Still in Luzon with JR and family: 1)I've never seen Mary so big (though Vannie and I did see a humongous cross in Texas once) 2)Jesus is huge here too...There are 200,000 registered Christian denominations in the Philippines 3)We went cave exploring...even had to crawl on one's belly to get through one passage - ok, I didn't have to do so, but my companions did 4)A bat! When I said I wanted to touch one, I was joking, but...JR assured me we didn't hurt it 5)This was our waterfall visit - and this must be Tarzan? 6)VIP tour from the Division Manager of the Magat Hydroelectric PowerPlant (biggest in the world, is it Mel?) 7)And there's the dam.

More in Luzon region, Philippines: 1) you maybe familiar with chicken wings; here you see me (trying to) eat bbq chicken FEET 2) JR's friends and parishioners the Roques hosted me at their house. Here's Napolean Roque at their fish farm 3)Mel's helping as we catch our lunch 4) I caught the most -four! 5)Mrs. Luzviminda Roque was next with three 5)the adult version of these little goats was also included in lunch 6) but not the fine and noble caribou

Santiago City, Philippines: 1) Jonathan Torento and his lovely wife who made me a fabulous breakfast on the morning of my arrival in Manila, after which I got on a bus to visit... 2) Jonathan Razon, famous singer of Peace Studies gatherings, also plays the guitar! 3) JR's gorgeous girls: Grace, Hope, Joy and Faith 4) 5) Amazing, famous Banaue Rice Terraces! 6) JR's lovely wife Mel with Faith and Balong/Jon Jr. 7) Father and son equally charming

Getting my networking juices flowing. Today I met with a member of the World Christian Meditation Community (an organization I got to know in Bradford). Tonight, I'm gonna call the Catholic Peacebuilding Network director to have the phone conversation that I wanted to have while writing my dissertation (he's a few months late on the email replies). On Sunday I say goodbye to Malaysia and hello to the Philippines. Those who still like to worry will be glad to hear that I have the best of tour guides in this country. I'll be reuniting with some wonderful Bradford folk (Jonathan T, Jonathan R, Aldean and Nasser - go Peace Studies!). Also, in Manila, I get to meet the regional director of Catholic Relief Services. Hopefully, she'll set me up to volunteer in Mindanao, where I can also meet Letty's (my cousin Jill's maid's) sister who works with Caritas Philippines. Following all this? Take home message: I'm shifting gears a bit. I'll be staying in one place (the Philippines) for 2 months, more or less, and will hopefully learn something about peacebuilding while I'm there.

KL with Mom and Julie' Can you believe that my mother Maureen and sister Julie' came all the way to Malaysia?!Doesn't it look like we had a great time?! Well, we did. 1) me and Julie' and a rickshaw at the KL tourist center 2) our favorite friendly monkeys; yes, one is sitting on her back and the other is holding her arm to better position the peanut bag 3) Hindu sculpture at the entrance to the famous Batu Caves temple 4) durian is the 'king of fruits' in Malaysia but an aquired taste 5) trekking in the world's oldest rainforest; I won't mention mom's age, but just say that all of the travel agents were very impressed with her level of fitness, her "courage" as her most vocal admirer put it 6) canopy walk takes you high in the jungle but, given the season, we still didn't see any wildlife 7) the Petronas Twin Towers at night, under which we stood waiting for New Year's fireworks that occurred for 5 minutes on the other side of the building 8) the KLCC mall; cause malls are a very important part of KL culture.