Early Rise for a Cambuhat EcoTour and Pirates
Trip Start
May 10, 2007
1
15
39
Trip End
Jun 25, 2007
Bohol, Philippines
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Johnathan seems PERPETUALLY upset and wound up tight about something. He said he was not very happy last year, but he seems much worse this year and he says he's fine. I don't know what's going on. It's interesting that he complains a lot and I find that somewhat hypocritical because he hates it when anyone in the group has a gripe. He tells us to go with the flow since things can be so variable in the Philippines, yet he gets so angry when bargaining with a Jeepney driver or being late for something. Whatever. He's the professor and that's just how he is going to be. Not too many more days until students are having their summer at home again. It is difficult to maintain reservations in this country because the host of wherever you travel sometimes doubts your arrival; like they give away your hotel room or something. Johnathan constantly has to be on the phone confirming appointments and I think that is why he's soi stressed. Having cell phones this year for half of the group is extremely different than last year and I almost feel students are relying on them too much. They are almost lost in their own world when a text is received or momma calls every night. Cells & texting is the way of life here, but we seem disconnected within our group and I feel that we are distracted. I don't have one. Johnathan keeps giving me one, then taking it away when he needs a phone number that is not in his current phone. I am happy without one.
6AM. Walk to the corner where the movie theater is and catch a Jeepney to the Pier. Chicken on a Stick & sweet bread for 5 pesos are the breakfast choices in the market. We boarded the ferry for Bohol at 7AM and left shortly thereafter. More bunkbeds, but a nice breeze and not very crowded. Chatted with Meghan about her gripes and analyzing the trip. Now she's eating an apple that she bought on the street last night.
Who wants to see Pirates of the Caribbean 3 tonight? I do!
10AM Got off the boat & took a van to a sustainable oyster farm in Cambuhat, Buena Vista [kind of like, neighborhood in a town]. We had a brief canoe ride to see where the oysters are planted in the river. There is about a 6 month growing period and spawning occurs anytime between June & December. The sustainable village has about 100 members, many of which are fishermen. Each fisher gets about 50 sq. meters of area for oyster farming. This project was begun in 1999. Weaving of wood from a local, native tree is another form of income here. The bark of this tree can also be ground and made into flour during times of famine. Our guide, Analiza Chua, is working on her master's degree in business, with a focus on eco-tourism. Her college courses cost 400 pesos/credit hour. That's about US$8. WOW. We feasted on oyster, shrimp, crab, rice, veggies, walermelon, mango and Coca-colas. It was as delicious as last year!
After the meal, we went to their local "Eco-Adventure" which was established in November 2006. It was a VERY sad version of a zoo. We got too feed ostrich & saw a large area where the owner raised roosters for cock-fighting. We then rode all sweaty back to the pier and had Dunkin Donuts from the market before boarding. On-board, I sat with Justin & Virginia and we joked about the live chickens in a basket in front of us. Robin Hood Prince of Theives was also playing on the t.v. strung from the ceiling of the ferry.
The ferry ride back made everyone irritable and, of course, Meredith met yet ANOTHER Filipino male that invited her to stay at the pier, alone with him, for an hour to talk. We all opposed this idea, but somehow Johnathan approved it. We told him it was a bad idea and he went back to chaperone her since it was getting dark and the pier area is very busy and kind of sketchy. I organized a 10 peso/person Jeepney back to the hotel. The driver had his wife and 2 young daughters (1 1/2 and 3 years) up front with him. I bargained him down from 200 pesos for 12 people to 120 pesos!
My left ankle is in pain. An ant bit me at the lunch today and now my ankle is REALLY swollen!!! Great.
Meghan & I walked down to the movie theater to see when Pirates 3 was playing; 8:30PM for somewhere between 10-70 pesos. It was a weird system.
I relaxed for a few minutes in A/C until we ate dinner and headed off to the movie. We met downstairs as a BIG group and went into the pouring rain across the street to Pete's Kitchen for some unknown Filipino food. I felt unsure and went back to the restaurant in the hotel. A few of us ate breakfast for dinner and drank a pineapple sling [pineapple juice with vodka]. My foot is so swollen and I felt like I was having a pretty bad allergic reaction.
After dinner, Mike, Rusty, JB, Beth, Abby & myself met up with Meredith, Caroline, Meghan and Chris to head to Pirates 3. It was a large, empty theater but had decent sound for most of the movie, very loud. Pirates 3 is the WORST movie I've seen in a long time! Thank God I only paid US$1.50 to see it!!!! I coughed the entire movie and fidgeted because the seats were so uncomfortable. The movie made no sense. 3 HOURS. Absolutely ridiculous.
More rain after the movie. I think it rained like this in Cebu last year, too. No karaoke with Dan this year, but a few others found some places they liked to hang out at.
I walked quickly back to the hotel alone, while the others went out, and popped a Bendryl for my swollen cankle. I felt so out of it, like I was dizzy or on drugs or something. Sleep will be good.
Ah, yes. A memorable song from the boat ride to Olango with music: Murray Head, Chess. It's a silly, hilarious song that we were all singing the rest of the day. It will be included on the soundtrack I think I'll make for everyone.
Comments
Thanks, movies
Thanks for the updates.Traveling is no fun when sick and hurting. What would I do when not going to movies?
Now I am waiting for some clouds to burn off so I can rake some hay. Next week we are hoping to tak Lydia and Ben to see Summer. When we return second cutting will be ready, mowing, raking, baling, wraping, stacking. Were is the food supply for the area you are? Have you met any farmers, food producers? Is most of there diet fish?
How do I get your pictures?