Lawrencetown Beach--Atlantic Ocean

This morning we walked at one of our favourite places--Lawrencetown Beach. The waves were scheduled to be very high and the tide was low. The white stuff you see is not snow, but sea foam. More than we had ever seen before. With each new wave, more foam accumulates.

There were also very strong winds, making the situation at optimum conditions for Stella. You see, the foam is loosened by the wind making it so much fun to chase. She made us laugh as she feverishly chased the chunks of sea foam along the beach.

We have seen many beaches in the world but the beaches here in Nova Scotia have the most beautifully coloured stones. I am fascinated by the variations in colour.

These beautiful tulips remind us that spring is coming.

Blizzard Action Today

Good thing that I went skating earlier this morning. Yes, I skated out on the lake where now it is blowing snow. Visibility is not that great. (As you can see from the picture). Lou is enjoying a cup of 3 in 1! For those who may not know, 3 in 1 is a prepared drink mix of coffee, coffeemate, sweetener. It is especially popular with many Asians. We had a package lurking in our cupboards. Lou was excited to find it. I am drinking rooiboos tea and making a lentil soup. Yes, we are hunkered down. Preparing to watch what we can of the Obama to Canada visit.

A sunset shot of a few days ago as we drove from Dartmouth to home.

Tacloban, Cebu and Home

These beautiful children tagged along with us as we walked the "stations of the cross" up a mountain in Tacloban. We enjoyed oranges as abit of a snack when we arrived at the view point.

Back in Cebu and Andrey and Jen's house. This is one of our favourite reading corners.

Our last dinner with these kids. We had many good conversations at these times.

We arrived home just shortly after midnight on Feb. 11. We are into our second day back in Nova Scotia. It is good to be home even with the snow and rainy weather. We are so thankful for God's mercy and grace as we have travelled thousands of miles and have arrived safely at home, in good health. And we are thankful for our children both far away and here at home.

So...it is time now to go for a walk with Stella.

Borongan

A beautiful early morning view from a bridge in Borongan.

So many beautiful children everywhere--always delightfully happy and eager to have their pictures taken. These children were playing on the beach after school and followed me as I walked along.

A processional with the people in the church project in which our sponsored child is enrolled. We were walking to Dhivon's house. They were all so welcoming and thrilled that we had come.

Visit to our sponsored Compassion child in Borongan

Picture taken from a tricycab--a side car to a motorcycle with a roof overtop and an extra seat in the back. There were three of us plus the driver.
On our way from Tacloban to Borongan. A bridge had been washed out, requiring us to walk across and switch to a vehicle on the other side of the bridge.

Some of the beautiful scenery along the way.

Workers coming to work in Tacloban from a closeby island.

A Prison Visit of Another Kind

On Saturday we along with some friends of Jen and Andrey visited the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center. We watched, cheered, danced, sang along as 1500 or so prisoners participated in a program of approximately 18 songs. It is a new program that was begun almost two years ago. They started performing just over one year ago. The performances are scheduled on the last Saturday of each month. This is a maximum security prison where there are murderers, drug dealers and many other kinds of major transgressors. However, the claims of the official are that the dancing program has revolutionized the morale, attitude of prisoners in the prison. They encouraged us to come down after the program and take pictures with the prisoners.

A performance from "Sister Act". There were some women prisoners in this as well as a few men who were dressed as women.

It was a great show. We were all clearly impressed. Made us wonder if something like this might have benefits in other geographical locations as well.

Tagaytay

A beautiful view of Lake Taal and Volcano as seen from a community in Tagaytay. It was here that we visited a friend whom we met while at Haggai in Maui. He is a business man in Manila and owns a beautiful " retirement home" close to this look out. Lonely Planet describes this volcano as the smallest and deadliest. There are over 47 craters and 35 volcanic cones. The last explosion was 1977.

A couple of beauitful children who were out for a Sunday afternoon ride--they were very pleased to have their picture taken.

Another look at Taal Lake. It was a very windy day.

Fruit stands lined the highway to Tagaytay. You see oranges, bananas, pineapple, jack fruit. Pineapple was selling for 6 for 100 pesos. This is about two and a half Canadian dollars. I was sorry I couldn't buy a few boxes.

Baguio

The Statue of Liberty of the Philippines in Baguio.

A view of Baguio from the mile high mountain view.

A couple of tourists posing in front of the Philippino president's vacation home in Baguio.

Calla lilies growing independentaly all along the roadside between Sagada and Baguio.

Strawberries were in season. The season lasts from December to April. Yummy!

In Cebu we receive vegetables from Baguio. This picture was taken at a nightly market in the streets of Baguio.

Philippino travelogue pictures--Sagada

A weaving and sewing shop in Sagada.

View of the episcopal church yard from inside the chapel door.

Coffins inside a cave close to Sagada as seen from a hiking trail

A view from our room at St. Joseph's Inn A terraced mountainside along our road from Baguio to Sagada. They are growing vegetables on these terraces.