00xx3: What's with the numbers? 78...45...33...is this a record ?:icon_lol:

[Doc Alan]

We are all waiting quietly in the surgery Dr Alan :DThought I would make a start with a single photo of a church in Tagbilaran, Bohol, clicked on"Manage Attachments", uploaded the pic from my computer, to be informed that the image was too large, so couldn't attach it. I have already attached 20 photos on facebook without a problem. Maybe a photo album in the Forum gallery is the answer ... advice please :doh

[raynaputi]

Thought I would make a start with a single photo of a church in Tagbilaran, Bohol, clicked on"Manage Attachments", uploaded the pic from my computer, to be informed that the image was too large, so couldn't attach it. I have already attached 20 photos on facebook without a problem. Maybe a photo album in the Forum gallery is the answer ... advice please :doh

Like what Boss Keith always tell me, resize the photos! hahaha.. :D I've seen your photos in FB Doc, and Chocolate Hills photo was so nice! I wanted to go there someday, I just can't find the time...and MONEY! hahahaha :D

[Doc Alan]

Like what Boss Keith always tell me, resize the photos! hahaha.. :D I've seen your photos in FB Doc, and Chocolate Hills photo was so nice! I wanted to go there someday, I just can't find the time...and MONEY! hahahaha :DThanks Rayna, there are many more photos which I hope will be interesting ...so now I have to learn how to resize ...which may lose some quality ?:yikes:

[raynaputi]

Thanks Rayna, there are many more photos which I hope will be interesting ...so now I have to learn how to resize ...which may lose some quality ?:yikes:

Well yes it will lose the quality but it's very unnoticeable unless the size of the photo is from 1200x1600pixels to 100x100pixels (for example)! you can also resize the photo by means of it's file size (megabytes and the like) without changing the actual length of the photos..try Fotosizer..you can download it for free in the web..that's what Keith recommended to me before.. :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[Steve.r]

To resize photos easily, I use MS Paint, in accessories, find the tab at the top 'Image' then 'resize' fill the boxes to for example 50% and 'save as' (so you don't ruin the original) reduce down to required size for posting. hth :)

[Doc Alan]

To resize photos easily, I use MS Paint, in accessories, find the tab at the top 'Image' then 'resize' fill the boxes to for example 50% and 'save as' (so you don't ruin the original) reduce down to required size for posting. hth :)
Thanks Steve + Rayna (who's told me about "Fotosizer" which can be downloaded for free). I was of course concerned not to ruin the original. But a sample of all my pics shows that they would all need to be downsized to be posted on the Forum. This is a version of the "law of unintended consequences" where I had assumed it was a simple matter to upload photos here ! So keep waiting in the surgery :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[sparky]

It was a cultural trip, I was told by a forum member I could look but not touch :doh But they look just as good :xxgrinning--00xx3: What's with the numbers? 78...45...33...is this a record ?:icon_lol:

or perhaps the numbers of the gogo bar girls :D:D

[triple5]

You can resize them all at once if you download this little tool :xxgrinning--00xx3:

http://www.multipleimageresizer.net/download.aspx

[KeithD]

I use Fotosizer for resizing, but don't change the originals, save the resized ones to a new folder called WWW_Pics or something.

You can upload the pics to either the main Gallery, make an Album in your UserCP (as in FB), or do both :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[Doc Alan]

Thanks for the advice guys, maybe it will help other forum members too :xxgrinning--00xx3: Not sure about downloading little tools though :yikes:

[Sim11UK]

Probably enough options already, but I've used http://www.picnik.com/

Think it was somebody (the member, not anybody) who mentioned it before. Free & easy to use.
Look forward to seeing them Doc. :)

[Doc Alan]

I downloaded Fotosizer, uploaded 30 pics to the Forum Gallery, under "Philippines", to be told "You do not have permission" ! It was much easier to upload pics to my facebook site, so those who are "friends" can view them there, until I have the expertise + permission to make an album here :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[KeithD]

Just make an Album in your profile same as FB

[Doc Alan]

There are now two albums (less than 3 dozen pics) for my "facebook friends" (add me !:D), a small proportion of the total number taken :) I was lucky to visit at the end of the dry season, during election time, to see fiestas, and visit parts of the Philippines not on the usual tourist trail. I had the privilege of being invited to people's homes - certain friends gave unlimited hospitality and support, to make my stay safe and enjoyable :xxgrinning--00xx3: OK, no gossip, but I can't wait to return next year !:)

[sars_notd_virus]

OK, no gossip, but I can't wait to return next year !:)
Like Keith, you also got a mission doc?:rolleyes::D

[Doc Alan]

Like Keith, you also got a mission doc?:rolleyes::DYes, I was told to "collect then select" :xxgrinning--00xx3: Haven't selected yet ...:)

[KeithD]

Alan, you're pics are on the FilipinoUK Gallery :Erm:

[sars_notd_virus]

:Erm:yes its in the gallery:omg:

collect then select ???

[LEAHnew]

Yes, I was told to "collect then select" :xxgrinning--00xx3: Haven't selected yet ...:)

:)Take your time Doc:xxgrinning--00xx3:All the best:)
BTW I've posted photos in my profile album to show you the bride's maids you've missed:D:Rasp::Cuckoo: and to share to everyone here my special day:Wave:

[Doc Alan]

Alan, you're pics are on the FilipinoUK Gallery :Erm:Magaling !:xxgrinning--00xx3:That's a start !:)

[Doc Alan]

:)
I've posted photos in my profile album to show you the bride's maids you've missed:D:Rasp::Cuckoo: and to share to everyone here my special day:Wave:
Sayang na sayang Leah ...that I missed your bride's maids :doh
Can't wait to see your pics :)

[Arthur Little]

Just been thinking :rolleyes: (not all that unusual an occurrence for me, I can assure you!) how :crazy:-"funny" it is, that some threads have a habit of going off at a tangent. This one, for instance, was started by me to :welcomex: someone back from his travels ... and has ended-up in an :icon_offtopic: dissertation about how to upload photos to best advantage! Which, as it happens, I'VE being trying to do [unsuccessfully] for several days now, myself - with a selection of photos taken in Paris! I have followed all the instructions ... to no avail! :ARsurrender:

[KeithD]

Gallery :Erm: ... Upload :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[Doc Alan]

:Erm:yes its in the gallery:omg:

collect then select ???
COLLECT (cellphone numbers, yahoo ads, facebook user names) from filipinas I've met, chat for a few months, delete would-be scammers, SELECT one in time for next trip to Philippines :xxgrinning--
+ stay modest to avoid them deleting me :)00xx3:

[Doc Alan]

Alan, you're pics are on the FilipinoUK Gallery :Erm:Just uploaded more :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[Sim11UK]

Nice pics Doc! :xxgrinning--00xx3:...Is that on the Loboc river?

[Doc Alan]

Nice pics Doc! :xxgrinning--00xx3:...Is that on the Loboc river?Thanks, just a few of all the pics taken! It is the Loboc river cruise on the Floating Restaurant, with amazing scenery and a performance by the Loboc Children's Choir. Also not to be missed on Bohol was the Tarsier (one of the world's smallest primates), the Blood Compact Site (where Miguel Lopez de Legazpi and Rajah Sikatuna concluded hostilities in 1565), and of course the Chocolate Hills :xxgrinning-- How do I know all this ? You may have noticed my tourist guides !:) Fred, who lives on the island, thought I was being greedy :D.00xx3:

[vbkelly]

welcome back Sir Alan!!!!

[Doc Alan]

welcome back Sir Alan!!!!Thanks so much! The pics of Bohol would be of special interest to you, + I wish I could have spent longer there :xxgrinning--00xx3: I stayed at Bohol Tropics Resort, which (to me) was reasonably priced, with swimming pools, friendly staff, good food, nightly entertainment (live music at Cafe Atanacio, karaoke bar, and Lazer Club). I was very fortunate to meet my "unofficial" tour guides who made sure the visit was unforgettable :xxgrinning--00xx3:
I flew by Cebu Pacific from Manila to Cebu, then took the fast ferry to Bohol, and flew back from Tagbilaran. The flights were 6,115 pesos, booked the day before. I arranged a "package" at Mactan Airport, consisting of 3 nights at the Cebu City Marriott, 3 nights at Bohol Tropics (half the price of the Marriott), transfers + ferry for about 30,000 pesos, not cheap but a great week :xxgrinning--00xx3:
Meeting Keith + Jhean was a very special part of my Cebu visit :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[alanmf1]

Glad you had such a great time in Bohol... its a wonderful place.. i cant wait to get back to see Arlene soon.
Great pics much like my own......
Regards