I've arrived in Paradise

Good morning, world! I have awakened feeling rested and refreshed after my arrival in Manila yesterday. I am so blessed, to have such good friends and such good fortune to make this trip.  I made it out of town before the winter storm, my flights went smoothly, Ambien works miracles so I got a good 7-hour stretch of sleep on my 15-hour flight, and my friend was waiting for me at the Manila airport when I arrived.

The Philippines, at least the tiny part of it I have seen between Manila and Los Banos, is a profusion of green. Every plant and tree seems to host a whole array of more green and living things, ferns and orchids on trunks and branches of wide-reaching trees, lizards that make sounds like bird-calls, spiders with golden streaks in orb webs suspended in air, vines, and blossoms of every imaginable color and form. Not least surprising were the zinnias, impatiens, and marigolds revered by the gardeners for their exotic appearance -- much to my friend’s dismay, they keep re-appearing in her gardens because the gardeners find them so unusual!

We took a quick drive through IRRI yesterday, the International Rice Research Institute, where my hosts live and work. Its mission is “to reduce poverty and hunger, improve the health of rice farmers and consumers, and ensure environmental sustainability through collaborative research, partnerships, and the strengthening of national agricultural research and extension systems,” quoting directly from the IRRI website. Right now it's pouring rain, and it's been rather cool here, according to the locals it's actually "cold" - very unusual that it's not sweltering hot, though it is QUITE humid even without the rain.

Many exotic fruits to eat, such as star apples, jack fruit, tamarind, of course mango, pomelo, and things with unknown names and strange sweet flavors.

The University of the Philippines is nearby, and we went by the vet school there too, past the Carabou Dairy department and a little residential area named "Dairyville" of all things! Carabou are the large gentle oxen used mainly for rice planting as well as dairy here.

Manila skyline in the haze

orchids

A little jet-lagged but happy to be here!

My esteemed host

Beautiful flowers everywhere

A view toward Laguna, with fish farms fenced off int the water

Anticipation

Three days and counting, I'm preparing for my departure to Manila, the Philippines on Tuesday, February 1, an extended visit with one of my dearest lifelong friends. I'll be trekking on my own to Manila, recovering from jet lag for a few days under the influence of sleeping pills and the warm hospitality of Dear Friend And Husb, and then we travel together, the 3 of us, to India! Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, and overland through Tamil Nadu, the southernmost province. Then back to Manila and more exploring. I expect I will very shortly be on sensory overload!
Meanwhile, Dave is keeping the home fires burning, and planning his own exciting expedition to . . . Oklahoma City!. . . for work. But I'm going with his blessing, and the promise to enjoy my lengthy flights for the both of us. And thus freed from spousal guilt, I am setting about my packing!

So, I'm hoping this will give me a handy way to catch and record some of my impressions, and to keep in touch with you all while I am so far from home.