I'm so lucky! February adventures 2015

I'm so lucky!  Not everyone would think so, but I sure do.  I get to explore the world and have meaningful work, that pays me decently.  Am I in the 1%,  Sure feels like it here.  The Philippines continues to welcome and frustrate me.  Since returning from spring break, I realize how much I have adjusted here.  The weather does not bother me any more.  I still live inside in A/C most of the time, because I can afford to, but the heat is not depressing any more.  I enjoy the afternoon breezes and my walks.  The traffic is normal to me now, which is a bit scary. I weave in and out with the best of them.
Feb. 17th,
Since last post, I have been to Manila for a day, to renew my passport.  I had an early am appointment so I got to spend the day in Manila.  I planned my day, with the National library, just a few blocks from the embassy, and the Intermuros, old walled part of the city nearby.   I was pleasantly surprised at how clean the streets were, and the walk was pleasant.
  When I arrived at the Library, I found the sign that said closed.  I asked the guard to let me in and went upstairs. 

So this is the frustrating part, in my opinion, there should be an uproar that the library is closed!  It is a valuable and much needed public resource.  But to object is not the Philippine way.  They make the best of what they have?  Onward to Rizal Park,  I have read much about and some by Rizal.  He is a, perhaps the,  important leader.  I believe he is called a man of the people, yet when I went by his statue, I couldn't get close, there were armed men standing guard. I was ordered off the lawn. 

The park itself is delightful and intriguing, Then on to the walled city, Intramuros.  There are many churches there, I only went to the big one, where I could pick up a horse cart ride. 

  I visited the church, love the "Lady of the Philippines" picture, so Mexican, Spanish looking. The stained glass was also beautiful. Does anyone else think the man in the first panel looks like Jimmy Durante? Kippas on their heads? 





Back to the airport and home in Cebu by evening.  Would like to explore more.

Feb 21, I set out with two colleagues, Elaine and Marj, with Susie in back, for the island of Negros.  My plan was to spend the night around Dumaguete and then go to a resort, Mumbukal, that accepted dogs.  What a disaster!  Dumaguete was busy, wouldn't take dogs, we finally found a resort a bit out of town.

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The next day  I got really lost. i decided not to take the main road to the resort.  I went over roads I probably shouldn't have, and back again, sinceIi had to turn around after a couple of hours of this.  So we spent two much time looking for a place that took dogs.  We stopped for dinner around 7 at a restaurant owned by an Austrian man and family.  The result was, we stayed at a house on the property of the man at the next table.  He was also Austrian, married to a woman from Cebu, near Bogo. They were kind, interesting and   so accomodating!  They have a large property in a seaside village.  We woke by the sea, and went in search of breakfast. 

 my companions went back to the city and I rested in a delightful Nipa hut.

Love this exit sign, I needed the reminder.

 

That was just February, more in March.  My first year in the Philippines is almost over, I've learned a lot and enjoyed alot!

Love this sentiment, says alot about the Philippines to me,  and I love Halo Halo,  

http://content.time.com/time/travel/cityguide/article/0,31489,1955442_1955443_1953940,00.html

6. Halo-halo By Lara Day

Bon Appetit /

If you could distill an entire culture into a single beverage, it would have to be a halo-halo. Confounding to some yet irresistible to others, this quintessentially Pinoy drink cum dessert — with a name that literally translates as "jumble-jumble" — is a refreshing concoction of shaved ice and evaporated milk, mixed up with any combination of sweetened beans, candied fruit, nata de coco, leche flan (Filipino crème caramel), ube (purple yam) concentrate and jelly, among other ingredients. Don't forget to top it off with a scoop of ube ice cream.

Alternate Reality

I haven’t blogged in a while for a couple of reasons.  One is because between work and travel, I’ve been busy..  The other reason is because I sometimes feel I’m in an alternate reality.  
 Thailand was wonderful!  I enjoyed being away from the din of Christmas, red and green and holiday songs.  There were some signs of Christmas in Thailand but minimally, not the amount in the states and Cebu.  Thailand is colorful, clean and welcoming.  It was easy to get around and there is a lot to see.  I had a wonderful trip (by subway) to the “weekend Market”.  Picture the biggest flea market you’ve ever seen, with a variety greater than you can imagine.  I bought a silk bed set, bathrobe, blouse, three bracelets, earrings, cool shoes and elephant pictures.  I don’t think the total was $100.  Then I went sight seeing, mostly to the famous Wats (temples). 

 I saw the huge reclining Buddha, large Buddhas and small, beautiful carved doors and murals.  I went to the Royal Barge museum too.  Of course, we ate well, Indian and Thai food. 

 Then we flew to the town of Chang Mai.  I loved this small town, easy to walk around the walled city.  We had a one day package that included an elephant ride, a bamboo raft ride on the river and a walk to the waterfall.  Visited many more Wats and shopped some more, pant, scarves, souvenirs.  We also visited the Art in Paradise, Chiang Mai 3D Art Museum, perfect for selfies, and amazing. 

 Read “Bamboo Tattoo”, loved it . We took a bus farther north to Chang Rai, not as quaint but still lovely.  The highlights were a visit to the Asean Flower Festival, with music, dancing and flower displays and a visit to the WhiteTemple, another Wat done almost entirely in white with a great art collection.  Tucky, my traveling companion had to return to Cebu and I choose the “Slow Boat to Laos".  It consisted of a two day trip down the Mekong River.  One night stay(in a funky hotel) in Pakbeng and arrival the second day in Luang Prabeng.  The boat was pleasant, with people from all over and good conversations.  We arrived the second day in Luang Prabang, Laos.   My hotel in Luang Prabang was about a mile from town with a free shuttle and free bicycle,  I used both.  It is a beautiful riverside town that caters to tourists, many French, Russian and Thai.  It was great to stroll town, visit the museums and take a trip to the nearby waterfall.  More good shopping too.  The last day, I took the bus to the capital of Laos, Vientiane.  Bummer! my luggage was stolen at the bus station but I did have my shopping bag with most of my newly acquired goodies and of course my purse and passport.  The next day, January 4^th,  flew back to Cebu.

So that brings us to the new year.  Right after we got back, a local festival, Sinulog, was approaching.  The school hosts a family day with games, dancing and music and lots of food.  The following weekend, the festival takes place in downtown Cebu.  I got out of town, went to stay in Bogo, in the north.  
 The next week was called “Week without walls” at Cebu International School.  Classes reach out to the community.  I visited the local elementary school with the fifth graders.  We also went to the Mandaue dump site, which houses hundreds of families.  With the fourth graders, we made “liters of light” for those nearby without electricity.  We visited the historic sites in Cebu and the Jesuit museum, rich with Cebu history.

These experiences were eye opening.  The local fifth grade had 52 students in a small room with no air conditioning.  The library was a textbook storage area with six ancient computers.  The students were smiling and friendly, as are most people in the Philippines. 
  The alternate reality or universe is a feeling composed of the different ways people relate here and the different experiences.  People here talk with their eyebrows, it means hello, excuse me, etc.  It is actually charming.  The part that is not charming, rather frustrating, is when people act like they understand you but they don’t.  Or they just  ignore what you’ve said, like it never happened.   An example is when I was in the store the other day and asked where to find something, they just smiled and said thank you. This happens often.  Like, did I really talk? 
 Alternate reality is the traffic.  I live 6 km (about 3 miles) from school.  It takes about 30 minutes each morning.  I call it my morning obstacle course.  Motorcycles come toward you, on your side of the road, I dodge bikes, people and carts, the good part is you are never going fast.  The pot holes are numerous and challenging.  Jeepneys are always allowed the right of way and of course, they rarely signal their intentions.  One of the common expressions is “wait awhile”.  What is a while?  It depends.  Very little is easy here, from banking to eating out, to getting around.  So my days are spent with strange experiences, getting less strange with time.  All of this happens with a happiness and intentions of helpfulness.  Am I in the twilight zone?

Beautiful Cebu!

My plan when I took the job in Cebu and stated in my first blog entry was " is to find a lovely place for me and Susie Q to live.(Done) We will explore Cebu, (happening now)  and the Philippines(still to come) and learn the ins and outs (still learning), We will discover the good places to go and great restaurants.some yummy spots
Then you come and visit.  The first week is Cebu, you recover from jet lag and play in Cebu with me.  Then we plan an excursion, Hong Kong?  Manilla? Bangkok?  Phuket?"



Since my last post I've had one 5 day holiday and two 3 day weekends.  I've been exploring and loving it. 
Swimming with the whale sharks was awesome, literally, it filled me with awe.

We drove to a town called Oslob, about 3 hours from here.  We had reservations at the Milas Inn.  When we arrived, no one was there.  Tucky talked to the women next door, who called the caretaker.  A few minutes later a teenage girl, the caretakers daughter showed up.  We had booked a triple with A/C, for two nights.  There was no triple in the hotel and the hotel was empty.  We convinced the girl to give us two singles. And we never saw anyone again.  It was one of the strangest hotel experiences I've ever had.It was lovely but weird. The shower in my room worked, sort of.  The one in Tucky's did not.  She was using another  shower downstairs.  Great view from the balcony, Angry Bird sheets, clean enough, secure, with parking, but weird.

Angry Bird Sheets

View from the balcony, Oslob, Cebu

In Palawan we spent two days island hopping and snorkeling. We took a van north, to El Nido.  Two days at a lovely resort, Qi Palawan, one day of rest,  one day of incredicle snorkeling.  The best I’ve ever seen! We spent one day in the town of El Nido, small, welcoming and charming. 

Slide show here:
https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/104308979472323473524/albums/6079286299150924897

I went for one night to Moalboal, about two hours from here.  Sweet! not much in the way of beaches, but diving and snorkeling is available, cute town, lots of fresh fish and friendly people.

Tucky and I also took a ride to the north of the island, not all the way to the top, that is for another trip, to Bantayan. Great to see the different terrain and slower back roads.

So, the plan is the same, I've scoped out places to visit and hope you will come!  I'm 62 and there's more to do!

Fall in Cebu

Fall in Cebu is actually cooler and I’m adjusting slightly to the weather.  I enjoy the occasional downpour and the sprinkles.  The temp is cooler mid 80’s .  I’m getting more used to sweating, which is good because I hear May and June are hotter.  There is no color change that I have noticed but the light is different.  

Having a car here has been a great change. .  It takes about 25 minutes to go  the 6km, or 3miles to school.   

 I’m not dependent on Jeepneys or taxis.  Jeepneys are actually fun when they are not crowded.  Open air bench seating, you sit as close to the back entry as is available. The cost is 10pesos, about four cents.   When full, they are packed. They stop wherever they are flagged and you tap on the roof for a stop. You can hop in the cab, next to the driver if it is free

Last weekend, I went to a local resort on Sunday.  Awesome lunch, slept on a chaise, swam in both the sea and the pool.  The weekend before, I was at a workshop in a suburb of Manila.  Good workshop,PYP teaching and learning, my section had 6 teachers from Pakistan, one from Bolivia, an American working in Vietnam and me.  This weekend I’m heading south to a small village, Oslob, to swim with the whale sharks.  

So although I’m not in love with Cebu, all is well. I plan to continue to explore.

View of the school from the road.'

These are some of the sights outside of the school

   Palawan Island later this month. Christmas in Thailand?  November closer to home since I have no long weekends.

I won’t go so far as to say Cebu is a dump, but it is not someplace that I would tell someone to spend tons of money to get to, unless you want to see me or my house.  I am exploring and enjoying the surroundings.  Bohol was great and I will go again.  The snorkeling is the best I’ve experienced! I’ll let  you know about the whale sharks.  Check out the exclusive resort, near where I’m going. http://www.bluewatersumilon.com.ph/.  Palawan, and more to see, Boracay, Camotes and Negros etal.