September I was in Brussels in Belgium and Zeeland in The Netherlands and then Amsterdam for work , for a conference and board meeting, where my report that I’d worked on all summer was very well received. Zeeland is on the coast which was very beautiful looking across to Belgium. Very small conservative town . We caused a bit of stir ,the board meeting being multinational , and a rather loud raucous discussion about our work, in the local restaurant
In October we travelled to Indonesia together as a family. Angelica was in plaster after breaking her led in a freak accident when our front gate collapsed on top of her. Rusted over the years and weakened by 2 recent typhoons it fell when she opened it . The fracture was relatively minor and could have been so much worse, the gate took 4 adults to move it was so heavy. Our experience with the Philippine (private) medical system was wonderful, in and out within 2 hours of arrival with a CD of ex-rays and the opinion of the most senior orthopaedic surgeon in Manila !
We travelled to Indonesia for a conference I was attending in Yogyakarta and stayed at the lovely Phoenix hotel , http://www.accorhotels.com/gb/hotel-5451-the-phoenix-hotel-yogyakarta-mgallery-collection/index.shtmll converted from an old colonial house. The food was excellent at the hotel ,if a little expensive compared to local restaurants which were also very good, particularly a French owned place called....One of the highlights was our trip to Borobudur Temple where Angelica had her Lazarus moment ...Marc carried her to the top thru 7 stages (levels) of enlightenment ,to Nirvana (the top) and back down when she stood on her leg and walked for the first time since the break shame it wasn’t an hour earlier for marc’s back .
Late November I was on the road again but this time without the kids , to South Africa for a workshop, which went well but was pretty exhausting. We did manage a day tour and visited the Cape , some vineyards and drove around the stunning South African coastline. We stayed with our participants in a guest house www. acornlodge.co.za , which we had rented in Rondebosch a very posh (white) suburb of Cape Town and within Cape Town centre at Manela Rhodes Palace www.mandelarhodesplace.co.za, the weekend before they arrived.
Both were very high standard of accommodation and good value for money for a group sharing. We also went to Robbin island something I didn’t manage to do last time I visited which is very moving, especially the tour with the ex inmate, and worth the trip if only for the fantastic view of table mountain. We ate several times at The Waterfront which is a regenerated dock area and one night took our participants sailing on the bay at sunset. I really enjoyed the company of the participants from Uganda, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Kenya and Tanzania. It was sometimes challenging organising the logistics to get everyone together but rewarding at the end of the day.
On the way home, I stopped off in North Wales to meet Mum at a family friends 80th birthday, not quite en route , but in global terms was nearer than Manila...then finished back at work in Amsterdam before heading home just in time for my sisters Jacqui visit.
Jacqui was in Manila to lecture at University of the Philippines , a far cry from Cardiff university in terms of facilities with the Archaeology department being located in what appeared to be a broom cupboard under the stairs. Managed to show her the bright lights of Manila, hanging out at M cafe for Thursday night DJs and B side to see some local bands www.facebook.com/pages/B-SIDE/252630244525,
We has hoped to get North to see the mummies but bad weather prevented us, which was a shame as we had the possibility of going with the curator from the national museum. It was the wettest December I have experienced raining almost non stop from the time she arrived to when she left. We did get to Batanes where we got stranded by bad weather. Whilst the trip would have been more enjoyable with better weather Batanes, itself is amazing and has a landscape more reminiscent of Dorset that The Philippines. I would like to return in a dryer period. The flights are expensive but I think getting the 6 seater from Tuguegarao-Basco on Pasada Air and using Cebu to get to Tuguegarao would be a cheaper option particularly for a family trip. WE stayed at rapitan di vasay, a fantastic place very good value for money and centrally located http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g1191611-d2052527-Reviews-Rapitan_di_Vasay-Basco_Province_of_Batanes_Cagayan_Valley_Region_Luzon.html . We also stayed at the lovely http://www.fundacionpacita.ph/ Fundacion Pacita which is a Wuthering heights sort of place on a windswept headland. The rooms are all 5 star quality and the organic food very nice. Its ok for one or at most 2 nights but for longer I think you would be bored, unless on retreat or an artist, and for me being in central Basco was more fun. We took ourselves there after our flight was cancelled and managed to get a good low season deal at Php4000, 50% discount.
It was great to spend so much time with my sister probably the longest since we shared a flat in the 90’s , or was it the 80s? It was important to be able to share my life and for her to get to spend time with the kids on home turf rather than on holiday, and get to know them better. Hopefully she will come back for work sooner rather than later.
The year ended on a tragic note for the people of Mindanao with massive flooding and loss of life from Tropical Storm Sedong, current figures estimate over 1500 dead. Iligan was badly affected where I worked with VSO and I knew the area well. Whole communities were swept away in the night but luckily as far as I am aware no one I know lost family . Once again the Philippines inability to prevent people from living in known flood prone areas has led to preventable tragedy. For us as a family we lost my Mums sister Mary after a short illness. She deteriorated from an active golf player and socialite to being bed ridden in hospital in a matter of months, luckily she did not have to endure years of nursing homes . I did manage to see her last xmas and say good bye as it was clear then I probably would never see her again. I wasn’t able to get to the funeral but she knows there will always be a special place for her in my memories ...”aunty Mary had a canary “ and made us all laugh
Our year drew to a close with a trip to Hanoi to stay with Michael and Leona, Joseph and newest addition Ryan. We has had a traditional roast dinner with turkey and all the trimmings. The kids got on well, the boys did their football things and Leona and I had a real chance to catch up again. ON the way home we will have a stop off in Ho Chi Minh and then home to Manila for the New Year Countdown.
So long 2011 , what a great year, if 2012 is half as much fun it I’ll be more than happy . Wishing you all love , good health and good luck for the New Year
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