Aweful Experiences turned into great learning opportunites.

I met a group of good friends about 1 month ago. When I hang it is usually with them. Luke, matet, and jean. One of their friends from manila came to visit this weekend. Jean was very busy at the time of his arrival so I went with her to pick him up from the airport. We dropped jean off at college and Irvin and I went all around Tagbilaran city for 3 hours while jean was in class. I offered them to stay at my house for the weekend. So luke joined as well. Irvin really loves to cook, so he made us a great breakfast on Saturday morning at 5am before we headed out to find waterfalls and caves.



We went to a couple falls and a cave, and explored other places along the way. Because of the on and off storms around the island we were unable to enjoy the water at the falls or climb into the caves due to the fast flowing currents. It is amazing to me how different those same places looked a couple weeks ago when I was there and the tide was low.




We stopped at a pier to eat lunch one day. This particular place doesn't have a menu since whatever is caught that day is what they will serve. Instead of telling you what is available or unavailable (like most places, i go through my first 6 choices before i find one that they have available) they bring you to a standing freezer with trays of frozen seafood that was caught that morning. You pull out the trays and decide what you want them to cook and how you want it cooked. That was a new experience.



There were some great shells in the water near where we ate. Some HUGE clam shells. i found a ladder leading to the water and decided to go in and get my own clam. The Filipinos i was with discouraged me entering the ocean at a restaurant, but I assured them that they wouldn't have a ladder leading into the water if they didn't want us to go in. I underestimated the depth of the water and was wet up to my waist. But, it was worth it.



Irvin made us an amazing supper once we arrived home. We went to the market to buy seafood and i finally was able to see how to purchase the freshest fish and then how to cook it properly.

Sat, Sun, and Monday everyone stayed at my Bungalow. it was great to have people there. I was reminded how i felt in college when i desperately wanted to live alone, and now how much i appreciated the company.

Monday Morning I went to drop off Jean at home and meet the boys at Dunkin Donuts to start out our next adventure to a zip line about 3 hours away. After arriving at Dunkin I noticed my Ipod did make it with me. I immediately got back on my bike to retrace the 10KM i had driven that morning. with every passing second i began to panic more and more realizing how important that one small device was to me. Searching the sides of the roads while people called out to me from every direction i burst into tears. Pulling over i began to pray and express to God how important it was for me to have my ipod back.
it is after all my connection to memories back home:
..each time I replay Beyonce, Iron and Wine, Ingrid Michaleson, Skillet and the dozens of other playlists my friends have made for me
..several movies Brian had uploaded before my first trip
..Sermons in English
..worship music that is as important for my morning shower as the water that comes from the shower head.
wiping away the tears, i got back on my back still pleading with God that no one had picked it up. After several minutes of this i realized it was impossible that someone would not have picked it up by this time. So i asked the Holy spirit to give me wisdom as to where it had been picked up so they might return it to me. I was asking this over and over and 2 minutes later i saw a group of people and pulled over. I began to tell them I lost something very special to me, and one woman said, "I have it!" and she ran in the house and brought out MY IPOD!!! I burst into tears again , "Salamat Kaayo!!" i repeated several times, "thank you very much" She held out her hand, knowing some American culture, and i gave her a big hug! Very late to meet the boys at Dunkin by now i left. I did return the next day with 2 dozen donuts as a token of appreciation.

Praising Jesus with worship music blaring in my ears from this small device i now had a new found appreciation for, we arrived at Danao Adventure Park. The zip line makes you feel like you are flying. you lay down in sort of a thick blanket and with the command, "BOMBS AWAY" they fling you across the river made cannon. beautiful.

Arriving back in Tagbilaran sun burnt and happy, we prepared our last evening with Irvin.

Wednesday morning Lee and I were given the task of checking in on 2 trainees. Sagbayan and Jagna. They are on opposite sides of the island. Neither of us had ever cut straight through the island. With each of us on our respective motorcycles we began the journey to Sagbayan. On the way Lee pointed out 2 new waterfalls for me, and we stopped at the 3rd. Walking over a small stream, through someone's yard, and down a steep hill, we made it. There are too many jagged rocks and you would have to have perfect aim in order to jump off of it... so we just appreciated the beauty.
(pictures to come)

What should have been a 2 hour ride through the center of Bohol to Janga turned into about 4 hours. We both had been appreciating a huge mountain range and decided to find a way up it. After asking directions several times we found ourselves venturing through the mountain on our motorcycles. Upon reaching the top we walked around and found the most amazing views. no picture or description could even begin to explain this place.
(pictures to come)

Making it down the mountain and back to the roads that led to our original destination we found that the roads are currently being excavated and run jagged up a mountain and back down the other side arriving in Jagna. it was beautiful but VERY dusty. Being behind Lee and every once in a while behind A huge piece of machinery AND lee, I arrived in Jagna with a gray sweater that one was white and a thick coat of gray dust all over my face making me look much older than 24.

We made it back to Tagbilaran by taking the highway that runs all along the ocean. There was a nice cool breeze and the sun was beginning to set. We were in perfect position the entire ride to watch the slow and colorful decent from the sky into what seemed to be ocean, but really was the other side of the world. Too bad i can not take pictures with my eyes.

I was on my way back home after working at the office yesterday and the police had set up a block in the road stopping every vehicle to check for proper registration and license. Um, remember how I told you i needed to get my license.. Oops. i forgot, until that moment as i was pulling over. He asked for my passport to see how long i had been here. since i only i have 60 days. Knowing i had been here over 60 days i was relieved to have left my wallet at home. Really the first time i did this. He never directly asked how long i had been here, i didn't lie at all. I began to explain that i left everything at home and express how sorry i was, Sir. And even through in some Visayan phrases. He told me to be careful and to bring my paperwork with me everywhere i go.

No, i will not be getting my license. josh will arrive soon, he can drive until I leave for Indonesia and will get another arrival stamp when i return. Meaning i will have enough weeks left before i need to get a license. :)

oh.. one last thing: I starting Stick Fighting (Arnis) self defense classes last week. :)