Picture Update

It's starting to heat up here in Cabanatuan City, yesterday it hit 95. Everyone in my office doesn't seem to care to the heat but for some reason I've been able to stand it well so far. It's only the start of the summer though, so it's only going to get hotter. 

Here's some photos and stories of what's been going on with me this last month and a half. Enjoy.

The photo above is of one my coworkers being embarrassed into oblivion on Valentines Day. Her fiance swung by to give her flowers and everyone in the office gave the OOOOs and AWWWs mixed with friendly heckling. Too cute.

I went to Baguio for the Flower Festival called Panegbenga. It was a good time and while there I stayed at a friend's place (Deborah). Sleeping on the cold floor was worth it thanks to the view out her back door. This is facing the West Philippines Sea and when the fog is away you can actually see the water. I think this may be one of the best views any PCV has here, I know mine can't compete.

I'm a fan of cooking and DIY projects. This is a little of both. This was my first real successful batch of kombucha and boy was I proud. What is kombucha? It's a fermented tea! I just make a huge batch of tea, add sugar, drop in the culture (bacteria and yeast, similar to the bacteria in yogurt), and let it sit around cover for a week or so. It's the only pet I have in my apartment, outside of spiders and ants.

This photo was moments before I bottled it up.

This is Tiger. She moved into my apartment complex two months ago as a tiny pup and has turned into one of my biggest fans. She's always tied up outside her owner's apartment and they don't mind me playing with her so we get time together every time I come and go from my place. She's a little bigger than this photo but still as cute.

Eating here is a big deal. It's a big deal most everywhere in the world but here, some people get real pumped for food. I was asked to attend a Women of Cabanatuan City Appreciation Dinner and was treated to this sight. The food is behind that mass of people. Note the lack of a cohesive line.

Who's that on the ceiling?

This guy is big. So big in fact you can actually hear spiders like this one when they move. Horrifying. I actually don't mind spiders, as long as they stay out of my bedroom. Two after this photo found their way into my room and then into the afterlife after shacking up in my room. My execution technique? Throwing books - sandal stomp.

My city is like most cities in the world where advances are being attempted. Recently the city decided to tear out a looooong stretch of road. This road was where I used to live when I was with my host family but is the same place where I buy my water for drinking. This was before the actual concrete was removed but it's still interesting. A massive hole punching machine drove along and perforated the road into this. No consideration was given for people who live on the street though, just live with it until it's fixed.

This photo is hilarious, and I could have taken it 40 minutes later nothing would have changed.

Hey! I got the chance to help out with my office's sports fest with the street children my office serves. I was only able to help one of the two days but it was a good time. We hadn't planned the games well so we were coming up with variations of the same games over and over but the kids all had a blast. Interestingly the hardest game for the group was the crab walk relay, most kids couldn't hold themselves up that way and move forward, I don't know why. These kids still did though, all out!

Hey guys! What're you making there?

 OHH NO!
I was not on the food committee but this wouldn't have been allowed. That's a big ole batch of Milo (a chocolate malt mix) that was the main fuel for our kids. I've gone sugar-free and this hurts my stomach and teeth looking at this. The kids didn't care though, they all loved it.

This is one of my counterparts and she's pretty amazing. A tough customer, as you can see here. This was also at the sports fest.

For Holy Week I along with some friends made off to Marinduque Island for some cultural learning... and beaches.

There are several places in the Philippines where people perform self flagellation during Holy Week and Marinduque is one of those places. This was the prep where a razor would be used to open hundreds of tiny cuts on arms, thighs, chests, backs, and faces.

The locale for all of this cutting and hitting was the cemetery in Boac, Marinduque.  

After everyone was fully cut and bloodied up they moved out into a parade of the town. They walked whipping themselves throughout. Since we showed up early and watched them prepare before the actual parade around town, we decided we had seen enough and left before the actual walking around.

Since being in the Philippines I've been caving two times. Each time I've walked away going "caves are awesome." This one was particularly awesome thanks to bats and whole bunch of them.

Isn't this awesome?

This particular caving adventure spanned three different caves with a respectable amount of climbing involved to get where needed. There were some great offshoot caverns I wanted to go down but obviously that wasn't a great idea.

Above us were thousands of bats in each cave. This is only a fraction of the whole community. Those are their eyes.

Cockroaches were all over the group. I mean it too, they were everywhere. If you want to confront your fears of bats or cockroaches (both?), this is the place to go.

 When we made it out of the caves this is the sight that welcomed us. Well worth it.

On my way out with my friend Amy, we had to wait around for the ferry to show up. With our new found time I walked off and snapped this picture of this lovely lady that's part of the port. I have to admit, it's really cool.

This is the Coast Guard's patrol boat. Imposing!

This large derelict boat was washed up on the beach right next to the port. Surely someone could salvage something off this poor boat. Such a sorry state.

After finally getting on a boat we were crushed into the very back of the ferry. At this vantage point we could snap photos of everything we left behind and dutifully did so. Marinduque was a great place. If someone were to ask me if they should go, I would highly recommend it.

And that's about everything I've been up to (that I have photos of). I'll try to keep up with this a little better.