Cebu, Philippines
Michael served his mission in Cebu, Philippines. We went to pick him up there, and here are some of the great things we saw there. We had so much fun, and the people were so nice.
Our hotel, the Cebu Hilton on Mactan Island. It was very nice!
View from our hotel window.
We enjoyed watching this Filipino bring his pig to shore from the boat. Hopefully it wasn't our dinner! According to Anthony Bourdain Cebu makes the best roast pig he ever ate! We had roast pig for dinner and they brought us the crispy skin to eat, which is suppose to be the best part.
It's quite an honor to get the skin!
Sites Around the Islands of Cebu and Mactan
It's quite an honor to get the skin!
Sites Around the Islands of Cebu and Mactan
This is the statue of Lapu Lapu, the Filipino chief who killed Magellan.
Magellan's Cross in Cebu, Philippines
Magellan planted his cross in Cebu (before he was murdered by Lapu Lapu) which makes Cebu the "birth place" of Christianity in the Orient. After that Cebu was inhabited for many years by the Spanish. Catholicism is the main religion in the Philippines.
Alegre Guitars
They make all the guitars by hand, no electricity! We enjoyed going on a tour to see all the steps they used in making the guitars. We bought Michael a guitar, and brought home a coco-lele (a ukulele made out of coconuts) for us. It's on my dining room wall if you would like to see it.
The Taoist Temple
We had fun going up and down hundred of steps to see the Taoist Temple in Cebu.
The Cebu Mission President's Home
Michael's "Batch" of Missionaries
After we travelled around for a couple of days, it was time for Michael to end his mission. We met him at the Mission President's home. They kindly let us join in as they all said their goodbyes. We enjoyed a wonderful dinner, and loved getting to know the Mission President and his wife.
The Mission Home
The Mission Home
We got to stop here several times for various reasons. This is where your packages go to when you are sending them to your missionary.
Car Car, the Place for Custom Shoes
Who can resist a pair a shoes custom made just for your feet? This is the place! It is home to the largest shoe in the world!
Trikees
Yes, we did use the local transportation! Here we are all trying to fit into one trikee (I have no idea how to spell that!) Michael insisted that we experience it all! It was fun!
Visiting Friends
Then we road a ferry boat to Negros Island
Negros Island, Philippines
Bethel House
This is the view outside our window. The Bethel House was very clean and comfortable. I would definately recommend it if you are going to Dumaguete, Negros, Philippines.
Eating Dinner
Here's Michael at the Twin Lakes in Negros, Philippines.
This poor guy had to row three large Americans (us) across the lake. He was so eager to do it (for a price). Our life jackets are little more than Styrofoam with mesh around it.
The pagoda we hiked up to with a view of both lakes. Very nice!
It felt like we were at the end of the world!
Our good friends fed us a great big meal!
We made a lot of good friends!
stopped for a snack at Birdies
we bought some pearl necklaces,
visited old members,
rode in multicabs,
walked along the beach,
and finished the day with dinner at the Hayaya. (YUM!)
The next day we took a two hour bus ride to Bindoy to attend church.
Some of the friends we met at church.
After church we rode in a boat out to the coral reef
where the Bindoy Branch fed us lunch
and some of the members went swimming
where we found a starfish as we carried all the stuff back to shore.
The next day we took a $10 flight to Manila, and said good-bye to Dumaguete!
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
We stopped in Malaysia on our way to pick up Michael from the Philippines. We were pleasantly surprised by how beautiful it was. To start with, the airport has to be one of the most beautiful in the world. Pictures to be posted at a later date! (When I find them)
