Saturday, November 13, 2010

We're Tourists

We decided we’d better play our “tourist card” as we are counting down.  Wednesday morning we took Sister Jeane Arandia to the US Embassy to apply for her student visa.  The Embassy is next to Rizal Park which is a major Mania landmark.   
 While we were waiting for her we went to the Children’s Museum and really enjoyed the displays and information.  When she finished with her appointment we decided to see the sights.  We got into a horse drawn carriage and headed out.   
Jeane is a native but had never been to the park so she was thrilled with the trip also.  Our driver took us all over the place and we were able to see the National Museum, tons of statues, Old Town Manila (Spanish style) and much more.  While we were in the Museum it started to rain.  It was a real Philippine downpour!   
The carriage ride back to the car was terrific with the sounds of rain on the roof.  It was a wonderful experience and it was a pleasantly comfortable day temperature wise for a change.

We have a second fruit for the month.  We didn’t get a picture of the insides as everyone knows what they look like.  The fields in these pictures are just a few km from our apartment.  We are grateful for wonderfully fresh pineapple and it is reasonably priced.  It is so juicy and sweet and we love it.   


Friday we went to Sonja’s Garden (again) with the Morgan’s.  It was another touristy day with a couple of Branch business stops along the way.  We ate several servings of fresh pineapple while we were there.

Saturday we split up and Sister Smith attended a District RS Visiting Teaching Convention in Naic while Elder Smith went to a baptism in Punta.  There were 8 for that baptism and we forgot to send the camera with him.  Later that evening we attended another baptism in Naic. 
 
SM SuperMarket Checkers.  We were picking up some groceries and it was slow in the store.  Several of the checkers started questioning Elder Smith about where he was from, what he was doing etc.  Yes, he did OYM!!  He wanted a picture of them and a crowd showed up.  Everyone loves to have their picture taken.
 
Here's proof you can transport anything on a tryke
 

3 comments:

Natalie said...

So glad you were able to do some touristy stuff. It's beautiful country!! Love you both.

Lorene said...

Hi Elder and Sister Smith,
A friend of mine gave me your blog address and I have really enjoyed your pictures and comments. My son is serving in the Manila, Philippines mission also. I looked for a picture of him and found one! He is in your January 2010 blog, under the heading of Manila zone. His name is Elder Justin Lillyhite. Do you know him? Right now he is in Mandaluyong (sp?) (Makati City). Very fun pictures!

Lorene said...

Hi Elder and Sister Smith,
A friend of mine gave me your blog address and I have really enjoyed your pictures and comments. My son is serving in the Manila, Philippines mission also. I looked for a picture of him and found one! He is in your January 2010 blog, under the heading of Manila zone. His name is Elder Justin Lillyhite. Do you know him? Right now he is in Mandaluyong (sp?) (Makati City). Very fun pictures!