This series of days includes our international travel log days where we move from Guam to Manila, and the hilarious reaction of Filipino kids seeing whites in the non-tourist area of Manila Philippines (more on that in day 155 below).

Travel Log: Day 150 (11/24), Guam

We ran out of coffee this morning, so JC got us some from the ABC store. Later in the day we went to Kmart to get some more k-cups to finish out our time here. We’re winding down on everything around here including coffee, food, and our appetite for activities.

In the afternoon we went to see if we could rent either a paddle board or a see through canoe. They only rent until 4pm so we wouldn’t have had even a full hour at that point. Instead we walked far in the opposite direction to Ypao beach and did some more snorkeling. The abundance and variety of fish in that area makes for a great snorkeling experience. We all wish we had pictures. We saw large fish, medium size curious fish that wouldn’t leave us alone, and probably dozens of other different types of fish.

I had a great time for the first 10 minutes or so but then I started struggling. My mask kept fogging up out in deep water, and I would try to take it off and wipe it out. That would only help briefly and then because I couldn’t get my mask seated properly, water would leak in. During all of that I also lost my water shoe due to treading water with just my legs and having to kick hard. I was able to track that down and retrieve it. Then all of that started wearing me out, so I worked my way back to shore to call it a day. The ocean is pretty unforgiving and I see how little things can compound to the point where you’d be in trouble under the wrong circumstances.

Travel Log: Day 151 (11/25), Guam

We started the school day but only did a couple subjects before heading over to the paddle board rental place. The water looked very calm, and there was not much wind, so we wanted to take advantage of that. The kids really enjoyed the paddle board, and the one hour rental flew by.

On the way back JC and I decided her and I would go back to Ypao beach to snorkel given the calm waters. We walked the kids home and gave them the two subjects they could do on their own. A giant moving truck was parking our car in though, and it didn’t leave before lunch rolled around. We finished the school day after lunch and then JC and I made our way to Ypao. By then (after 3pm) the waters were pretty choppy again. We still got in some good snorkeling seeing a wide variety of fish.

In the evening we went to Donki to get ice cream since I got a 90 sleep score. That’s pretty amazing considering I got an 89 the previous night. For me it’s never easy to pull off scores like that back to back.

We bought AC two tickets to the Outsiders musical in Denver, after months of her selling us on the idea. We told her it was her Christmas and birthday present. She previously gave us a slide show presentation on why we should go, and part of her pitch was that she would be nice to us for a full day. It’s been a great several hours so far. It makes me realize how much good natured bullying of me she normally does.

Travel Log: Day 152 (11/26), Guam

This is the most amazing three night run of sleep I’ve ever had. An 89, then a 90, then last night I got an 88. I almost slept too much last night and if I had got out of bed at 6:45am (the first time I woke up) I may have had a 90+ sleep score again.

After school and a few rounds of workouts, we went to watch Wicked For Good at the Guam Premier Outlets. We never go to movies because watching movies at home is far better. This was a good reminder of why we don’t go. The seats weren’t terribly comfortable, the screen resolution was crappy, and it cost a lot (~$120).

In the evening we went to the beach to set BC’s boat out to sea. The winds were in our favor and we watched it for about an hour as it slowly made its way out. It got far enough that in the fading light we lost sight of it. It survived several curious people noticing it but not going far enough to get it, as well as a multi-man row boat where it went in between the boat and the outrigger and survived. We heard two other sets of rowers notice it as well.

I spent some time tonight looking into cultural things for the Philippines. All I gathered is that the people are really nice, to only make brief eye contact, smile a lot, and don’t point with a finger. Turns out we’ll know some words of their language because it’s around 20% Spanish based.

Travel Log: Day 153 (11/27), Guam

Today is Thanksgiving but it doesn’t feel like it at all. We were packing things up and putting the condo back in order to get ready to leave. I’ve been stressing a lot about our next location, wondering if we have gone too economical with our lodging. I’m afraid of ending up really out of place sort of like we were in La Fortuna. Also the staggering amounts of people is making me worry as well. I don’t really have any specific worries, just generally that we’ll be out of place in a sea of people with too much attention drawn to us. We can always leave if things are bad, so I’m leaning on that fact a bit to ease my mind about what we’re getting into.

Travel Log: Day 154 (11/28), Guam/Philippines

Today we traveled from Guam to the Philippines. It was a long grueling day with a lot of emotions. It’s too much to capture here, so I created a separate blog post for that.

Travel Log: Day 155 (11/29), Manila Philippines

We all slept decent last night, and JC and I had the energy to start tackling some things immediately. The first order of business was replenishing our water supply, so we got two large (6L) jugs at Alfamart along with some eggs. The eggs are Costa Rica style where they are dirty and unrefrigerated. Not refrigerating them works apparently as long as the eggs aren’t washed.

Coffee, Breakfast, Groceries

We got coffee from the condo complex coffee shop. We at eggs, pancakes, apples, bananas, and peanut butter for breakfast. It was good to start notching some healthy meals since I think this location could be a slide toward unhealthy things. As an example, for lunch we Grab’d Jollibee and had some burgers and nuggets. It was our first time eating this chain despite it being available in Japan and Guam. Our burgers were pretty good, and BC must have liked the nuggets because he ate all of them.

In the afternoon JC and I put together another Grab Market order of groceries. We successfully got Tanquerary and tonic for happy hour, along with most of the groceries we wanted. The grocery store called again as they were preparing our order to say which things were unavailable. It was a very broken English conversation but I managed to say “exchange” or “exclude” to everything and we got it done.

Happy Hour And Fun Evening

JC and I had happy hour drinks once the groceries arrived, and then we went to watch volleyball down at the basketball courts. Sheila (who JC met last night and exchanged numbers) texted and told us about the league games if we wanted to watch. Turns out she was playing on one of the teams, and she was really good. She would have been a star in our rec league in Wash Park. The games got rained out though, so we talked to her for a long time while it was raining. She offered to take us to the mall when she goes, and we might take her up on that. Earlier in the day we attempted to walk out of the complex after Sheila told us how to do it. We made it about 25 yards down the non-existent shoulder of the extremely busy Ortigas Avenue before bailing out.

For dinner we went back to the weekend food market. BC got the same chicken sandwich he had last night. I got the curry dish from the old lady who I talked to last night, and who told me she would not be there today. That was probably a sales urgency tactic, and I chose not to call her out on it. The curry was really good, the only odd thing being that the chicken had bones in it. JC got a veggie wrap from a third vendor, and AC got a pizza from a fourth vendor. The funniest thing of the night is that AC and I were eating our food at a table when two 4-5 year old Filipina girls pointed at us and said “it’s whites!”. I was not offended and found it fun to play the role of minority for a change.

Water

On a side note I received iron-clad confirmation that we should not be drinking the tap water here. The older lady I bought the curry from mentioned something about getting water at Alfamart, so I asked her if she drinks the tap water here. She looked concerned and said “no, you’re not drinking it are you?”. If a long time local such as her doesn’t play games with the tap water, we definitely should not. We were thinking about filtering it with a Sawyer Squeeze to use for brushing teeth, but we’re not even going to do that.

Travel Log: Day 156 (11/30), Manila Philippines

This morning JC and I went down to Alfamart, walked in, and then walked out about a minute later. It was really crowded and nothing we were getting was essential. We went back and ate breakfast, and then JC and I went out for attempt #2 at walking out of our complex. We went to the crosswalk and tagged along with a lady walking across the street. It was pretty easy really, just very different than US/Japan standards.

The rest of the walk was unusual as well with an old lady and a little girl asking for money. They put extra effort into us, and we would have given them money but we didn’t have coins handy. We weren’t about to break out our wallets and start digging through them on the street. In the future we’ll have coins separate in our pockets ready for that. Giving them money probably isn’t the right thing to do, at least in the US that’s true. Here it feels a little different due to the widespread drastic poverty.

We made our way over to the SM City East Ortigas mall with the main goal of buying a basketball. The mall was very nice, with many vendors we recognize such as the pretzel place, Starbucks, etc. There were department stores similar to a Macy’s or JC Penny, and many places to eat that looked really good which I’ve never heard of.

The walk back was the same as the trip there, but this time we crossed the street on our own. Not a big deal, but it will take some getting used to. After getting back we had lunch, AC and I took a nap, and then we went outside for a while. AC was soaking up the attention a group of teen basketball players was giving her.

For dinner we went back to the food bizarre, but I think we were over that and should have done something else. AC and I had wings that we had to wait forever for. BC had two chicken sandwiches, same sandwich he’s had the past two nights. With the start of school tomorrow, I think we’re about to settle into a good rhythm here.