Z is for Zebra Shoes

For the sake of this blog challenge, I now refer to these as my zebra shoes.

Yay! We did it! Congrats everyone!

Y is for Yikes!

You know you're in Asia when...

X is for X

There is an "X" in this drawing we did today. My work is fun some days. That's all I got.

W is for To Baan Phu Waan, Thanks for Everything, Bonnie

W is a hard one but fortunately the next stop on this trip brings us to Baan Phu Waan. We will be here for a week of work conference.

V is for Veni Vidi Vici

I came, I saw, I conquered. This was the first of nearly a dozen trips to Manila where I felt I really enjoyed the whole experience. Likely because we stayed with Canadian friends that totally took care of us.

U is for Unplanned and Unprecedented

This whole trip we just happened to be in the right place at the right time. Holy week and Easter weekend at an Anglican church, the princess's 60th in Thailand, 30th birthday party of a friend, a Ceilidh and now a live production of "Into the Woods" at one of our NGO's partner schools. I can't wait to see what unplanned thing happens next week!

T is for Towers and Traffic

Towers and traffic. This is Manila. Technically this photo is of Ortigas centre. Same same.

S is for Sandwiches on a Plane

We got sandwiches for take away from the same place as the pasta yesterday. Beats paying for crappy airline food.

R is for Roquefort

Roquefort cheese and walnut pasta. So tasty!

Q is for Quest for the Black Pearl

My mom has been super supportive of me working for an NGO so when she gives me a wish list of items to bring back from my travels I relish the quest to check them all off. 
The last item was checked off today when I found the black pearl earrings she wanted to match the necklace she got from this same kiosk over two years ago.

P is for Party

It's a Ceilidh! (Pronounced 'kay lee') We just happened to be around during an Irish - Scottish dance party. My first one and it's in the Philippines. There is much craziness. The live band is great. Lots of merriment making. :)

O is for Open Office

Not Open Office the software but being able to open up the windows to the fresh air. Can't do that in Winnipeg most of the year!

N is for Noodles

Noodles at the company potluck.

Did lots of other fun things today but N. C'est la vie. Looking forward to Saturday. P will be better. Promise. Pun intended. Double pun.

M is for Miller time

Not the beer. The family. We have friends here that are fellow Canadians and we enjoy spending time with them.

I forgot to take any pictures today when we were out and about so here is a mango...

L is for Love

L is for lots of things! Some letters are easier than others. Today has been filled with the people, places and things we love in Davao.

We had lunch at the Banana Leaf at SM Lanang. Then we went for a luxurious massage in the afternoon. The evening ends with dinner at our favourite restaurant in town (Bon Apetit) that is run by a lovely couple, where we dined with beloved friends.

And then there was this mesmerising mechanical lion.

K is for Kaon

Kaon is Cebuano for food. Today was our friend's 30th birthday so we got to celebrate with him! I had a personal pan paella. That crab was about 2-3 inches across. There was chocolate cake and halo-halo for dessert.

J is for Juice of the young coconut

Buko on the beach!

I is for Island life

Palm trees every where. Hot, humid weather. Fresh tropical fruit. And right now, 2 days with no running water. You win some, you lose some. :)

Btw, that's an Air Asia plane over my shoulder.

H is for Holiday

Happy Day of Valour Philippines! Happy Vimy Ridge Day Canada!

This explains why there is no one else in the office today. True story.

G is for Giving back with Gourmet burgers

You know it is a gourmet burger when they ask how you would like your patty done. Besides serving delicious food, "Burger Chef" in Davao donates money to a food bank in a nearby town. It's win-win!