salamat po for the memories, manila!

i finished my contract yesterday, and this is how excited i was to submit the final report and get going on my vacation.

i hope you are all similarly excited to start your holidays!

today i bid a fond farewall to manila as i head off for three weeks of travels before eventually returning to toronto. to wrap up here are a few lists, of things i will miss about manila, and the philippines in general:

• wearing tank tops and sandals
  
• palm trees everywhere
• cheap food, movies, clothes, manicures, massages, taxis, everything!
• getting a dozen compliments a day
• pearly white laundry service
• having my apartment cleaned every day, and my dishes done
• the bay
• the incredible friendly people
• sizzling gambas, chocolate crinkles, buko pie, san miguel
  
• hobbits
• being called ma'am all the time (it grows on you, trust me)
  

things i will not miss about manila:

• crushing poverty everywhere
• getting robbed
• the air pollution as thick (or thicker some days) as pea soup
• cockroaches
• working all the time with almost zero days off in two and a half months
• all texting, all the time
• earthquakes
• typhoons
• total lack of blonde hair dye!

overall, i'm very very happy i came here. i learned a lot, and absolutely none of it was what i thought i would learn (which is a lesson in itself). now... my re-integration into toronto life. i guess i will have to start wearing makeup - and long pants - again. i hear it's cold there. brrr.

i look forward to seeing you all when i get back in january. thanks SO MUCH for following along on the blog, but don't tune out just yet. i'll be posting some stories and photos from my travels when i get back.

finally, A BEACH!

here are a few pics of my beach weekend in mindoro. this is the last week of my contract, so am busy busy this week. looking forward to finishing up work and continuing to work on my tan!!

my view at breakfast.
a few sunset views.

the view down the beach.
mountains and clouds.on the rocky path to white beach. i look pretty tan, huh?
well, maybe in a few more weeks....

the roof, the roof, the roof is on fire

since the other videos seemed to be a hit, how about one from my roof where you can get a panoramic view of my neighbourhood, including the huge mall across the street?

no?

well, how about if there is a big fire in the video?? would you watch it then?



i just hope my favourite noodle place is intact tomorrow....

monday morning music, revisited

this morning seemed to have a decidedly german / polka feel...