Chocolate Hills And Tiny Primates

Just a quick post to let you all know that I'm alive and well in the Philippines. It's hot and colorful and the people are super laid-back, but feisty, and anything with four wheels and a horn can carry an infinite number of human beings and other goods, and the buses are painted crazy and there's pop can alters for Mary on the dashboards, and the mangoes are to-die-for, and there are hammocks. So basically, I've got everything I need. Spent a couple of days on a remote island called Malapascua where you're supposed to get up at 4:30 am to go see thresher sharks diving. The first day I went out, the weather was so bad, I was basically living a bad Filipino remake of White Squall. Shirtless boat crews searching for buoys to tie to in massive swells and torrential rain. Not pretty. And once we were down, I could barely see my hand in front of my face, nevermind sharks. I went a second day, still no sharks, but at least there were a couple of fish. Then I came to Bohol and hiked into this little lodge in the jungle. Went adventuring today with 2 guys from there - a Canadian and an Aussie - to see the world's tiniest and most adorable primate and the Chocolate Hills, which really have nothing to do with chocolate or anything else of interest. The day started with the 3 of us riding on the back of one motorbike, driven by a large Filipino driver. Definitely some kind of personal record. Tomorrow, off to another island called Panglao.
Happy Birthday to sister Toby!
Love to all.