I am off the Philippines again tomorrow. Manila, Davao and Cotabato!

I am off to meet with the Philippine Ambassador to the UK today. Not entirely sure what teh purpose of the meeting is but when you are summoned, you go.

I arrived here after one of the most gruelling set of flights in some time. I will spare you the detail, but it will all go into my memoirs some day and you will both laugh and cry.

I am now in Manila and checked into the hotel. I tried to gain internet access in my room but they cannot locate the IT guy so I have gone to the library to check my email. Since I am fatigued and on a public computer with neon lighting, I am having trouble working. I will still deliver the promised work, but perhaps I bother them again at the front desk, search for food, and then hopefully, my access will be granted.

My local mobile is not allowing me to send messages so I will take it to the phone center first thing tomorrow morning for them to look at. Hopefully, it is something simple like my credit is just low.

My 4-8 pm meeting that was scheduled with has been moved to 12-4 am. (Read that again if you need to. It is correct.) He is currently editing something and is on a roll so he wants to continue. He has asked to make the meeting at the later time (or earlier depending on your perspective) so he can meet with me before heading to the airport.

No one can question my dedication. Am so tired and just want to sleep.

I am heading back to the Philippine next week. This time it is only Manila for me. I need to head back to London for a SL Diaspora Meeting. It is a shame really because I like heading to Mindanao.

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.

Cannot wait to start traveling again. I head to the US for a friend's wedding at the end of March, return to the UK where hopefully my house will be sold and then on to the Philippines. YAY! I cannot wait.

Views out my window for the next month.