Well, the trip is finally coming to an end. Finished the workshop yesterday, which was very successful despite hiccups with the internet access. The groups have all been good and this one lived up to that. Despite being on the edge of a typhoon the previous day and many areas of the city being flooded, just about everyone turned up. I was secretly hoping they wouldn’t as after getting up at 3.45 for a flight and long drive I was feeling pretty shattered. But it was once again a testament to the spirit of the Filipino people that they not only made it they enjoyed it as well.
Mara and I stayed in Cagayan de Oro for the night and had a sleep in until 7am which is quite a change from the other days of this trip. We went out to a local seafood restaurant on the bay at CdO. Had a great Filipino style seafood platter with grilled fish (lapu lapu), shrimp, calamari, crab in coconut milk and barbecued pork, and of course, rice. I tried for a glass of wine, but of course it wasn’t available. There were spirits on the menu, including gin, so I asked for a gin and tonic – no gin mam. I ended up with a beer. Not sure why but in many restaurants here they have bottles on display, but not for sale. Weird. Halfway through the meal, a major movie star arrived with his entourage. We’d seen him earlier in the day at the airport so I knew all about him. His name is Robin something. And he was quite well known, but was arrested for illegal firearm possession and spent several years in jail – which would be unusual here where every airport has a sign “please surrender your high powered firearms”. Anyway he is on the comeback trail and is now involved in a safe sex campaign which is winning him kudos. All the people at my table lined up to have their pictures taken – very exciting! We finished the meal with halo halo – a traditional dessert of jelly cubes, ice cream, sago, almonds, and ice shavings and coconut milk. There goes the waistline.
Travelled back to manila today and staying at a very nice hotel prior to my departure on Saturday evening. Hoping to fit in a visit to the fitness centre (waistline), followed by shopping, and then a massage and facial in the afternoon (at my own expense for any work people reading this) before flying out for an all nighter back to Melbourne where I really wish I had time to see my Mum who is recovering from a knee replacement while I was away. The Philippinos are very big on family, and it’s made it extra hard to be away at this time.
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