Bike wreck

So while we were in Borachay we decided to rent some motorcycles to ride around the island and see the village. It was amazing to be on a bike again but of course the "Lee" tradition is to weck. (you'd think we'd learn by now with John getting paralyzed and all) Luckily we were not going to fast and just got a few scrapes. Felicity how-ever was a little scared to ride with mommy and opted to ride with daddy the rest of the day. We later got stuck riding in a huge downpour of rain. We finally found shelter under a rigiddy little shed where a few guys were playing pool. They were all very generous, it was fun to hang out with the natives.

WaterBaby

Rich captured some crazy shots of the girls playing in the water. He can play with the settings like a manual camera and get high shutter speads. The water looks so cool. What a cutie she is.

We were the center of attention one afternoon playing in the water fountains at Serendra shopping area. Not that we have to be playing in a water fountain to be the center of attention in the Philippines.

Bananna Hats

Cute as ever, the girls were caught playing with the hats in Borachay. We visited the Island a couple weeks ago and played on the beach everyday. I found some cute little shops with eclectic stuff these hats are made out bananna trees and Pineapple plants too.

Felicity too has embraced the art interest, following her sister of course. She spent the day today helping me work on her first screan print. It is one of her best. It will be matted and sold at this summers art Fair to raise money for charity. This piece began the conversation with Rory about "what abstract art is." Rory has since turned into another artist and tries very hard to express her inner emotions. What darlings I have.

A Proud Artist mommy

Every five year old's obsession today is Princesses. And it just so happens that I picked the ultimate name for my little princess Aurora. Who would have guessed Disney would launch the biggest murchandise campaign of their history "Disney princesses Unite." Every little girl that meets Rory gets a little envious dreamy look in their eye, secretly wishing their mom had been as clever as hers. But it is an instant friend getter. So along with every other American girl Rory is obsessed with princesses as seen here. Her Art love in action is deeper than mine ever was, I think she gets her attention span form her daddy. This is a 3 color screen print that took about 3-4 hours to produce and Rory was right beside me every moment, now thats stammina.

A Dreadful moment

This expression is one of many that were given during a seven hour period of endless knotting.
Most of my time was spent mesmorized just watching their hands work, working knitted knots in each section of hair. Yes I already had dreads but I can hardly call them that having now been exposed to these. WOW!
Yes it is absolutely black, since that is whats available. They get the leftover hair clippings from salons and turn it into knotted ropes, and then attach it. After the painful day of sitting and getting each hair ripped halfway out I then went and got it bleached twice. It took another three hours. i went the next day and got it all died to red, somewhat natural. You can go to " photos.e-mcclellan.com " soon to see more pics of us lately and the final outcome of my hair. It is worth it though and I do like it, and of course it cost a fraction of what it would have in the states (I don't know if anyone in the states does it though). And at the end of it all Rory admitted that she NOW likes my hair. It's been a while since she has complimented my hair because it has been short.

Visiting the Womens Correction Center

I visited the Womens correctional Unit this week. What a neet experience. Rory's first thought was why are we going to visit bad peple in jail? It was a nice time to talk to her about how people can change. And this facility was just that. A Rehabilitaion prison, for women to re-direct their intentions about life and get an education, religion etc. There was a program for graduating form like first grade up to 12th. And they put on a neet song and dance program as well. They sang a beautiful song about their mothers, and I have to admitt I was brought to tears. They also sang "Lupang hinirand" their national anthem, Rory drew the flag (and a jeepnee). After the program we met a lot of the ladies and visited with them the girls were a breath of fresh air for them.

The women collect all kinds of old things from the community one of my favorites is the old phone book pages rolled up into skinny long straws that they them weave into baskets. WoW! It is soo neat. We bought 6 of them.

Jeepnee Fascination

I have no idea how to spell that. So this is only a glimps of the worlds most cool bus. Well actually its a Jeep thing. It is modeled after the world war 2 military trasportation vehicles. The Filipinos liked them so much after the Americans left that they used them for their own transportation and the fad began. Now days they are totally pimped out and customized to each drivers style specs. Sme people put a lot of money into it to look flashy and others are just run down but still working. They are the most common form of transportation here. The locals ride them everywhere for something rediculous like (.40 cents) 20P or something. I have not had the luxry of riding in one yet. If we stay here for the long haul I plan to buy (don't tell Rich) a short one for our family's Mormon attack vehicle. It is basically an extended normal jeep, but "awesomer" nonetheless.

Breaking away from boredom

Well who'd of thot we'd be in anther country 2 months ago? And here we are in the bustling business district of Makati Manila having an experience of a lifetime. I say it' all Rich's fault. He was getting itchy after a 6 months break away from the Jazz bowl project. "So Heather if you could go anywhere in the world where would it be?"he asked, (I didn't say the Philippines) "hmmm, I don't know why do you ask pooping Dog?" (Lee family joke). " Do you have something up your sleeve?" Well after a couple months at Mckinsey he had started asking questions about opportunities for projects abroad, and when I showed interest too he moved full speed ahead to getting onto another project out of the States. But we had no idea that it would move so fast. How cool!! So here we are.