Here are some photos from the first day of wakeskating at worlds, I will have results for you tomorrow.

“Money can’t buy you happiness” this quote trailed through my mind today as I pulled up to a deaf and blind orphanage not far from the cable park. A quaint white house, which earlier in the week on our way to the “skate” I paid no attention to. As I walked into the house I didn’t really know what to expect sad, sick, children dressed in rags; but to my surprise the feeling in this house was much different, the children were shy and a bit stand offish at first towards me. Almost as if they were wise beyond their years, staring me up and down judging me, trying to understand what my intentions were being there. Sheryl is the women that invited me to join her; she lives here at CWC with her husband Rueben and two children Zephyr 18 months and Tehkia 5. Sheryl moved to the Philippines 3 years ago so that her husband Rueben could run the cable park here. For the past two years she has been working with two orphanages in this area. She spends her time with the children reading the Bible, singing songs and doing arts and crafts. You could see with the way the children interact with her that she not only helps with the materialistic aspect of their lives but also brings so much love. I spent half the day, singing and helping the children make friendship bracelets, but the best part of my visit with them was when I pulled out the Polaroid camera! They could not get enough of this, it was the best feeling watching there eyes light up when I took their picture and handed them the Polaroid. You could tell they didn’t get to see themselves in photographs very often. To sum it all up I ended up going through $80.00 in film, but this experience alone was priceless.

Good idea save a chicken, bad idea bringing it home as a pet.

We went to the Pili market today to do some souvenir shopping maybe even get some cool stuff for ourselves but we came home with a chicken. We named him poopsie after myself because I have had food poisening for three days straight now. He is loud and poops a lot but is too cute for any of us to get rid of him. So if anyone wants a chick we have one for sale.

Living in Canada you become very adapted and use to the diverse back grounds that we have. Almost everyone is from some were other then Canada. This is not the same here in Naga it is not very multicultural city other than at the cable park or people traveling though the town. It becomes almost a fascination for them to meet us. The outgoing ones will swarm us and ask for photos when we are all thinking it should be the other way around.

Here you go uncle Garry this one is for you!

So I have been away for a few days in manila so I do not have too much for you, but here are a few things.

This is how they serve coke, in a bag.




This is how they kill time in jail here.

While I was in Canada I had the opportunity to take some Filipino pesos out from the bank but they suggested that I hold off and get money when I get here because most if not all banks will except my bank card. I wish it was that easy, after going into Naga to get some money out I soon realized my card is not accepted here. I went to about 6 different banks before giving up. Traveling around Naga is no easy job either it is really hot, over populated and not built for tourist. So while people are getting massages and buying groceries I have been trying to figure out a way just to get money, its OK though because I did get a couple shots and a good travel lesson.

Philippines "skate"

Today we decided to do something traditional. We had talked to the manager here at CWC Anne Buan and she told us about a skate. Basically a 4ft x 8ft boxcar that rides on railroad tracks. It has a small engine, 2 small benches, and brakes that barely work. It clips along at about 30 to 40 km/h(15 to 20 mph for you americans) through poorer neighborhoods in the philippines(this is how you spell it Matt Sacc). So we took the 20 minute trip from CWC to Naga.
When two "skates" meet, the rule of thumb is the one with less people get off and move the skate from the tracks while the other goes on it's way. Although traveling through the rougher country side, everyone is very friendly, waving and wanting us to take pictures of them. You would think they had never seen white people before but most likely white people riding a skate!
Hope you like the vid.

Our house is a very very very fine house

Just wanted to give you guys a little tour of our house. It’s perfectly built with free internet, AC and a bathroom with a shower.

There are a few traits myself included we have that some people would find unappealing; we are unorganized, we are slow at getting going, we sleep too much and stay up way too late. Because of these things we find ourselves in situation that could be avoided if we were more organized.

Going from manila to Naga were CWC is located we did not have a flight. We knew we needed one and there were a few attempts before we left to get one but we kind of just left it in the air to chance that we would find one at the airport. I can tell you that finding a flight at 3am to naga is no easy task. So we settled for a flight to Legaspi that was supposed to be only 45mins from CWC to turned out to be 3 hours bearing mind we have been flying for 2 days and slept in an airport, this was not something we wanted to hear. This is where if you do not like to travel, are unorganized and have plans up in the air, you do not travel with us. Stressed tired and hungry we found a taxi that will take us one this 3 hour trip. I could hear nic in the back seat say “we are here and this happened for a reason” and as we drove through the town that reason became clear.

28 hours and 3 flights later we have made it to manila, I think that had to be the longest any of us have had to stay in one place. Nic believes we are all in the matrix and we are not really traveling anywhere and this is all an imitation, if that so I am happy to be in the simulated reality. We almost lost Caroline in Hong Kong, as we were about to get on the plain for minila she looked at us and said “leave me here” I believe nics response was “what in Hong Kong?”

Here are a few airport photos, enjoy!

monday morning airport-lifetime

I thought this was a good song for us, we actually leave tomorrow but you get it.

hope everyone enjoys lifetime.

10 things.

Nic, Caroline and I (Matt Sacc) are taking a trip to the Philippines’ and as a quick over view of what this blog is about I have put together a 10 things list.

1. Do’s and don’ts list of the Philippines

2. http://www.camsurwatersportscomplex.com/

3. We will be posting new photos and blog every day.

4. Going to see how long Nic can last in one place not being at his house.

5. Will have photos and updates on the wake park worlds.

6. Show you around the Philippines as we travel.

7. We will be gone from March 10^th to March 30^th.

8. Will try and put up a couple videos

9. We will be doing some R&D for Satellyte 2010 line.

10. To keep track of us, if for any reason I stop writing it is because something happened to us or we are just not coming back.