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Published: November 26th 2006
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the well
Kids getting muddy So I have been here for 2 1/2 weeks now, it feels like longer because I have been so busy. Since my last blog I have been to the orphanage of course, the kids are getting to know me now and I have helped one of the mothers teaching the older ones some English but I still don't have a grasp of the language yet so it's hard for me to teach them by myself which is pretty frustrating. I also helped packing up food bags that will be given to the very poor at Christmas. This was quite hard work as lot's of rice was being shifted around and it's so hot but it was pretty rewarding and also good for the biceps! It was nice to get a bit of exercise as I do very little here.
I went with Al to the place he works; it's a street children center out in the country. It's very beautiful and really peaceful out there. A few kids have been taken off the streets and are given accommodation and food here.
I have also been to help some of the sponsor children make Christmas cards for their sponsors. This was also
sponser kids
the most shy kids i have met here, smile god damn it smile! in a country location. We rode motorcycles to get here which enabled us to view the sites, lots of Nipa huts (the basic fili homes), paddy fields and coconut palms, which are all over the Philippines. Fact: the Philippines is the worlds largest exporter of coconuts, they call the palms 'the tree of life' as every part of it can be used for something.
On my time off I have vested the local beach and also had the pleasure of teaching some drinking games, which I am much better at than teaching English! Did some super easy ones as only the Brits could really grasp them quickly, wonder why!! So we got entirely drunk on filipino rum that costs 60p per litre and actually tastes quite good. It was a really fun night and instead of going out like we would in the uk we all went to bed, pretty sure pirate was out but no photos to prove it!
Biliran
For the last couple of days I have been living it up in Biliran (a small island near to my island) with Kei. We got there on a mini bus which was packed so full that the
lions den
dinner pre drinking games door wouldn't even close, not the most comfortable as you can imagine. Luckily the 18 stoner who was pushing into me got off and 2 other young guys got on and the door actually closed, these guys proceeded to take photo's of me on their camera phone tho, it really is like you are a minor celebrity here.
Anyway, arrived at our hotel and it was lovely. Two pools with slides, awesome! and a lovely room with a shower (ahh bliss!) for only 6 quid a night.
We rented a fishing boat/canoe and paddled about 2km to a nearby island, which turned out to be deserted and absolutely gorgeous. We explored the beach and took some comedy timer photos (as we were the only ones there!) and then I went to snorkel, there was a reef just off the beach which was pretty impressive, Kei doesn't swim much but the reef was so close that I persuaded her to some a look, she had never been snorkeling before and she really enjoyed it. It was so nice to show her lots of different fish.
We then rowed back to our island, which seemed much further away than coming over and
ton ton
the hilarity of drinking games!! had a lovely shower and dinner. The sunset and stars were amazing here, it made me wish that I had listened to my dad when he tried to teach me the constellations as a kid!
The next day we took a fairly challenging hike to a nearby waterfall, it was gorgeous. The photos just don't give it justice. We swam in the pool and against the current, which was like a water treadmill, much fun. Luckily we had a guide so no timer pictures.
Back to the hotel for some pool fun with some kids anything I could do they could do better! Then a not so crowed trip back home, was so tired and actually glad to be home, actually feel like it's home now. Well you know what I mean.
I hope this has kept you entertained for a good half an hr, it's a long one! Keep your emails coming lovely to hear from you all
xxxx
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BigBrother
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Jealousy
I wish I could come on your trips to deserted islands! Looks awesome! x