Last Week

The father we've moved away from Manila the more freedom we've had to explore places on our own. We are now at our northern most destination, Tuguegarao. Our hotel is great and has a wonderful manager, Gloria. The hotel is conveniently located right in the centre of town. How wonderful it has been to just walk out the front door on our own and be in the middle of a bustling city. The local market is just a few meters down the block and restaurants abound within a few blocks. People are all very friendly, even the ones who aren't trying to sell you anything. Yes, we do obviously stand out but people are pleasant. Last night Shannon and I decided that we would like a quiet meal on our own. (Our Filipino hosts have been fantastic and very generous but we are always with other people so sometimes I just need a break.) Shannon and I had a veggie pizza and just wandered through a few local shops. Very pleasant. Later we had a cocktail on the roof deck with the hotel manager. Gloria is a gracious hostess and her deck was a refreshing oasis after the busy streets.
Tomorrow we head back to Manila where I'm really looking forward to seeing some of the people I've already met. Other plans we have for Manila are shopping and a short trip to a resort called 8 Waves for a little sunshine. A week from now I'll be meeting Brian in Bali. Yahoo.