My first experience of Manila

So to be able to let our international friends be a part of this journey I will try to write in english. But yes, there might occur some 'interesting' formulations and bad grammar.  

This journey started off a week ago when we left Kona and headed off to Manila. The kids did great, and of course a couple of surprises along the way helped out. Our flight from Honolulu was an hour late due to a storm, so we had to run like crazy to catch our last flight. But then the kids slept the whole time, so it was an easy last 3,5 hour.

Entering into the Philippines was a pure joy, compared to US border control. No questions, just a smile and another stamp in our passports. We came out of the airport and were picked up by our amazing hosts, but all the people hanging around the fences and sitting on the sidewalks and many eyes staring at this family of 5 made me quickly realize that I was in a different part of the world. It was dark when we came, so we were really looking forward to the next day when we could see more of the city. 

We woke up after 5-6 hours of sleep, cause we were leaving early to pick up the kids from the Preschool in Tondo (the poorest area in Manila). Just the drive over there gave so many new impressions and so much to process. Jeepneys (old and charming looking buses), motocycles, tricycles (motorcycle with wagon on the side for passangers), trucks and cars everywhere. And the traffic here is crazy. People drive whereever and just honk their way through the chaos. Clearly living here you have to agree that going on an airplane is far more safe than driving your car. 

And then you have the skyscrapers in between the 'old houses' (Isabellas' choice of words for the poor and ramshackled houses). When you see people living in 'houses' made out of cardboard, wood pieces and metal either by the side of the road or on gravel or concrete added by trash and wild skinny dogs and cats your perspective of life will never be the same again. And while we are driving, Ingar and Bjørg share st  ory after story about how life is for the people who live here who are bound in darkness and a none ending cycle of poverty. How children are left to die or the only option a mom see is to sell her baby for the crazy amount of $475. How can I ever complain about my living situation, where I live or what I do not possess anymore?