last days in Manila

HI, a few pictures before I headed to Puerto Princesa. The room is the place I stayed while in Manila. It was nice to have a bit of space and a kitchen to cook in. I took a picture of the yellow flowers because I passed by to the language class and just loved the tree. There is also a picture of a street showing how green thing are (in places). The rest of the pictures are at a resort place we went to on the last day of language class. It was beautiful. Lunch was in the river, literally if you look close you will see the tables in the water. The river comes over this man made damn and after taking off your shoes you get to sit down, soak your feet and feast on a very nice meal. They had my favorite dish (green beans and squash cooked in coconut milk!! very good). The day involved Museum (pink building big trees),

caribou ride with singers (Very cool to be listening to West Virginia Country road in a caribou card in the Philippines), swimming pool dip, river paddling, and a show of historic and cultural dance from different parts in the Philippines. The vegetation was beautiful. I think I saw one of my house plants as a full grown tree! and last but not least, My feet felt clean for the first time in a long time. It was wonderful!!

Diversity

Hi, as my final few days in Manila have crept up very quickly, I have been caring my camera around to take a few shots. I went from street market, shanties, busy streets and all the garbage and dirt that can go with that; to a posh British celebration for the Queen's birthday.

Clothing wise you can probably imagine I was more comfortable in the streets. I was quite concerned that I didn't have my personal clothing advisor (you know who you are!! and her side kick, the hairdo girl). Well I was so concerned I bought makeup (OK it was only eye liner and lip gloss). The night was very nice with lots of traditional English food in a beautiful garden. ( I didn't bring my camera to this event, I was a bit doubtful that security would approve of me pulling out a camera from my dainty hand purse and snapping random shots.)

Well some of the other pictures are of my day trip: a churches, a temple ontop of a building, 2 different street markets. I definitely brought more than I needed. I really could buy everything here, (except jeans that fit my thighs!!) for very good prices. Oh well next time!!!

And I am very pleased that I brought my own soccer ball. It definite been a source of comfort.

Unfortunately the shopping pictures don't really capture the days experience: it is very noisy with traffic, people, horns and stuff; the smells, fish market (don't need to say more); the full dimension of ongoing street, people up, down and all around; can't forget the heat!! Although it may not be written up in the tourist guide, it is a valuable experience to check out these big busy markets and shops.

I also included a few pictures of the Canadian Embassy. I was inspired to go register, thinking I may run into a bit of a Canadian experience. It was a very crowded train ride and 30 minute walk just one way. As I got close I felt comfort in the Canadian flag. (a few pictures). With my Mouse head t-shirt on, and all ready to say eh I headed up to the office. Well registering involved a few moments filling in a form and that was it. I didn't even run into one Canadian. Oh well, next year I'll see you all (add the drawl for effect!)

take care

language training

Well this is a challenge. I have had 2 weeks (Dalawang linggo) of lessons and feel very much like I will come home speaking English. I find it much easier to write and read. It is all the new sounds and the number of sounds that are packed into one phrace needless to say my days of lessons are busy with resting my brain, and practicing, and making up sentences. There are guards around the neighborhood were the office and language lessons are and I think they are quite amazed by my attempts of good morning!! (magandang umaga!) Well this week I have moved to a house a little further out with another volunteer that works in Manila. I will only need to stay for the 2 weeks of language and then I am off to Puerto Princesa to really get settled in for the year. It has been very nice to have a home to stay in the last few days. I cooked my first meal in 4 weeks! It is so easy to get supper planned because on the way home you pass all the little street venders with tons of vegies and fruit to pick from. I'm loving the food. I haven't been brave enough to buy meat in the street so I may be quite the vegetarian cook when I get home. There will be lots of fresh fish and sea food in Puerto Princesa but I'm not sure if I'll be brave enough to buy it. Did I say it's hot!! yes! Hot in the morning, afternoon, middle of the night!! There is technically no hot water for showers but it heats up an it's own in the piping I think and even trying to take a cold shower is a challenge at this moment. (this is the hotter of the season, yes the seasons are hot and hotter) I also here it will be slightly cooler in Puerto Princesa because of the sea breeze. Well other than being hot and polluted. (I've given up worrying about my lungs). It is an amazing place. I quite enjoy my little jeepney ride in the morning. Packing in the back of this little bus. It has it's general route and they continually come by. Just have to wave it down, pay 7-8 pesos (about 20 cents?) and off you go. there are some set stops but if you call Para it will stop right were it is and off you jump. I got a bit lost in the new neighborhood this afternoon but people are so friendly there is no problem finding help (even men ask for directions in this country. I noted this my first few hours in the Philippines because the taxi driver stopped about 6 times to get directions when I first arrived. It was one of my first obvious culture differences. Men ask for directions!!) Well you may be wondering what the pictures are about. some of you may have heard about the Easter Friday tradition that occurs in one of the provinces of the Philipinnes. (this tradition is not encouraged or condoned by the church -disclaimer) To give penance or to show appreciation for a good year, or to ask for healing, some men in this region go through a ritual of flagellation. They have their backs cut (the bald man in the white t-shirt) and then with there face covered, they walk down the street to their church flinging a whip onto the wounds to cause more bleeding. well just see the pictures, the van is covered with blood spatters. Overall it seems hard to understand but it has been going on for about 50-60 years. Since the church has been more vocal about discouraging it participation has gone up. Hard to say maybe hundreds of men do this. Some just carry a cross. There is also a picture showing the real Crucifixions. This year there were about 8. Some people, mostly local but some foreigner, choose to undergo the reenactment of caring the cross and then being nailed to the cross. (for you rehab people, yes I checked and they place the nail strategically to avoid damage to ligaments and such). It is hard to really describe the day. For those that do it, they feel they have had healings and obviously some benefit. Some do it yearly. Well just check the pictures and you can read about it more if you want to if you check out web for Philipinnes, Crucifixion, flagellation? The dutch network is there yearly to report it.

other pictures:

There are also 2 pictures from my visit to Makati; which is upscale Manila.

I had a very nice home made meal and got this nice view. I met a dutch couple who had questions about malaria drugs (by the way the doctor in Puerto Princesa say I only need the anti Malaria if I an going out of the city. All that talk about dreams and depression!!). I also met this other dutch volunteer in the picture with me. We are out at an outdoor community event having a cold one. My big night out (till 9:30 I think it was).

Take care (ingat)

P.S. sorry about the sideways picture

Mabait na Kaibigan (kind friends)

HI I have an array of pictures. Most of the beach pictures were taken on a boat trip with the staff from Bahatala on a staff day to Cocoloco Beach. The evening beach picture is at a local beach in Puerto Princessa. I will spend many days there as it is convenient and the owners are very kind.

Well as you can see I am working on Language, day 2. It is very challenging and I will spend a lot of time in the next few weeks studying. (The pictures of me are just to show you all that I am really here!! after all this time waiting.)
There are a few pictures of in Puerto Princessa, (city hall and the street outside the hotel I stayed at for the week).

corrected links

Well my week here in Puerto Princessa is finishing; for 5 weeks I will be in Manila. I am still working on getting some pictures onto the blog when I have easier Internet access. I corrected the link www.katjack.net (it is net instead of com) Kat is a lady I met early in the week. Her web site is very interesting and I look forward to getting to know her better when I return. The other link is to the Bahatala, the clinic I will be working at. I am getting very excited about the work and people I will be involved in. www.britishpalawantrust.org.uk
I had a spell of being home sick this morning but a nice afternoon at the beach has helped. I will have to work hard at finding things to keep me active and in shape. I am a bit nervous about walking and running just anywhere as there are snakes and traffic to contend with. I have not seen a snake yet but I do have a bit of extra phobia and hypersensitivity to stories about the cobras that live in the area. (The first time I actually see one, I will have a story to write about I am sure).

paradise

Hi. Well I am in paradise (and just as I would suspect, computers don't belong here. I have been trying to get onto my page for the last 20 minutes and I am finally here. I can't get my pictures here so you will have to take my word for it).
I met the program directors and people in charge and they are wonderful. I think I will love working for this program and the people in it.
Although it is technically dry season we have had some rain which comes and goes without the weather getting cold. I have spent my first night here meeting some local artist at an opening ceremony for there art display. I think I will have to channel my unused soccer energy into some form of art over the next year. There is an annual art festival in April that I will have to miss because I will be in Manila doing language training. I am very disappointed because it sounds like the festival will be a wonderful show of local talent and indigenous tradition. Manila will seem very polluted and busy after this week in Puerto Princessa but I am sure the time to learn to speak a little tagolog will be worth it in the long run.
Although I haven't even seen the sea yet I love it here. I will get pictures up and running in a few days I am sure. I don't think my pictures will do the place justice so in the mean time I've included a link to a website made by a lady working on coral reef protection. I will hopefully out in this ocean soon.
I am also pleased to inform you that I have been very healthy and the mosquitoes are not bothering me much at all.
I am hoping that you girls back home (in Calgary today) are doing well with provincials. You know I have been thinking of all weekend and I will be checking the results my next computer day. Please send me any good updates. I have been told that soccer is very uncommon here but there is a big open field by the teaching clinic that I work at (need I say more)!
I have found out a bit more about Bahatala, the program I am working for, and I can't wait to start working. It is set up well but the demand are endless. I will keep you updated on that once I return from language training and realy get going.

Day 2

Hi, Just a few pictures so you know were I'm at. The second one is the front yard at the bed and breakfast place I am staying at. So far I share a room with a volunteer from Holland. It is great to get to know the other volunteers, The organization is like a family network. The last picture is the office were I am presently using the computer (It takes 10 minutes for each picture to be downloaded, that's why they are only 4 for now). The other shot is me on my little walk to the office (just so you know for sure I am here), it is only 5 minutes and I quite enjoy this little neighborhood. I am feeling very safe and enjoying seeing all the plants that grow here, (It reminds me of our living room at home, don't forget to water Rick!). A low and behold there is a soccer field. It's in pretty bad shape but I plan on taking a few shots this afternoon. There is a basketball court to the side that gets used more often. I am loving the weather. I am free all day today so I will walk over to the shopping center dawn the street and see if I can then find my way home. So far I haven't had too much in the way of jet lag. a little sleep in the afternoon and I'm feeling pretty good.

take care and hope you are doing well back home