Philippines

We went to the island of Palawan in the Philippines.   We weren’t exactly sure what we were going to do there except see the 7^th natural wonder of the world- The Underground River, hopefully catch some beach time as we were told there are fabulous beaches there and because nathaniel’s friend from high school, Isobelle highly recommended it.   Isobelle’s family lives there and when we arrived, little did we know that they would have big plans for us.   

We got a phone call the morning of the second day we arrived saying that we were getting picked up in a ½ hour.  Ok!  We quickly get ready and met Eva who tells us we are going to the Underground River tomorrow and that they would love us to come stay the night with them.  We didn’t know what that meant but felt so honored to be asked to stay with them so we accepted.  We head downstairs to find her husband, Greg, and some of the rest of the family waiting in the vehicle for us and they tell us we are going to their beach house.  Wow!  How nice of them!  We get to know them on the car ride to the beach house and arrive at a port.  Here we find out that we have to take a boat to the beach house, because it’s located on their PRIVATE island.  OH.  Amazeballs (as pallavi would say.)  

We take their private boat to their amazing private island to their amazing, rustic beach home.  On the way there, we get to meet their sweet kids, and their charming Grandma Evelyn.  We also are with quite a few other people, who I later learned are the caretakers of the boat, the fisherman, the cooks, and basically, the help.  We are so overwhelmed with the realization that this family actually invited us on their family vacation to their island as they will be staying there for a long weekend.  We arrive and they tell us to go play.  

We go enjoy the superb surroundings and beach.  The water is warm and was cooling as the days are very hot.  A few hours later, it starts to rain and Nathaniel and I go back in the water because it’s now warmer than the air outside.  It is one of my favorite sensations, when the touch of ocean water is warmer than the air on your skin.  But then it starts to crazy pour and lightening and the sky turns white.  We can no longer see the house or anyone else nor can they see us  (mom stop reading).  I told Nathaniel that my mom always told me that you should never be in the water when it’s lightening and he tells me its ok.  I can see lightening hit across the vast water and ask him how far away you have to be before you can feel it.  He doesn’t know but we stay in because now it’s very cold outside yet amazing in the water.  We later find out that yes, we should have gotten out of the water and perhaps even worried the family a bit.  Oops, but I blame this entirely on NP.  

As I’m talking with Grandma Evelyn, (btw, that’s what I call her but they call her something very different, but we can't remember what) we’re chatting about cultural differences and she tells me that her favorite thing to do is come to this island and get away.  She is so busy in town with meetings, etc. and I ask her what she does.  She is the wife of the mayor of Palawan.  Ooooh!  I had no idea, and then realize that she is the wife of the guy whose picture is EVERYWHERE.  The people of Palawan love their mayor and his picture is all over town for the work he is doing with the Underground River (next post.)  For the rest of the day, this family treats us like their own and they cook us an amazing outdoor spread of Filipino food, both lunch and dinner.   We have fresh fish the fisherman caught, eggplant salad, traditional noodles, fish soup, chicken adobo and rice, baked beans, and more that I can’t quite remember.  The the hospitality this family gave us was incredible.  They were generous beyond words but this was just the beginning…