Manila

34 Hour Trip to Manila Hello from the Philippines!

So here I am. After approximately 34 hours of traveling, and a few more waking hours after that, I made it all the way to the other side of the world. There was lots of confusion navigating foreign airports (except Hong Kong, it's the most well organized and pretty looking airport I've ever been to!), but nothing has been more confusing yet than Manila itself.

Manila is crazy! It's nuts here! It is a very interesting city, full of character. I certainly get stared at alot (so far). The heat is something crazy which will take a lot of getting used to I think. It was 38 degrees yesterday and sunny (aside from the visible smog in the air) and like 100% humidity.

Did you know that Manila is the second most air-polluted city in the world? The first is Mexcio City. Manila is also the most densely populated city in the world. A very interesting and chaotic place!

I'm only in Manila for a couple of days - soon I'm off to Romblon, where I'll be living in a house just off the beach in the shadow of a mountain. Maybe it'll be cooler there on the beach? I'll be working with Malcom, a kiwi volunteer, and Eden, one of the coordinators. Another volunteer, Chris from Florida, is also working in Romblon, but on the health project.

The food has been great so far, and I took a Jeepney ride to get to this gloriously air-conditioned mall to write emails. Jeepneys are a common form of transit in Manila, a sort of hop-on hop-off bus service. It is certainly interesting!

I am looking forward to getting to know this place more, and particularily to start my volunteer project. I will be working on building a roof for a daycare center in a barangay (small community) on Tablas, an island of Romblon. Internet access on Romblon is sketchy, so I may not be able to send another update for some time. So until then, take care everyone and wish me luck!

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