So many fireworks...

We're coming to the end of Chinese New Year celebrations so there are
tons of fireworks. Of course, this makes the usually loud Guiyang even
louder as I try to go to sleep...

Back in Guiyang

Well, I've been home for a couple of days now. It was bizarre getting
back- sort of felt like coming here for the first time again. Like my
room seemed strange to me. Comforting though-there's no place like
Guiyang, seriously. I saw Chris and Garry, who have been back for a
while, and it was good to see my friends again. I also met the new
teacher, Maja. We are going to all hang out tonight for a nice
reunion/welcoming Maja. She will start work tomorrow, along with me.
I'm so excited to see my four year old Starter class again. They are
maybe my favorite class and I know they will be really psyched to be
back at school.

I'm trying to get my pictures online so I'll post those soon.

The Journey Home

The last few days in Boracay was more of the same, but in a good way.
Good food, fresh mango drinks every day, sun and sand, and cable TV.
We left early yesterday morning and flew on our little propeller plane
back to Manila. This is where I said goodbye to Kate and Siggy and had
a ride waiting for me to go to a nearby airport hotel.

The Nichols Airport Hotel was pretty nice- it was a luxury to stay in
a real hotel after hostels and guesthouses. I had my own large room,
cable TV again, and I got room service. I also tried to get as much
sleep as possible because my flight was at 5:40 am, meaning I would
be waking up at 2:15 am to catch my ride to the airport.

The flight from Manila to Hong Kong was only a couple of hours, and
then I made it! I decided to send some money home since it's such a
pain to do in China- although there was still a limit much less than
what I wanted to send. But at least the nice people at the airport
spoke English.

Thus I had a lot of Hong Kong dollars and time for some shopping. I'm
actually typing on a brand new mini computer! Maybe it seems like a
spontaneous purchase but my laptop can't access the internet, which
has been crippling my lesson planning, communication, and trip
planning. I will still try to get it fixed but I know either getting
my laptop fixed or buying a new computer would be a big hassle in
China, where it was extremely easy in Hong Kong. It's definitely a
useful tool so it's a present to myself, I guess.

Well, I'm almost done with my very long day of traveling. I'll admit,
I'm somewhat ready to get back although I think the first week back
might be a bit crazy.

Update from Tropical Paradise

Kate and Siggy arrived safely on the 13th! They were late due to various plane delays and rescheduling but they finally made it.

We actually had a pretty good Valentine's Day/Chinese New Year's day on the 14th. There were some nice dinners and fancier buffets going on. We decided to go to an Italian restaurant, which funny enough had all the waitresses in Chinese dresses. Then there was a dragon dance! Right in front of where we were sitting! So that was pretty fantastic. There were also some fireworks later. So we even got some of the Chinese New Year celebrations though we weren't in China.

We've been enjoying all the Western foods that we rarely get in Guiyang/Chia-yi, especially the breakfast foods. We have been getting up late, enjoying a nice brunch, and spending the day lounging on the beach, going for swims, and drinking fresh fruit shakes. We have a cocktail at sunset and then enjoy dinner. We have also started having ice cream every night, since we found a place that does amazing sundaes.

A couple of days ago we went on a trip on a glass bottom boat. They take you out to an area with coral and feed the fish, which you can watch through the glass. I also did a bit of snorkeling and found Nemo, as well as a jellyfish and a rainbow fish.

Kate and I have been doing a bit of pretty dress shopping and bought matching dresses. I can't do too much shopping since I just have my one carry-on backpack but it's hard! The shopping here is pretty fun.

Can't wait to get the pictures online! You'll be amazed at the beauty here.

Chinese New Year in Boracay

So today is the start of the Chinese New Year, and you can tell, because all of the English teachers from China and Taiwan are getting here today. I've already met some in my hotel. And this is the day when Kate and Siggy will arrive! This afternoon. I've already moved into our new bigger room for three.

Going around by myself is kind of nice, although I'm so excited to see my friends. I usually go for swims, walk along the beach, eat someplace with an ocean view, get mango-banana smoothies, and watch the sunset. At night I discovered that you can sit on the beach, closer to the water, and enjoy the live music of the various bands without having to go in and buy a drink. Last night there were even fireworks.

Paradise

Day 11: Boracay

So two days ago, I left KL and flew to Singapore. I spent the night in the Singapore airport, flew out at 6 am, and then flew on a little propeller plane to Boracay (which I thought was great fun, by the way).

Then a guy from my hotel helped me get from the airport, to the boat, to the tricycle, to the hotel. Ocean Breeze Inn is about a minute's walk from the beach, through a maze of guesthouses, grass huts, and roosters (there are lots of roosters in the Philippines). My friends Kate and Siggy will meet me here in a couple of days, so right now I'm still on my own.

It's a gorgeous island of palm trees and a long white sand beach. Clear water, blue skies. The beach is lined with restaurants serving all kinds of food, dive shops, vendors, bars, and hotels.

Last night I walked along the beach and decided to eat dinner at a Mexican restaurant. The food was quite good, and I'm picky about my Mexican food being Arizonan and all. At the next restaurant over there were fire dancers. At night there's lots of beachside dining, live music, and sandcastles lit up with candles.

I've never been to Hawaii but I'm imagining it's somewhat similar (except lots cheaper).

Here's what I did today: lots of swimming and sunbathing, got a massage beachside, drank a fresh fruit smoothie.

wait til I get the photos online...