Home Stretch

I spent Spring break in Palawan. Stayed  a few km from town, in Corong Corong.
First day I walked to town and along the beach.
The next day, I took the banka trip, Tour C.  Saw some lovely spots and enjoyed the snorkeling immensely.  I have an underwater camera but without my glasses, I don't see well.  The magnification of the water helps but not as much as I would like.  I love the "other worldliness" of the sea.  I drifted with my camera and just snapped a bunch of shots.   Got a sunburned back, but it was worth it. Here is a slide show of my underwater stroll.  Click to enlarge and play.
 Enjoy.


I also got food poisoning, probably on that boat.  The rest of the trip was spent mostly in my air conditioned room. 


Two months to go!

I've accomplished what I came here for, mostly.  I have helped build a vibrant library.  CIS library is in much better shaped than when I arrived.  I have explored some of Asia, see previous posts!
I have learned a lot, as usual a lot about myself, about history, about people. I have saved some money.  So glad I came here, so ready to go home.

I'm Booked!

I'm booked at least 3 ways. As part of the end of responsibilities here, I’ve asked if I can spend next year’s library budget. Since I am still waiting for my orders from last year, it makes sense. So far I have 250 books that should be here before I leave. I now have over 400 on the list for next year. What fun and how needed! 

As a service project, we created 5 “little free libraries”. We are not registered with that organization so are not supposed to use that name. We placed them in local barangays, communities. Fun to make and do. A hopeful legacy.

Since I last wrote, John has been living here, sort of.  He saw me through my recuperation which was alot like a library.  We both read lots of books.  John was a terrific house husband and I got to vicariously enjoy his journeys from here.  We had a couple of adventures together.

We drove to Dumaguete, which includes a ferry ride, stayed at Dumaguete Springs Resort.  Comfortable and easy.  We took the boat to Apo Island and swam with the turtles.  Next time I would stay over night on Apo, no electricity part of the day but beautifully pristine.  This last weekend, we went to Bantayan, about three hours by car, then an hour by ferry.  Stayed at Youneek Resort,  warm, well run and beachfront.  The water was sooo clear and calm, when we were there.  

I'm booked!

Flying home three months from today,  June 6, 2016. 

The retrospection has already started.  People ask “What are you going to miss?”

I came to the Philippines because I’ve enjoyed Pinoys, and I still do.  I love the ready, easy smiles, I love that many just burst into song, at the grocery store, on a boat, anywhere.  I love the beauty of the islands, the warm water. 

It must be time for me to leave because I have begun to talk with my eyebrows, Cebuano style, and the traffic is beginning to make sense. 

I haven’t been home in two years and I sure am looking forward to it. 

Before then I have Spring Break.  I’m heading to Palawan for 6 days.  Serene are you with me?