Mat and I went out in the yesterday evening to the Green Hills Market. Local venders come here to sell their goods. We got Becket a frog wallet (real frog skinned). Don't tell him but I think he'll dig it. On our way back, the taxis were so slow we just started walking the 20 blocks back. We didn't intend to, but there was a shortage of taxis and we would have gotten back at midnight if we waited. Picture Mat and I walking on this tiny sidewalk (like the size of a ruler) on a 3 lane road with scooters, bikes, jeepneys, buses, and lots of cars. It was one of those "what the heck am I doing moments?" We were just hoping we were headed the right direction towards our hotel.
Here's a peek at the market. It was a tad overwhelming and goes on forever. I did appreciate how it was organized-jewelry in one section, clothing in another, purses and bags--
This is how you try on a pair of pants at the market.
We were also able to visit the Fatima hospital yesterday. Mat gave a presentation to eighty people. They hung a big banner welcoming Dr. Matheson Harris from SLC, Utah, USA. What a welcome! Afterwards, they presented him with an award and wanted to take pictures. What a big deal.
Today is a holiday, so the clinics are closed. We're going to visit Corregidor for the day. Didn't know the history until now.
The boat ride to Corregidor was a rocky ride. I thought I was going to loose my cookies on the ferry.They like to put their PA systems on echo. It sounds like a voice from above, even though they are just telling you to sit down or that the waves are high. They put on a Jackie Chan movie to help ease the nausea pain. Not sure if that helped or made it worse. It was Jackie Chan...
Bill and Ellen Jackson, and Mat and me
Corregidor was very interesting, especially since Mat's grandpa Harris served in the war here. It made it even more meaningful picturing him in my thoughts. He won't talk about the war. Maybe after us seeing it and having so many years pass it will get him to open up.
Here is some of the insignia he would have worn at the time
Grandpa Harris was part of the Marines. He was a tailgunner in the airplanes. He did 7 missions here (I think)
The war makes the Americans look good, especially general Douglas MacArthur, for the way we came in and protected the Filipino people from the Japanese.
They give a special tour for the Japanese when they visit because they did such horrible things back in the 40s. The Filipinos are pretty open about it too. They like to let you know that if you were Japanese, you would not be hearing this portion of the tour or you wouldn't even be stopping here on this part of the island. In fact, they ended up putting up a memorial for the Japanese men who died and on the memorial it said "to the brave heroes." Some Filipinos went and scratched it off because of the hate. It could have been a Chinese or Korean that scratched it off I suppose, they were often captured and used as Japanese suicide bombs. I agree, it is a sensitive subject. I guess the Japanese ambassador finally did apologize in 2006.
Someone wrote in Brave Heroes after the damage had occurred.
We toured the whole island with soggy toes. It was a heavy rain, especially at lunch. Tis' the rainy season. I got drips on my head just from the condensation on the awning. Lunch was a buffet. They love to serve lots of food.
Tunnels that were used to hide from the Japanese.
Check out this Bad A
What an experience. I'm glad for the holiday so we could go see it.
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