Day 5 Re-positioning to Laoag

We are at a very nice hotel tonight.  Thanks to Graye our leader!  Nice to get a hot shower and a more familiar toilet situation after the last few days.  However, tomorrow, we head back into the hinterlands of Philippines to continue with our building projects and dental care.

Today was a bit of driving, great to see the country in the light.  When we arrived last Friday, it was dark for much of the drive.  For me is looks like Hawaii maybe 75 years ago.  Beautiful, green, but no real western influence.

So, below some pictures of the day.

Our last breakfast.   Cooks have been great!  Real, authentic Filipino food.

A couple of the great kids we spent time with.

These Jeepneys are everywhere.  They originated after WWII with all the
left over Jeeps the Americans left.   Now they have become a Filipino cultural
icon.  The more outlandish and Kitsch the better..

These side care-motorcycles are also everywhere.  They are the taxis of the Philippines.
We have seen as many as 7 or 8  people pile in the sidecar and behind the driver.

BONUS CONTENT:

For those who are still reading, and because I have decent bandwidth, some pictures of a typical Filipino bathroom.  First the toilet.  Note, no toilet paper, the trashcan on the left and the bucket of water on the right.   For Americans, we bring in our own paper and dispose in the trashcan.  No paper in the toilet.  Once you are finished, one to two ladles of water the complete the job.  Different, but it works.

Next, the "shower".  First, no hot water, and no water.  Note the drain in the floor and the soapdish in the wall.  So.......... you sit in the chair, ladle cold water on yourself in the corner, soap up, then rinse with said cold water and it drains into the floor drain.  No "turn off the shower, you are wasting hot water" in the Philippines.  (we actually bathed in the river!)

Finally, extra credit:

With Americans using the facilities, one has to expect a few problems.  Unfortunately, the traditional toilet plunger isn't to be found.  So, a home made one.  Not the 1 gallon container on the top, a tube ending in a bisected soda bottle.  It worked perfectly......several times!