Impressions

Geckos, roosters, brown outs, dirt roads, white beaches, blue waters, cheap rum, jeepneys, 80’s/90’s pop hits, outrigger boats, and friendly people. Whoa! The Philippines were great.

By our standards, the Filipinos are poor, but they have a wealth of happiness, and a “happy-go-lucky” freedom that’s hard to find anywhere else. Life moves a lot slower here. Family, friends, hanging out, malls, and religion seem to be of the utmost importance to these islanders. You don’t need a car because family run mini-buses will pick you up from the main street and go almost anywhere. In the city, you can take a short ride in a “trike” (a moped with a modified carriage attached to it) for about 15 cents. You don’t need a flashy airtight house because it’s warm year- round. Apparently, Filipinos are some of the most ardent text-messagers in the world. They love to talk and with 90% of the population understanding English, it’s easy to strike up a conversation wherever you go.

Rachel and I extended our stay here for an extra five weeks because there is just so much to do. We bought our own snorkel gear to get a taste of the underwater world. Our skin is golden and our bellies are full. The sky is bigger than I ever remember seeing it and the colors are brighter. The Milky Way comes out every night and we have enjoyed many a beer by the ocean. Life is good in the Philippines.

Air

Land

Water