i LOVE the PHILIPPINES!!!!!!!

It's so amazing. I'm getting to see a side of it I've never seen before. The clean country side. The breathtaking views. The lovely people. When I lived here, it was mostly the dirty streets, the non-running water, the people who steal and rip you off. And every time I've visited, I've stayed in the house I grew up in with my aunt and cousins. I couldn't ever really go sight seeing because I would feel bad that I couldn't take them all with me (and they can't come because they don't have money). So I would just stay at the house and help with my aunt's little mom and pop store and play with my cousins.

Also, being here with non-Filipinos--specifically, two canadians, two americans, one australian, and four brits--helps me kind of pull back and look at the Philippines through their eyes. I am an American who can speak Tagalog visiting the Philippines. It's pretty great.

Today we went on a long, scenic bus ride to Taal Lake and Volcano Island. We got to the lake and took a really cool boat (I think they called it an outrigger) to the Volcano Island. We rode horses up to the top of the volcano and looked down at the crater lake inside.

Came back to Manila after partaking in some Halo Halo (a dessert made of shaved ice and various tropical fruits and desserts). Everyone else made the smart choice of napping and/or showering before dinner tonight (after which they will probably want to go to bars and clubs and such), but I want to do some exploring on my own. So off I go!