Day Eight

It was a two hour drive from Naga to Daet. We arrived here at the TinTin Apartelle owned by my host family. Their house was right across the street.

Merge and Raffie, my hosts -- I'm standing between them. They had prepared a beautiful spread to welcome us.

Doesn't she have an adorable smile?



After refueling, we toured the governor's museum.

The region - we are still in Bicol Province - around Daet is know for the fine work they do in gold. Very fine lace-like filagree.

Daet is also where the very first of many monumets to Jose Rizal was erected. He is considered one of the Philippines' great martered heros having contributed to the revolution against the Spanish with his peotry and other writings. He was susequently executed for this peaceful approach.

Look at this woman! Isn't she just the cutest? I just love Merge.

However stormy it was when we were there ...

Bagasbas Beach is where tourists come to wind surf.

An adorable Azkal (street dog) pup. They are everywhere. When we first started seeing them it seemed like the same dog everywhere we turned. Always a rust/caramel colored dog. We decided to name them collectively, "Rusty." This one therefore would be referred to as "black Rusty."

I am missing Larry a lot ...

Merge's grandson - absolutly terrified of me! She said it was my hair color. To his credit, the little guy kept trying to talk to me: True to the Philippine reputation of friendly people.

These are some of the guest amenities. I got a kick out of the two left feet, different sizes. Especially because so many of the people we met danced so well and I simply do not. 

It's a warm tropical climate. Sometime you just might not want or need hot water to shower. Here there is a choice.

This is where Luke stayed while we were in Daet -- as a guest, not a patient!

This little money, caged behind the hospital, although cute, was actually quiet nasty towards us, No one even tried to pet this furry guy.

I can't blame him.

Fellowship with fellow Rotarians here in this nipa hut behind the hospital. Videoke. It's an entirely different approach to "(Rotary) club singing."

You Pili Nut!

This is the Pili Nut Queen! She started a home-based enterprise where it's all about the Pili nut! It grows only in the Bicol region. We learned that many have tried to transplant, propagate, graft, etc. but elsewhere the tree does not bear fruit.

J. Emmanuel Pastries!

The family lives next to the store.

The operations take place up stairs.
A clean, bright, workplace ...

...where they bake,

wrap ...

... and package everything for the store ...

... and shipping.

I LOVE Pili nuts, and everything they make from them. I would describe the flavor as similar to a macademia but softer and more flavorful. Yum.

These are key chains, Lynne, our beloved Area 4 coordinator, bought us each one as a (cherished) souvenier.


Poor Toni, trooper that she is, was not feeling well at all this day -- can you tell?

But isn't this a cute picture of her?

Water Project

The water from the artesian well is not safe to drink ... 

... but this simple charcoal and sand water filter removes all impurities. After 48 hours, they have enough drinking 
water for about 50 people.

There are approximately 250 living in this village.

This eighty one year old woman has exceeded the average life span of 69. She lives ...here.

This is her bed. I just can't get her off of my mind.

The children we met were rarely camera shy...

And always curious.

 

This is the school in this village.

The older kids were rehearsing a dance for their graduation. Music, singing, dancing, seems so natural to the Philppine people we met.

Aren't they beautiful?

A gorgeous rice field was right next to the school.

Panicuason Hot and Cold

Panicuason Springs are at the bottom of a gorgeous, deep, lush, gorge.  

This local luxury is the result of living in a land of active volcanos.

The netting, although not so gorgeous, helps to keep the pools clean of leaves, and other falling objects.

The three hot spring pools were of differing temperatures -- a choice of comfort zones!

The stream runs between three hot pools and one cold(er).

The colder of the four felt cccccccold but Lynn said it was important to close your pores. She's the doctor (but I sorta woulda kinda have liked to leave 'em open)!

Not just here, but so much of the construction we saw was a mix of organic and concrete.

The group agreed that our collective C. Zone was most satisfied in the the middle pool.

It was raining a little while we were there but really, it did not matter!

 

RI District 6650 GSE team from ...