I'm a bad bad poster/journaler. This happened in the Philippines too- I didn't write in my journal once. Okay, once I did. On the second day of solid rain in Sabang.

I managed to get down my poetic thoughts on travel, rain, water, and the general electricity that zips around when a group of random people from all over the world are sitting down under a thatch hut and talking about where they've been, and where they are going. One of the greatest thing about backpacking around I think. Say what you will about the backpacking 'culture', and avoid the big travellor hangouts when you can so as to make any trip a bit more active and genuine, but hooking up with some folks who you connect with despite having dramatically different lives is one of those moments when these trips totally fall into place. One of those 'epiphanetic' moments when you can really just shoot the shit. Had a few of those.

Our first night in Sabang, Palawan (where, if you are ever in the area, there is the longest underground river in the world. Not that we saw it. the weather was too typhoonist for a boat to get into it. figures. and the weather was so crazy that it took us two more days just to get out of the area. no boats, no jeepneys, no means in or out.), we met a table of folks from all over the...well, Europe. Germany, Austria, France (une Parissiene, ooh la la), and Spain. I got to practise my spanish, french and my little bit of German (Wo ist die toiletten?). They all left the next day and then we made some plans to leave as soon as we could with some other folks. A day after this we managed to get a jeepney out and took a good 3 hour journey packed into the back with some folks from Germany, South Africa, Belgium, Switzerland (or was it Sweden?), Korea, and yes, even some from the Philippines! There was about 20 people crammed into the back at any given time.

a view out the side of the jeepney - the muddy road we had to get through. The amazing jeepney guys changed a tire in the pouring rain, pretty much in a river of muck. This picture doesnt really do it justice.

Following this we made it the Banwa Pension in Peurto Princessa city in Palawan. Very cool place, where we had some great chillin times with our new friends Lori and Chris from South Africa and Germany, respectively. When Lori sends her link to her pics, Ill post some here since the rain ruined our camera and photo taking for the rest of the trip. (no worries, all back in working order).

Being our last couple of days and having spent the past week in a constant downpour, we decided to get out to snorkel one last time, but it sucked 'due to the rain', and then we hit Manila, where we got our last tastes of Philippines food, bought some souvenirs, bought some groceries for back home (they have a much wider selection than back in Korea), and then searched for the place we got the amazing massages before. Spent a luxurious hour there and then caught our midnight flight. Flew all night, hit Korea, and then Korea's humidity hit us right back. Crrraazy humidity. Ridiculous really-I'm writing a letter to someone...other than you...like to the government...or someone.... Traveled all morning to get home and Bryce went straight to work. He's such a superhero.

So,overall, the Philippines was a real adventure and while I never really got my dream of drinking margheritas on white sand and learning how to scuba dive, we met some awesome folks, used every form of transportation available, got some exotic injuries and learned a little more about the world. If you'll excuse me, I have to go and find some way to make that money back!

Marabing salamat