(IN August) I had a visit up north on the island and saw some very interesting sights.
We visited some patients in their homes, went island hoping (I love being on the ocean; were is Edmonton again?), and enjoyed the fresh mountain and ocean air. It was a good way to recover some strength after feeling unwell.
I was amazed to find out that the birds nest soup, a specialty, is made from boiling the swift birds nests to get the bird saliva. It sounds very unappealing to me. I'm trying to imagine how this became a food item. One chef talking to another, I have a great idea for making soup. Lets boil a birds nest so we can get the flavor of the birds saliva into our soup. Other chef says, sounds like a great idea, I'll go get some birds nests!!
Well as amazed as I am with the whole thing about bird nest soup, I was even more taken a back by where we found the birds nesting. We came across the birds nest "in" the Taytay hospital. You will see in some of the pictures that Taytay is a great place to visit, just don't get sick. The part of the hospital has been neglected and next thing you know, bird nest soup on the hospital menu (if it had a menu). The whole state of the medical system here sure makes me appreciate what we have at home even if it is in the prairies.
Along the way we also stopped to see the project of Mylene. She is a social worker that advocates for persons with disabilities. She has been very successful in creating employment form a joint government and school project to provide chairs to schools in the rural areas. She has a work shop that employees persons with disabilities (PWD) to make the desk chairs. I really admire these dedicated people that are working hard to support a cause and make a difference. Even if it is a small scale local effect, it is the dedication and persistence of people like Mylene that is to be admired. In one picture you will see Mylene with the new chairs. The other picture is the old chairs that students had to make up for themselves before this program. The school doesn't have books, that's usual out in the rural places, I imagine the teachers get creative. (again we are lucky at home). There are 505 students and 14 teachers at this place.
If you look at the scenery pictures you will quickly see were life out here can be grand. I really enjoyed the little town of Taytay with the small homes on the water, a historic fort and a friendly welcome in the streets.
The picture of Ime on the white beach (Ime is an OT that works for Bahatala in the rural areas) was taken at a little island that was wonderful, no inhabitants, beach, trees, great rocks (worth contemplating selling the house and car in the prairies; for a moment on a sunny day).
Also on that boat trip we stopped at a resort for a tour of the facilities (Club Noah). The Resort is very posh so a day trip to see it was all we really needed. The island is limestone and in the bay the horizon is dotted with these grand island of different shapes. It is great to travel with a geologist (Dr Soc first had a geology degree before taking up medicine) and get the history of island formation and development. We stayed at the resort on the mountain overlooking the bay. It's called Casa Rosa and although it was a bit of a climb to get up, the view was well worth it (picture of me with the bay behind is from this place). The last picture of the little hut is a place we stayed on the way to taytay. It's on a little sand island. great to wake up in the morning and swim out a few feet to find all kinds of corals and fish (even nemo!)

I will say by for now. All is still well.