I arrived here on some day and saw all the nearby sights. Next day I was out walking and everyone was offering me a taksi or a bike or a carriage and I just wanted to walk. I was trying to find the Manila Harbor. A man stopped in front of me and where are you going. I was so startled and figured he was a tour guide so I rudely replied, just walking. He explained that I should not be out there alone. Explained the kind of activities I could experience. Told me to stay on that street and not to look to the right cause that's where homeless men hand out. Seemed he had really stopped me out of concern for my welfare. It was not bad there but he said turn back before 3 more blocks. I explained to him that I was there to find somewhere to volunteer aid for the typhoon victims. Did he know of anything around. A church, hospital??? He referred me to the Red Cross and I was just a few blocks away. He turned and started escorting me there. After a couple of blockers I suggested he just tell me where to go and he could go about his business. I guess by then he realized I was not the little old helpless lady he thought he saw so gave me directions and we God Blessed each other and off I went. The area really never got bad, although I did get turned around once, but was quickly aided by a security person. The all carry rifles here. I found the Red Cross and the directed me to take a seat and someone would be right out. I'm sitting there wondering what I'd be doing, if they would put me right to work or have to check background or just how this would work. There were about a dozen young people sitting right in front of me packing food bags. After waiting a few minutes it occurred to me that they were volunteers and I could just help them. I got up took the scissors and started breaking down boxes. god and many of you know I've done that for years in TW and Avon so I spent about 3 hours working with these great young people. They spoke Philippine, but smiled Universal, and were very thoughtful. I was able to leave and make it back to my hotel before dark and never saw anything scary. God is good.
Next day I traveled to the train station a couple of blocks away. Met a really nice Filipino lady who showed me around for awhile then we went to her church for prayer. It was Catholic, open air, old, and beautiful. The city has a lot of religious feeling and almost all is Christian. Occasionally Muslim garb is seen, but stands out cause their is so little of it. At 3 pm there were several hundred people in the church and no service going on. They were just there to pray. Wow. It was now her way and my way so we exchanged contact info and parted with possibility of meeting tomorrow for a trip to the mountain,but it would take all day and who knows what tomorrow will bring. Her name is Verna, Hi Verna! On our way there we had passed through an incredible market place. HUGE. As I went back I did stop off there to look. They literally ad everything. Not food, but everything. I figured out what they should o about the Population of Philippines. If they take all the money donated for the typhoon and buy what the people who lost everything from the local market, they would fix the economy and the victims with outside money. Anyway it was a hoot to ang out thre. Definitely the biggest I've seen on my travels. It was all set up under the train tracks and on the street. It is open 24 hours case there are no doors or curtains or any way to close. Cheap, oh it. Was ard to not have space to carry stuff home.
I finished out the train in the other direction. A great China town, other interesting buildings. Ocean, beach, mountains, lakes, this is a great country. Cheap everything, great culture of fun and music and dance and worship of God. Great history with us as mentor. Just feels good ere. Yeah it's dirty, poor, but where isn't. Lots of transportation possibilities. I really like it ere and can see it being a great vacation destination. Volcanoes, diving shipwrecks and walls,trekking, kayaking. Lots to please . Haven't checked air from US but cheap to everywhere in Asia.
Yesterday I wa up to my neck in funk and ice reports. Did not leave the room until 2pm. Walked and looked and had my meal of the day at the harbor and saw a beautiful sunset over the China Sea while enjoying fish and chips and a pâté of veggies. Have not had much veggie here. Seafood is awesome and cheap, veggies not even offered at breakfast or many restaurants. Just salad and I'm not interested in raw veggies in any foreign country. I usually get inside before dark but the sunset was perfect so I stayed for all of it and took a taksi home.
Have my plans for the next week now. I leave tonight for Cebu which is closer to ground zero of typhoon. Have a nice hotel there I hope. Then back here late .thursday, then back to Maylasia on Fri morning, to Kuala Lumpur, then on to panang for a few days then back to KLOn Thursday to start my trip home. I am completely ready to go home. Some moments I feel like I am enduring the rest of this ordeal so that I get to go home. I hope these next few days will be busy and challenging and rewarding on some level to pass the time. In 2 weeks I will be home and I hope I'm not thinking of another trip...who knows though!
Ok here are some picks, I gotta pack. Leaving 3 shirts flip flops and my raincoat here. Basically down to my backpack and fanny PAC. Yeah
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