Outside Manila

Finally took our jeepney ride for a block. Nicole and Ava wouldn't go any further for fear we would end up on the other side of Manila. Better than Hannah, who was too disgusted to venture into such a lowly form of transportation. 

We went outside Manila to the volcano. The smog followed us all the way. Buildings and factories slowly gave way to rice fields

and tin roofed sheds. The jeepneys

transformed into motorcycle taxi cabs with a covered sidecar and third wheel.  We saw one with a driver, two adults behind him on the seat riding side saddle, holding two small children in their laps, and finally two more passengers in the sidecar. They pack them in.

The crater of the active volcano is a lake with an island in middle which has in it another lake which smolders sulfur fumes. We took a traditional boat with bamboo outriggers propelled by a to

yota engine and transmission. One pedal for gas, one 

pedal for the clutch and a automobile stick shift for changing gears - including reverse. No wind. The water was sheet glass and the driver down shifted to second so that another b

oat wouldn't pass us. 

The volcano island has no cars or motorbikes, only horses - small itty bitty ones. So str

aight up the mountainside we went. No switch backs or turns. Straight up as the crow flies. The horses weren't too happy. Ava's guide was a little boy and he just jumped on the horse with her and away they went. "Balance, balance" was all he told her. I didn't see her until the top. The sight of the smoldering volcano was beautiful, but not as enjoyable as the horse ride up and down with our guides running behind us - passing by the dirt floored tin roof shacks with residents hanging outside on the covered "porch" eating lunch.