News From the Philippines

Tnis is a short message to say that, despite two typhoons in less than one week, plus being floored for several days with food poisoning, plus a nasty fall off my bike, we are well - just in time for our return journey. As my son and his girlfreind, Maxi, who live in Manilla, pointed out, I have had the full Philippine experience. Of that, I agree.

Maxi, Alofa, Mathieson, and Mathi (the dog)

I'll write about our participation in the Philippines National MTB Marathon Championships later. But I will say now, that is was a race disaster for me due to being extremly weakened by food poisoning, then crashing early into the race. I chose to continue but took a wrong turn later, so was disqualified. I ended up completing about 80km of the 99km. It was well worth doing - just for the scenery.

The unsightly injuries look worse than they are.

Main issue is preventing infection.

Just one more thing: Our internet has been patchy as we travel and due to typhoon-related power cuts, and when it has been okay, I have not been very well. So, unfortunately, most email inquiries have not yet been responded to, and for that I sincerely apologise.

I'll finish with a short clip from while riding on a jeeple - a WWII jeep, one of thousands that were left behind in the Philippines, by the Americans, and now converted into a form of transport that is unique to the Philippines. What this shows is how necessity to survive drives ingenuity. Each Filipino, no matter their circumstances, like the musician who jumped aboard, seems to find some ingenious way to make a pesos or two. There is nothing like social welfare to fall back on. Its survive or not.