Okay, very quick summation - and I mean quick - of the trip to Jakarta and the Philippines.

The trip was interesting. The conference in Jakarta was high profile. It was in a five star hotel - and it was posh. That only added to my stress for performing. (People are going to want to see something for their money) but it was nice. The other speakers were very interesting from other parts of Indonesia, E Timor and Burma.

The trip to the Philippines was good as well but completely different. In parts of Mindanao, I needed to cover myself from wrist to ankle. I had to wear a scarf on my head. It was funny because I went to a meeting and there was a woman from a Women's Organisation and she complimented me on how I looked in their scarf and suggested that maybe I would take to it. (I mean, why not? Think about the colors and fashion possibilities. Hmm...maybe not?)

As far as people and food, well Filippino people are very warm and friendly. They are very engaging. There are always meetings involving food. It is a hospitable trait but one that really starts to make you sick when you have four or five meetings in one day and they have given you coffee and some odd cookie or cake to eat at each.

The diet in general is much around fish and pork, and rice. These are the three major parts of their diet. They also have many dishes involving eggs as well in various forms. And these components are usually found at all three meals. I think there is a lot of influence left there from the Spanish.

Perhaps the oddest thing, and to be fair I never ate one, was a fertlized duck embryo called Balut. Here is a link to wikipedia because I think it is worth you seeing. I honestly do.

But the best part of it all is that I am starting to feel - finally - like I know what I am talking about. I have always felt like there is so much to know about the dynamics of conflict and various regions and experiences, that I was never able to talk with authority. Now, I am starting to think, "wait, I do know some things". It is a great feeling.