We are coming up to the end of our three week trip to the Philippines, and it's hard to believe all that we've achieved.
The second week of our training went well, and the students all enjoyed
the course. We were treated to a Boodle fight by the whole class, and
some of our colleagues even tried
balut!
There was a presentation given to the heads of the AFP and the
Australian DA to the Philippines which went fairly well with only minor
technical glitches (the projector gave up the ghost!), and we were
given certificates and presents in recognition of our contribution to
the Filipino military. This was followed (once the DA had left) with
Karaoke which everyone took part in, including the senior military
staff (and even more suprisingly, me!).
Other than that there
was much shopping for pearls and shoes, and a couple of our number had
to even buy more luggage for their purchases.
The third week saw us jetting around the archipelago of the Philippines taking in Cebu and Iloilo.
After arriving in Cebu in the early evening we arranged to go diving
the next day, and we were picked up in the morning and driven to the
dive shop for kitting out. We were given our stinger suits (you don't
need a wetsuit when the water is 29 deg.!) and told that we were the
only guests on the dive boat (a long thing with outriggers on both
sides). With a good day's diving in mind we went out to the first dive
site. After an unusual entry from the front of our boat we went through
a large patch of sea grass and started along a gentle drop-off. Lydia
spotted a sea horse near some coral and we saw a huge leopard-spotted
fish (no idea what it was) hiding under a table coral. Halfway through
the dive we had a minor problem in that we came across a Red-toothed triggerfish
protecting his territory. Thankfully the dive guide went over first,
but we lost a bit of air trying to get Lydia past him. Towards the end
of our dive we spotted a Lionfish just hanging around, and this was
when we were abandoned by the Sharksucker fish
that had been swimming around us all along. Originally we had planned
to spend the whole day diving, but when setting up I was uneasy with
the taste of my air, so after the first dive Lydia and I agreed to call
it a day.
The hospitality we've had from everyone we've met has been
incredibly refreshing, especially after spending a fortnight in a city
where you are advised against taking the buses for your personal safety!
Now, you'll have to excuse me. We're off to discover the Mall of Asia...
