Hello everyone. Hopefully you are all able to access this. I hope that you are all doing well.
So, here is a little update. I spent most of yesterday (Monday) with Crystal and the other missionaries with Action as they had a lady's lunch and program. It was at this very pretty conference center outside Manila. I even met up with some girl that I counselled at Red Rock Bible Camp in Manitoba with in 1994. That was funny - small world. Afterwards, we rode a jeepney which is a cross between a jeep and a bus and is decorated in elaborate colors. It's a mode of public transportation. We went to a market. Another way that people get around is by tricycles (basically either a motorbike or normal bicycle with a side car for passengers). This is mainly for shorter distances.
Today we woke up early and went into metro Manila. We went to this huge market called Deva Soria (I totally didn't spell that right). It was interesting to say the least. There was a ton of people there selling just about everything. It's also a popular place for pickpocketing - so we had to be careful. We bought some really cool cheap fabric and I guess you can hire seamstresses really cheap to sew some outfits - so I'll try that.
After the market, we needed to get away from the smells and polution and went on a horse-drawn buggy tour of another area of Manila. The driver was very nice and pointed out some things to us and took us to the president's palace but we were unable to get into it despite the best efforts of the driver. Afterwards, we hopped on a light rail transit to get out of that area and get to an airconditioned mall. That was a nice feeling.
So, tomorrow we're off to Borocay - an island beach resort! I will try to write while I'm there!
Hope you're all doing well.