Richmonde Pasig

I know we didn't want to include any "fast food" burger joints when we started looking for the "Great American Burger" but we found this small place at Market-Market we just have to include it since it so reminded us of White Castle burgers back in the states. Not only for the cardboard boxes the burgers come in, but to the way they even describe them using the ...

... my first weekend in the Philippines, my family's church group was performing a concert in a northern part of the country. I tagged along and had a wonderful time experiencing the 'real' philippines. The town was in the mountains and i got to meet a lot of the local people who were very warm and welcoming. We spent a few days touring around and then arrived back in Manila. Today, I got to teach my first lesson at the school! I introduced myself to the ...

... building appeared to not be maintained in a very long time. The furniture might have been salvaged from a junk yard. On the desks were a few very old manual typewriters. The only computer equipment in sight were some old monitors on top of file cabinets in the room next door. The people helping us were in t-shirts - no official uniforms. Some of the people sent to make copies and take pictures of the damage looked like ...

... 9:20pm and after a quick two hour flight I will land in Bangkok, Thailand and begin my traveling adventures! It all still feels rather surreal that I am actually leaving this amazing country that has become a second home. But knowing that last fact does give me some peace and I know I will return and always have a loving home and family in the Cosalan's. Thank you Philippines for these last two years, I have learned, been challenged, laughed, loved and ...

... is another one of the things we take for granted. Driving through Malate really exposes you to the immense amount of poverty that is present here. The shacks and homeless are everywhere and the sheer amount of space that these neighbourhoods cover is what really blows you away. There are 11 million people in Manila, and a significant portion of that 11 million lives in third world conditions ...

... me in without it...*bsolute rubbish of course, *s I l*ter found out the immigr*tion don't give * monkeys if you h*ve *n onw*rd ticket or not). So biting the bullet I bought * return ticket (even though my pl*n is to c*tch * ferry from the Philippines to Indonesi*). I w*s promised no c*ncell*tion ch*rge when I c*ncelled it on *rriv*l *nd it would be h*ssle free. So this mornings mission w*s to go to the *irline office *nd c*ncel it. Of course the Philippines being wh*t it is the ...

... intent of seeing the "old city", and area that is within an ancient wall. Here we stopped and viewed the inside and outside (this time) of the Roman Catholic Cathedral of Manila. Old and pitted on the outside and serene on the inside, we quietly viewed the church from the back as there was an Easter mass under way, although I think there may have been more tourists inside than actual parishners. Outside we were set upon by people selling ...

It was a wide expanse of blue sea against an otherwise gray sky. The churning sound of the motor fills the air, and the waves gently lap against an outrigger boat big enough to fit 25 passengers. There were 15 of us, including the crew. I sit at the back of the boat, drenched from both the sea and the continuing drizzle; still cold even with a sarong draped around me. I taste salt ...

I didn't go to my usual Strabucks to brainstorm. Good thing I did just that because I came up with pretty good insights. I guess a change of atmosphere helps a lot. I followed my desires (again!) and ordered a Grande Hot Mocha. Here's my cup and the barista didn't put any markings because the place was practically empty. It's 12 noon when I ordered. I guess most people are out with their ...