It was a long wait
Trip Start
Dec 02, 2007
1
21
22
Trip End
Aug 2007
Puerto Galera,
Philippines
Monday, February 11, 2008
White Beach
Well after a fairly nice sleep as karaoke finished at midnight, more a less as we arrived home. So we got up and showered and packed up and got on the road again, just like the littlest hobo. Then we went to the bus stop where we had dropped off two days ago, and waited for a bus down to Batangas. We got on bus which cost 67 peso, and yippee Celine Dion in concert playing on the inbus TV!! So then we had swap buses at Bayalan, and we again dropped in middle of nowhere, but we waited and sure enough the bus came and we went down to Bantangas, then we had to get a tricycle round to the port, which A filipino girl came over and asked where we were going, and wondered if we wanted to share tricycle with her, to which we agreed, having a filipino onside, is a sure thing then that you do not get ripped off, so we shared to tricycle and the fare. Arrived at Batangas Pier, and straight away the filipinos are all over you, taking you to boat ticket place, getting your bags off you (then wanting money) and when your bags have wheels there is no need, but they grabbed anyway, we had already said to them we're not paying you and they had said it was free, then when we got in the queue, they were there with their hands out, again we said not paying you, you said it was free and they literally stood there looked at each other dropped the bags and walked off! Must learn to have tighter grip on bag and that no means no!
So anyway got ticket for boat, got ticket for preservation of island and a another ticket for something else, one thing after another, and then finally got through into the waiting area. Again boat was ontime, so we boarded and off we went. The crossing started fine, but as we got further out to sea it became a bit choppy, and the guys moved Saff and I to the other side of the boat, then the driver proceeded and hit some of the waves full on, which in turn water came into the boat and was soaking Saff, and the seat we had been moved from appeared dry! Everyone on the boat began to look a little green and concerned, but it soon calmed down again as we approaching land, and thank the lord when we arrived!
We got off boat and had to then get a jeepney, to which the boat folk would be free as we had already paid to get to White Beach, which we thought, believe that when we see it, so headed off to White Beach, and when we arrived we didn't have to pay for Jeepney, which was a bit of a shock, but after all the shit at the pier we were ready to stand our ground! So arrived at Delgardo's and checked into to a little bungalow (Orange veranda and doorframes) just up from the beach. We decided this would the place to wait for my cards, as we were so happy to be back in the bungalow setting, so emailed address to Sooz, and then went off for dinner at CoCo Aroma. There were not many people there, but the waitress said we may have to wait a little while, as people had ordered before us..... Little did we know she meant wait for over an hour! So just waited and waited, had a beer, then another, I am sure this a way to make you drink more, as you are just sat there waiting! SO food came out, and was nice if not a little cold, and we got outta there. We went for drink on the beach at Leynlies Bar, and then made our way home.
12-02-08
Drunken debauchery
Woke up and got showered and opened Bungalow door, and it was lush, sun was shining, beach was to the right, and everything was good, so we sat on veranda, as were not fussed about doing much, plenty of time and all that. A couple of finish guys came along to look at accommodation, and then stopped for a chat as they walked back past after deciding they were not going to stay here. Asked us if we drank etc, weird question but hoe hum, they said they would be back later, which we brushed off, and went for lunch where I was accosted by Lyn the Massause, I declined the offer of Massage, but said maybe another time. After lunch came back and were playing cards when the finish came back with a bottle of vodka, a bottle of rum, some sprite, lime juice, and soda, they had the whole schbang!! So they said "so you drinking then?" It was 3pm so we decided why the hell not, after they had gone to all that effort, and god does love a trier! So we sat and chatted with Tony and Rico, and got progressly drunk.
With one bottle of vodka gone Saff and Tony went to the supermarket and purchased another, and then we reached the stage of really flipping drunk. Various members of staff then came on to our veranda and had a shot or two of Vodka, and then the guys decided they were hungry, so we wnet down to the beach to get some food, so we made our way they and I believe we went to the Girly Bar, where I fell off my chair and met an Australian fella, this is pretty much all I remember. Our resort bloke, Sherwin, had also come to the beach for a drink with us. Next thing I remember I was back at the bungalow, and I had been sick on Cameron, oops, then to bed.
13-02-08
Mother of All Hangovers
Ventured out bed at about 11am ish, with very vague memories of the previous night, the finish were catching a flight back to Manilla that morning at 8am, so could not go to them for verification of anything, so when we ventured out of room, feeling confused, sheepish and embarrassed, Sherwin, told us a few pieces of information, but didn't shed that much light. I had apparently been walked home by Rico, after not feeling too good on beach, and Saff had stayed out longer and managed to get herself lost, on one little strip of beach! So we retired back to bungalow all day, weather was shite and so were we! We ventured out to restaurant later in the evening, where I was still not ready to eat, but then after going back onto the veranda, we sat gazing and sighing as you do, then worked up to a sandwich after Sherwin was complaining we hadn't eaten! Bless him! Then more a less straight to bed again
14-02-08 to 21-02-08
And it rained.......
So instead of covering day by day on this part, I will put altogether as believe me, these few days were all the same!
IT RAINED!!! And blimey it did really rain, we split the days by reading, playing cards, watching basketball, and the occasional game of football, and generally moaned about the weather.
The first day, we went to Calapan by Jeepney which basically took all day, but when we left the resort they had just begun to kill a goat, and by the time we got back, it was stewedand ready to eat and served to us in the restaurant, freshes meat I will ever have!! How romantic oin Valentines day too.
We also met Eric during this time, a guy from Canada, working and living as a teacher in China.
We also remembered where the supermarket was, so occasionally would walk up there to get ham and cheese and a French stick to sit and scoff on the veranda, as the rain came down.
Sherwins brother in law works at the post office so he had been texting him too, to see if any post had turned up, and then one day the postman arrived and alas, nothing for me, but he did tell me post form UK takes 3 weeks!
We went to Coco Aroma again during this time and watched a band called the Tastebuds, that bless em, could hold a tune together, the drummer was always out of time, and having ago at everyone else for being out of time! Funny.
A group of Religious Koreans arrived at one stage, 18 or so and they came to dinner, where a kind of Buffet was laid on so we sat on the veranda and watched, and after dinner they broke out into song, and version of Pack up you troubles, it was hilarious, they had a dance routine and everything, kind of like a Jesus Army but with worse clothing, and visors to die for. They also sang this song again in the morning at 7am!!!
On the 20th, it looked like things were looking up, it was not raining when we got up and everyone was milling around the resort, getting on with jobs while singing away to The Police, so we got involved, we changed the sheets on our beds, Sherwin came and cleaned the bathroom, and everything was spic and span. We went to supermarket for bread cheese and ham and then after lunch I even went on sat on the beach for a couple of hours and read, wasn't a bad day at all. Then that evening a few of the guys from the resort, started a little jamming session, which obviously consisted of Bob Marley, which lasted all of about 30 mins.
22-02-08
The Sun has got his hat on, hip hip hip hooray!
Woke up in the morning, looked out of the window and Skipperdy Doo Dah it was sunny! So got up and ready and had a coffee, Sherwin shouted across to get down the beach quickly! Everyone was happy the mood had certainly lifted! Got down the beach at 10.30, Eric was already there, and sure enough so was Lyn, she was on my case for a massage every hour on the hour, she was a flippin nightmare. Went for my first swim in the Filipino sea, and eventually called it a day at 3.30pm. Went and sat at restaurant for a while and chatted with Sherwin, Toto (band member) and Eric, before going in for shower, and then back to restaurant where I tried the local delicacy of Duck egg, where the ducks foetus had begun to grow, you have to crack open the egg, drink the soupy stuff inside, before you eat the contents, it was a weird taste, and I could smell it on my fingers for ages afterward, so althou it was not too bad, it won't be something I will eat again. We decided as it had been a nice day to venture down the beach for drink after, so Saff Eric and I all went down to the girly bar for a pitcher of Mindoro sling, and then Jim and John, a couple of guys I had met, who live in Benalmadena in spain, walked past and asked us to join them for a drink up at the next bar. So we finished up and watched the Ladyboys bust out a dance routine before we went. John had a Filipino girlfriend who was 19, to his 57, filthy old git, misjudged them two! So we met Samantha the lady boy there and had a goodnight, we were also joined by Sherwin and the two Korean guys that had moved into the bungalow next to ours. One of them lived in Manilla, his name translated to Mel, and he was insisting on giving me his number, so if we returned to Manilla we would go and stay with him, I told him to just leave it on the veranda before they left. At this point we left the bar and went home, Eric and I chatted on veranda for a while and have made a beer bet on the ages on Toto and his girlfriend, my guess She's 24 and he's 40, his guess she's 26 and he's 30.
23-02-03
The Sun has come out again!
Woke up feeling like I had had a drink the night before, so dragged myself out of bed and went for food. Sat at Leynlies and had brekkie and was again accosted by Lyn, my god, she does not give up. So got up and left there and went to the beach, where it was a scorcher, so went for a swim etc, not a busy day really, sat in Delgardo's for the evening, having fairly quiet one, due the previous night. Jim and John came in for dinner, so had a chat with them, then an early night
24-02-08
Oh ooh, Cloudy Start
Got up and it was cloudy, so then had to find something to do all day, so borrowed Eric's laptop and started writing Travelpod on word for him then to send me once he had arrived home, so literally sat on veranda most of the day typing that up ready to cop and paste! Genius Idea, and well chuffed Eric let me borrow. It felt nice sitting on veranda, and not only having something to do, but knowing the travel pod would be up to date at some point soon!
So finished off the best part or travelpod updates then went for dinner and a few drinks. It was really busy down beach etc, as Filipino holiday on Monday, so we sat in Delgardos for the evening and watched Blood Diamond before we went off to bed around midnight, and just listened as drunken Filipinos came home from beach.
25-02-08
Oh that's hot........Nonny's Birthday
Awoke to a beautiful sunny day, so got up finished up some typing and went to the supermarket for Ham and Bread. Eric had finally sorted out going diving, so he was off for the day diving, so went down the beach at around 10.30, had s swim and then back to room for 12, as hottest part of the day, did more typing and then back down the beach at 2.30pm, had another swim due to the heat, and then it cooled down a bit, so just lay looking around, I had not seen Lyn the day before or today, I am starting to worry about her, she's is an older lady and looks like she is not even capable of giving a massage without dropping dead, so hope she is ok?!?!?! Back for last bit of typing, before showering, and then off to internet to mail Nonny happy birthday. Back to bungalow and round for dinner and few games of cards. Eric got back around 8.30 and had a great day, looking a little worse for wear! So off to bed around 10.30, was absolutely shattered.
26/02/08 Erics last day!
Same same kinda day, but then in the evening Eric and I went for drinks at the ladyboy bar, where we met Trisha, we sat and drank some Mindoro Sling the local coctail that gets you rat arsed, so we got very drunk then headed back to base before going off to bed, not very productive day really, but had to focus on mozzy net to stop room spinning!
27/02/08 We said our goodbyes to Eric and off he went on his tricycle. Met a girl from Finalnd on the beach called maria and then a load of crazy filipinos who invited me snorkelling, I declined, but arrange to meet for dinner later. Met for dinner and then went to the Ladyboy bars, as I knew the island so well by then took them to the best ones where they found it highly amusing that everyine saying hello to me as I walked past, well this does happen when you say somewhere for 3 weeks! Had some drinks, filipions did some magic, then home
28/02/07 Earthquake
Well would you Adam and Eve the same day as earthquake in the Uk we had one in Mindoro!! we were awaoken at around 7am, by our bunglaow shaking, couldn't figure out what it was, so ignored it and went back to sleep, when we finally got up later, Sherwin said did you feel the earthquake, ahhh thats was what it was, the first time the earth had moved for me in a long time!!!
Everyone was leaving today, maria left, then went for lunch and beers with filipino lads, then they left and then even John and Jim the old guys from England left, we were alone again, and NO POST!!!
29/02/08
Not even anyone to propose to.
Did nothing today it was cloudy pretty much a non starter, ate, read drank s'it. Still better than being at home
01/03/08
Saffs not well
Today I went into Calapan as funds were running low and owned loadsa money to resort, so was up at 5am, and got a tricycle up to Puerto then a Jeepney to calapan. Went to the world famous Jollibee for breakfast whcih was appalling, felt pretty sick after that, but you have to try these things. Got in jeepney to come back and when I arrived back in puerto the flippin tricycle driver must have been looking out for me or something as he actually got the jeepney to stop and said he would take me back to White Beach, all the filipinos were laughing on the jeepney, what with being the only westerner, I was like bugger off man, he must have been FBI or something, but decided instead of him just following eveywhere for the lift home, I got in and went back! got back and weather was lush so spent day sunbathing on beach and then got drunk with Sherwin on the veranda later, we went for a few drinks down the beach, it was really busy with filipinos who had come over from manilla for the weekend, so trisha from ladyboy bar introduced me to some of her friends who were really sweet and really young and wnated to pratise thier english on me, We then made our way back and karaoke was still on, and what with being very drunk at that this stage, I busted out a faurground attraction, but hadn't realise all the lads from the resort had come over while I was half way through and even the boss, and by the time I had finished the whole crowd had formed, and were cheering and clapping the white girl who had been here for ages had finally done karaoke!! Bless em, off to bed
02/03/08 3 month Anniversary - mothers day
Another non day of hangover, all the guys asking when i would be singing again, reading, waited for call from mum but missed her, job done
03/03/08
3 weeks exactly
got up and went out on veranda and Sherwin said "guess what, your Mum didn't call but there is post for you at the post office!!!!" MARVELLOUS!!! It was a lovely day sun was shining, so got tricycle to Puerto and collected the post, all the time thinking what if they do not let me have them... But got them and got back, went to shop bought some matador for the staff at the resort. Sunbathed and eventaully it was beer o Clock Showered used internet spoke to Mum. Went to resort for dinner with everyone, Sherwin, Boc the chef, Rio (obviously had to sing Duran Duran to him several times) Jesus and Jomas Went opff to Tipzynakau the Ladyboy bar to say my goodbyes to Trisha and SaMANtha, Trisha gave me a neckalce and free shots before I headed home
04/03/08
Emotional hangover
bad day, just couldn;t get my head round the day, got up ate, read cried, ate, but knew hangover was to blame, another earthquake and then dinner before early night
05/03/08
Goodbye Delgardos
Well this it is we are leaving, we got ourselves booked onto the bpat to bantagas, and walked round resort saying goodbye to everyone, it was really emotional, but we left and crossed over back to batangas in a very choppy crossing. Then we had to get a bus back to shitty manilla, but Saff had some Buko Pie on the way. We checked into the Santos pension house upon Eric recommendation and it wasn't too bad, had a look round Robinsons and then went off to the Oarhouse for dinner and drinks and to goodbye for the last time to pail the belgium fella, and tried to meet up with Crazy Filipinos who missed my call, they had emailed and said they had been out looking for us but alas it just wasn't meant to be, and sooner you go to sleep in Manilla the sooner you wake up and get the hell outta there!! Or so we thought, bloody karaoke until about 6am, nice one, Lady in red and other bad renditions just kept on coming all night!!!
