Day 1: Welcome to the Philippines.

This has been a very, very long day.

Our GIEU team left for our adventure on Monday and arrived in the Philippines early Wednesday morning. As if the tedium of day-long plane rides was not enough, we were welcomed at the Manila airport by near 100% humidity as well as a mass of people at the customs gate created by twelve other flights arriving at the same time. After the cacophony that was the luggage claim, we finally got to relax on the air conditioned bus ride to the hotel.

Through the windows of the tour bus was a mixture of both the new and familiar. Between the cranky-looking jeepneys and bright neon lights of sidewalk shops were those ever famous McDonald’s golden arches as well as numerous 7-11 stores. Somehow, the combination of these two sights eased our anxiety of being in a new land. 

As we arrived at the Bayleaf hotel during the new Wednesday morning, we could not have expected what happened next. Our team casually rode the elevators up to the skydeck, and witnessed an amazing view of the city.

Some of us raised our arms in joy while others cheered; all in concert with the flashing of digital cameras. We were served delicious sandwiches and salads along with ice-chilled tea. As we all sat together and enjoyed the meal prepared by our gracious hotel hosts, the discomfort of the plane rides evaporated into the air.

As truly amazing as the skyline of Manila was to us weary travellers, it is not the sole reason for our trip.  We have come to the Philippines to give and take so much more from the Filipino culture , but the soft shades of light of Manila will do for now.
So now we take a well-deserved rest as the true first day of our journey begins in a few hours.