Theo in the Philippines

Theo in the Philippines
Theo seems to fascinate many people here. They overlook the havoc he causes as he races around the restaurant, refusing to sit down, or grabs all the delicate objects from the shop shelves, and just tussle his hair, smile at him, point him out to friends, high-five him and even pick him up for a cuddle. Its lovely to see men being just as affectionate as women, very gentle and calm, absorbing themselves in his world for a moment.
He seems to unwittingly draw attention to himself. Here at the laguna hot springs resort, a luxurious Korean family thermal spa on the outskirts of Manila, he often has an audience, which makes it hard to tell him off, wipe his snot on the grass or help him have a sneaky pee in the bushes. It doesn't help that he's always taking his pants off - he swam naked in Palawan, which I think is normal for a 2 year old swimming in the sea in a remote area - but was the cause of much hilarity for onlookers. People tend to swim with their t-shirts and even trousers, and for those who can't swim, life jackets too. So the trunks are a must at the resort, but he keeps derobing, flinging them to one side and insisting on being a 'NAKED BOY!', which is quite embarrassing.
Dyl says the attention stems from the rarity of seeing a toddler swim unassisted with arm bands and jump off the edge confidently, as Theo does. He loves the water so much he has a permanent smile and is always involving himself with people. We are also the only Europeans at the spa so he stands out with his blonde curls and little white body. Many of the guests are Korean and are not used to seeing white European kids.
He is completely fearless. In Palawan he jumped off the bangka boat into the deep ocean, unphased by the dark water and choppy waves. He even came with us as we swam from the boat through a limestone cave into to a huge lake in a volcanic canon. Lala said he gave her more confidence in the water - if he isn't scared, why should we be.
Traveling with Theo is demanding and rewarding - and definitely fun. I don't get a break for long, although Mum, Dyl and Lala have been wonderfully helpful. Im trying to potty train him too, which is again an extra challenge in the circumstances, but working quite well.
Despite his cuteness, Theo is truly exhausting - just 2 gears, full speed or passed out. Non-stop mischief and an incredible ability to blank any instructions that ruin his fun. I miss Tom so much at times.
His vocabulary is improving at an impressive rate since we have been away. The urge to relate his new experiences has made him acquire new words with alarming rapidity.
Inevitably, I worry about him all the time (especially without tom here to do the worrying for me). Key worries: his diet - especially being veggie (I tried him with some fish, to no avail), his mozzy bites (they love him), overheating, getting sun burn, being thirsty, being anxious, missing dad, missing home etc etc etc - but these seem abstract, as he really appears to be flourishing. He swam in the thermally heated waters of the pool from the moment he got up until supper time today. Ate a huge portion of Korean rice, veg and egg ( its similar dishes 3 times a day here, with rice for breakfast - we've smuggled bread and dairylea into our room) and then fell fast asleep in our cabin. Sleeping in the same bed together in new beds, new rooms, being continually on the move and getting into a routine with the jet lag ( 8 hours difference) has been a challenge, but I think we've cracked it.