big picture problem
sorry about the huge picture - I still need to learn how to downsize it. It's of a sunset in Borocay - quite beautiful, eh!

Onward
Hello to everyone again. Hope you are all doing well.

So, I'm right now back in Manila at Crystal's place. Tomorrow I leave for Thailand - we've arranged for a taxi to pick me up to take me to the airport quite early in the morning but I'd rather be there early than too late because I still need to pick up my ticket there. From there, in Bangkok, I'll be staying at the downtown hostelling international hostel for the first two nights and then I'll keep you updated with more news as to where I am. I'll try to write tomorrow with the address to those who need to know!

So, since I last wrote you, I've done quite a bit. The day after the last email - I woke up in Borocay still and went scuba diving. It was a really great experience. I went with the dive master to a dive site called Crocodile Island - no crocodiles there, though. I was very glad not to see any sharks, either. We dove to 20m (they use a different system here than in Canada - they go in meters and pressure is in bars) which is about 68m. We were under for 35 minutes. We saw lots of fish and clams and lots of coral and school fish and angelfish and there was one big colorful one. It was good because we spent almost the last half of the dive at only about 5 meters so we didn't have to take a safety stop at the top. the place we went with was also good because they let Crystal and the other two girls we went with use the boat to go snorkelling for a cheap cost and even let them use wetsuits.

After that, we just relaxed on the beach and then went out for dinner later. Crystal and the other girls wanted banana splits for dessert so we went to this place that had them but they were disappointed because they were basically tons of bananas on cabbage if you can believe it with this weird Filipino ice cream on top and no chocolate sauce. My dislike for bananas, though, kept me from ordering that - I ordered the best chocolate crepes I've ever had.

Yesterday we flew back to Manila and later these nice missionaries took us out for dinner. I'm pretty lucky, I think. We went to TGIF Fridays - it's an american restaurant and I had the biggest hamburger!

Today we went to church at Crystal's church and I sort of helped with the sunday school class Crystal teaches. After the service, Crystal, Gerry (Crystal's boyfriend) and I went out to eat and then went to one of Gerry's friend's baby's baptism (cristening). It was at one of the Catholic churches here and they make a really big deal about it. Gerry was sort of a godfather to this baby. They had this huge reception afterwards at their condo rooftop - it was a beautiful view and I took some pictures there. They had a huge meal there but seeing that we had just eaten just before the baptism, I wasn't that hungry. These people lived in a nice area of Manila - Gerry said they were likely upper middle class. There is a big distinction in classes here. Then we went to MegaMall again!

Well, hope you are all doing really well. I'll write more in Thailand.

hello from tropical paradise
Hello to everyone again...

Well for those of you who would like to know where I am at the moment - I am still in the Philippines but now at an island called Borocay. It is very touristy and a tropical paradise with white sand beaches and tons of resorts along the beach. It's pretty nice to say the least. You can all still reach me at Crystal's cell number, I think. I will be here until Saturday March 13 (your friday night) then it's back to Manila to Crystal's place again. So, that's an update on where I am...

Now for how I'm doing. This place is amazing - lots to do and very hot. There are palm trees everywhere and cool little huts to stay in. That is where I am staying. The days have been packed full with activities so far. We got here yesterday.

After a difficult journey to the airport (trouble finding a taxi as I think 4 white girls was intimidating to them) then the taxi driver took us to the wrong terminal and then we had to pay almost the same price for the taxi from that terminal to the right terminal but we finally made it to the airport. We were very happy to see that our flight had been delayed as we were late. We boarded the smallest plane I've ever been on - only 3 seats accross and about 12 rows. Maybe less. We made it safely here though with no problems.

Yesterday was a relaxing day of walking on the beach, going out to eat and getting massages on the beach. Today was a little more action packed! We were pretty ambitious and decided to ride bicycles all over the island with the tropical heat beating down on us... We did see some parts of the island that we probably wouldn't have seen otherwise as all the locals live behind the beach resorts sort of in the center of the island. We saw some other neat beaches rather than the big main beach. Then, we went seadooing - it was so much fun.

Tomorrow I'm gearing up for my first ever attempt at scuba diving in an ocean on a coral reef. Should be cool.

Hope you're all doing well! Take care and I'll keep you updated!

Hello Again
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.

Amy Takes Over
Well, it's my turn now. Thank you to michael for this awesome site. Sorry, no pictures yet. Will try to put some on when I can.

So, I arrived in Manila safely March7. Met up with Crystal and one of her friends without any problems. I started my trip March 5 from Edmonton to Vancouver then on March 6 to Taipei from Vancouver. I had the priviledge of being bumped a class so I got cushy seats which were a definate bonus for the nearly 13 hour plane ride. Watched the movie "love Actually" which was good because I wanted to see it anyways. Spent a few hours in Taipei walking around the airport and then off to Manila.

So, Manila is a lot warmer than where I've been lately. I'm not complaining. I will not complain about the warmth. It's awesome. I will stop gloating now. Anyways, we got on a taxi from the airport who too expensive (this seems to be something you have to watch out for) so then Crystal asked him to pull over and let us out. We then took a bus to Mega Mall! It is actually pretty big! There were so many people there. It looks a lot like Canada or the States so far here and most people seem to understand English. There are jeepneys, though, a mix between a jeep and a bus. They are quite colorful. I'll try to send a picture of one sometime. We bought tickets to go to the white sand beaches of Borocay on Wednesday. Sounds awesome! Aside from this, not too much else is new. Hope you are all going well. Amy

ARRIVED
Amy arrived and made the, "I'm not dead" call at 10:36pm.

There she goes !
Amy is too busy to start her Blog off... so I thought I would for her...

At the moment, she is busy cleaning her apartment before leaving. Quite comically she turned on the kitchen sink tap and the faucet literally shot water out 90 degrees all over her shirt. (Didn't even phase her, infact, I think she watched it for a bit...hehehe).
Now a quick html lesson so she can update her site if the opportunity presents, and then its off to the car.
1 Sub and 3 hair salons (for Crystal) later and she's off to Vancouver.