Day 10

Well after working hard for just over a week with limited sleep another early start was required at 2:15-am.  This just gave us enough time time pack up all our clothes, equipment and supplies to head back to Manila to start heading home.  The trip from Malaybalay down to Cagayan de Oro was very smooth with very little traffic and only a few hazards from the previous days heavy rainfall.  

The Cebu Pacific flight was also very smooth, possibly because of the absence of Chris who has decided to stay another week in Malaybalay to complete the electrical wiring of the new buildings and train the local electrician.  This is a big decision for Chris and we all congratulate him for making such a commitment to this project.

After arriving in Manila we were picked up by our faithful driver Rollie who took us straight to McDonalds in Makati the business district of Manila and the Philippines.  A quick breakfast of hotcakes and coffee (surprisingly no rice or eggs except for B1 who clearly didn't eat enough rice during his time in Malaybalay)and we were off to the market style shopping complex of GreenHills.

The group then divided up to purchase the various presents they had to buy for family and friends and most used Felicity's keen bargaining experience to purchase freshwater pearl jewelry.  B2 at this stage commented to the group that several purchases of this kind might increase his possibilities of returning to the Philippines next year, lets hope so B2.

After about an hour of shopping (about as much as the average guy can handle) we walked over to American chain restaurant Chilli's for lunch.  During lunch we met up with Jeff Long and K.I.M. board member Ted who thanked the group for their work and introduced us to a touring Clown troop, who were headed down to Malaybalay to visit the children's home and the campers.

Eventually after finishing an enormous lunch Rollie took the group to a day spa for some much needed and deserved R&R.  This involved sitting in a heated spa pool and a body massage, I'm not sure about the ladies but all you could hear from the men's massage room was snoring as for most of the group this was the first opportunity to relax in along time.

This was the last of our time in the Philippines and we headed to the airport with mixed emotions, we all missed home but we had seen so much and met so many people who were now part of our lives.  At this point we said goodbye to Rollie and Felicity.  Felicity had been our guide through Malaybalay and her knowledge, experience and love for the Filipino people was a great example for us and helped make the trip a success.

So with great sorrow, but the desire to return home to see family and friends we boarded the plane to head home.

God Bless

Paul