It's 6:15am as we sail into Hong Kong. Three days of shopping with the girls lay ahead, so I thought I'd try to get at least one catch-up on the Philippines before we "shop-til-we-drop".
I first named this post "Boracay- Calling all Chiropractors" because after two days of riding in the standard mode of Filipino transport- tuktuk and jeepney- I need one. But it was soooo worth it to visit this truly lovely patch of Paradise.
So, Ada, Elisabeth and I hopped on an excursion to the Motag Living Museum, which is dedicated to preserving the Filipino way of life from the early twentieth century.
Getting situated for our 15 minute boat trip ...
And, just like that, we are in minivans passing rice fields.
Our guide demonstrated the traditional way to carry water from the river- bamboo!
Freshly grated coconut, squeezed around, makes a wonderful soap--gentle and thorough.
Traditional multi-level house.
Our rice planting and harvesting guide. (remember, they are showing a way of life from the 1930's. Now, slightly more efficient methods are used.)
Intrepid Crystal photographer Ana was brave enough to ride a waterbuffalo...
Fresh coconuts provide food, water, soap and make the basis of bowls and eating utensils.
Coconut fronds can be woven into everything from roofing, to bedmats, to baskets, to toys.
Ada and Elisabeth enjoyed it all.
Pounding rice to remove the husk.
And I was entranced by this precious young lady rolling cigars.
Bamboo cut in the right place makes excellent cups...and storage units...
Some sand, pounded down, makes the perfect base for the raised kitchen hearth.
Now THIS dear lady should be recognized by the coconut industry as a living example of the power of coconut. With her dark hair (undyed), lightly-lined skin, and agility you would never guess her age as....
93. Yes, Ninety-three.
She has never used anything on her face and hair except coconut oil or grated coconut.
The guides sang us a lovely farewell song, and we headed back to town with a much deeper understanding of a way life that should be preserved for future generations.
Next stop- we wanted to have a bit of a relax in a resort. So we hopped onto an electric tuktuk
A WILD 40 minute ride ensued.
Around the equator, there are not four seasons, but two???
Here's our driver...and our bright pink tuk tuk.
The Movenpick Resort was north of the famous- and very very crowded- White Beach...
Definitely not crowded.
You guessed it... obligatory toes-in-the-sand photo....
(No, I refuse to call it a "T-i-t-S" photo...)
Ada, Jeff, Karen and Stacy in this photo- just out of the pool.
A little wine in the afternoon makes everything better. Just ask Elisabeth-with-an-S.
Heaven. just heaven.
5 pm...time to head home. And just in time, too. We had boarded the tender back to the ship when the heavens opened..... what a gullywasher!
The perfect day!
And in mere minutes (68 to be precise...it's now 7:23)...I look up and we are HERE!!
Hello Hong Kong!!
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1 comment:
This stop in the Philippines looked so WORTH it! I'm not a coconut-lover, but based on that 93-year old Lady, I might have to try harder(?).
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