Komusta ka? (How are you)
I'm doing really good. Really tired, but we're now right in the thick of it and getting lots done!
Since New Years...
We got back from Mindoro on the 4th - it was a rude shock to the system to go back to cold bucket showers after hot water luxury! We're basically working really hard now on the Street Children's Festival (which is on the 26th) and meeting with all the youth leaders on the weekends and getting down to all the fun details! Last w/e Erin and I spent the 2 days trying to roster 200 volunteers for the day! Its the most insane roster you will ever see in your life...hopefully it works! :)
We had a cultural tour yesterday and went to visit a local embroidery factory - that work with pina weave (pineapple leaves), then an awesome wood carving shop that had some really nice stuff, and then this small town in San Pablo which is like the town of shoes! every second store in town is a shoe shop (definately not exaggerating!) and went to a slipper (thongs) making factory. It was cool to see how they made it all at each place. Then had lunch at this amazing restaurant which served all Filipino, done really well! It was buffet style and I didn't know what anything was, but I tried a bit of everything and it was amazing! It was the first healthy feeling meal I've had since I got here! Nothing was fried...it was great.
We then went to Sta. Lucia mountain and walked down about 150 VERY steep steps to get to the 'healing falls'. The locals believe that if you swim and wash in the falls, you will be healed - really old ladies who can hardly walk, take on these 150 steps to get healed. There is a few church statues around, and lit candles...it was pretty cool. My legs were shaking by the time I got to the bottom...imagine what it would be like for an elderly lady! And when we got back up to the local village, the locals prepared us merienda (snack) of fried banana on a stick with young coconut juice - drunk straight from the nut!
It was a really good day and a chance to see some more of this awesome country...and play tourist for a day. :)
Today we're in Manila to extend our visa's. Its such a pain in the ass...cos the regular visa lasts for 59 days and we are here for 60! So I'm currently in the mall, waiting till 4pm to hopefully pick up my visa...that cost me $100...for one day! ok...I'll stop whinging!
Pictures speak better than words...and I'm too exhaused to successfully string together an exciting blog...so check out the new photos (that will hopefully upload) and I'll be seeing you all really soon! I'm craving a snag off the barbie so bad! :)
xoxo
