Some mornings 

you've got to run like an antelope out of control

Lek-Lek's Birthday in Manjuyod (Mon-hoo-yod)

Different island, different fishing boat setups

Lauren and I traveled to the neighboring island of Negros to celebrate the birthday of our dear friend and fellow volunteer Alessandra, aka Lek-Lek. We spent the afternoon on a stilted house in the middle of a crystal clear sandbar which is part of her LGU's tourism projects.

Even though this is our neighboring island it took a quick 12 hours to get there.  In order - 1 bus, 2 tricycles, 1 ferry, 1 tricycle, 1 taxi and 2 more buses.  Whats surprising however is this cost us around $12 per person for all of these modes of transportation.

This woman, this specimen of posture, has the stance down perfect for Filipino sweeping which has it's origins in Spanish bullfighting.

Negros is known as the sugar cane capital of the Philippines 

The plantations here are grander on scale than anything we have on our island, it's a beautiful site.  With this beauty however brings to mind the brutal truth of child labor.  It is a strange feeling to be aware of the social problems that lie in the background.

The coast line where we were visiting was breath taking.  We took a boat out to a sand bar area where nipa huts had been built on stilts. The water was crystal clear, when the tide was at a low point it was just waist deep and as the afternoon past the tide came in but we were all able to still stand comfortably. 

Meg, Jack, and Lek-Lek making the jump.

It was a wonderful day full of laughter with other volunteers, beautiful weather during the rainy season and a sense of pure serenity from our surroundings.  It's moments like these that help us get through the lows.

After another wonderful evening with friends it was time to take the trip back. Planes trains and automobiles, better have my donuts.

It's Christmas Time in Philip-pines, Nanay's cooking' Adobo and Swamp-cabbage greens

It's almost September so that means it's time to decorate the tree. There really are only two seasons in the Philippines; rainy season and Christmas.