Busy!

We have been so busy since changing assignments that we don't have much energy at night for blogging! We leave the apartment every morning at 7, and pretty much don't come up for air until we leave to come home at 4:30. Two days a week, usually Tuesday and Friday, we go out to visit missionaries in their homes, to check for the cleanliness and safety standards and to leave a message with them. We love visiting the missionaries! They are so sweet and so dedicated. We feel very privileged to be serving with them.

One Saturday, about three weeks ago, we went to Pagsanjan Falls, which is on a river in a lovely canyon about two hours south of Manila. We were to meet several couples from the area office there, but we drove down with Elder and Sister Paine. After waiting for our group for nearly an hour, we decided to go ahead on our own. It was a good decision, as they were just leaving in the boats as we got back.

Here is the view from the restaurant at the resort from which we left:

And here is the map of the river:

Each of us first had to don a life vest and a hard hat. David models:

We passed the Paines as we were heading out:

Each boat had two boatmen. When in the river, they had the easy job of paddling and talking to us.

When the river was lower, or full of boulders, they hopped out and pushed us along.

As you can see from the map, we passed several smaller waterfalls along the way to the Pagsanjan Falls.

 A large party of Koreans was just ahead of us. They got out at this fall to have a look around. I was very glad our guides did not offer the opportunity to us, as the logistics looked daunting!

The water depth is quite variable. Christmas Week, they said, the water was a good twenty feet higher, and they were unable to get all the way to the big falls. In dry season, sometimes there is very little water and they drag the boats much of the way. Even the day we went, there were some rock outcroppings that prevented water navigation. They had prepared for this by laying large iron pipes between the rocks, and dragging boat and passengers up over the pipes to get us to deeper water again! A very peculiar sensation!

We were told that we had the opportunity to go under the Pagsanjan Falls. We were not to go under the main part, but off to the side. We were sold rainslickers (disposable) to help stay dry. They didn't really give us the full story! When we got out of our canoes, we walked across a beach area, and someone collected our glasses for safekeeping. Then we boarded a bamboo raft with about twenty passengers--which as we boarded, was already about a foot and a half below the water. We had two ropes down the center to hold on to, and the new boatmen pulled on a rope that was secured across the water under the falls. David was kneeling and was somewhat secure, but I was "sitting," which meant I was actually floating the entire way. Once we got under the falls, yes, we were slightly over to the side, but I was actually submerged and unable to breathe for a short period. It was fairly unnerving.

Had I known that a swim was part of the plan, I might have remembered to secure my camera--it got completly wet and had water in the lens--and I might have been more psychologically prepared! (Fortunately, the camera dried out and works fine!) I don't think I would do it again, but if I did, I would sit towards the middle of the raft, rather than the side where I could float off so easily.

We returned to our own canoes, and had a chilly (we were wet) but uneventful ride back. All in all, quite an adventure!