flickr: palawan

http://www.flickr.com/photos/emeliza/sets/72157623334127811/

it's good to be reminded...

I have returned from the Philippines, tired (from a sleepness night spent on benches and the ground in Manila), but feeling great after an overall successful 3 weeks of travel (nasty, one week stomach bug aside!). My tentative itinerary went down the drain, but I have no regrets. The people that I met by staying in Palawan and the experiences I had there were so wonderful.

I wanted to go on this trip because I knew that it would open my eyes to a new country and a new way of life, as did my visits to the Dominican Republic and Cuba. It's good to be reminded from time to time just how little we actually NEED in our lives to get by and I truly saw and lived this in Palawan. The people have so little, yet they are willing to share what they do have with others (as opposed to a culture where people have so much and are still unwilling to share).

When you don't have the internet to distract you, you read or write or talk to people. When you don't have enough money to buy new clothes whenever you like, you wear the 2 shirts that you have and hand wash them every other day. When you don't have a soccer ball, you find an empty bottle and make do. When you simplify your life, the hardest decision of your day can very well be "what should we catch for dinner tonight?". When you live in a community where faith and trust is central, there's no need to lock your doors or be worried about where people are at any given time of the day. When you only have electricity for a few hours of the day/night, you learn to use this time efficiently and to conserve. When money is hard to come by, you work extra hard for every cent (or peso). Lastly, when you wake up in the morning to the sound of pigs, dogs and roosters, you aren't annoyed because you look around and realize that it's another day and you have a roof over your head and a family that cares; and this is truly all that should matter anyway.

I'll be going back, for sure.

what a life.

So, I am 9 days (or so) into my trip to the Philippines. In a nutshell, I fall more and more in love with the country and its' people everyday. Since day one, I have been running around Palawan with a lovely German gal named Berit ('Berry' for those westerners who can't quite get that rolled 'r' sound right!). I realized in meeting her, how easily plans can change and that it really is the best to travel alone. The people you meet along the way certainly do make it an experience.

We stayed in Port Barton for 8 days (about 4 longer that what we had planned) but it was so, so, so wonderful... we may even go back! We are now in El Nido. The drive up north was... hellish. I have to admit that I did see my life flash before my eyes a couple of times (sorry, Mom and Dad!). We did make it though and it seems that the worst drives are always worth it when you see the stunning colours of the ocean and the white sand beaches. Life can be so simple... really.

I have a story or two to tell, of course, but shall save these stories for later. I am learning that it certainly pays to be nice here. If you are nice, you will be treated wonderfully, maybe even proposed to. Gosh, men are so handsome here... annnnyway, I will try my best to do some more updating now that the internet is a tad more accessible (that is, if my "readers" haven't given up on me already!).

... also, beer and rum are cheaper than water here. Perfect.

Paalam! (from a not-so-quiet internet cafe).