Hello everyone for close to the last time. So, I leave tomorrow to come home. It seems like a really short trip...

Since I last wrote, I made it back to Manila and have been touring around the Philippines some more. The day after I got back was Crystal's medical mission day - the kick off day for starting their clinic. It was fun! I got to work in the pharmacy and play pharmacist. Had some trouble interpreting doctor's handwriting but overall I got the jist of it. I even learned a bit about drugs which could be somewhat useful at work. I also had the opportunity to do some physio on one lady. She had a contracted hand and wrist due to a stab wound. So I gave her some exercises through an interpreter. I think that she seemed to want to try them! The interpreter seemed very enthusiastic in her descriptions so that was good because I couldn't figure out how to draw hand exercises very well....

The next day, Crystal was an honored guest at a graduation ceremony for kindergarten kids from a Christian school. She handed out diplomas and awards - they had many awards. They made a really big deal about graduation from kindergarten but the kids were really cute in their robes and all decked out!

That night I decided to make a whirlwind tour to the famous Rice Terraces in a place called Banaue. They are these, well rice terraces, carved into the mountains about 3 thousand years ago I think. It's pretty amazing and beautiful to see - very green here. I went by myself on an overnight bus on very curvy roads on the mountain sides! It was an experience to ride in a jeapney (once I got there) on those roads. I was extremely fortunate to meet up with 4 Filipino girls around my age from Manila going on a trip to the terraces. They were so nice and helped me out and let me travel around with me for that day. We almost didn't make it back to the bus station for my overnight bus trip back as there was a land slide (glad I wasn't under it!) and it had to be cleared from the road before we could procede! I saw two more rural villages just tucked away inside the terraces that day. I'll try to post pictures once I get home as they were very beautiful...

After getting back to Manila yesterday morning, Crystal and I hired to driver to take us to a place called Lake Taal. It is a volcanic lake with a volcanic island in the middle. The last time it blew up was 1990 something but that was only a small amount. The last big blow up was in 1977. We climbed to the top of the main crater in which was a sulfuric lake - with some steam coming out of part of the shore areas. Very interesting. We also visiting a volcanic and seismenology museum and found out loads of info on volcanos - we even got to watch for seismic activity on a seismograph (of which thankfully there was none!)

They next day (we stayed over night in that area) we went to the coast to find a place with scuba diving. We arrived at this place called the Maya Maya Yhaht (I can't spell!) club which apparently had a scuba school. It did but the dive master was out on a dive - after a quick cell phone conversation, though, he agreed to come back by 2:00pm which worked out perfectly as we had lunch and free massages (with trainee!). It was wonderful! The dives (I did two with the dive master and 2 other guys) were neat - a lot of really good coral (some coral is huge!) and some angelfish, lionfish, eel type things, starfish, school fish, and many other creatures of which I am not able to name. The first dive was along a wall of rock and coral and the next one was just in coral. It was really good.

So, that's about it. Tomorrow I fly to Taiwan first where I'll try to grab some electronics! and then 11 hours later, to Vancouver for about a 12 hour flight, and then back to Edmonton. Should be an interesting day! Take care, everyone. Thanks for reading!

hello again
Well, I'm back in Bangkok after a whirlwind tour. I got on the train in Bangkok 2 nights ago for an overnight train to Chaing Mai. It was pretty good - I slept pretty well although I think I'd get aircon next time. I'm getting pretty used to aircon - a little spoiled. The train arrived about 14 hours later. I was greeted (?harassed?) by people trying to sell tours etc. but ended up talking to one lady and getting a great price on an awesome hotel and she also arranged the trek that I took. Hung out in Chaing Mai yesterday looking around and doing major shopping. Today I went on a one day trek. It was very fun - riding on elephants up and down hills, going to various hill tribe villages, shopping some more, riding down a river with bamboo rafts and crazy boatsmen. I met a girl from Brazil and we ended up having supper together after she let me use her hotel room to clean up (seeing I had already checked out of the nice hotel). Then, after getting a tuk-tuk (tricycle) ride to the airport with a driver who had to ask people every few minutes how to get to the airport, I boarded a flight back to Bangkok. I decided to not take the train because I wanted a comfortable night's sleep and I could get a cheap ticket. So, here I am back in Bangkok. Tomorrow, I'm going scuba and then the next day it's back to Manila! Hope you're all doing well. Amy

3rd party update
An excerpt from an email:

"...
So, yeah, I'm back from Kanchanaburi. I had a good time at the falls - they were very beautiful and jungly! But, no monkeys were seen by moi. I did see some lizards and lots of bamboo and butterflies, though. It was actually quite the hike. I was determined to make it up to the 7th fall (there were 7 different falls). I'm glad I went because Iwas debating whether it would be worth because the Swedish girl yesterday said they weren't anything special and I was thinking that I have seen lots of beautiful falls in canada but these were different because of the jungle feel. So, I wanted to try to make it to this floating market that is on the way back to Bangkok from Kanchanaburi so I booted it down from the falls and was running in the sweltering heat and people were looking at me funny because I don't think it's normal for people to try to run in the heat. Anyways, I had read on the bus schedule that there was a bus departing at 11:45 back to Kanchanaburi from the waterfalls (Erawen falls) but apparently that bus didn't come today and the next one wasn't until 1:45. So, I decided not to go back to the falls because I was exhausted from my run, etc.,
and just had something to eat and read while I waited.
There was a bus that came in between that time but it I thought it would wait just a little while at least while I got my bag because the one that dropped me off had pulled into the parking lot but it left right away and I missed it.
Then, I took the 1:45 bus to Kanchanaburi and then as soon as I got there these men (?workers at the bus depot of something) said Bangkok and I said yes and they placed me on a bus to Bangkok. They even took my bag without me saying they could (good thing I locked it up like the Lonely Planet said) and I bought a ticket. It was cheaper than on the way
there but I thought it said Bangkok so it must be okay. (By the way, I couldn't make it to the floating market because of the late bus). I thought that that was weird (the difference in price) but thought well maybe it wasn't as nice of a bus (which it wasn't). So, the bus went everywhere and took about 3 hours instead of 2 and then at the end didn't even drop us off at the bus depot - just this place where taxis were waiting. There was a British guy and girl as well dropped off. The girl said that we had passed
the bus depot about 5 minutes ago. So, we all three
arranged to share a taxi - I got off at the train station (where I am right now) and they were going to another bus station. I think we got ripped off because the taxi drivers don't like to use the meter because then they don't get paid as much and we agreed on a set price but I just wanted to get somewhere familiar because on the bus I had no clue
where it was going. So, I arrived safely at the train
station.
I ate some spagetti (after going to the bathroom - I didn't expect to have to wait as long as I did) at a restaurant because I didn't feel like Thai food. I've had good Thai food, though, last night when I as at that restaurant where I met the Swedish girl - it was yummy stir fry. I also had good french toast this morning and oh yeah, I had a yummy yogurt shake yesterday - it was great. So, now I'm off to Chaing Mai.

Anyways, the "floating house" was an awesome hotel room - it cost me a little more but that's still cheap for what I got. Oh yeah, I think I left my pajamas at the hostel in Bangkok. I phoned twice so far and today the lady said that she thinks the cleaning lady took them so she's going to ask tomorrow. I am a bit frustrated about that because I'm quite sure they are there because I locked my bag up when I left the hostel for the bus trip and I think it's rude to just take clothes home that aren't yours.

..."

Kanchanaburi
Hello again. Thought I'd let you know that I was still alive. I travelled to Kanchanaburi today which is about 2 hours west of Bangkok. This is a town with lots of world war two history as many allied prisoners of war were stationed around here in the making of the burmese-thai railway. Very poor conditions surrounded them and many died - particularly Australian, British, Malaysian, and others. I visited 2 war cemeteries that were very well kept up and also walked across the Bridge of the River Kwai. I went on a boat tour as well which turned out to be very interesting. One thing that's interesting here, though, is how slack they are with safely things. Like walking over the bridge was just walking over a railway bridge with some planks put down - no bars or railings as I'm sure there'd be in Canada. Also, the bridge was still in use so when a train came by, although very slowly, people on the bridge just had to move to the nearest platform. I guess it's just funny because I don't think a major tourist place like that would be run like that in Canada but it works well here. Also, when we rented bikes in Borocay - no helmets. Interesting.

I'm staying in a river raft house right on the river. It's really cool - you feel it go up and down with the waves.

Tomorrow I'm hopefully going to get to some nearby falls and then to the floating market and then back to Bangkok to catch a train to Chaing Mai by 10pm tomorrow night.

Take care, everyone.

Hello again
Hi. I am writing from Bangkok Thailand at this time although tomorrow night I will leave to go to an area west and south of Bangkok called Kanchanaburi - the area the film "Bridge over the River Kwai" is about. Anyways, as you can see (although it might take awhile) I have managed to get some pictures on the website finally. I will add descriptions at a later date. This is all thanks to a terrific internet cafe in Bangkok that I happened upon. Maybe I can get them to save some of my pictures to CD too seeing that I already have over 200.

Anyways, since I last wrote, I flew to Bangkok on Monday March 15 after waiting in Manila airport for what seemed like a long time as my flight was delayed. I arrived without difficulties to the airport and then spoke with the nice Thailand tourism lady who told me lots of cool things. Anyways, I was able to get train tickets right across from the airport and then made my way to an airport bus that would take me into Bangkok. I met a nice German girl on the bus and we exchanged email addresses but I have not heard from her again. She had been travelling alone for 2 months already and had come from Hong Kong. Anyways, I made it to the International Hostel that I had booked prior to leaving on the internet and at first I was less than pleased. It just seemed old and not that inviting and also a little ways away from the main tourism area (well I can walk but it's a little ways) called Khae Sam (something like that). But, after spending a night in an 8 bed dorm room with myself being the only person, I thought it wasn't so bad. I paid a very small price for my own room and ensuite bathroom (~$2.50). I toured around the Khao San area last night and bought a much needed skirt as well as a purse requested by Crystal's roommate, Julie. I was surprized that I could find it so easily.

Today, I was mega tourist in Bangkok. I walked to a central area in the heat (it is really hot here - I've already had 2 showers today and a third might be nice!)(and for those of you that know I am always cold it must be hot!). Anyways, I decided to try riding in a tuk-tuk - a motorized tricycle but nicer than the trikes in the Philippines. I think I was ripped off but it was only about $2.50 so whatever. I'll learn. I went to the Grand Palace and the temple of the Emerald Buddha. The architecture was very good and colorful. I tried taking a picture of one of the thrones indescretely because it said no pictures but a woman caught me because my flash went off and made me erase the picture. Oops. I was thoroughly embarrased and made my way out of that building as quickly as possible. I will never do that again. After that, though, I really did enjoy the Grand Palace and had a good time trying to buy something with people who hardly spoke any English. My little phrase book actually came in handy. They kept laughing - I'm not sure if it was at me but I just smiled and laughed too. I think they were laughing at what they were trying to say in English (?).

After that I went on a river cruise for a very small sum of money and walked around an area with lots of gem and silk shops. I went in one silk shop that also appeared to be tailors - they said they could have a skirt ready for me tonight but it was too expensive because I know I can get it cheaper. They did have nice silk, though.

I took a taxi to the train station to change one of my tickets back from Chaing Mai (which I've already booked) and then after some difficulty with taxi drivers and tuk-tuk drivers not understanding me, I got a tuk-tuk driver to take me to Jim Thompson's House - a tourist house of an American who lived in Thailand but had a house similar to traditional Thai houses. The guide was very interesting although somewhat difficult to understand her English (as mine is sometimes!).

Afterwards, I made my way to the skytrain (LRT) and then to another river boat to make it back to near my hostel. I still wasn't finished, though, as I tried to find this over mansion but it was closed by the time I got there. So, that's that. I took a taxi back to the hostel and had dinner at the cafe attached to it (for the second night).

Tomorrow I'm off to Kanchanaburi for one night (don't know where I'm staying yet but mom and dad you can always reach me by the messaging system I gave you and I have been in touch with Michael so he usually knows what's up). Tonight I'm still at the Bangkok International Youth Hostel. The number is 282-0950 with the area code 02 proceding and the country code proceding that which is 66.

Hope you are all doing well. Amy

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