The End of a Sequel (Tagbilaran, Philippines)

Still here on the Island of Bohol. I'll be leaving tomorrow to go back to Cebu and then back to Manila the following day. Rented a bike again yesterday, this time it was bigger and better! I'm loving it. Went to an abosolutley gorgeous beach full of white sand and clear waters. Its on another island attached to Bohol by bridge, called Panglao Island. We tried to get accomodation there, we're supposed to be there right now (damn it!), but all the hotels were fully booked. Or, in my thinking, all the owners would rather have caucasian guests as opposed to a couple filipino guys with no cash. I don't know how I got that impression in my head, but I'm afraid it might be true. I guess I'll never know.



The Power of One

Last night I said goodbye to a great friend and travel companion that I first met while I was in Malaysia (Nov. '03). We were together up until Christmas '04 and they he went off on his way with my friend Alex from England. We then met up again while I was in Australia (Sept '04), he had changed a lot and seemed to have matured since I parted him last. And now, 5 months after re-uniting I've had to say goodbye for good.

His name is Peekay, he's from South Africa. He's studied at Oxford University in England and is a practising lawyer. What a hero he is, fighting for the love of all mankind, fighting rascism and predjudice that infect the world. Over the 7 months, out of the 15 that I've been travelling, I've gotten the chance to really get to know a lot about him. He's been through so much, a tragic childhood, a boxing career, a law career, etc.

I was so upset last night when I got to page 899 of my novel and realized that I would no longer have Peekay in my life. It was the end of a sequel with no other sequel. If ever you get the chance, read "The Power of One" and "Tandia" by Bryce Courtney. I often feel ashamed that I'm such a slow reader, but to have had a friend with me for this long, was really worth it.


The Movies

Latley, since there isn't much of a night life here, Jeremy and I have been watching a lot of films in the cinemas. They're quite cheap for us, ranging from $1.50 - $2.00. What strikes me as odd though, is that you can enter the movie at anytime of the day and stay there for 8 hours if you'd like. You can even get a stamp and return 4 hours later. However, its only for the one movie, you can't switch theatre rooms. What's even more odd is that a lot of the people will come into the movie to catch the 5pm showing but will arrive around 4:30 while the end of the movie is on. Why don't they walk around or something and wait until the film's over so they don't ruin if for themselves?

Why are theatres always so damn cold?


Sacrilege

"Those two aren't Catholic! They're eating Pork!" erpessed the elderly Filipino man to a couple of Jolibee restaurant patrons as he pointed to the two young, astonishly good looking Filipino-Canadians as they ate eggs, meat and rice.

The young men, look at each other in confusion, "Is today Ash Wednesday Dean?" asks Jeremy. "That man has black ashes on his forehead, not to mention he just said that we're not Catholics." Dean then glances over his shoulder and glimpses at one of the headlines of his neighbor's newspaper 'Ash Wednesday Services Throughout Bohol'...

....................................................................

For those of you who don't know, The Philippines is predominantly a Christian country, made up of mostly Catholics. I was raised as a catholic by my parents and attended catholic schooling for 12 years of my life. Why isn't there a guideline that states specific rituals for each devout catholic to do on certain days? Such as, 'On Ash Wednesday: go to church and get ashes on your forehead, fast all day, practice abstinence all day...'

You see, the thing is you're actually supposed to fast all day, not just deny yourself from eating meat. Things have changed I suppose. How do they change? Who says that its no longer fasting? The Pope? Why are there so many rituals and little tidbits that need to be done anyway? Why can't everyone just believe in God and Jesus and follow their will? Why do we have to do these little things? I know that they symbolize certain things in life, such as the ashes represent ash to ash, dust to dust, and gives us humility. But if we are already a good human being with a clear conscience, what will these ashes do for us?

I don't want to start a huge religious debate, just thought I'd throw some stuff out.

I'd also like to say that since I've gotten to the Philippines, I've never seen so many images, statues, shrines, etc of Jesus, Mary, and various saints. I think its actually really nice to see so many people devoted to their religion. In the budhist, Hindu and Muslim countries I've been to I've seen similar things and thought that you don't find this in Canada. When I think of Canada, I generally think of Christianity, although I can't quote you any stats. So when I got to the Philippines, I didn't think I'd see so many devotions to the faith. One thing I enjoy the most is on the back of the tricycles (a mode of transportation here) there's always some religious quote or saying, such as "Thank the Lord!" or "Teach me the way...".

I actually have a cousin here who has apirations of being a priest. Over the years he's created a huge collection of statues and figurines of various saints and religious figures in his house. Its actually like a museum inside. When Jeremy first saw the house he was frightened by all the surroundings. Jesus really is watching you when you're inside the house. Should you be frightened or comforted?


87

Happy Birthday to my late Grandmother who passed away almost 1 year ago. She would have been 87 today. God Bless you Lola!

Chocolate Hills (Tagbilaran, Philippines)

Imagine this...

One small anonymous island hidden within the thousands of other islands that make up the archipelago country called the Philippines. On that little island, called Bohol, lies hundreds of perfectly shaped hills all plotted within close range to each other, forming a beautiful landscape for anyone's delight. And on these hills are enormous trees that create cocoa. In fact, the ground instead of having soil, is covered in cocoa powder.

When it rains, that powder turns into a large slush, making the biggest, yummiest chocolate drink you've ever desired. The inhabitants of the island all come running out of their bamboo nipa huts and run into the puddles with mugs, pitchers, buckets in hand and scoop up the natural wonder that has blessed their lives. The little boys and girls know where the hidden treasure is, they all run down into the large pond that forms behind one of the bigger hills. As they run, they strip down to their underwear, ready to dive in and enjoy a chocolate bath and savor the moment because they're not sure when the rains will come again.

Each year the different villages throughout the island hold a chocolate scuplting contest. Anything from chocolate castles to dolphins are formed. The winner recieves a large ribbon and medallion covered in tinfoil. The best part of the prize is that if you unwrap the tinfoil, the medallion is made out of chocolate! Delicious...


Okay, we can all imagine right? The reality is, there truly is a place called chocolate hills, all the above is true except for anything that has to do with cocoa or choclate... oh, and the yearly contest part.

Yesterday Jeremy travelled 60kms to see the hills and they are pretty amazing. We also saw these tiny little primates called "tarsiers", cutest little things that could fit in your hand. They've got the hugest eyes, similar to the Gremlins' eyes. They can turn their head 180 degrees, like an owl. Unfortunatley they're endangered; currently they're being bred here.

Tarsier. Photo Courtesy of Ren, who influenced me to come to Bohol.
Originally uploaded by dean's quarter.

I rented a little Honda motorbike to do all the travelling yesterday. I've got the sunburn on my arms to prove that I was sitting on a bike all day with my arms outstretched reaching the handgrips. (I didn't think its still possible to get burned after all this time I've spent in the sun). I love riding motorbikes, I should honestly consider getting one. I haven't driven one since I was in India, its amazing I know what the hell I'm doing! I love how they just let anyone have it. For about 7hrs of use I paid about $5 CAD. When I returned it, they just take the keys and say 'thanks'.



Hired Help

What's with all the employees? I guess its good that jobs are formed for people, just so they can be employed. However, it can get quite annoying going into a store and being outnumbered by 10 staff members surrounding you and attempting to asisst you.

Something that I still haven't gotten used to is that most families here in the Philippines have some form of hired help. Whether it be a maid, nanny, cook, driver, laundry cleaner, personal masseusse, manicurist, etc. Its so weird to just have a maid come into my bedroom and make my bed and clean my bathroom, or have the live-in nanny set the dinner table, serve the food she's cooked and then collect my dirty dishes once I'm finished. The other day my cousin was asking why I always insist on clearing my own dishes. I guess when you don't know any different, everything else seems odd.

The sad thing is that they're poorly paid, I guess that's why most families can afford them. On the other hand, if you're a "live-in" the food and accomodation is an expense paid for by your boss. I feel sorry for them at times, it seems as though they never get a break. Jeremy's uncle has a driver who came with us to his family reunion. The whole time he didn't have anyone to talk to and he came out from hiding once to eat his dinner and then retreat again to his own privacy.

I'm not saying that these people are treated like slaves, because they're definitley not. I think that in a lot of cases, they become like part of the family. There's always that hidden fine line though and I don't think that the hired help would ever really want to test where the line ends. Maybe then, that's why they always end up being reserved and humble.

no title (Cebu, Philippines)

I feel quite speechless. I don't really have much to say.

Jeremy and I arrived here in Cebu yesterday afternoon and will be touring around the 'Visayas' region for the next 9 days. Our schedule's pretty tight, when we go back we have a concert hopefully to see. Its a Motown concert with the Temptations, AJ Walker and the all stars, the Supremes and the Miracles. Its a pity thought that they're not all the original groups that performed together back in the day, but its so awesome to think that I went to a real Motown concert.

On the 14th of Feb is my Grandmother's 90th birthday... wow. I'll also get to see my relatives that I visited in Sydney. Jeremy has to visit all his relatives one last time before he leaves the Philippines. We discovered last week when we visited his Dad's side of the family that Jeremy has 54 first cousins. Can you imagine growing up with that many cousins around you all the time? I now understand why everyone is somehow related to each here in the Philippines. If ever you need something, someone will have a cousin to help you out.

Afterwards we'll go north of Manila and do some more touring. See some cultural sights, whip back down into Manila and then Jeremy's off to Canada. As for me, well that's not 100% clear what I'm doing...

My mother left a few days ago. She's back at home in Calgary, back to work in the cold winter days of Canada. (Hi Mom!) Its a different feeling at the house in Manila now with her gone. I never knew that she could be the life of the party.


Sad News

I just received an email from Ken, the orphanage manager in Cambodia. He told me that as of 2 days ago the orphanage is no longer. Its been shut down. I can't really make out his broken english but I've got the jist that the kids are suffering. I feel helpless, what can I do?