Christmas is coming... it's a bit different

The weather is still hot here, we have had no rain for a couple of weeks but there is a lovely strong breeze at this time of the year so its not too hot.

We had a great time the other day at our Badjao Christmas party. In the early morning 4.30am me, kuya Dhong and kuya Jhun went down to the Badjao village and – with some of the guys we are working with from there – we went fishing. It was a great experience on the small fishing boat. To get to the boat we had to go through one of the houses over the water, down a rickety ladder, and across a series of floating bamboo platforms and walkways that sank about ankle deep as I walked along. It was great, I saw the village from a new angle and parts that I had never seen before. On the boat we went out into the bay and I realised how lucky I am and how good God is to me. Sitting on the front of the boat as we headed out into the blue water in a bay surrounded by mountains, mangroves and white sand beaches... it was very beautiful. 

On the way back it was a bit rough; the wind had picked up and the waves seemed very large on the small boat, but it was great fun and we made it back safely. After the fishing trip we came back to the house, had lunch together (our catch of fish), games and told them the Christmas story.

For the last couple of weeks I have been having Tagalog lessons from a local teacher every Saturday, which is really helping me. We have some visitors here at the moment and I'm able to chat away in Tagalog and translate for them – it's really encouraging for me and helps me to see just how much I have learnt and can understand. 

Things are very busy here but fun, I am very happy here. I am looking forward to spending Christmas with the kids and team there are some exciting plans for next year. I am working over Christmas and New Year but then having a week's holiday in early January; I may go to a different part of the island for a few days, I am not sure yet. 

Typhoon Bopha just misses us

We've had the storm here today – rain and wind, but not too strong. It only reached us today and may get a bit worse with bad weather for the next few days, but we'll miss the worst of the typhoon. We are on the lowest storm warning. I will let you know if it changes course, but that is very unlikely. Here are some pictures from news reports.

We went today to the badjao village to see if they need help, but they are ok. They have moved all their boats onto land and moved most of their possessions inland (they don't have much). If the storm does get bad they will evacuate on to land.

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News reports say the death toll from the powerful storm battering the southern Philippines – one of the strongest typhoons to hit the country this year – has risen to nearly 300, and rescue teams are already working in affected areas.

For more on the typhoon, click here.

More caves!

On the way home after our trip to Quezon, we went to the Tabon caves. A lovely boat ride took us out to the peninsular where all the caves are and then a beautiful walk around the peninsular going through six caves of different sizes.

There are over 200 caves in total, with continuous archaeological work going on, as many very old human remains have been found in the caves, plus other evidence that some of the first settlers on Palawan lived in the caves.

It was a fascinating little trip in a beautiful place. A good path has been built around all the cliffs and steep hills, but I have no idea how the first people to live there got into the high caves or found them... I guess by sea as some of the caves go down to the water. Click on the pic to see an album of more photos.

Remote village Quezon... awesome

I'm back from a three-day trip to the south of our island, to a remote village in the mountains called Quezon. We went to visit some missionaries working for New tribes Mission. There are other villages higher in the mountains where they work as well - and there are still others that have never been reached and know nothing of life beyond the mountains... but we didn't have time to go and see them. But it was fantastic to see this village where they now have a school and church.

In the higher mountain villages they have never heard of school and don't understand it, but the missionaries are teaching some of them to read their native Pawawano language so they can at least read the bible.

All of the guys from the team went on the trip. It was long, very bumpy journey until the roads run out, and then keep going on a rough track... then a long, smaller track going towards the mountains. At that point we could go no further in our small coach and took trikes (motorbike with side car) up towards the mountains, crossing a river at a beautiful ford. Eventually there was an even smaller footpath through the jungle and the last part of the journey had to be walked (although on our way back we rode a water buffalo and cart!).

The village was made of beautiful, native-style houses, and staying in one was a lovely experience. They are very comfortable and feel safe because they are up off the ground away from the worst of the jungle animals and snakes. 

The people were very friendly and let us see their houses and we watched them demonstrate things like beating rice. It was awesome to see what they do and meeting the people. I talked a little about my relationship with God at a meeting and enjoyed seeing everything and walking in the jungle. There wasn't any actual physical work for us to do, but it was lovely just to watch and see how the people live, and learn what these missionaries do. At some point, I would love to visit the remote villages because this one does know a bit about the world outside the jungle. They know there are schools - they are just to far away - and there is a generator for a few houses, so it wasn't the full jungle hut experience... but it was still great.

Click on the pic to see an album of photos I shot during the trip.

Brushing up on my animal husbandry... or maybe duck midwifery...

I have been enjoying my new responsibility of looking after the animals for the last few mouths. I wake up at 6am every morning to feed them before our 6.30 breakfast. A few days ago 18 duck eggs hatched, so there are now loads of little ducklings to look after... they are very cute.

   One mother was sitting on the eggs of several ducks. It was amazing... I was there right when they where hatching – I even helped the mother pulling off some of the pieces of broken shell from the wet and slimy newly-hatched babies! It was a lovely experience... but I must remind myself that at least half of them will be for eating when they grow up...

   Click on the pic and take a look at some pictures of me with the animals – they now know that it is me that feeds them and when its time for their food, they all crowd around me and follow me everywhere I go in a big flock of chickens and ducks! There are 12 chickens, four geese, 18 ducks and now the 18 baby ducks.

   But it's not all hard work... the other day I went with the Kellards to a beautiful resort for the day. It had one of those amazing swimming pools right by the sea, so you can swim to the edge and look out over the ocean. And it was cooler than the sea as well which is lovely, because the sea is really very warm.

After the storm.. life carries on

After the storm we had here (I think we had the edge of what later hit Manilla), it's been very hot and dry here - so we have had none of the problems that Manilla had. Thanks everyone for asking about me.
   There is a new volunteer here for a month - he is a Filipino but from Manila. Thankfully he speaks good English, but we talk as much as possible in Tagalog.
   Recently the grandfather of three of the girls that work here (all sisters) died and in this culture they have some very interesting traditions. The body stays in the house on display for about ten days before the funeral. Every night, lots of people go there to pay their respects – but its not all sad. In the corner is the open coffin and a few people praying quietly... but everyone else is playing games and drinking having a great time with lots of laughter and fun!
   I was invited along and spent a few evenings there over the last week and had a great time... it's a fascinating tradition. Even though I was the only foreigner, the people were all so welcoming and took great delight in including me and watching me play the games. There's normally some fun forfeit for making a mistake, like having lines drawn on my face with charcoal. So I've had some late nights returning looking like a marine, but I have enjoyed it. I try to throw myself into everything about the culture here and accept every invitation that I'm given. Its the Filipino way that even a funeral is great fun!
   Angels have been busy holding up trees here... the other day while we were having meriender (the whole group takes a snack break), a large papaya tree fell for no reason (there was no wind and nothing was touching it, although we now know it was rotten inside) – and it landed exactly where I had been working about 20 minutes before!

Power down

We had a big storm here that lasted a few days until early this week. So for several nights there was no power and no internet until now. There is no landline here so I think the internet works from mobile networks and even the phones have had very little signal recently, so I think the storm must have taken out phone masts.

Next week Katie Kellard leaves with Jenny (her nan) but her brother Josh is here for the next six weeks – I've been looking forward to some more male company.

I passed my Philippines driving test and have been doing a lot of driving which always leaves me tired because the trafic is crazy – there are no rules and everyone just pulls out without looking and weaves in and out of each other. It's dificult... I have to be very alert always looking everywhere but I'm starting to get used to it now.

I am happy here and get along with everyone very well but sometimes I do miss home and feel lonley because it's so hard to understand the conversation in tagalog.

My tagalog is coming along well but sometimes it is very difficult, so I am spending some time twice a week with Louchie (one of the girls) to help me with my learning and prenunciation and that is very helpful.

On the Palawan Underground... river

This was the first time for all the team and children to the amazing Underground River at Sabang, one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature.

The river was amazing but the whole place was beautiful. It's a short 20min boat ride to a lovely bay with perfect white sand beaches and vertical cliff faces.

Here there are Monitor lizards and monkeys that thrive on stealing food from the many tourists that go there every day. A short walk though the jungle and you reach the river, then its an another much smaller boat to go into the cave.

The first part of the cave is very narrow and small and unimpressive, but then it opens out into large caverns. There are no pictures of the really big caverns as my camera flash wasn't powerful enough and they just came out as black.

There are lots of fascinating rock formations that have all been named according to what they look like, some are brilliant, there was one that looked just like a face. It's also much cooler in the cave and it was noticeable when we went back out into the bright hot sunshine. It was a fantastic day out for everyone a real treat for all. The caves continue deep under the mountain and we only see a small part but that still took nearly an hour. A beautiful place.
Click on the pic for more photos. And for more info on the Underground River, click here.

Jellyfish stings at Nagtabon Bay

Our team trip to Nagtabon Bay... my first time on the other side of the island and my first time swimming in the south China sea. 

   To get there we followed a small gravel track over the mountains, then dropped quickly to a beautiful hidden bay. The sea was warm... which was good because we arrived there in heavy rain, so it was warmer to be swimming than not!

   We had to put up with loads of small jellyfish, but they weren’t dangerous. Just a little sting every now and then which left a small mark like a mosquito bite. 

   I was doing the whole lifeguard thing, keeping an eye on the children, because lots of Philippinos can't swim at all and I was the best swimmer there.
   Click on the pic to see some more photos.

Slow internet... prison... insects...

Because the internet is slow out here (it hasn't worked at all over the last week), I can't always post with photos, so this post is just to tell you how I'm getting on. 

   Everything is going well, the last few weeks have been very hot here. A couple of weeks ago the whole team and all the kids had a day out to the river not far away. Its within the grounds of the prison (which owns a lot of land – mostly rice fields that are worked by the prisoners) and they have made a small dam so there is a great area for swimming. The water is clear and cold which was wonderful. 

   Over the last week, the kids have been away at a holiday camp so it has been quiet. I have been doing lots of work in the garden... being very careful when doing things like turning compost, as there are lots of insects and often baby snakes. 

   On Friday we brought the Badjao kids back to Shiloh (the house) as there is much more space than the small classroom that we use in their village. It is much better for being able to assess what level of education (if any) that they have, it also means we have more time for bible stories and games. 

Snakes alive... I thought this was a trip to the butterfly farm!

It's the school holidays at the moment, so we're doing a lot of trips out and exciting things for the kids... today it's a trip to the butterfly farm. 

   Most of the butterflies here I have seen out in the wild, including some of the bigger ones, but its not just butterflies... there's a range of insects and lizards, and the snake that you can see me holding in the picture. 

   There are loads of insects here on Palawan... even as I am typing this a big Praying Mantis has just flown into the room, and if any food is left out there will very quickly be a mass of ants covering it and a long ant line leading back to their nest. 

   Oh... and there is a big ugly-looking bug that is incredibly noisy – the kids don't care, they love to catch them and shake them like very loud living rattles!
   To see more photos, click on the pic!

Narra lot of people on the beach here

A short visit to an area called Narra, further south on the island, to a beautiful long empty beach. I would have swam in the sea but... because of the tides at the moment it is full of jellyfish. Click on the picture to see more photos.

   While there I visited Johnrey's family which lives on the coconut plantations. The ponds in the pictures are their fish farm. They catch small fish from the sea and let them grow in the ponds, then when they are the right size they are easy to catch and sell at the market.

   I tried a lot of different coconuts while I was there. At different ages they have different uses... when they are younger they have no flesh but are full of clear, pure, slightly sweet water. A little older and they still have the water but also the flesh is soft and sweet like a coconut jelly. Only when they are fully grown are they like the coconut that we would recognise in England. They use the leaves to make roofing sheets and make all kinds of things from the shells... very useful trees. Their seeds are carried by the sea and they grow right on the beach. God knew what he was doing, because even if you are on a small island with no water the coconut trees will thrive and they are a source of fresh water food and building materials, so it is still possible to survive.

Plenty of teeth at the croc farm

It was my day off, so I went with Johnrey to the crocodile farm, a small zoo in the jungle with mostly, er, crocodiles.

   Crocs live in the wild on Palawan, but if they go anywhere near where people live, they are either killed or captured and taken to the crocodile farm.

   I was amazed to find out how old they can get... the biggest croc there was 116 years old!

   I love Health & Safety here... all the younger crocodiles were kept in open tanks which we could walk between. Except for one small sign, there was nothing to stop people from reaching in and touching them if they wanted – they where easily within reach.

   In the photo gallery, the animal you can see me holding is called a Palawan bear-cat, I have seen several in tourist areas kept as pets for people to hold and have their picture taken for a small charge. For that and more shots... click on the pic...

Cycling with the kids

Went with Kuya Dhong one afternoon to take the kids cycling at the Bay Walk in town. We hired bikes and the kids loved it.

In the photos you can see all five kids that that live at the house – the three boys are Nimrod, Gerald and Jeleto and the girls are Anna and Micmac.

Puerto Princesa

Here are some pictures of the small but busy city of Puerto Princesa about half an hour from the house.

   They are taken from the multi-cab owned by the Kellards but they show all the forms of transport that I use to get into and around town.

   There are loads of trikes (the motor bikes with the kind of side car thing) – these are like taxis and are very useful for any short journeys.

   The other form of transport that I use is the many multi-cabs, these work a bit like buses they but are just trucks with bench seating running along the sides in the back. I just have to find one that has the right village name painted on the front and jump in the back. 

   Riding in the trikes is my favourite because they weave in and out of the traffic. There are several major cross-road junctions that have no lights, and I am amazed how no one stops but all just dodge and weave around each other... its crazy!

   Click on the photo to see more pix. And here's more info on the city from Wikipedia.

Badjao

The Badjao village is built on stilted houses starting on the beach and stretching out over the water. Its an amazing place with small houses packed together joined by small paths made of planks and bamboo which wobble and bend as I walk over them. In a few places they even use old overtuned canoes and at one very old looking canoe I was told "only one person at a time because this is rotten". I made my way across that part as quickly as I could very aware I am a lot heavier than the locals.

   We work with a group of mid-teens that we are teaching them about Jesus telling bible stories and songs as well as teaching basic education. Many of them have never been to school and can't read or write. We also give them a pure water drink and lots of fruit to give them some important vitamins.

   I love going there and find all the people incredibly friendly and welcoming.

   Click on the photo to see more pics... and    read here what Wikipedia says about the Badjao people.

Life on Palawan

Life is busy here but I am happy, an early 6am start every morning I am helping with work in the garden. Then a Tagalog language lesson.

   The afternoons are different depending on the day. visiting the Badjao village, the City refuge, going into town helping with the market food shopping, church or working on a project in the grounds or house (currently starting on making a egg incubator).

   I also like to spend as much time as I can with the children and team here.

   I do get two days off Thurs and sun (homechurch being on a Friday) to do whatever I want and so far have used then to explore the area.

   Click on the photo to see some pictures of the island and some of the team here.

I've made it!

It was a long journey but everything went well, I made all my connecting flights and arrived at Puerto Princesa, Palawan on Sunday evening.

   I am getting to know the amazing team here and the kids (I can now remember most of their names).

   After a day to rest and recover, I started helping with work in the garden. Kuya Dhong (Kuya, meaning older brother, is said to any man older than me) is in charge of the garden, so I have been working with him and a young man called Johnray. I have to try to stick to the shade when working but the heat does not slow me down as much as I thought it would.

   Tagalog is the language and I have started lessons and am enjoying them. It is nothing like English but I have fun learning to speak It.

   The island is very beautiful and and the jungle is so thick, there are loads of banana and coconut trees. I've seen quite a few small lizards and only one snake, at night the sound of the crickets and the lizards is amazing and really loud but I find it relaxing and have no problem sleeping. 

   Over the next few days I will see some more of the projects and outreaches that go on here.

   I've taken some pictures of the journey and the land around the house where I am staying. Click on the photo to view the album...

My new suitcase

Friday night and I'm nearly packed - my new case is stuffed with everything I think I'm gonna need for a year in a hot, humid climate!
   Hey Pete, that's your book going into hand luggage... hope you don't need it back for a year!
   I feel out of sync already - I set this blog to Palawan time, so it says i'm into Saturday already.

The beginning

I'm going to Palawan, the island to the west

Curently busy preparing for my trip to the Philippines, not long now... I leave on saturday morning. 3 flights, 4 airports and about 28 hours door-to-door.
   I will be living and working with the Kellard family and their team and I can't wait to meet them all.
   Some of the work going on there is:
practical work at their small-holding home 'Shiloh' helping to grow food and look after animals for the team and children and outreaches. With a team of 12 plus 5 kids it will be busy but fun.
   They have a ministry into a 'least-reached people group' called the Badjao, who are sea nomads living in extremely impoverished conditions in stilted sea homes. This is mostly regularly discipling and teaching (nutrition, education, livelihood, medical and bible teaching) to a group of mid-teenage Badjao.
   Also... regular visits to the city refuge, helping the children by supplementing their nutrition, games, bible stories and prayer.

... love you all!