2010 NSVI Vasectomy Mission to the Philippines
by Doug Stein, MD
Monday, February 1: Getting There

Departure from Tampa to Atlanta was at 08:30, every seat taken on a 757.

 But the departure was on time and Atlanta was soon below.
A 747 is a daunting site. Amazing that all that mass will soon be airborne. I had never had a seat in the upper level of a 747.
Passengers going to all parts of Asia Business class was VERY comfortable.
Because the upper lever is domed, window seat passengers have large chests for their supplies.
Seared scallop with yellow coulis, a slice of baby asparagus, and an onion ring. My last view of downtown Atlanta.
Crabmeat salad with prosciutto ham and garlic bread. Carrot cream soup.
Pan seared Chilean sea bass with arabiatta sause served with angel hair pasta and vegetables. Dessert.
Gracious service by fastidious and very professional flight attendants.
I expected to exit US airspace over Washington or Oregon, not over Michigan! Tea and honey.
Real Korean water, but no Korean napkins!
You can lounge in your complimentary travel slippers ...
... while you watch the sunset over Arctic Canada and prepare for dinner.
Seasonal green salad with oil & vinegar dressing, and garlic bread. Korean style roasted beef "duck-galbi" with steamed rice and mushroom.
"Seasonal" (odd because it was the middle of winter) fruit. I never expected to be over Eastern Siberia ...
... but it was a fabulous site.
My flight landed in Korea on the evening of Tuesday Feb 2 with a 3-hour layover before my flight to Cebu City. I had crossed the date line and missed most of Tuesday. Dr. Suarez picked me up at the Mactan Airport (constructed by Americans as a staging area for bombing raids over North Vietnam 45 years ago) in the wee hours of the morning on Wednesday, and we stayed at the home a friend close to the airport.

Wednesday, May 3
My first day in the Philippines.
We really did not fly right over North Korea, but rather went around it to the west and approached Seoul's Incheon Airport from the west.