100 Islands National Park

Well, we have finally left Manila.  I can't even begin to tell you how much better I feel.  I feel like a new person.  Fresh air, beautiful oceans, bug bites (yes, I'm even excited about that), blue skies, sun rises and sun sets.
Our drive to Lingayen was an interesting one.  We got lost several times and the road systems were questionable at best in many places.  There were so many trikes and jeepneys on the road, I thought many times we were going to crash.  Also along the way were many rice fields/terraces.  In many spot along the way the rice was being harvested on the side of the roads and we had to watch out for the rice as well.  Along with the rice, the trikes and the jeepneys were many goats and water buffalo.  Here are a few pictures:

A trike carrying baskets for the rice as well as brooms 

Rice harvesting on the road side

Passenger trike

Rice harvesting

Jeepney

Water buffalo

After finally arriving at our resort, we were able to walk on the beach and enjoy fresh air for the first time in months.  For a girl from Alabama, not having fresh air is an adjustment.  Also, the first thing I heard was, nothing!  No beeping horns, no construction and no traffic.  Needless to say, that first night I had a difficult time falling asleep it was so quiet!  So, after a night of relaxing, we headed out the next morning to see 100 Islands National Park.  100 Islands National Park actually has 123 islands.  We visited 2 islands and a snorkeling spot to see the giant clams.  Here are a few highlights.

Our boat

B

We jumped into this cave and then swam around back to the beach.  I was very nervous at first but once a bat peed on me I was ready to jump.  

Us

B enjoying the bathwater temperature ocean

It was a fabulous day.  The weather was perfect and the ocean was calm.  After 5 hours out on the water and the islands we headed back to our resort.  Here are a few pictures from there:

That's the 1st 2 days of our 12 day working holiday.  Brian had to work the rest of the time.  More posts to come :-)

Fun Facts

I realized after my post earlier this week that I had never properly introduced myself or told anything about myself to my readers.  So, here goes.

A few of my favorite things:
My dogs- Lance and Ripley.  They are the light of my life.  Lance is a 6 year old Weimaraner.  He is a nervous, needy, lanky bundle of love.  Ripley is a 5 year old Beagle/Lab mix.  He is the most easy going, happy go lucky dog.  They are currently living with my parents.  They would not be happy here in the Philippines.  They need space and grass and constant attention.  We are so thankful to my parents for providing that for them this year.  I miss them everyday.

Tea, as in hot tea with cream and sugar- well 2% milk and truvia- but I do love it with cream and sugar when I'm having tea out at places.  I love just having a cup of tea.  Granted, I don't have as much now because it is so hot here in the Philippines, but I do still have several cups a week.  In fact, I'm having a cup right now.  I especially loving having high tea.  One of my favorite memories is having high tea in London with my mom and sister at the Savoy.

Reading.  I LOVE to read.  I get lost in books.  My reading drives my husband crazy.  I have read 71 books this year and am currently reading Bram Stoker's Dracula.  I keep up with my reading habit on www.goodreads.com .

Running.  Running is my release.  I'm having a bit of a hard time now with my running and unfortunately that affects every part of my life.  I usually would run with my boys but since they are in Alabama that is a no go.  I have ran 3 half marathons with my fastest time being 2 hours 7 minutes.  I like to run a half every year for my birthday.  Crazy, right?  It won't happen for 33 but maybe once I get back to the states, I can run one for my half birthday in the fall.  I've been running on the treadmill since arriving in the Philippines because its hot and smoggy.  After moving into our condo, I've been trying to run outside.  Since its been so long since I've really ran, I'm struggling.  I just really started running outside again this past week.  I have to get up early to beat the heat and the smog and I don't like getting up early.

Traveling.  Traveling is one of the greatest things my husband's job has offered us.  When we first were told we were moving to Italy, I was nervous and excited.  At that point in my life I had already visited 5 foreign countries and knew that I loved traveling.  After being in Europe for almost 4 years, I knew there was nothing like traveling.  I love visiting foreign places and experiencing other cultures.  I feel that is one of the most valuable experiences I've had in all my life.  While in Europe, we increased our foreign countries visited to 14 countries.  Now, living in the Philippines, we've been blessed again and get to experience another part of the world neither of us have previously visited.  I also love that my family comes to visit us where ever we live, though they've politely declined coming to the Philippines.  But, not to worry, my mom, sister and I are already planning a trip for next fall :-)  I'm grateful to my mother and Opa for instilling in me the love of traveling.

Interesting facts about me:
I'm missing 2 organs- appendix and thyroid. When I was a young teenager my appendix ruptured.  When we were living in Germany, I had my thyroid removed.  Life has been much better since.
I have the most sensitive skin!  I can't change anything up- laundry detergent, dryer sheets, body wash, lotion.  Nothing.  In fact, I had an allergic reaction to something yesterday :-/  I'm thinking it was the chlorine in the pool- I started swimming laps again :-).
I have lived in 3 foreign countries.  Italy twice- once when I was a little thing (my little sister was born there), and again with my husband, Germany and now the Philippines.  I try not to compare the places because they are all so different.  We've been married 7 years and moved 5 times.  I'm a bit overwhelmed and exhausted with moving but the countdown has already begun for the next move.  We will move again next year- in less than 9 months.

Other tidbits:
Huge Alabama fan.  Graduated with my masters in social work from there in '05 and got to have my graduation ceremony on the football field.
I LOVE my little sister to the moon and back.  When we were younger we didn't get along so well.  There aren't many things I'm more grateful for than my relationship with her.
I have amazing best friends.  Not sure how I would survive all these moves without Addie and Gretchen.
I LOVE food.  I used to be a picky eater, not sure how my parents put up with that for so many years.  But now, I will try most things.  I do draw the line at some things.
Favorite movie is Love Actually and Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.
Favorite book...Can't pick.
Favorite tv shows....Grey's Anatomy, NCIS, Criminal Minds.  I'm loving Sleepy Hollow and Dracula that just started this season.  And my new guilty habits: House Hunters International and Pickers.  Plus, I love watching Anthony Bourdain and Andrew Zimmern- probably because they combine traveling and food!
WINE!  I love wine...all colors, all flavors, unless of course it really isn't good.
Beer- never thought I'd say I like beer but I have Germany to thank for that as well as our time in Monterey.  There are some amazing craft breweries in Cali.

Well, I think that's all folks.  Unless, any of my friends can point out something that I've missed.  We start traveling soon.  So, stay tuned :-)

Veteran's Day and Our Anniversary

It's been about 6 weeks since my last post.  We've been busy, busy.  We moved into our condo and received the little bit out household goods that we sent over, most importantly the vino collection.
We celebrated 7 years of marriage together on November 11.  Being that our anniversary falls on Veteran's Day, we decided to attend the ceremony that took place at the American Manila Cemetery.  A few facts about  the cemetery and our military relationship with the Philippines.  The cemetery is the largest military cemetery outside of the United States.  The embassy here is one of the largest US embassies in the world.  There is a US Veteran's hospital here and it is the only one outside of the US.  Filipino soldiers who fought in WWII receive medical care at the Veteran's hospital.
Here are a few pictures of the ceremony.  I will have to go back when we have more time so I can explore the cemetery more thoroughly.  A fact about me: I LOVE cemeteries!

This is inside the above tower

We have explored our new neighborhood, which I love!  We have established a favorite restaurant and just happens to be Mexican.  We celebrated our anniversary there and they gave us a butterscotch cake to help us celebrate.  Here are few pictures from that night.

Carna Asada taco with local beer.  Doesn't get much better

We had to make a wish

We also attended the Marine Ball on Nov 9.  I only took one picture!  Then I paid for pictures to be made, prom style no less, and lost my receipt.  So, not sure if we will ever see those pictures.  We've been exploring the malls, malling as its called here in the Philippines, because they have the most fabulous Christmas decorations.  Next post will be on the malls we've visited with pictures :-)  That will be a good one!
I promise to not wait so long between posts.  Until next time.

Finally a home

As most of your know we have been living in a hotel for a good while.  We've been out of our house in Pebble Beach since July 20.  We were so lucky in Monterey and had amazing friends that let us live with them for a week at a time.  That saved us a lot of money and stress.  Thank you Ryan's, Poe's, and Johannes'.  We wouldn't have survived without you guys.  Since we left the states, we have been in a hotel 6 weeks and counting.  The countdown will end on Tuesday the 15th!  Thank goodness.  Not sure how much longer I could survive in a hotel.
We are moving into a loft in the barangay of Rockwell.
Here are a few pictures.

                                               

Kitchen

Under the stair case storage and washer and dryer

                                                              Dining and living room area

Our bedroom

                   
                                                                         Our bathroom

                                                                        Guest room

                                                    The guest room hangs out over the loft area

                                                                   View from our balcony

   

                               
                                                                   Living room view


This is the place we shall call home for the next 10-12 months.  I said on FaceBook a couple of weeks ago that I was home sick.  My mom so cleverly asked, where was I home sick for.  That got me to thinking, where was I home sick for.  Home is always where I am with Brian and my boys.  We don't have the boys with us on this move.  That has made this move a lot harder for me.  But home is also being able to go to a friend's house and curl up on her couch, help myself to whatever I want, and just be comfortable.  This is one of the worst things about this Army life.  As thankful as I am for all the wonderful friends we have been blessed with, it is so very hard to leave and make new ones.  The one good thing, is we are all doing it, but that doesn't always make it easier.  The friendships and family that we form are what make this Army life we live worthwhile.