Shopping!

I'm just winding down right now at 2am (It's Monday here but the adventure began on Sunday)! It was a fun day of jumping into the culture. My roommate and I got our public transport tour this afternoon. We rode four different routes and walked around to the main markets, ATMs, and money exchange places. That filled about two hours of your day. Then we shopped for our dinner: Chicken adobo! Filipino food, thanks to one of my dear friends and wonderful public transport guide here =) I made some salsa and the girls made some pita chips (no tortilla chips here). Oh it was some good food... good fuel for the next adventure...

At 9:30pm we got our baltos and head coverings on and went shopping with my friend's neighbors. Shopping with locals! So much fun =) We got to the main shopping street and boy was it BUSY!!! You had to squeeze through the sea of people. Sometimes my new Cousin friends had to hold my hand so I wouldn't get lost. At times it reminded me of indoor swap meets in Southern Cali but just WAY more crowded.

I can't wait to know the language and learn more skills on how to haggle the local way. My friends did a great job getting me the local price. So after much search I got two baltos and a few scarfs (pictures to follow). The balto search was actually a bit complicated... I know, I know... just black how hard can that be? Well these black gowns have some variety, some bling, bling designs on the sleeves, some pleats here and there, some embroidery, so yeah they got some style. And well most ladies here are petite here so finding a size was interesting especially when you don't have a fitting room and you get to just try it on over your other balto and head covering (shameful to take that off in public). No AC so lots of sweating! OH but it was so much fun (sorry no pictures of all that) and now I have my own stuff to wear outside =) We shopped around more with our friends and left for home at 12:30am!

Ok, I'm going to bed. I'm so happy I joined the local R.m@d.n fun here. My roommie even got to share about Je5u5 on our shopping escapade! After R.m@d.n the adventures at night will end because normally women are not suppose to go out at night. I look forward to meeting more cousins here... the L.rd keeps reminding me of how much He loves them, everyday He does that.