Back from the Philipines. We had 7 days in Boracay and three days in Manilla. Boracay is a very pretty island an hours flight south of Manilla. There is a long white sand sheltered beach. We stayed at the red coconuts resort funny name, it was ok till they started renovating around us so it got like a bit of a building site through the whole island is madly building. Its a local and Asian destination, Japanese honeymooners in identical clothes, well I hope they were honeymooners. The electrcal wires in the streets were amazing totally jumbled up. I love the smell of Asia. I forgot that, havent been in asia since the 80's Penang that amazing smell of food and tropical gardens, and other things. Food fantastic every franchaise and type of food. The fruit drinks are so nice. I liked a lime drink made of a little lime kalamancie which was a lovely drink also a watermelon juice with ginger. It reminded me of the street scenes in blade runner. Filipino people or Pinoys as they call themselves are such nice people very kind and enthusiastic and fun. it is quite upsetting to come home to the doom and gloom in this country. I asked some Pinoys if they knew about the financial crises but they looked blank. We went out for a sail at sunset and one of the girls said no wonder the guys sailing are so chilled its lovely out on the water. I think Asia will drag us out of depression by shopping.
It was funny through i thought people would be used to us but we got stared at all over the place more Manilla than Boracay it was weird The Americans were there for a long time but you dont see many Australians prob lots of Filipino aussies.
It made me feel better thru i still cried in the plane (not about the leg room) but coming home and not being able to tell Mum about it all. Grief does ease a bit thru sometimes you think it will never get better. It was lovely to see Sydney and the clean streets. We are going to travel a bit more, it is nice to have a break from day to day things and we havent had time for years to go away.
We had an ambition to go to all the pacific island groups because we loved Vanuatu so we might revive that ambition.