Hot, hot, hot!!

I've stolen some precious moments on my cousin's computer so I won't have to go to an internet cafe.

Obviously, I'm hot. No seriously, I'm burning up. I've had to wear summer dresses (they are actually called "dusters" and equivelant to "muumuus." But if it causes me not to sweat like a freakin' pig, I'm going to wear it.) No make up, no hair do ... it's actually quite freeing.

If I weren't so freakin' hot.

Some of the "resorts" and "hotels" have been questionable. Ants and overall cleanliness have been some issues. By far, my favorite place to stay is at my cousin's. She has a showerhead, air conditioning and an internet connection. Her house is better than some resorts. Yes sister, I've had to take some bucket showers.

The coolest thing I've done so far ... I went exercising with my cousin 5:00 this morning. I can't help it - even though I go to bed late, I still wake up really early. In any case, I'm glad b/c I need to exercise! Nothing but fried food the past few days and I can't be possibly sweating it off.

Anyhow, my cousin is a POWERHOUSE. She walks this hill every day and I asked if I could join her. So today, we walked/hiked up this hill (no, not the volcano, the hill in front of it.)

OK, so in comparison to Mt. Mayon, one of the wonders of the world, this hill doesn't look impressive. But believe me, in the heat and humidity which is there even at 5:00am(!!!) it's a doozie. Lignon Hill is steep and a popular hiking trail. Once at the top (which you can't see in this picture) you get a beautiful view of Mt. Mayon, the city, and the ocean. It's beautiful ... I saw the sun rise and a city wake up. I kid you not ... I think I heard every rooster crow. Instead of dogs barking, it sounded like every house had a rooster. It was a trip.

The best part of the hike was going down. Not just for the obvious reason, though! On the way down, my cousin stopped at a makeshift stand and asked me if I wanted buko (coconut) juice. Standing in our New Balance sneakers, we waited as the elderly lady took her bolo knife (it looks like a machete) and hacked two coconuts until there was a flat service with a tiny hole. She stuck straws in the holes and gave them to us. How cool is that? Instead of drinking boring old Gatorade, I was drinking buko juice straight from a coconut.

OK, got to go. My three nephews are being so patient by not swarming me around the computer but I can tell it's getting to them.