In case you're wondering...

... the heat and humidity has finally taken its toll on the camera. This leaves us with a very pre-my-birth digital camera which could only be compared with the cell phone that Michael Douglas uses down on the beach in Wall Street from 1987 (I know, because I argued my way into staying up and watching that the other night).

Nonetheless, it managed to capture me just before I headed off to school the other morning.

Mom and dad have finally followed in the footsteps of Petra and Grandma

This weekend, Pining and I were home alone. Mom and dad were off to Donsol to swim with the whalesharks. I did what I usually do - you know, go to the park, the playground, the potty. We've been over it before. Thus, I will lend some space for mom and dad to report from their trip.

But first, a photo of dad, at the beach in Donsol. I've never seen a less attractive looking beach in my whole life! Good thing I stayed at home!

"Finally! We managed to find a vacant hotel room in Donsol AND available seats on a Saturday flight to Legaspi AND available seats for a Sunday return flight. Lord knows we've tried before! But whaleshark season is whaleshark season and we're obviously not the only ones who want to experience swimming with those gigantic creatures. Thus, on Saturday morning we got up at 3 am to catch the 5 am flight (which left more or less on schedule - very appreciated at that time of the day!).

After a smooth registration process at Donsol Office of Tourism (as close to functioning eco tourism as you get here in the Philippines), we were ready to face the world's biggest shark. Now with big, I mean big. It can grow up to 17-18 meters. The weather was not optimal for whaleshark spotting (it was a day of heavy skies = less contrasts in the water and no shadow of the sharks showing), but we got extremely lucky. Our crew spotted a big shark that was feeding close to the surface and we swam with it for some 20 minutes. Being pregnant and all, I got to swim with the guide. Thus, I ended up spending most of the time more or less in the mouth of the whaleshark. There would have been a substantial risk for a Jonah in the whale situation, had I been just a tiny bit smaller. Yes, that is me on top of the shark. Trying to lie perfectly still in the water, as we were not allowed to touch the animal. But also wishing to move to the side, not to get struck by the shark's fin. Pretty scary. And pretty darn cool!

I estimated the shark to be some 14 meters long, but our guide just laughed. Just less than 10 was his verdict. Since the whalesharks transformed from annoying creatures that ruined the local fishermen's nets some ten years ago to a major tourist attraction and source of income, he had never spotted a shark longer than 12 meters. Whatever, 10 or 14, that one swim definitely made our entire trip worth-while. And I think that is a feeling we shared with quite a few others. The rule - one boat (=up to 10 people) per shark - is not really adhered to on a bad spotting day like Saturday. We spotted and swam with another five or six sharks as well, but they all decided to go down to deeper waters after just a short while. By the way, how burnt do you think that little bit of exposed skin on my back is, the part between the pants and the swim shirt? I am in pain!

Back ashore, we headed for lunch and subsequently dinner at Baracuda, where Petra and Gavin ate a year ago. Of course we took advantage of it being prawn season. Later on, during our fire-fly watching tour, we also learned that the prawns are caught by hand, by wading fishermen, who work with a candle on their head (to see something and also not to get hit by passing boats) when it's low tide. Veeeery exotic. (Although I guess it would be pretty much the same working method as the one used by Swedish eel fishers back in the days when eel was still allowed. If I had a choice, I would definitely prefer to be a walking fisherman in waters of the Philippine temperature, rather than that of the Baltic Sea!)

Here I'm waiting for our fire-fly watching boat ride, enjoying the sunset, but also feeling extremely heavy and pregnant (like I have more or less constantly over the last week).

Afraid of mosquitos? Wouldn't think so! Not with half a gallon of citronella/virgin coconut oil smeared all over the body. The mosquitos would drown before they found any skin.

We shared the whaleshark boat as well as the fire-fly dito with two Kiwis, Gary and Jim. Now, one could say that it was a bit unfair that they had to squeeze together in the rear of the boat. But they offered, and I'm much too heavy right now not to jump at the opportunity for some extra space.

And Fred also didn't mind, as he got the front of the boat all to himself. Yes, this may have been the smallest boat in Donsol. And yes, the reason may have been a misunderstanding regarding how many people were going to watch. One? Or four? One, decidedly. Even if this trip was great, and we're so happy we got to do it before leaving the country, we both longed to get back to Adam on Sunday morning. Fortunately no delays and on top of that we managed to hitch a ride back home with a person from the village (as in Dasma). We gotta stick up for each other, us privileged Makati people.

Interestingly, the Bicol area around Legaspi seems pretty affluent. Ok, that is a super-relative (and of course inappropriate) term here. But at least it didn't look as destitute as most other provinces that we've visited before. I would have guessed that it'd be the other way around, considering that typhoons and landslides keep tearing the place apart. But no. Fred has the theory that the unaccomodating weather conditions may have saved the area from getting claimed by the giant landowners of the country. That way, people there experience a greater degree of freedom and their incentives for buildning nice houses etc. increase. Looking at how this country works, that is probably not a far-fetched theory."

Ok, enough giving space to mom and dad. This is my blog, and so it shall remain! /babyboyaulin

What is it like up there?

A lot of things point towards me spending next winter as an arctic kid rather than a tropical one. Rosie sent me a pic showing what that's like. But then they say she's not really showing off the full winter line. That gloves and scarves and one-piece snowsuits will be needed as well. Oh well, at least I'm used to wearing a hat.

Witchcraft with Chinese influence

Last week, Catha and Björn came to visit from Shanghai. Visitors=trip to the beach. Yay! Initially, mom and dad had planned for whale-sharking without me. But thankfully, all Donsol hotels were fully booked and instead we went to Siquijor. Edgar didn't really like the idea of mom to going there, considering that it's the island of witchcraft and not a good place to be for a pregnant woman. But mom decided to live on the edge and come along.

As all port workers in Dumaguete had just been fired, with riots and cancelled ferries as a result, we had to take a banka. Great way to adopt the local feeling.
We returned to the same resort we went to with Petra and Gavin last year. The big difference for me was that this time, I was actually allowed out in the sun and onto the beach. Mom and dad took advantage of the fact that I clicked well with Catha and Björn and went snorkling. And I helped Catha look for pretty little shells for a necklace. Actually, mom and dad were gone long enough for Björn to teach me how to make good splashes with my feet as well (a skill I quickly mastered and now, no one is safe in the pool anymore).To say that the tempo at Siquijor is upbeat would be a bit of an exaggeration. However, I managed to make it even less so for myself. How? Easy! Refuse to walk and insist on being carried. Great way to relax!

But then, of course, there are times when it's relaxing to walk as well. Like on the beach in the sunset.A sunset, which I wasn't the only one to enjoy.

Mom and dad liked it too. As did Björn and Catha, even if they didn't manage to make it into any unblurred sunset picture.Another good time of the day, my favorit actually, is between 5.30 and 6.30 in the morning. Then the light is pretty, it's not too hot and there is usually an exclusive feeling of having the world all to yourself. I honestly don't understand why mom and dad don't seem to like that part of the day as much as I do.

At Siquijor, dad liked it somewhat more, though, as there were nice chairs to rest in down on the beach.

The trip back to Manila a few days later was completely Pinoy style. How shall I put it...? Logistically challenged? Yes, but still somehow working out quite well. We even had time to read about Thomas the Tank Engine before stepping on to the plane.

Back in Manila, the grown-ups went to Club Mwah for a night of drag. But I didn't feel like going. I have my handbags at home, and mom's slippers. That makes me feel cross-dressingly beautiful enough at this point.

A walk in the park

Or rather, a walk to the park. That's what I take almost every morning (at least now when I'm on school break), and every afternoon.

This is how the routine goes: I put on my hat and ask someone help me with the mosquito repellant (yes, citronella and virgin coconut oil-based for kids), the sun screen and the shoes. Then I bring the bike over to the door.

There, someone helps me bring it down the stairs. (On weekdays, that someone is usually Pining, on weekends, it's usually dad.)

I wait at the top of the stairs for someone to help me down as well.

Or at least, that's what I'm told to do. But how could I learn anything if caution is always the lead word?

The rest of the routine you know already: I swing at the swings, slide down the slides...

...run over the lawn (with Baron, Stella and that other girl whose name mom keeps forgetting) and climb the sofas and whatever else looks climbable.Finally, I tell each an every one what year it is, as my wardrobe has at least four play shirts with that message.

Preparing for a snorkling trip

As we knew the visit of Björn and Catha from Shanghai would imply a trip to the beach, mom, dad and I prepared by going to the newly opened Aqua World in Manila. Now, some people claim Aqua World is a crowded trap, just waiting for a fire that no one will be able to escape from. But we figured that, by going on Good Friday, we'd be more or less alone there. We were not really, but we also didn't get claustrophobic from the crowds. And we got to see some really great fish. Very educational and a good preparation for going down to the reefs outside Dumaguete.