The Abiads - theabiads

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Here's the first pic from Heidi's trip to Haiti: http://twitpic.com/3dkete/. She and Papa Rey left DC yesterday morning, spent the night in Port-au-Prince, and they hiked up the mountain to Medor today. The photo was posted by NBC journalist Ann Curry, I guess via satellite phone. Grabe, Heidi's so thin, mukhang malnourished...

Heidi is heading to Haiti again in two weeks. What was supposed to be a follow-up medical mission to administer vaccines to kids and pregnant women has now morphed into a mission to treat cholera in both children and adults, which has reached Medor despite the town's relative isolation and distance from Port-au-Prince. And this time she isn't just going with a team from Our Lady Queen of Peace. A couple of months ago she got in touch with Stan Brock, the head of Remote Area Medical (http://www.ramusa.org/), an organization she had volunteered with a few years back in Honduras. She told him about what OLQP does in Haiti, and was wondering if RAM could help. 

It turns out that Stan had been looking to get RAM more involved in Haiti, but had been unable to find a suitable location from which to base RAM's operations; and from Heidi's description he felt that Medor fit the bill--remote and inaccessible, without adequate health care. So now RAM is joining Heidi on the December 5 mission. Stan will fly their plane to Medor, where they will drop medical supplies in by parachute; their doctors and other field workers will also parachute down. They are bringing equipment to build an airstrip which RAM will use in the future, and they will station a plane and two pilots in Medor year-round, to fly patients to hospitals (or doctors to Medor) when needed. 

Apart from building the airstrip and basing the planes in Medor, RAM also plans to convert the mountain trail up to Medor into a proper road; help OLQP build cisterns and latrines; set up a "RAM Ranger" program to teach fifty 16-19 year old kids basic medical, agronomy, animal husbandry, and environmental practices over a 5-6 week period next summer; and provide access to a 4 wheel drive flat bed truck that may be able to transport containers and construction supplies to Medor (which OLQP needs to rebuild the schools destroyed by the earthquake). And they are providing this all free of charge. The Haiti Committee of OLQP can't believe our luck--as the head of the committee, Sue Carlson, wrote, "Does this seem too good to be true????"

And now, it seems that Dateline NBC will be covering Heidi's/RAM's medical mission! They will do a 1-hour feature on it, narrated by Anne Curry, and they will have 5 teams to cover the trip. Somebody is coming to Arlington to shadow Heidi as she prepares for the trip, and will follow her trekking up the mountain and working with patients in Medor. The program is scheduled to air on January 12, the one-year anniversary of the Haiti earthquake. We are so excited! I will keep you posted on various developments with Heidi's trip; please keep her and the rest of the mission in your prayers, as they will be in the middle of the cholera epidemic and the logistics of all of the activities just seem a bit daunting to me. But I'm damn proud of my wife!

PS. One of the people on Heidi's team is her papa...Lolo Rey! He had wanted to join Heidi in Haiti, and thought this would be a good time to do so. Stan Brock even assigned him a job: he will be the cook for the OLQP/RAM team, comprising about 30 people. Given the limited equipment and ingredients, he may have a harder job than Heidi!

After Shanti's birth, it just didn't seem right to have a "family website" called ANANDA'S PLAYGROUND with a URL of http://anandaabiad.shutterfly.com. It smacked too much of my childhood: in our house in Baguio we had a beautiful and enormous custom-made photo album, with gold lettering on the cover that read, "KUBLAI AND HOMER ABIAD"--to which was taped a little piece of paper with a handwritten scribble: "...and Abdul." Kawawa talaga ang mga bunso...

So Heidi and I used the start of the new year as an excuse to put up a new website: the inclusive and more equitably-titled http://theabiads.shutterfly.com, which you're now viewing! Thanks a million to Shutterfly for making these share sites incredibly easy to set up--if non-techies like Heidi and me can set up this website, anyone can. You can post photos, videos, files, and journal entries. And maybe the best part is, it's NOT Facebook :). Let's hope we can keep this site updated for the rest of the year, decade, and beyond!

We've put up pictures and video from our recent Guatemala trip, but for now I've put the album on Phanfare. I hope Shutterfly improves its slideshows to look as good as those on Phanfare--particularly the ability to add music! Click on this link to take you to the album, or paste the following URL into your browser:

http://albums.phanfare.com/isolated/ddkz6QoL/3768833/3277588

[1/5/10: We will move this album to Shutterfly soon!]

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A WEEK IN PUERTO RICO, APRIL 12-19, 2009

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Rhyse can't wait to get there!

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Aquatika resort, our base for the week

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Our 3br+loft, 2ba penthouse rental

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with a wonderful terrace

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Our view of the heated pool and clubhouse

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and the beach

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Enjoying our first views from the terrace on arrival

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Monday morning--Andie's all ready for a swim

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Vamos, papa!

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The beach at Aquatika

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Rhyse and Andie were soon playing in the sand

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while Heidi and Abdul took a dip in the water

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Lola Genie enjoyed the shade and a book

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and Lolo Rey clambered over boulders

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Even the lizards were enjoying themselves

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Andie cooking some "cakes"

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Kain naaaaa!

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Ate Rhyse trying some cake

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and playing with Lolo Rey

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Heidi and Abdul, with Aquatika in the background

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We had the beach pretty much to ourselves

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I can't tell who's more pregnant--Andie or Heidi

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After showers, nice and clean

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and ready to explore Aquatika's grounds

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The grounds were beautiful

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But the kids were more interested in the pool fountains

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and the water park

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and waterfall

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Enjoying foosball at the clubhouse

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and a simpler game of tag

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I'm it!

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Cousins

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Somebody's excited!

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Martin's BBQ chicken--yum!

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On Tuesday we headed to Boqueron beach in the southwest

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And ate seafood at Galloway's, by the beach

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The kids enjoyed watching the fish

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Lolo Rey checking out the raw oysters--$5 a dozen!

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After lunch, we went for a swim at Balneario Boqueron

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while the Lolas took a siesta

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The water was so calm...

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...that Andie would dive in by herself

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Wait for me, Lolo!

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Come join us, Tito Reggie!

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Reggie's paparazzi photos of Lolo Rey changing

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On the way back we visited Ponce's town plaza

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and quaint firehouse

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and grabbed some ice cream

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The guyabano ice cream was the best!

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Gelado at the park

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Wednesday morning, and of course more swimming

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this time at Aquatika's water park

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In the afternoon we visited Las Cabezas Nature Reserve

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for an educational tour of the reserve's different ecosystems

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Waiting for the tour to start

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Andie's still tired from all the swimming

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A glimpse of one of the reserve's ecosystems--a sandy beach, super-calm

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which some kayakers were enjoying

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Our tour guide, Eduardo

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drove us through another ecosystem, dry forest

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and pointed out the "locals" like this nest of termites

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From El Faro (the lighthouse), he pointed out Puerto Rico's outlying islands

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Inside El Faro, there was a museum

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where we got up close with more local wildlife

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Sampang family pictures at the lighthouse's deck--first up, us

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then Rhyse, Reggie, and Rosed

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and Papa Rey and Mama Helen

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and the three Sampang women

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The tour continued

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with a visit to the reserve's rocky beach

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where Andie learned about corals and rocks

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Hello, Lolo Deng?

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Marunong nang mag-telebabad

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Another game of tag

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Andie's it!

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Last ecosystem stop--the mangroves

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At the end of the tour, chasing iguanas

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Next up, a nighttime kayak tour of the reserve's bioluminescent bay

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Mama Helen looks a bit apprehensive, no?

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All ready for the kayak tour

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Kayaking through mangroves in virtual darkness

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means a lot of bumping into each other

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It is impossible to photograph the glow-in-the-dark bay, but here's an artist rendering.

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On Thursday morning we visited Arecibo Observatory, the world's largest radio telescope

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located in the karst mountains of western Puerto Rico

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The visit required a short hike up the mountain

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in the company of lots of schoolkids

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The observatory has a very nice museum

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with lots of hands-on, interactive exhibits

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on meteorology...

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...astronomy...

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...and even chemistry

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Look, Ma, it's my element, "Re"!

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But the highlight is seeing the massive observatory itself

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After lunch we drove to old San Juan, and Mama and Nelba visited the fort, El Morro

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The rest of us walked around Old San Juan

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passing by the birthplace of the pina colada

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visiting our old favorite, La Bombonera

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gawking at the massive cruise ships

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cooling down with some gelado

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passing by the children's museum

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and chasing pigeons in the town square

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In the evening, time for another dip in the heated pool

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On Friday we visited Balneario Seven Seas

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where Mama Helen finally took a dip

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A view of El Faro, from Seven Seas

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Andie loved swimming in the super-calm waters

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Tito Reggie got some (much-needed) sun

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and Nelba was always searching for stuff underwater

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and finding neat things, like this sea star!

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Rhyse, Rosed, and Reggie

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In the evening we drove to Lechonera El Mojito, in Guavate

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I love how the lechonera paints such blissful pigs!

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The lechon was worth the hour-long drive

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Saturday--last day's swim at Aquatika

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Rhyse and Andie bury Reggie in the sand

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We also walked to the other end of Aquatika

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to try out the lazy river

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Rhyse giving Rosed a dousing

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A final sunrise on Sunday at Aquatika--adios, Puerto Rico!

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On New Year's Day we flew to Guatemala for a ten-day vacation.

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We based ourselves in the colonial city of Antigua...


...where we studied Spanish at Ixchel Spanish School.


The school is located in an old stone building, typical of Antigua...

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with an inner courtyard--adorned with fountain and bougainvilleas--where students studied.

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Heidi preferred the roof deck, where she studied four hours a day with Teacher Stephanie...

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While I studied in one of the bamboo huts (parang beer garden!) with Teacher Luis

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We stayed with a local family--Miriam, her two daughters, and her grandson Jose Alexander

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They also had pets--a parakeet, a cat, and Andie's favorite, their schnauzer, Lacy

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The family lived upstairs, and we had downstairs (with two bedrooms) all to ourselves

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Miriam cooked all our meals, and loved to spoil Ananda

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Ananda made friends quickly

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On Friday we enrolled everyone for a day of Spanish lessons--here's Ananda with Teacher Lilian.

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Nelba studied with Teacher Carmi

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and Mama Helen studied with Teacher Mariel.

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Catedral de Santiago, facing the Parque Central

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Our first dinner, with music, at Chimino's on the plaza

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On Saturday we hired the school's van and their driver, Sergio

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and left Antigua for a weekend excursion.

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We drove through Guatemala's vegetable farms...

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...and alongside Guatemala's many "chicken buses"

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until we arrived at Lake Atitlan, surrounded by three volcanoes

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We spent the night in Panajachel (bottom left), on the banks of the lake

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Panajachel's main road, Calle Santander, and the Hotel Primavera, where we spent the night

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We rode a boat along Lake Atitlan's tranquil waters

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and enjoyed marvelous views of the volcanoes...

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...and of beautful lakeside houses.

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We got off at San Marcos la Laguna, Guatemala's New Age center...

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...and endured a vegetarian lunch at Il Giardino.

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Waiting for the lancha back to Panajachel

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The winds picked up in the afternoon, and Andie enjoyed the bumpy boat ride back.

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After a nap, Ananda tried the local playground

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and then all of us heard mass in one of Panajachel's old churches

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Always-fresh jugo--one of the best things about eating in Guatemala

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Ananda trying to sneak a drink from Nelba's jugo

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My requisite beer shot with the local beer, Gallo

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On Sunday morning we joined the locals heading to Chichinastenango, one of Central America's biggest markets...

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Seeing some beautiful falls along the way.

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Exploring the market with Andie

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We're already regretting not buying more stuff --it was so cheap!

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We chanced upon a local procession, an amalgam of Catholic and Mayan

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Tired shoppers, on the drive back to Antigua

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Back in Antigua, we took a calesa ride; Andie's wondering what that smell is

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Antigua is a mile high, so it felt and looked like spring

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We visited Nuestra Senora de la Merced

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with its beautiful stucco exterior

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And the Arco de Santa Catalina, Antigua's symbol

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Some local cowboys on Antigua's cobblestone streets

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Andie loved the street musicians

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especially when she saw that the boy's drums were turtle shells!

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On Monday morning we were back in school, and Ananda started day care

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The teachers taught Ananda more Spanish

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and there were pets

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and other children to keep her entertained.

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In the afternoons we explored. Here's Heidi and our guide Jorge hiking up...

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...to Cerro de la Cruz, with its views of Antigua

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Light dinners gave us an excuse to take meriendas, like in Cafe Condesa

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with its fountains and courtyards dating back to the 1500s.

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On Tuesday we went to a salsa class

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Ang galing ni Mama Helen!

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Carmen, the salsa teacher, whose favorite admonition is, "Mas sexy! Mas sexy!"

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Turns out Carmen also teaches Spanish at Ixchel!

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On Wednesday we toured Antigua's surroundings with Anna, a volunteer teacher from Germany

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First stop was Bella Vista, a finca de cafe

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where we got a tour of the coffee plantation

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Ananda playing with the "magic beans"

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Taking home some Guatemalan grounds

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Next stop was Valhalla, a macadamia plantation

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The owner, Senor Lorenzo, is a gringo from San Francisco

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who flirted non-stop with the ladies

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A draw of the plantation: free facials with macadamia oil!

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Last stop was a weaving cooperative in San Antonio Aguas Calientes...

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...where we reenacted a traditional wedding

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Those Guatemalan baby slings didn't seem to agree with Heidi...

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...but she didn't seem to mind carrying a water jug on her head

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On Thursday we flew and then drove to Tikal, in the middle of the forest. We arrived at 9pm, just in time...

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...for a candlelit dinner at Jaguar Inn, because they'd already turned off the generator

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We woke up to the sights and sounds of the jungle--hummingbirds,

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parrots,

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and even toucans!

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Andie and Lola Helen lounged in the hammock and enjoyed it all

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Tikal's many ruins are scattered throughout the forest

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So we hired a guide, Roberto/Beto, to give us a tour of the ruins.

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We walked through the forest

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and arrived at Temple IV

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Which one ascends via some vertigo-inducing stairs

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It's just as dizzying up at the top!

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But Ananda wanted to climb anyway

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Heidi did climb some of the other temples and enjoyed the views...

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...and more wildlife, like these howler monkeys sleeping in the treetops

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...a red-breasted falcon...

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...a red-headed woodpecker...

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...another parrot eating cajones...

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...and even wild turkeys?

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"Carry me, Papa!"

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Ananda did her own climbing and exploring...

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...finding her own wildlife

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Our little Tomb Raider

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The tour ended at the Great Plaza and Temple I

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We returned to civilization at the Casona del Lago in Flores

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Ananda loved the pool so much

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I joined her na rin.

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And as if on cue, a rainbow appeared -- God is good!

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A great end to a great vacation

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The next day we caught a turboprop to Belize, and then to DC

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Hasta luego, Guatemala!

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Southeast Asia, May-June 2008

Rasmia and me in Kowloon
We went to the Philippines in May for Abdul's homeleave. But Abdul was able to arrange that I stay in HK for 1 1/2 days. I left 2 days earlier than them and was able to explore HK on my own. This was my first time there so I stayed with Rasmia (Pisay 89), who hosted me and showed me around.

Asia 2008 - HK
With Bruce Lee and the HK skyline in the background

Asia 2008 - HK
We also saw the Chinese version of the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Asia 2008 - HK
The view from Rasmia's apartment on a cloudy day

Asia 2008 - HK
Ras's apartment was so neat and tidy!

Asia 2008 - HK
The other reason I went tto Hong Kong was to attend a yoga class of a young guru, Yogananth Andiappan, who had just published a very nice yoga coffee table book.

Asia 2008 - HK
Hopefully I'll be able to visit his family's ashram in India with Abdul and Ananda someday.

Asia 2008 - HK
After work, Ras and I met up and had a nice delicious dinner.

Asia 2008 - en route to Asia
Ananda and Nelba on their flight to the Philippines. Ananda enjoyed the flight, even shouting "yahoo!" during bouts of turbulence.

Asia 2008 - Paltok
Ananda's first day in the Philippines with Ate Mai in Paltok.

Asia 2008 - Baguio Clinic
We drove up to Baguio with Guido the next day. On the 10th, we held a free clinic in the barangay hall. Lots of people helped in the clinic--the barangay chairman and kagawads, Tita Stella, Tito Ed and Mama Genie helped with directing the patient flow. There were also 5 senior nurses from St. Louis University who helped with triage and in the pharmacy. Rosed's auntie who was a physician saw some patients as well.

Asia 2008 - Baguio clinic
Our makeshift pharmacy

Asia 2008- Baguio clinic
The clinic was held in the daycare center of the barangay.

Asia 2008 - Baguio Clinic
Super Lola visited the clinic, and sat with the rest of the crowd.

Asia 2008 - Baguio Clinic
Weighing the smaller children

Asia 2008 - Baguio Clinic
These nurses were very good. They were reviewing for their NCLEX boards and were hoping to practice here in the US.

Asia 2008 - Tuding
Abdul, Kidlat and Ananda went to Tuding to explore the KKK houses.

Asia 2008 - Tuding
One of the KKK houses

Asia 2008 - Tuding
Kabunyan's mosaic artwork in the bathroom

Asia 2008 - Tuding
Ananda with Tito Kids

Asia 2008 - Tuding
Ananda having fun with Katrin and Super Lola

Asia 2008 - Baguio Clinic
With the entire crew of the free clinic

Asia 2008 - Butterfly Farm
After the clinic, we met up with Sharon and her 2 kids. We went to the Butterfly farm in Dominican Hill.

Asia 2008 - Butterfly Farm
Ananda wanted to play with the other children.

Asia 2008 - Dominican Hill
We then went inside the ruins of the old seminary/hotel

Asia 2008 - Dominican Hill
And enjoyed the amazing panorama of the city

Asia 2008 - Dominican Hill
The courtyard in the middle of the ruins was very well maintained.

Asia 2008 - Dominican Hill
Ananda running towards the fountain

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Then we visited Tam-awan village and walked through its huts and hanging bridges

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And also enjoyed a canao

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Ananda had her portrait drawn; she got six portraits done for P150 total, what a bargain!

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In the evening the Bogayongs came to General Lim for dinner, and Ananda met her cousins (titas, actually) for the first time.

Asia 2008 - Gen Lim
Ananda with her cousins/aunts from the Bogayong side

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Impromptu jamming by the cousins

Asia 2008 - Gen Lim
Super Lola grooved to the music

Asia 2008 - Gen Lim
Instant I & D after dinner

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The next day was Mother's Day, and we heard mass at Sunnyside--four generations of De Guias and Abiads!

Asia 2008 - Baguio
Mother's Day at Sunnyside

Asia 2008 - SM Clark
We drove down to Clark in Pampanga on the 12th to catch our Air Asia flight to Kota Kinabalu. We met up with the Lapids at SM Clark; here is Ananda being carried by her cousins from Sta. Rita.

Asia 2008 - SM Clark
Ananda with her Lola Bay

Asia 2008 - Air Asia
Ananda putting on the seatbelt on her own. She was probably wondering, "didn't we just arrive on an airplane a few days ago??"

Asia 2008 - Kota Kinabalu
In Kota Kinabalu, we stayed at the Hyatt Regency downtown. The next day we walked around the town center; here we are at the dried fish market.

Asia 2008 - Kota
We also visited the handicrafts market, also known as the "Filipino market." When one of the shopkeepers heard us talk in Tagalog, he chatted with us as well. He's from Pagadian but moved here to sell jewelry and other crafts.

Asia 2008 - Kota Market
Ananda proudly showing her "bilihin" from the fruit market.

Asia 2008 - Nature Reserve KK
Our flight to Bali was later that evening, so we decided to visit Shangri La's Nature Reserve to see the orangutans.

Asia 2008 - Nature Reserve KK
Ananda was so excited to spot her first orangutan swinging from the vines.

Asia 2008 - Nature Reserve KK
They had guides who gave a brief description of the area, and who fed the orangutans bananas and juice.

Asia 2008 - Nature Reserve KK
Just hanging out.

Asia 2008 - Nature Reserve KK
Our own little orangutan trying to climb a tree.

Asia 2008 - Nature Reserve KK
The orangutans up close

Asia 2008 - en route to Indonesia
After a packed day in KK, we caught our flight to Bali in Indonesia.

Asia 2008 - Sanur Bali
We arrived at the Bali Hyatt that evening and we were greeted warmly by the staff. They gave us fresh necklaces made of fragrant Frangipani flowers and some cool drinks. Ananda just woke up from the flight and was a bit cranky.

Asia 2008 - Bali Sanur
The beautiful hotel lobby at night

Asia 2008 Sanur
Bali Hyatt is famous for its beautiful gardens. Here was the view from our bedroom at sunrise.

Asia 2008 - Bali Sanur
Abdul and Ananda enjoying the pool with some light morning showers.

Asia 2008 - Bali Sanur
One of the gardens near the dining hall

Asia 2008 Bali Sanur
We took a tour of the hotel gardens one morning. Our guide for the tour had worked for the hotel for more than 30 years, and now that he's retired he still did these garden tours--talk about dedication!

Asia 2008 Sanur Bali
Garden tour

Asia 2008 - Bali Sanur
Garden tour

Asia 2008 - Bali Sanur
Garden tour

Asia 2008 - Bali Sanur
Garden tour

Asia 2008 - Bali Sanur
Enjoying a refreshing break after the tour

Asia 2008 - Bali Sanur
Bali Hyatt's Gardens

Asia 2008 - Bali Sanur
Lotus Garden

Asia 2008 - Nusa Dua, Bali
We went to the Grand Hyatt Bali, sister resort of Bali Hyatt, in Nusa Dua via the complimentary shuttle bus. Grand Hyatt Bali was different from Bali Hyatt since everything was bigger. But we enjoyed Bali Hyatt better since it was charming and the gardens were spectacular. Pictured with us is Diane, a massage therapist at the Spa in Bali Hyatt. She was training at Grand Hyatt so she was on the shuttle with us.

Asia 2008 - Nusa Dua, Bali
There was a low tide that morning so the beach was shallow for a long distance. It was a nice playground for Ananda.

Asia 2008 - Nusa Dua Bali
Abdul and "Papa's girl" enjoying the water.

Asia 2008 - Nusa Dua
Ananda with her Lola Genie in the toddler pool.

Asia 2008 - Nusa Dua
Having our delicious lunch beachside.

Asia 2008 - Nusa Dua, Bali
Great pool with beautiful landscape

Asia 2008 - Nusa Dua
The amazing duo enjoying the mini-falls.

Asia 2008 - Nusa Dua
Ananda clowning around with her glasses

Asia 2008 - Nusa Dua
Ananda with a bird just behind her

Asia 2008 - Nusa Dua Bali
Ananda getting her first gamelan lessons.

Asia 2008 - Bali
Heading back to the Bali Hyatt, we were tired but happy!

Asia 2008 - Bali
This looked like verdant forest landscape but this was the view of the courtyard from our hotel room.

Asia 2008 - Bali
Brunch at Cafe Batujimbar, on our last morning in Sanur. Afterwards we hired a cab to go to Ubud, in the mountains of Bali.

Asia 2008 - Ubud
We checked into Tegal Sari in Ubud, then Abdul and I went for a full afternoon of spa treatments! Here is Abdul enjoying his warm tea after 4 hours of massage and body treatments.

Asia 2008 - Ubud
We had dinner at Cafe Wayan. We liked the way they decorated their gardens. They also had an amazing collection of orchids.

Asia 2008 - Ubud
Ananda met a new friend, Amie, and they started feeding the fish.

Asia 2008 - Ubud
Ananda with Ate Amie and Kuya Wayan and with our delicious food.

Asia 2008 - Legong Dance in Ubud
After dinner we watched a Legong dance performance at Ubud Palace. Legong was the heavenly dance of the nymphs. The performers were young and graceful.

Asia 2008 - Ubud
Legong dance

Asia 20008 - Ubud
The dance was based on the Ramayana, the classic story of good conquering evil.

Asia 2008 - Ubud
The costumes were very colorful, and beautiful wood carvings served as their backdrop.

Asia 2008 - Ubud
The whole cast saying goodnight.

Asia 2008 - Monkey Sanctuary, Ubud
A short walk away from our hotel was the Monkey Sanctuary. Here, at least a thousand monkeys roamed the forest. They were free to go everywhere and some of them would grab glasses, extra clothing in exchange for food.

Asia 2008 - Monkey Sanctuary, Ubud
Ananda and Lola Genie encountering their first family of monkeys enjoying their mid-afternoon snacks.

Asia 2008 - Monkey Sanctuary, Ubud
Monkeys, monkeys everywhere

Asia 2008 - Monkey Sanctuary, Ubud
We saw a baby monkeyabout 1 month old. During the first few weeks, the baby is very attached to the mother but soon after would have to start fending for itself.

Asia 2008 - Ubud
After visiting the monkeys, we grabbed a quick dinner before heading out to another show. Ananda enjoyed her fresh mango juice so much that she had a second glass.

Asia 2008 - Ubud
Abdul always has to have a photo with the local beer during our vacations.

Asia 2008 - Kecak Dance, Ubud
After dinner we watched the Kecak dance in an old temple. With the full moon as the natural source of light and with the silhouettes of the temple and with the voices of these 50-100 men, it was quite a magnificent image.

Asia 2008 - Kecak, Ubud
Kecak, also known as the Ramayana Monkey Chant, started with at least hundred men wearing black and white checked cloth around their waist. They sat in a circle and started chanting "chaka-chaka-chak" and throwing their arms and swaying around. The story revolved around the Ramayana where monkey god Hanuman helped Rama fight the evil king, Ravana.

Asia 2008 - Kecak Dance, Ubud
The origins of Kecak were as a trance-inducing dance. At the end of our performance that night, one of the performers, apparently in a trance, started dancing and walking on hot coals. This lasted for several minutes until the last of the burning coal drifted away.

Asia 2008 - Ubud
One of the stone carvings adorning the temple

Asia 2008 - Ubud
Our room in Ubud was right in the middle of rice fields. So every morning, Ananda watched the farmers plant rice.

Asia 2008 - Ubud
Ananda met some friends while we were looking at some paintings. The girls lived in the compound and this was their house. It was an ornate house with wood and stone carvings adorning it.

Asia 2008 - Ubud
The older one gave us a short sample of her gamelan dance while the younger ones looked on admiringly in the background.

Asia 2008 - Ubud
The whole house with the rest of the extended household.

Asia 2008 - Ubud
Ananda kissing her playmate goodbye

Asia 2008 - Ubud
Ubud is the cultural center of Bali, but each of the surrounding towns has its own specialty, like wood carving.

Asia 2008 - Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur was the last leg of our Asian tour. Here we are at our room in the Hotel Imperial, with a view of the Petronas Towers.

Asia 2008 - Kuala Lumpur
Another shot of the Petronas Towers from our room

Asia 2008 - Kuala Lumpur
Ananda with the morning sun

Asia 2008 - Kuala Lumpur
Ananda pretending to be one of the mannequins

Asia 2008 - Pavilion Mall, KL
The Pavilion was the latest shopping mall to open in the Bukit Bintang area. It had seven floors with amazing European, American and local brands. The goods were expensive but it was fun strolling around nonetheless.

Asia 2008 - KL metro
We used the KL monorail to move around the city.

Asia 2008 - Sta. Rita Clinic
We stayed in Pampanga after returning from our Indonesia/Malaysia trip. I had another free clinic which was held in the local church. My aunts and my nieces and nephews were my assistants.

Asia 2008 - Sta. Rita Clinic
We had the clinic at the back part of the church since there was a wake(!) at the front part of the church. The pharmacy was manned by my nephew in the background, wearing the purple shirt.

Asia 2008 - Sta. Rita Clinic
Ananda passed the time by picking flowers in the garden.

Asia 2008 - SM Pampanga
The day after the clinic, we rewarded our helpers by going to SM for lunch.

Asia 2008 - Santa Cruzan, Sta. Rita
On the 23rd of May was Santa Rita's town fiesta. Ananda enjoyed watching the tween girls parading in colorful gowns.

Asia 2008 - Santa Cruzan, Sta. Rita
The Santa Cruzan was different from when I was small. Before, the princesses were young women about 16-20 years old, but now they were much younger.

Asia 2008 - Sta Rita
Ananda with my grade-school classmate, Ruschelle

Asia 2008 - Sta. Rita
We all partook of the yummy "dirty" ice cream.

Asia 2008 - Sta. Rita
Ananda with her lolos and lolas on both sides.

Asia 2008 - Sta. Rita
The parade would not be complete without the marching bands.

Asia 2008 - Sta. Rita
The Sampang-Abiad clan

Asia 2008 - Sta. Rita
With my friends, Jeane and Aura. During our four years in high school together, we would drive to Pisay together early Monday morning and return to Pampanga on Friday. Jeane's family graciously took us under their wing, making Pisay life pleasant since we were able to see our family every weekends.

Asia 2008 - Sta. Rita Fiesta
Mama Helen with her eldest sister, Auntie Luming who celebrated her 50th year in the sisterhood.

Asia 2008 - Sta. Rita Fiesta
Ati-Atihan galore

Asia 2008 - Sta. Rita Fiesta
Of course, we went to the "perya" to play beto-beto. I won 20 pesos.

Asia 2008 - Sta. Rita
Ananda rode the "Dino-sour" with her new friends.

Asia 2008 - Sta. Rita Fiesta
Ananda enjoying the perya ride.

Asia 2008 - Boracay
On the 24th we headed to Boracay with Mama Helen, Papa Rey, Auntie Bay and Jerico. This was Jerico's first time riding an airplane so we were so excited for him.

Asia 2008 - Boracay
We stayed in Bamboo Bungalow which was right in front of the beach. So after breakfast, we put on our swimsuits and headed to the beach.

Asia 2008 - Boracay
Papa Rey getting a body massage (300 pesos for an hour) near the beach.

Asia 2008 - Boracay
Ananda eating her first isaw (intestines), in Boracay. Good thing was she got her hep A shot before the vacation!

Asia 2008 - Boracay
Enjoying a delicious dessert after dinner and just people watching.

Asia 2008 - Boracay
Hopefully Ananda will be able to go snorkelling with us.

Asai 2008 - Boracay
Fresh coconuts for sale while boating.

Asia 2008 - Boracay
Papa Rey and Mama Helen snorkelling for the first time.

Asia 2008 - Boracay
Ananda savouring the sweet white meat of buko.

Asia 2008 - Boracay
We went boating to do some snorkelling and to see the different islands in Boracay.

Asia 2008 - Boracay
We were able to squeeze 2 dives with Nonoy.

Asia 2008 - Boracay
The famous Boracay sunset

Asia 2008 - Boracay

Boracay sunset

Asia 2008 - Boracay
Mama Helen and Papa Rey enjoying the sunset.

Asia 2008 - Paltok
Ananda playing piano with her Lolo Geng

Asia 2008 - Paltok
This was the living room in Paltok but transformed to be used for the set of Tanging Ina II.

Asia 2008 - Serendra
We also met up with Anj and Lit at Serendra. Anj recently passed her Derm Boards and was in the top 10 too.

Asia 2008 - UP Diliman
We went to UP Diliman to get a copy of my diploma. Papa Geng met us for lunch at Chateau Verde.

Asia 2008 - Glorietta IV
We also met up with Rhona and Jerry at Glorietta.

Asia 2008 - St. Luke's
We also visited St. Luke's but most of the people I knew from the college (even the staff) were not there anymore.

Asia 2008 - Jollibee
Jollibee became Ananda's favorite fast food, especially the Jolly Chickenjoy!

Asia 2008 - Pisay 88
Abdul was able to see his Pisay batchmates at Rockwell. It was also Pipa's despedida party since she was relocating to Indonesia for a year.

Asia 2008 - Paltok
Ananda saw a procession in Paltok with her Lolo Geng.

Asia 2008 - Baguio again
Ananda visited Baguio again but this time she brought Lolo Rey and Lola Helen. Ananda was pictured here with the children from Burnham Park.

Asia 2008 - Baguio
Ananda in front of the giant swans in Burnham Lake.

Asia 2008 - Baguio
Ananda was able to ride her first pony in Burnham Park.

Asia 2008 - Baguio
Ananda with her Lolo and Super Lola at Mines View Park.

Asia 2008 - Baguio
Dining al fresco at Gen Lim

Asia 2008 - Baguio
Ananda playing straw swords with Super Lola.

Asia 2008 - Baguio
Ananda was also able to deliver some gifts from the families of Leesburg, VA to the orphanage in Baguio.

Asia 2008 - Baguio
Ananada's looking at Abdul's baby photo and thinking, "No way do I look like Papa!"

Asia 2008 - Baguio
Ananda with her Tito Kabu in VOCAS for a concert.

Asia 2008 - Baguio
Ananda feeding Elmo while Kabigat looks on.

Asia 2008 - Baguio
Ananda stayed in the attic and enjoyed reading the same books her papa read many years ago.

Asia 2008 - Balian
Abdul visited Balian and was able to bring Super Lola with him.

Asia 2008 - Balian
Abdul with Auntie Nena

Asia 2008 - Pisay
Abdul visited Pisay and was able to see the students in action.

Asia 2008 - Pisay
Guido in the Pisay cafeteria

Asia 2008 - UP
Abdul was able to meet up with Sol as well and see her cute boys too.

Asia 2008 - Manila
Abdul bumped into Calynn Cheng (based in the US) while she was vacationing in Manila.

Asia 2008 - Subic Bay
Ananda and Abdul at Subic Bay.

Asia 2008 - QC
Ananda clowning around with her Tita Lyza and Tito Kidlat.

Asia 2008 - QC
Abdul was able to meet up with his De Guia cousins in Manila.

Heidi in Haiti

We arrived in Port-Au-Prince around noon. We were waiting outside the airport for Per Leroy. From L - R, Lori, a semi-retired peds nurse practitioner, Monty, our local interpreter, William, an IT guy, Karen, a writer and Mark, a manager from USA today.

Heidi in Haiti

Per Leroy in front of the inn in Petite Riviere where we stayed for the night.

Heidi in Haiti

Mountains beyond mountains... Haitian proverb

Heidi in Haiti
This was at the foot of the mountain where we unloaded our bags and would start the climb to Medor.

Heidi in Haiti
Per Leroy rode a mule on his way up since he was not feeling well for the past several days.

Heidi in Haiti
The climb was long and hard and huge rocks were strewn all over.


Heidi in Haiti
On our way up, we saw this bustling market place.


Heidi in Haiti

We started the 2 1/2 hour hike and elderly men and women and scrawny teenagers, most of them shoeless carried our 50-pound bags on their heads.  

Heidi in Haiti

Water break for me. These guys were amazing. I thought I was fit but after the first half-hour of the hike up the barren mountains, I started doubting myself. Karen and Mark ran marathons, Lorrie  hiked a lot and William was a cyclist, so compared to these guys, I was a wimp.

Heidi in Haiti

A warm welcome from the people of Medor.

Heidi in Haiti

A girl selling something amidst the oppressing heat.

Heidi in Haiti

This was one of the water source for the community.

Heidi in Haiti

This structure was capped by OLQP to provide clean water.

Heidi in Haiti

Three girls waited patiently for the clinic to open.

Heidi in Haiti

Karen spoke French so she was the one triaging the patients.

Heidi in Haiti

Monty, our excellent interpreter, who sidelined as a DJ, dance instructor, writer etc.

Heidi in Haiti

Families waited patiently to be seen on the first day of the clinic.

Heidi in Haiti

A bright smile for the day

Heidi in Haiti

A young boy with polio

Heidi in Haiti

Mark and William buying some bread from the only bakery in the village.

Heidi in Haiti

William and Lori controlling the crowds outside.

Heidi in Haiti

We also visited the school to see the cute children in their uniforms. Through the generous donations from the parishioners of OLQP, they were able to build these schools for Medor.

Heidi in Haiti

Medor's hope for the future

Heidi in Haiti

A young boy with healing lesions of varicella

Heidi in Haiti

A young boy in a makeshift bed waiting for his antibiotic shot due to a bad leg infection.

Heidi in Haiti

Families waited patiently for their turn and children didn't throw tantrums at all.

Heidi in Haiti

A cute young girl with her mom

Heidi in Haiti

On the third day it seemed the word had really gotten out about the clinic since by 7 in the morning, the crowd reached around 300.

Heidi in Haiti

People followed us everywhere hoping that their children would be seen.

Heidi in Haiti

It broke our heart turning them down since they walked 3-5 hours just to be seen. So we tried to see the most sick patients first and went from there.

Heidi in Haiti

Per Leroy who made everything happened for Medor.

Heidi in Haiti

A young girl with nephrotic syndrome

Heidi in Haiti

Kerion with pus coming out from the scalp

Heidi in Haiti

Cute twin healthy boys

Heidi in Haiti

A huge family of 10 with the father tending the fields.

Heidi in Haiti

A draining ear from untreated infection

Heidi in Haiti

Our helpful helpers, Tufui in the white shirt and Benito in a UVA shirt with a patient.

Heidi in Haiti

A young boy proudly wearing his blue Sunday mass hat.

Heidi in Haiti

A young boy who did not know he was blind in one eye.

Heidi in Haiti

A young boy getting a breathing treatment for asthma.

Heidi in Haiti

A young girl taking care of her siblings.

Heidi in Haiti

A happy boy getting his check-up

Heidi in Haiti

Mark as our efficient pharmacist

Heidi in Haiti

A young boy with nutritional deficiency and bad dermatitis.

Heidi in Haiti
Lori showing the mom how to administer the medicine.

Heidi in Haiti
A cute boy with his mom in their outdoor kitchen


Heidi in Haiti
Per Leroy showing us the foundation for the new school.

Heidi in Haiti
A big giant spider was seen loitering in Karen's bed which was later identified as a Haitian tarantula.


Heidi in Haiti

A young boy with dehydration and pneumonia being hydrated by his dad with an oral rehydration solution.

Heidi in Haiti

A brave little girl with Tufui. She didn't complain at all until I saw her legs...

Heidi in Haiti

The leg of the girl from the previous picture. She had a bad infection of the leg so she got some shot of antibiotic.

Heidi in Haiti

Seven day old twin girls. They were in good health and parents just wanted them to be check since they were born at home.

Heidi in Haiti

A young girl with an umbilical hernia

Heidi in Haiti

Sister helped us a lot during the clinic. She managed the crowd well (and sometimes had to use the whip!). She was also the nurse for the school so she was observing giving the shots and neb treatments.

Heidi in Haiti

Lori was amazing. She was triaging the patients, weighing them and giving medicine. The clinic ran smoothly because of her.

Heidi in Haiti

A 6 lb baby who was 6 months old with pneumonia

Heidi in Haiti

I was able to do suturing in this old man who was working in the school's construction.

Heidi in Haiti

On our last day, they had a party for us where everybody danced the night away.

Heidi in Haiti
Per Leroy showing us to do the samba


Heidi in Haiti
The medical team after working hard for 4 days in the clinic where we saw 816 patients.


Heidi in Haiti
School girls performing one of their local dance


Heidi in Haiti
A very thankful Tufui

Heidi in Haiti
On our way down, I tried riding the mule for the first time ever. 

Heidi in Haiti
My great medical team!


Heidi in Haiti
A typical Haitian mud house

Heidi in Haiti
My local guides


Heidi in Haiti
Can you imagine these amazing people carrying 50 pound baggages on their heads?

Heidi in Haiti
We encountered this frail elderly man in La Source being carried by his relatives on their way out of the voodoo priest's house. He had prostate problems and with bone involvement. We asked them if they would like us to see him and they agreed. So I did an impromptu exam on the backyard and gave him some medicine for pain-relief.

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Happy to be back home!

I arrived in Manila on June 7 after a short but tiring mission in Hungary. Heidi and Ananda were there to meet me, and f
I arrived in Manila on June 7 after a short but tiring mission in Hungary. Heidi and Ananda were there to meet me, and f

The next three days were spent in Manila meeting up with friends from PSHS, UP, and St. Luke's. Here we are with He
The next three days were spent in Manila meeting up with friends from PSHS, UP, and St. Luke's. Here we are with He

On Friday evening we drove to Sta. Rita, Pampanga, Mama Helen's hometown, where Ananda was going to get baptized. H
On Friday evening we drove to Sta. Rita, Pampanga, Mama Helen's hometown, where Ananda was going to get baptized. H

Heidi and Ananda waiting for the baptism. What a non-event; it was scheduled for 10am but the priest was still asleep! H
Heidi and Ananda waiting for the baptism. What a non-event; it was scheduled for 10am but the priest was still asleep! H

The baptismal ceremony, lit only by camera flashes. At the altar were baby Andie and her parents, and Heidi's cousi
The baptismal ceremony, lit only by camera flashes. At the altar were baby Andie and her parents, and Heidi's cousi

The reception was held in the house of Tita Lydia and Tita Baby, Mama Helen's sisters. Here is Ananda with Heidi&ap
The reception was held in the house of Tita Lydia and Tita Baby, Mama Helen's sisters. Here is Ananda with Heidi&ap

In the evening, inuman at kwentuhan with the Lapids. This was one of the highlights of the trip, I think! I don't g
In the evening, inuman at kwentuhan with the Lapids. This was one of the highlights of the trip, I think! I don't g

On Monday morning we drove to Baguio, stopping by Papa Rey's hometown of Mexico on the way. Here is Papa with his b
On Monday morning we drove to Baguio, stopping by Papa Rey's hometown of Mexico on the way. Here is Papa with his b

Our first stop in Baguio was the Yambao's building on Kisad, where we had lunch with Rosed's family.
Our first stop in Baguio was the Yambao's building on Kisad, where we had lunch with Rosed's family. 2007-09-2

We ate at their resto-grill, Chivas, named after their eldest son.
We ate at their resto-grill, Chivas, named after their eldest son. 2007-09-21

With the Yambaos
With the Yambaos 2007-09-21

It was a rainy Independence Day when we arrived, so we went with Lola to the Aguinaldo Museum. Here she plays docent to
It was a rainy Independence Day when we arrived, so we went with Lola to the Aguinaldo Museum. Here she plays docent to

Papa and Mama and Kidlat with the first Philippine Flag. The reason all these memorabilia are here in Baguio--and not in
Papa and Mama and Kidlat with the first Philippine Flag. The reason all these memorabilia are here in Baguio--and not in

Lola with the first Philippine Flag and two young Boy Scouts
Lola with the first Philippine Flag and two young Boy Scouts 2007-09-21

Lola and Ananda
Lola and Ananda 2007-09-21

In the evenings we would go out with my cousins. Here is Kawayan, doing a canao at the Joey Ayala concert at Ayayung, a
In the evenings we would go out with my cousins. Here is Kawayan, doing a canao at the Joey Ayala concert at Ayayung, a

Kabunyan and Heidi, getting drunk at Ayayung
Kabunyan and Heidi, getting drunk at Ayayung 2007-09-21

The next day Kidlat Jr. gave us the tour of the still-under-construction house in Tuding. House isn't the right wor
The next day Kidlat Jr. gave us the tour of the still-under-construction house in Tuding. House isn't the right wor

Here's one of the Tuding huts. And this is the one that looks most conventional!
Here's one of the Tuding huts. And this is the one that looks most conventional! 2007-09-21

Here's another hut, made to look like a prow of Kidlat's galleon
Here's another hut, made to look like a prow of Kidlat's galleon 2007-09-21

Later on Kabu continued the Tuding tour.
Later on Kabu continued the Tuding tour. 2007-09-21

Looking around Kawayan's studio
Looking around Kawayan's studio 2007-09-21

Another of the Tuding huts--this one is Katrin's. Talk about deconstructivist architecture!
Another of the Tuding huts--this one is Katrin's. Talk about deconstructivist architecture! 2007-09-21

The entrance to Katrin's hut
The entrance to Katrin's hut 2007-09-21

The roof of Katrin's hut, made of fiberglass. This was the most finished hut of the lot, and Katrin had just moved
The roof of Katrin's hut, made of fiberglass. This was the most finished hut of the lot, and Katrin had just moved

Tuding artwork
Tuding artwork 2007-09-21

Inside Katrin's hut. The mosaic on the floor is by Kabu
Inside Katrin's hut. The mosaic on the floor is by Kabu 2007-09-21

Inside Katrin's hut 2
Inside Katrin's hut 2 2007-09-21

Inside Katrin's hut 3
Inside Katrin's hut 3 2007-09-21

Katrin's colorful kitchen
Katrin's colorful kitchen 2007-09-21

Katrin's toilet--mosaic by Kabu. [Heidi seems to be thinking, "where's the sink and where's the toil
Katrin's toilet--mosaic by Kabu. [Heidi seems to be thinking, "where's the sink and where's the toil

Katrin's loft
Katrin's loft 2007-09-21

Inside Katrin's hut 4
Inside Katrin's hut 4 2007-09-21

Inside Katrin's hut 5
Inside Katrin's hut 5 2007-09-21

Kabu's mosaics. The toilet's in the background--no door, as you can see!
Kabu's mosaics. The toilet's in the background--no door, as you can see! 2007-09-21

More of Kabu's mosaics; this seems to be his medium of choice now. Can you see the cats?
More of Kabu's mosaics; this seems to be his medium of choice now. Can you see the cats? 2007-09-21

A nice thing about Kabu's mosaics is that things look different in a flash photo. Here the cats stand out, as does
A nice thing about Kabu's mosaics is that things look different in a flash photo. Here the cats stand out, as does

Enjoying a read in Katrin's hut
Enjoying a read in Katrin's hut 2007-09-21

From Tuding we went to Sabado's store to shop for woodcarvings. Here are Kabu and Heidi goofing around...
From Tuding we went to Sabado's store to shop for woodcarvings. Here are Kabu and Heidi goofing around... 2007-09-2

We then went back to Session Road and the top floor of La Azotea, where the Sampangs had their first visit to VOCAS, the
We then went back to Session Road and the top floor of La Azotea, where the Sampangs had their first visit to VOCAS, the

The Sampangs in VOCAS
The Sampangs in VOCAS 2007-09-21

The Sampangs (with tour guide Kabu) in VOCAS
The Sampangs (with tour guide Kabu) in VOCAS 2007-09-21

The Sampangs in VOCAS
The Sampangs in VOCAS 2007-09-21

The Sampangs in VOCAS
The Sampangs in VOCAS 2007-09-21

A sampling of VOCAS art: a chicken with a painbrush head, bottle body, spoon feet, and broken-plate buttocks
A sampling of VOCAS art: a chicken with a painbrush head, bottle body, spoon feet, and broken-plate buttocks 2007-09-21

The KKKs have set up a vegetarian restaurant in VOCAS called Oh My Gulay, which is where we had lunch. Here's the m
The KKKs have set up a vegetarian restaurant in VOCAS called Oh My Gulay, which is where we had lunch. Here's the m

Heidi and Ananda in VOCAS
Heidi and Ananda in VOCAS 2007-09-21

Our Oh My Gulay fare; I ordered the Anak ng Putaneska. Frankly I had quite low expectations, having been to enough taste
Our Oh My Gulay fare; I ordered the Anak ng Putaneska. Frankly I had quite low expectations, having been to enough taste

On the table, apart from my Anak ng Putaneska, are Cesar Asar Salad, Talong Parmigiana, Chow-chow Noodles, and Dayap Ice
On the table, apart from my Anak ng Putaneska, are Cesar Asar Salad, Talong Parmigiana, Chow-chow Noodles, and Dayap Ice

Just outside La Azotea, and along much of Session Road, are mosaics that Kaw, Kabs and other Baguio artists did. They we
Just outside La Azotea, and along much of Session Road, are mosaics that Kaw, Kabs and other Baguio artists did. They we

Session Road mosaics 2
Session Road mosaics 2 2007-09-21

While we were out, Ananda was dreaming once, dreaming twice, dreaming chicken soup with rice...
While we were out, Ananda was dreaming once, dreaming twice, dreaming chicken soup with rice... 2007-09-21

The book is thirty years old, more than a hundred times older than Ananda!
The book is thirty years old, more than a hundred times older than Ananda! 2007-09-21

More inuman, this time with Tito Ed and Dicky (who has ditched his afro for long hair)
More inuman, this time with Tito Ed and Dicky (who has ditched his afro for long hair) 2007-09-21

With the Ed De Guias. We have beer, Heidi has a milk bottle...
With the Ed De Guias. We have beer, Heidi has a milk bottle... 2007-09-21

Heidi and Kaw hanging out
Heidi and Kaw hanging out 2007-09-21

Kaw and Kabu hanging out
Kaw and Kabu hanging out 2007-09-21

Dinner at Lola's
Dinner at Lola's 2007-09-21

Dinner at Lola's 2
Dinner at Lola's 2 2007-09-21

Juliet and Jumar
Juliet and Jumar 2007-09-21

Heidi, Katrin and Ananda
Heidi, Katrin and Ananda 2007-09-21

With Lola
With Lola 2007-09-21

With Lola 2
With Lola 2 2007-09-21

With Lola 3
With Lola 3 2007-09-21

We returned to Manila on Thursday, June 15, and passed by the house in Paltok (San Francisco Del Monte). Here's the
We returned to Manila on Thursday, June 15, and passed by the house in Paltok (San Francisco Del Monte). Here's the

Inside the Aklatang Pambata/Narcisa Abiad Memorial Library
Narcisa Abiad Memorial Library 2007-09-21

The outdoor space of Aklatang Pambata. This is that little corner of the lot just outside Papa's/Mama's bedroo
Mama's bedroo 2007-09-21

Paltok trellis and garden
Paltok trellis and garden 2007-09-21

Paltok sala
Paltok sala 2007-09-21

In the afternoon Lyza came by to visit us in Henry's apartment, with her two boys Coby and Jaden (JC was minding th
In the afternoon Lyza came by to visit us in Henry's apartment, with her two boys Coby and Jaden (JC was minding th

With Coby
With Coby 2007-09-21

With Coby and Jaden
With Coby and Jaden 2007-09-21

On Friday morning we flew to Bohol. We stayed at Ananyana (www.ananyana.com), a resort on Panglao island. This is a real
On Friday morning we flew to Bohol. We stayed at Ananyana (www.ananyana.com), a resort on Panglao island. This is a real

Ananyana is a very small resort, only twelve rooms. Though they were full, I had Ananyana's pool all to myself.
Ananyana is a very small resort, only twelve rooms. Though they were full, I had Ananyana's pool all to myself. 200

Ananyana's beach
Ananyana's beach 2007-09-21

Ananyana sunset
Ananyana sunset 2007-09-21

Ananyana sunset 3
Ananyana sunset 3 2007-09-21

Ananyana sunset 2
Ananyana sunset 2 2007-09-21

Hanging out at Ananyana
Hanging out at Ananyana 2007-09-21

At the Ananyana
At the Ananyana 2007-09-21

At the Ananyana 2
At the Ananyana 2 2007-09-21

On Saturday we hired the resort's van and driver and took a day tour of Bohol's sights. Here we are at the not
On Saturday we hired the resort's van and driver and took a day tour of Bohol's sights. Here we are at the not

We then headed to Loboc River for a riverboat cruise/buffet.
buffet. 2007-09-21

Here is our riverboat entertainment system. He was pretty good, singing folkhouse classics from Cat Stevens, Bread, etc.
Here is our riverboat entertainment system. He was pretty good, singing folkhouse classics from Cat Stevens, Bread, etc.

As we meandered down Loboc River we'd see all these local kids having fun and trying to impress the tourists. Not f
As we meandered down Loboc River we'd see all these local kids having fun and trying to impress the tourists. Not f

Other locals were much more sedate; here's one lazing around on a jungle vine.
Other locals were much more sedate; here's one lazing around on a jungle vine. 2007-09-21

This is what the Loboc riverboats look like. They are quite popular; there must be more than a dozen of them, and all of
This is what the Loboc riverboats look like. They are quite popular; there must be more than a dozen of them, and all of

After lunch we visited a Tarsier sanctuary. Here is Papa Rey with a few of the tarsiers, mislabeled the world's sma
After lunch we visited a Tarsier sanctuary. Here is Papa Rey with a few of the tarsiers, mislabeled the world's sma

Tarsier feeding on grasshopper
Tarsier feeding on grasshopper 2007-09-21

Heidi's PSHS/UP kabarkada Derlie, her husband Glenn and their daughter Io were also in Bohol, traveling from Leyte
UP kabarkada Derlie, her husband Glenn and their daughter Io were also in Bohol, traveling from Leyte 2007-09-21

With Cesar Montano, who was visiting Ananyana at the time (he lives nearby in Bohol, but comes to the resort occasionall
With Cesar Montano, who was visiting Ananyana at the time (he lives nearby in Bohol, but comes to the resort occasionall

With Sunshine Cruz, Cesar Montano's wife.
With Sunshine Cruz, Cesar Montano's wife. 2007-09-21

On Sunday Heidi and I went diving, her first dive after giving birth. Here's Ananyana's divesite map/schedule.
schedule. 2007-09-21

Ananyana's dive boat
Ananyana's dive boat 2007-09-21

There were four of us on the dive. Our two Italian dive buddies, Giovanni and Marta, had been in Ananyana all week and h
There were four of us on the dive. Our two Italian dive buddies, Giovanni and Marta, had been in Ananyana all week and h

And here we were, about to enter the water--dive buddies again!
And here we were, about to enter the water--dive buddies again! 2007-09-21

Here's Ananda at Ananyana, enjoying the hammock.
Here's Ananda at Ananyana, enjoying the hammock. 2007-09-21

Ananda at Ananyana, with Papa just back from the dive
Ananda at Ananyana, with Papa just back from the dive 2007-09-21

Ananda at Ananyana 2
Ananda at Ananyana 2 2007-09-21

Papa and Mama at Ananyana
Papa and Mama at Ananyana 2007-09-21

Heidi and Ananda at Ananyana
Heidi and Ananda at Ananyana 2007-09-21

Father and daughter asleep in Ananyana--pareho pa ang sleeping position!
Father and daughter asleep in Ananyana--pareho pa ang sleeping position! 2007-09-21

Ananyana sunrise
Ananyana sunrise 2007-09-21

Ananyana sunrise 2
Ananyana sunrise 2 2007-09-21

At the end of our stay at Ananyana
At the end of our stay at Ananyana 2007-09-21

We were back in Manila on Monday, June 19, for three more days of getting together with friends. The next day, June 20,
We were back in Manila on Monday, June 19, for three more days of getting together with friends. The next day, June 20,

Here we are with Joa and Ivy Abello, friends from UP, with their son and daughter.
Here we are with Joa and Ivy Abello, friends from UP, with their son and daughter. 2007-09-21

On my last evening we got together with some of my classmates from UP's MA Economics class. I flew out the next day
On my last evening we got together with some of my classmates from UP's MA Economics class. I flew out the next day

After I left Heidi took Ananda to a studio in Rockwell for her first photo shoot. Here's a collage they made...
After I left Heidi took Ananda to a studio in Rockwell for her first photo shoot. Here's a collage they made... 200

London Fashion Week

Map of the Fashion Tent

London Fashion Week

Fashion show sponsored by Eve Magazine

London 2006

The busy street markets in Notting Hill during the weekend

London 2006

Bumping to Hermione (Emma Watson) in Notting Hill

Belize 2005

On Friday the 12th of August, we flew into Belize City on the mainland, and then transferred to a tiny Cessna that flew us to Ambergris Caye.

 

Belize 2005

Ambergris borders the Belize Barrier Reef (also known as the Yucatan Barrier Reef), the longest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere.

Belize 2005

The water was so clear that even from the plane we could see sharks, turtles and dolphins swimming.

Belize 2005

We stayed at the Blue Tang Inn, a resort in the town of San Pedro - the same San Pedro that Madonna sang about: "Last night I dreamt of San Pedro... tropical island breeze, all of nature wild and free, this is where I belong to be, La Isla Bonita."

Belize 2005

Poolside at Blue Tang Inn

Belize 2005

Wet Willy's Bar

Belize 2005

On Saturday I started my dive classes with Billy, the divemaster at Hustler Dive Tours, located on the pier in front of our hotel. I was the only student taking the Open Water course so I got one-on-one service. I was wondering where I would have my lessons since the hotel pool was really small - then Billy told me that my lessons would be in the ocean, just off the pier of Wet Willy's Bar! I was nervous, but because of the barrier reef, the waters were wave-free, and I decided to take the plunge (no pun intended).

Belize 2005

Look at the crystal clear water...

Belize 2005

That same afternoon, Billy took us to Tuffy Reef (depth 17 ft, visibility 50 ft, water temp 87F), where I did some skill exercises.

Belize 2005

Billly, my dive instructor

Belize 2005

Abdul joined us on the dive to document my awkward first moments...

Belize 2005

The next morning's dive site was Hol Chann Marine Park (depth 30 ft, visibility 40 ft, water temp 87F). I was starting to get a bit more comfortable in the water, and started enjoying the marine life.

Belize 2005

The vibrant marine life

Belize 2005

My form is improving, I think

Belize 2005

Southern Sting Ray, at rest...

Belize 2005

Brain coral

Belize 2005

Here's Billy playing with the rays. This was before Steve Irwin's tragic encounter iwth a ray's backside...

Belize 2005

... and gliding gracefully through the water

Belize 2005

Billy pulling me downwards

Belize 2005

A fish swimming solo towards us

Belize 2005

After lunch we continued our dive in Shark Ray Alley, home to many nurse sharks. I was scared of them at first, but it helped to know they don't have large teeth; they mainly suck in their food, hence the name.

Belize 2005

Here's Billy playing with the rays. This was before Steve Irwin's tragic encounter with a ray's backside...

Belize 2005

The following morning Abdul joined a group of lawyers from Georgia to dive at Esmeralda reef (depth of 100 ft, visibility 80 ft, water temp 87F), while I continued my lessons with Billy in a shallower (60 ft) portion of Esmeralda.

Belize 2005

Fan and fern coral

Belize 2005

Another dive master from Hustler Tours

Belize 2005

The lawyers/divers/partners from Georgia

Belize 2005

Abdul giving the okay sign

Belize 2005

Children came out to play at the beach during the late afternoon

Belize 2005

Later that afternoon we rented a golf cart (there are few vehicles on the island) and headed toward the southern end of Ambergris. We stopped by an art gallery and bought a painting by a local artist, Leo Vasquez. The gallery owner was a lady in her 50's who had just quit a high-stress PR job in LA and used her nest egg to buy a house in Belize and set up the gallery -- a role model for us! We then visited the resorts in the area, and found one, called Banyan Bay, that was just beautiful, so we spent the rest of the day there, lazing on the sand and watching the local kids fooling around.

Belize 2005

August 16 was my "check out" dive! Apart from myself and Abdul, Billy brought along Diane, the secretary at Hustler Dive Shop. She had been working there for several years already but had been underwater only a few times, so Billy wanted to take her diving as often as possible. Both Diane and Billy are good-looking - she reminds us of Halle Berry, and he reminds us of Denzel Washington :). Our dive site was Tuffy reef (depth 50 ft, visibility 80 ft, water temp 87F).

Belize 2005

Diane, Billy and Me

Belize 2005

The three of us descended at the same time

IMG_0282.JPG
IMG_0282.JPG 2005-08-16

Belize 2005

Several Blue Tang fish

Belize 2005

Moray eel

 

Belize 2005

I also played with an urchin.

Belize 2005

Back on the boat, it started sinking in that I was a certified diver. Yahoo!

Belize 2005

Father and daughter enjoying the beach

Belize 2005

The beautiful marina

Belize 2005

These kids are natural born swimmers

Belize 2005

This young man is pulling our golf cart across the river on a "pull ferry"

Belize 2005

We celebrated after my "check out" dive at Capricorn, the best restaurant on the island. It was on the north end of town, and we started off by golf cart, but halfway through we were attacked by swarms of repellent-resistant mosquitoes! So we headed back, and just took a boat to Capricorn.

Belize 2005

We shopped at their store.

Belize 2005

We drank margaritas, and ate ceviche and lobster. Sarap!!

 

Belize 2005

Delicious lobster

Belize 2005

On Wednesday, we contemplated a non-dive daytrip, perhaps to some ruins in the Belizean rainforest, or a snorkel + beach BBQ at Mexico Rocks. But Billy convinced us to do one more day of dives, now that I'm certified. And boy, was it worth it! He took us to Cypress Gardens (depth 60 ft, visibility 80 ft, water temp 85F), another place frequented by nurse sharks that wasn't as overrun by divers/snorkelers as Shark Ray Alley.

Belize 2005

On Wednesday, we contemplated a non-dive daytrip, perhaps to some ruins in the Belizean rainforest, or a snorkel + beach BBQ at Mexico Rocks. But Billy convinced us to do one more day of dives, now that I'm certified. And boy, was it worth it! He took us to Cypress Gardens (depth 60 ft, visibility 80 ft, water temp 85F), another place frequented by nurse sharks that wasn't as overrun by divers/snorkelers as Shark Ray Alley.

 

Belize 2005

Abdul cuddling the nurse shark while some are swimming at the background.

Belize 2005

Billy being harassed by the nurse shark

Belize 2005

A close-up of a nurse shark

Belize 2005

Marine life

Belize 2005

Pillar coral

Belize 2005

The nurse sharks turned out to be incredibly docile, and they allowed us to play with them, pet them, even cuddle them! They would tag along as we moved from place to place. They'd even let Billy carry them by their tails, their bodies dangling like pendulums. If only all sharks were like this -- they should be diplomats for their species.

Belize 2005

The nurse sharks are following us since Billy has the food for them.

Belize 2005

The nurse sharks are following us since Billy has the food for them.

 

Belize 2005

Billy carrying 2 nurse sharks

Belize 2005

Billy carrying 2 nurse sharks

Belize 2005

Billy holding the nurse shark by its tail

Belize 2005

I think the nurse shark enjoys the feeling of being cuddled

Belize 2005

Billy and Abdul

Belize 2005

There was also a very gregarious grouper who followed us from the start of the dive until the end.

Belize 2005

My dive buddy for life

Belize 2005

From there Billy drove us through pouring rain to one of his "secret places" further out in the ocean...

Belize 2005

It was pouring hard but we didn't mind.

Belize 2005

Because when we jumped into the water, we were swimming with MANATEES!!!! In the open ocean! We couldn't believe it!

Belize 2005

It was a family of four manatees.

Belize 2005

The were very gentle and calm.

Belize 2005

We didn't even know they lived in the open water!

Belize 2005

They swam toward us but I got scared and jerked, so they swam away.

Belize 2005

They really looked humans swimming so no wonder sailors thought they were mermaids.

Belize 2005

They really looked humans swimming so no wonder sailors thought they were mermaids.

Belize 2005

We then finished up with a drift drive at Hol Chan.

Belize 2005

Drift dive

IMG_0485.JPG
IMG_0485.JPG 2005-08-17

Belize 2005

Our last dive in Belize

Belize 2005

Abdul and I in the open water

Belize 2005

Dialfish

Belize 2005

Shark ahead

Belize 2005

Green turtle

Belize 2005

Trumpetfish

Belize 2005

Gray angelfish

Belize 2005

On the 18th it was time for us to say goodbye to Ambergris Caye and Belize... can't wait to come back!

Belize 2005

Just another day of diving in San Pedro 

Honduras 2005

After finishing my Peds residency, I wanted to participate in a short medical mission before taking on a real job. I searched the internet, and found a program called HOMBRE (Honduras Outreach Medical Brigada Relief Effort), organized by the freshman class of the Medical College of Virginia. It fit the bill well -- it was a relatively short two-week mission, and it would give me a chance to practice my broken Spanish. There were three teams going to Honduras: a surgical team, a remote area medical (RAM) team that went from town to town, and a team assigned to a pretty large 700-child orphanage. Of course, I chose to be assigned to the last group. This picture was my first view of Honduras, from the plane.

Honduras 2005

I arrived in Tegucigalpa, the tongue-twisting capital of the Honduras, and one of the volunteers drove me to the orphanage, where the kids greeted us with radiant smiles. After settling down, I was told that the RAM team did not have enough physicians -- they just had two adult cardiologists, but no pediatrician to see the children. Since the team for the orphanage had enough doctors including Dr. Mason from Inova Fairfax who specialized in international adoption, I agreed to go and help the RAM team. So the next day, they put me on a bus -- by myself -- for the four-hour trip to Comayagua.

Honduras 2005

Just my luck, the bus broke down! I was a bit worried since nobody spoke any English, but everyone was relazed, having an instant picnic on the roadside while we waited for the next bus, which arrived shortly.

Honduras 2005

I arrived in Comayagua in one piece, and took a taix to the local Rotary Club. They had converted their huge space into one big dormitory for the RAM team.

Honduras 2005

The two blue structures were the open air shower stalls, so when it was raining we got doubly wet. It was nice though, we took our showers under the starlight, with birdsong as our background music.

Honduras 2005

The Peds team in Siguatepeque: I'm with Connor, Baraq, Mark and our helpful interpreter.

There were four physicians -- two American cardiologists, an OB-Gyne from Thailand and a pediatrician (me!) -- and around ten first-year medical students. I thought the other doctors would also see the children but it was just me, and we had to see about 200 kids daily! We went to different villages each day, heading out early in the morning and coming back late in the afternoon. Since the students hadn't taken Pathology yet, they were not familiar with many of the illnesses, so I had to orient them quickly so they could start seeing patients by themselves. Each physician was assigned 2 students daily, and the students rotated so they could see all types of patients.

 

Honduras 2005

A boy and his mom with malnutrition

Honduras 2005

He's a very cute baby.

Honduras 2005

Marcala countryside

Honduras 2005

Long lines of patients waiting for us

Honduras 2005

With Hayden (who is doing her Family Medicine residency soon), and the different patients we encountered.

Honduras 2005

A young boy with a tongue mass.

Honduras 2005

With Miranda with the red hair (MCV student), Nee (the OB-Gyne from Thailand) and Hayden

Honduras 2005

Hanging out with Nee and Baraq

Honduras 2005

The town center was located in front of the main church which was Iglesia de la Merced. People enjoyed sitting on the benches just hanging out with family and friends.

 

Honduras 2005

The whole crew taking a break at Lejamani

Honduras 2005

We sometimes took the ambulance to reach the clinic. This ambulance was donated by a US organization and it was really new with hi-tech stuff.

Honduras 2005

We also stayed in a local fire station overnight since the clinic was relatively far from Comayagua.

Honduras 2005

We rode on top of the firetruck to bring us to the school. There were long lines of patients waiting for us.

Honduras 2005

Two brothers came in for check-up and they were just supposed to be a year apart.

Honduras 2005

We went to a local recreation center after dinner to take a break from our long day.

Honduras 2005

We were all tired but happy!

Honduras 2005

A very cool magic trick by Tai, the pharmacist from MCV.

Honduras 2005

They shut down the classes for 2 days so we could use the public school.

Honduras 2005

We also took a break to see Pulhapanzak Falls.

Honduras 2005

Pulhapanzak Falls

Honduras 2005

Visiting the Iglesia with Nee and Hayden. We met some missionaries groups from the US doing some medical clinics as well.

Honduras 2005

The med students could not resist jumping into the water; at left was Miranda taking the plunge.

Honduras 2005

Iglesia dela Merced beautifully lighted at night

Honduras 2005

A happy baby with her mom

Honduras 2005

Everybody took turns eating lunch so we could constantly see people.

Honduras 2005

A young boy with healing varicella lesions

Honduras 2005

One of the roads that we had to trek to reach the villages in the remote mountains.

honduras 066.jpg
honduras 066.jpg 2005-07-10

Honduras 2005

Everybody waited patiently and some of the locals started selling refreshments to the bystanders.

Honduras 2005

A quiant house with a colorful garden on the countryside.

Honduras 2005

Our living quarters

Honduras 2005

In action

Honduras 2005

Ptosis in a young girl

Honduras 2005

A 13-year old boy with his mother

Honduras 2005

Cataract in one of the siblings

Honduras 2005

Dr. Sonneborn is Miranda's dad. He is a cardiologist from Alaska and apparently he is well-known birder.

Honduras 2005

We also had a dental team so Miranda was able to extract some teeth without giving anesthesia to the patients.

Honduras 2005

Miranda assisting the local dentist with his extraction.

Honduras 2005

Just looking at the crowd's reaction make me cringe.

honduras 089.jpg
honduras 089.jpg 2005-07-11

Honduras 2005

After the clinic, we had time to visit the local museum of Comayagua.

Honduras 2005

One of the cardiologist seeing an elderly male cowboy patient.

Honduras 2005

They had amazing views of the countryside and there were lots of exotic birds too.

Honduras 2005

We were in a different town with different team members.

Honduras 2005

Los Tres Amigos

Honduras 2005

A typical Honduran house

Honduras 2005

We were actually inside a cave when this picture was shot.

Honduras 2005

Miranda and Connor eating these tiny bananas.

Honduras 2005

Hayden in deep thought

Honduras 2005

A hanging bridge along the way

Honduras 2005

A class of school kids trying to catch a glimpse of the gringo.

Honduras 2005

People walked for several hours to reach our clinic and some of them were wearing their Sunday best.

Honduras 2005

On our last day, we went to visit La Tigra National Park.

Honduras 2005

The girls with our guides

Honduras 2005

A hanging bridge leading to the deeper part of the forest.

Honduras 2005

One of the older trees

Honduras 2005

It was drizzling but we didn't get wet, thanks to the thick canopy.

Honduras 2005

We then headed to the next town which specialized in local artworks and handicrafts.

Honduras 2005

On a quiet cloudy day

SE ASIA TRIP 2004
We flew out of JFK at noon of the 15th. The flight was uneventful, although we did have fun chatting with our seatmate, a reporter for Town and Country doing an article on Asia.

Bangkok 2004
Grand Palace/Wat Phra Kaeo

Bangkok 2004
With our Bangkok hosts, Din and Lucille Gutierrez, at Jim Thompson's house.

Laos 2004
Our flight to Luang Prabang on the 18th was uneventful, but the arrival was not. I thought we wouldn’t need visas for Laos, as it is now part of ASEAN, but the immigration officials insisted we did. The visa fees ate up most of our cash, and it turned out there was no ATM in the airport, or anywhere in Luang Prabang! So we had little money to spare for Luang Prabang's enchanting and bargain-filled night market :(

Laos 2004
So we settled for less materialistic pursuits, like waking up at dawn the next day to give food to the town's monks.

Laos 2004
There are numerous temples in this small town, and at dawn the roads are a sea of saffron, as the monks line up to beg for food.

Laos 2004
Our food ran out quickly, and we then just walked silently behind the monks as they walked through the rest of the town and then returned to their temples. We returned to our hotel and enjoyed a wonderful buffet breakfast that included Lao noodle soup—yum!

Laos 2004
We then enjoyed breakfast at the verandah of our hotel, Villa Santi.

Laos 2004
We shared a boat with a six backpackers, all younger than us, all traveling around Asia for three months, six months, one year, or indefinitely; our one-month vacation seemed like a whirlwind in comparison!

Laos 2004
Around mid-morning we headed to the banks of the Mekong, to rent a boat that would take us to Pak Ou caves, 25km north, and to villages along the way.

Laos 2004
We took a trip to Pak Ou, limestone caves on the banks of the Mekong that house thousands of Buddha statues. We also stopped at various villages along the river.

Laos 2004
The inner part of the caves house thousands of Buddha statues, both big and small, and we bought incense and made offerings.

Laos 2004
These boys were selling incense and offerings in the caves.

Laos 2004
The villages along the river each had their own specialty—one made paper, another textiles (shown in this picture)

Laos 2004
another whisky (with snakes, scorpions, and millipedes inside the bottles)...

Laos 2004
Wat Xieng Thong, built by King Setthathirat in 1560, is an example of classic Luang Prabang temple architecture. The exterior is a mosaic of the "tree of life."

Laos 2004
A mother and child giving food to the monks. Some people would give the monks candy or other inappropriate food, which they then gave the child--quid pro quo!

Laos 2004
The monks are on their way home to their monasteries for a day full of meditation and prayers.

Laos 2004
On the morning of the 20th we flew to Vientiane, the capital of Laos, and spent the day there, taking a 1960s cab to visit Pha Tat Luang and Wat Si Saket, with its hundreds of silver and bronze Buddhas. We then strolled through the market and Vientiane's streets, and relaxed with a Beer Lao before our flight to Hanoi.

Vietnam 2004
We arrived in Hanoi and took an airport shuttle to the Hilton Hanoi (not to be confused with John McCain’s Hanoi Hilton). After checking in, we took a hair-raising cyclo ride (weaving through cars and motorcycles) to our restaurant in the Old Quarter.

Vietnam 2004
The next day, we rented a car and driver, who drove us three hours to Halong Bay, where we spent the day.

Vietnam 2004
We had a big boat all to ourselves, and the crew cooked us lunch. We visited some caves, and looked at the various “floating villages” in the bay, complete with schools, houses, and even dogs.

Vietnam 2004
A fisherman of Halong Bay

Vietnam 2004
Halong Bay's floating villages

Vietnam 2004
We also visited Ho’s house on stilts.

Vietnam 2004
We also happened to catch a propaganda rally, which was also quite entertaining.

Vietnam 2004
We also flew to Saigon and visited HCMC Museum, housed in a beautiful neoclassical building. There were lots of wedding couples doing photo shoots there, and we watched them for a while.

Vietnam 2004
We then walked through town and enjoyed just watching the people in their daily lives. Here, high school girls just finished their classes and they were being picked up by their relatives.

Vietnam 2004
Vietnam during Christmas

Vietnam 2004
The whole city awashed with festive Christmas lights.

Vietnam 2004
We then headed out of town to visit the visiting towns. First stop was Tay Ninh, where the Caodai Great Temple is located. Caodaism is one of Vietnam’s (literally) most colorful indigenous religions, whose “saints” include Sun Yat-sen and Victor Hugo.

Vietnam 2004
The Caodai's doing their morning prayers

Vietnam 2004
We also headed to tunnels of Cu Chi, from where the Viet Cong fought the Americans in HCMC. There are 200km of tunnels, whose entrances are incredibly well hidden.

Vietnam 2004
Heidi trying to go down using the underground tunnels.

Vietnam 2004
Going inside the canal, the passageway is narrow. But once you're inside the main hall, it can hold up to 20 people at one time.

Vietnam 2004
We celebrated Christmas eve with a nice dinner, and strolled around HCMC with lots of other Vietnamese who were out on the streets as well.

Vietnam 2004
A little santa who can't hold his natural urge ....

Vietnam
A big stage was set up just in front of our hotel, and we had a view of the show from our hotel room window.

Cambodia 2004
Christmas morning, we went to mass at Notre Dame Cathedral, and then caught our flight to Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. A tour guide met us and took us first to the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda.

Cambodia 2004
The courtyards and gardens at the Royal Palace

Cambodia 2004
The stupas around the palace

Cambodia 2004
Walking through the garden with our guide

Cambodia
They also have a model of the Angkor Wat in the palace ground.

Cambodia 2004
Our next stop was Tuol Sleng Prison Museum. Previously a high school, it was converted by Pol Pot into a detention and torture center.

Cambodia 2004
Toul Sleng Prison Museum has very well written but very sad stories about the prisoners.

Cambodia 2004
This picture shows how Pol Pot and his cronies were very cruel to those who did not follow them.

Cambodia 2004
Our guide posing with the gallows.

Cambodia 2004
The gallows's description and how they were used for torturing people.

Cambodia 2004
These were the pictures who were detained and tortured in prison.

Cambodia 2004
Pictures of tortured souls

Cambodia 2004
The laughter was gone and replaced by the wailing of the prisoners.

Cambodia 2004
You can still see the blood stains on the walls and on the floors.

Cambodia 2004
A former prisoner who survived started painting his memories inside the camp. He painted how they were tortured and given a painful death.

Cambodia 2004
How the gallows were used back then

Cambodia 2004
Disposing of the sick and injured.

Cambodia 2004
Even small babies were not spared of the brutality.

Cambodia 2004
After touring Phnom Penh, we caught another flight for Siem Reap. In the morning we were picked up by our guide, and we started our tour of Angkor. First stop was the Victory Gate, the entrance to Angkor Thom (“Great City”), the last great city of the Khmer empire, built in the twelfth century by Jayavarman VII.

Cambodia 2004
These gates were huge and massive. I guess to make a great first impression of the place.

Cambodia 2004
The stone carvings were very exquisite and detailed. This picture shows an elephant with his tusks extending to the ground.

Cambodia 2004
The palace grounds at Angkor Thom.

Cambodia 2004
The outer walls feature a series of bas-reliefs depicting historical events and scenes from the everyday life of the Angkorian Khmer.

Cambodia 2004
At the center of Angkor Thom is Bayon, a temple to Buddha which is famous for the 200+ faces on its 70-foot stone towers.

Cambodia 2004
The many faces of Jayavarman

Cambodia 2004
Heidi with our tour guide with the faces of Jayavarman at the background.

Cambodia 2004
At the center of Angkor Thom is Bayon, a temple to Buddha which is famous for the 200+ faces on its 70-foot stone towers.

Cambodia 2004
A very well preserved bas relief of an apsara or celestial dancer of the palace.

Cambodia 2004
Inside the palace, people still used the different rooms for rituals, prayers and in some cases fortune telling.

Cambodia 2004
It seems that Jayavarman is serenely smiling at the amazed crowds in the midst.

Cambodia 2004
The outer walls feature a series of bas-reliefs depicting historical events and scenes from the everyday life of the Angkorian Khmer.

Cambodia 2004
IMG_0806.JPG 2004-12-25

Cambodia 2004
Angkor Thom

Cambodia 2004
From there we visited the Terrace of the Elephants, which was used as a giant reviewing stand for public ceremonies, and served as a base for the king's grand audience hall.

Cambodia 2004
The beautiful garden at Angkor Village Hotel where we stayed.

Cambodia 2004
A young boy doing some illustrations of the temple.

Cambodia 2004
IMG_0847.JPG 2004-12-26

Cambodia 2004
A young monk in a tranquil state...

Cambodia 2004
We were able to climb all the way to the top.

Cambodia 2004
At sunset we took a ride on a balloon to get a bird's eye view of Angkor.

Cambodia 2004
Angkor from above

Cambodia 2004
Angkor at sunset

Cambodia 2004
In the evening we walked to restaurant in Siem Reap; Red Piano, where we got the terrible news of an underwater earthquake had caused tsunamis in the Indian Ocean, killing thousands of people, including in Phuket, which was upcoming on our itinerary.

Cambodia 2004
In the morning we had breakfast at a quirky restaurant, a CVSG Japan Training Restaurant, near the hotel. Funded by the Japanese, it was a restaurant training center for the local youth. A sign on the table read,"This is not an ordinary restaurant but the restaurant training center. So please understand us if we scold the children in front of you. Thank you for your corporation."

Cambodia 2004
Young boys in training

Cambodia 2004
and we continued our tour of Angkor at Banteay Srei (a Citadel of Women/Beauty). The red sandstone gave it a look distinct from the rest of the Angkor temples.

Cambodia 2004
IMG_0954.JPG 2004-12-26

Cambodia 2004
We also visited Artisans' de Angkor where they were making these exquisite reproductions of the temple carvings and statues

Cambodia 2004
The different blueprints

Cambodia 2004
One of their masterpieces, Jayavarman with the nagas.

Cambodia 2004
The last site that we visited was Ta Promh which is famous because complex was largely overgrown by the jungle.

Cambodia 2004
This site is also famous due to the Lara Croft movie.

Cambodia 2004
IMG_1074.JPG 2004-12-27

Cambodia 2004
IMG_1083.JPG 2004-12-27

Cambodia 2004
This old man started cleaning the temple ground daily since he was a small child. He's a legend in his own right and is featured in the cover of Lonely Planet Cambodia.

Cambodia 2004
The next morning we had one last sunrise visit to Angkor

Philippines 2004
We flew back to the Philippines and was able to meet with family and friends. One night, we had dinner with St. Luke's people at Anj's house.

Philippines 2004
Zo, Carlo, and Bok's baby

Philippines 2004
With JoA's kids

Philippines 2004
Seafood feast with the Padilla clan

Philippines 2004
Baguio, December 31, 2004, on the Eriksson's patio

Philippines 2004
Brunch at Pata's house

Philippines 2004
Kaw and Kids in Gen Lim

Philippines 2004
Kabu giving us a tour of the Tuding house after the fire.

Philippines 2004
What remains of Tuding after that fateful night.

Philippines 2004
Kids and Ana

Philippines 2004
New Year's eve with Super Lola

Philippines 2004
Toasting the new year ahead

Philippines 2004
Pata and Per

Philippines 2004
Tito Ed and Tita Estella

Philippines 2004
Ana, Aina and Gin gin

Philippines 2004
Heidi with Kabu, Nash and Dicky

Philippines 2004
Super Lola with Kabigat and Katrin

Philippines 2004
Jonel, my giant nephew

Philippines 2004
The Lapid clan in Sta. Rita

Philippines 2004
The Bata family

Philippines 2004
With the girls from Pisay (Rhona, Jeane, Derlie, Aura and Lennie)

Philippines 2004
With the Gutierrez' family

Philippines 2004
With Jeane and Jay

Philippines 2004
With Rhona and Lennie

Philippines 2004
Derlie and Aura with their cute kids

Philippines 2004
With the girls

Philippines 2004
With Kong Jim and family

Singapore 2005
We left Manila at 8am and arrived in Singapore around noon. We checked into a hotel on Orchard Road. After lunch we took the subway and cable car to Sentosa Island, where we visited the aquarium and saw the light show.

Singapore 2005
In the evening we had dinner at the hawker food stalls.

Thailand 2004
The next morning we flew to Phuket, where we were supposed to have stayed, but this what out the question. The airport was full of rescue teams from various countries, and there were missing persons signs posted all over, it was very sad to read. Heidi asked if they needed more physician volunteers, but she was told that they were in the cleaned up phase and they have enough volunteers. So we flew to Koh Samui that same day.

Thailand 2005
Abdul enjoying his delicious seafood dinner in Thailand

Thailand 2004
The last leg of the trip was just for vegging out and relaxing. We were also able to do yoga classes daily with a teacher who came from the UK.

Thailand 2004
We also took a day tour where we went kayaking from one island to another.

Thailand 2004
We also visited an emerald lake inside one island. This was the main inspiration for the book, "The Beach" which was later made into a film starring Leonardo di Caprio.

Thailand 2005
We then flew back to Bangkok and spent our last day shopping. We flew back to the US the next day.

1/20/2010 12:03:45 PM - 003015537081
Very nice website guys!

Robert Schumann, Op. 68, No. 1, "Melody" from the "Album für die Jugend/ Album for the Young"

Ananda Ananda Rain Sampang-Abiad (6 years old) is a student at the European Academy of Music and Arts in Maryland, USA. Ananda has eleven months piano playing experience. She is playing Melody in C Major, Op. 68, No. 1 by Robert Schumann recorded on December 16, 2012.

Herrington Manor State Park, June 10-12, 2011

A weekend outing to Herrington Manor State Park in Maryland, with the Sampang-Abiads, Siapnos, and Manglapuses, June 10-12, 2011.

Dateline's "Rescue in the Mountains"

Here's the full episode of our recent trip to Haiti

Dateline's "Rescue in the Mountains"

NBC's footage of Heidi's recent trip to Medor, Haiti 

Last Dance - IbRD Christmas 2010

"Last Dance," performed by the International Band for Reconstruction and Development (IbRD). At the Christmas Party of the World Bank Staff Association, December 16, 2010.

Shaker Song - IbRD Christmas 2010

A cover of Manhattan Transfer's "Shaker Song," played by the International Band for Reconstruction and Development (IbRD). At the Christmas Party of the World Bank Staff Association, December 16, 2010.

Mas Que Nada - IbRD Christmas 2010

"Mas Que Nada," played by the International Band for Reconstruction and Development (IbRD). At the Christmas Party of the World Bank Staff Association, December 16, 2010.

Oye Como Va + Light My Fire - IbRD Christmas 2010

A medley of Santana's "Oye Como Va" and The Doors' "Light My Fire," played by the International Band for Reconstruction and Development (IbRD). At the Christmas Party of the World Bank Staff Association, December 16, 2010.

Smooth - IbRD Christmas 2010

Santana's "Smooth," played by the International Band for Reconstruction and Development (IbRD). At the Christmas Party of the World Bank Staff Association, December 16, 2010.

Losing My Religion - IbRD Christmas 2010

REM's "Losing My Religion," played by the International Band for Reconstruction and Development (IbRD). At the Christmas Party of the World Bank Staff Association, December 16, 2010.

Everybody Wants to Rule the World - IbRD Christmas 2010

"Everybody Wants to Rule the World, performed by the International Band for Reconstruction and Development (IbRD). At the Christmas Party of the World Bank Staff Association, December 16, 2010.

Long Train Running - IbRD Christmas 2010

"Long Train Running," performed by the International Band for Reconstruction and Development (IbRD). At the Christmas Party of the World Bank Staff Association, December 16, 2010.

Billie Jean - IbRD Christmas 2010

"Billie Jean," performed by the International Band for Reconstruction and Development (IbRD). At the Christmas Party of the World Bank Staff Association, December 16, 2010.

1999 - IbRD Christmas 2010

"1999," performed by the International Band for Reconstruction and Development (IbRD). At the Christmas Party of the World Bank Staff Association, December 16, 2010.

Jump

"Jump," performed by the International Band for Reconstruction and Development (IbRD). At the Christmas Party of the World Bank Staff Association, December 16, 2010.

IbRD - Last Dance

IbRD performing "Last Dance" at the party of the World Bank Staff Association, Christmas 2010. With a drunk Santa in the audience.

Ateneo Sesqui in DC/VA/MD - Mas Que Nada

Performance of "Mas Que Nada" at the Ateneo Sesquicentennial celebration in DC/Virginia/MD - October 2009

Ateneo Sesqui in DC/VA/MD - Awitin Mo at Isasayaw Ko/Manila Manila medley

Performance of "Awitin Mo at Isasayaw Ko/Manila Manila" medley at the Ateneo Sesquicentennial celebration in DC/Virginia/MD - October 2009

Ateneo Sesqui in DC/VA/MD - Shaker Song

Performance of "Shaker Song" at the Ateneo Sesquicentennial celebration in DC/Virginia/MD

Ateneo Sesqui in DC/VA/MD - Cuando Cuando

Performance of "Cuando Cuando" at the Ateneo Sesquicentennial celebration in DC/Virginia/MD

I'm a believer

The Verve at Jammin' Java

Blizzard in Washington DC/Arlington, Feb 10, 2010 (our third big one this winter)

After a mid-December blizzard that dropped 2 feet of snow, and another one just last weekend (Feb 5-7) that dropped 2.5 feet of snow, plus another snowstorm that dropped "just" 8 inches on Jan 30-31 and a few other snowshowers in between, we are now on our third blizzard for this winter season. This is what it looked like at 8am this morning, and the snowfall is expected to continue through the day. I don't think the totals will be very high--maybe a foot or so--but given that we hadn't even dug out from last weekend's snow, this is just too much!

Ananda reciting Halloween poetry, Oct 2009

Ananda reciting some Halloween poetry

Shanti smiling and cooing, Sept 2009

Shanti smiling and cooing to Nelba, in mid-September 2009 (1 month, 3 weeks old)

3D Sonogram of Shanti, May 2009

On May 16 we went to InfantSee to get some 3D images of Shanti. This is the first part of the 15-minute video they gave us.

Andie singing and doing sign language, May 2009

Andie singing the Alphabet Song (Buddy Kaye), ABC, and the Eensy Weensy Spider. May 12, 2009.

Ananda reading, April 2009

Ananda at 2 years 11 months, reading "Green Eggs and Ham" with Lola Genie. It's a 12-minute video so I had to break it in two parts; this is the first half. April 1, 2009

Andie reading, March 2009

Ananda reading a library book

Ananda reciting Humpty Dumpty, Aug 2008

Ananda reciting Humpty Dumpty

Ananda dancing to Trio Caliente, Aug 2008

Ananda dancing to Trio Calientes, a Latin jazz/gypsy rumba trio who performed on Aug 8 at Royal Lake Park in Fairfax.

Ananda reading flashcards, August 2008

Ananda reading with flashcards. I didn't even know she knew what a log was!

Ananda dancing with Chinese Dance Ensemble, Aug 2008

On August 1 we went to Mason District Park to see Chinese performing arts--lion and dragon dances, Chinese zithers, and drums.

Ananda singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, July 2008

Ananda at 2 years 2 months singing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"

Ananda dancing to West African Music, July 2008

On July 25 we watched the Kusun Ensemble perform West African music at Mason District Park in Annandale. This is where Ananda learned to kembot!

Ananda at the fountains, Summer 2007

While Heidi was rounding on Saturday morning, Andie and I visited a nearby park/fountain in Leesburg...

Ananda bouncing, Summer 2007

At the house of our friends Hayden and David in Richmond; Ananda is bouncing on their exercise ball.

Ananda walking, June 2007

Ananda walking on her Papa's birthday, June 2007

Ananda crying, June 2007

Ananda crying, Father's Day 2007