We expected to sleep in this morning. It turns out the roosters and chickens had alternative agendas and woke us up early. Showering, stretching, and heading into town to get breakfast set is in motion for the day. This is when the day took an unsuspected turn.
A larger banca boat, the Overcomer, shuttled tourists from El Nido to Coron, a common transfer. Although I'd intended to make reservation earlier, my best intentions failed to actualize. So Wednesday morning, we attempted to purchase tickets for a Thursday morning ride, the wonderful lady at the Cliffside going so-far-as to call the owner personally about getting us a ride. But, the boat was entirely full, people paying the up-front ticket costs, and so the banca would not take us aboard. No other options existed. We visited four offices and they all told us it would be impossible to get to Coron on Thursday. Our flight back to Taiwan went through Coron airport and the entire reason we decided to make the transfer was to check out the salt-water hot springs on Busuanga and do some more snorkeling. Only one boat existed on Thursday and there wasn't anything we could do about getting across the ocean on the day we planned. We should have made reservations earlier but, at the height of tourist season, you'd think there would be more options. The Jezebel, leaving on Friday, is reviewed online as "ride at your own risk", having sunk or broken down numerous times. I can see why the Thursday alternative was fully booked but now we were left with no other option. We made reservations to run the gauntlet and take the Jezebel across the ocean, hoping it would not sink. Isn't it crazy that was a real concern, our boat sinking in the middle of the ocean?
When it comes to jobs, ordering materials, organizing projects, etc. I am very competent. Why normal life responsibilities, outside of a "work" setting, allude me to a point I admit I am really bad at making and securing travel plans is an anomaly. If only somehow I could take my responsible mentality, in a job context, and port it over into my everyday life. Its like I have a dual personality, a responsible work self, and a go with the flow kind of lackadaisical, unplanning, self.
A larger banca boat, the Overcomer, shuttled tourists from El Nido to Coron, a common transfer. Although I'd intended to make reservation earlier, my best intentions failed to actualize. So Wednesday morning, we attempted to purchase tickets for a Thursday morning ride, the wonderful lady at the Cliffside going so-far-as to call the owner personally about getting us a ride. But, the boat was entirely full, people paying the up-front ticket costs, and so the banca would not take us aboard. No other options existed. We visited four offices and they all told us it would be impossible to get to Coron on Thursday. Our flight back to Taiwan went through Coron airport and the entire reason we decided to make the transfer was to check out the salt-water hot springs on Busuanga and do some more snorkeling. Only one boat existed on Thursday and there wasn't anything we could do about getting across the ocean on the day we planned. We should have made reservations earlier but, at the height of tourist season, you'd think there would be more options. The Jezebel, leaving on Friday, is reviewed online as "ride at your own risk", having sunk or broken down numerous times. I can see why the Thursday alternative was fully booked but now we were left with no other option. We made reservations to run the gauntlet and take the Jezebel across the ocean, hoping it would not sink. Isn't it crazy that was a real concern, our boat sinking in the middle of the ocean?
When it comes to jobs, ordering materials, organizing projects, etc. I am very competent. Why normal life responsibilities, outside of a "work" setting, allude me to a point I admit I am really bad at making and securing travel plans is an anomaly. If only somehow I could take my responsible mentality, in a job context, and port it over into my everyday life. Its like I have a dual personality, a responsible work self, and a go with the flow kind of lackadaisical, unplanning, self.
After this bit of unsettling news we left to Marimegmeg beach, to hook up with Victor and Ana. We didn't know what time they would be at the beach, or really where it was even located. The map showed it somewhere south and we figured we could easily walk there, so, packs ready for a fun day at the beach, we headed out discussing what we'd do on in El Nido with the unexpected delay of departure. What looked to be an easy walk on the map turned out to take longer than anticipated. It was around a five miles walk from our place and we probably should have just taken a tricycle. It saved three bucks to walk and allowed us to see some countryside but it also took an hour to reach our destination. Being cheap has its upsides and downsides. Since we did not know where the beach was actually located, we sneaked down a hillside, through a resort's gated area, to start walking along the beach, hoping to eventually get to the spot. We walked south for a bit until sharp, rocky boulders stood in our way. Navigated them for a while (thanks river-tracing for all the preparation!) put us onto a very nice beach and people could be seen roaming about. As we walked, we came upon two extremely white (but quickly tanning) swedes. We found them! After a few minutes chat, we departed to explore an island that one could walk to via a small land-bridge (so I guess it technically wasn't an island). Sharp rocky shore separated the island from the ocean and steep sides made it impossible to hike up the hillside without gear. Because of this, we were happy enough walking the perimeter's skirt.
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| Island shore |
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| Duck face is so '09 |
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| This island rocks! :-D |
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| The country of islands |
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| Heaven? |
I think I could get used to this life.
Such is how we spent the day. As evening approached we took a tricycle back to town, purchasing veggies on the way for the upcoming hot pot meal. We headed into town and stopped at The Alternative to pick up a sweatshirt that was accidentally left there the previous evening. With sweatshirt in hand, we turned to leave and were hailed from behind. Spinning around, we saw Mini descending the stairs. The evening plans had changed.
Apparently, the trio was previously on tenuous terms and some argument that occurred a few hours before was the straw that broke the camels back. We would not be eating hot pot that evening. She apologized for putting us out and was determined to leave El Nido and get to Coron the following day. She was extremely distraught and not only rapped Chinese but her English was spoke so quickly it was difficult to keep up. We informed her it was impossible get to Coron the follow day but she wasn't having it and refused to give up. After talking with a few travel agents, she and Dacota departed to search for another possibility. I stayed at one of the agencies to keep a tentative Friday reservation, bullshitting with the employee to pass the time. A half hour later, they returned and informed me that we were indeed heading to Coron on Thursday. Overjoyed that our plans somehow worked out (after being assured it was impossible), we walked around with Mini to help her get a hotel for the evening. After trying a half dozen places, Abbey and Michelle approached us in the street, hoping to buy us dinner for canceling the date. Since Dacota and Mini were in conversation with a women who might be able to rent her a room, I said a few words to the tense looking girls. We were in the middle of some weird vibes. Torn between the quarreling parties, Dacota left with Mini and I was left trying to understand what happened between the ex-friends. It was extremely awkward standing between the two parties. Mini spoke excellent English; however, neither Abbey nor Michelle spoke very well and an uncomfortable and poor conversation took place as I attempted to explain what was going on. The girls invited us to dinner, feeling bad that they cancelled on us, but Mini, Dacota and I already had planned to grab dinner together after getting accommodations worked out, so that we might still enjoy the evening. The appearance of the other two girls threw a wrench into plans and, with Dacota gone, I didn't know what to say to these girls whose eyes shone with accusatory intensity. What was to happen? I forgot to mention that, since we didn't have enough money on us, Mini had fronted us the money to pay for tickets to Coron and held the reservation on one receipt in her possession. An unintentional power move on her part.
After her accommodations were secure, Mini, fortunately, sent Dacota back to help her "friends" get back home safely. These girls were obviously extremely more bitter than Mini about the divorce. Both parties had similar accounts of the argument, but their emphasis and sides altered considerably. According to Mini, neither of her friends were grateful that she was literally taking care of them during the entire trip. Mini is a world traveler and extremely proficient with getting-shit-done, whereas the other girls were basically helpless outside of China. Michelle and Abbey complained about being mislead by Mini to accompany her on this trip and continued insisting we should not trust Mini. Although we trusted Mini (who gave all impressions of being awesome... and she was... we were still slightly stressed about possibly not getting to Coron (remember, she held our tickets at this point))
Mini, feeling these helpless girls were ruining her holiday, decided to save her vacation by meeting some other friends in Coron and doing some shipwreck diving. She was obviously less bitter, and not vengeful, and gave detailed (written) instructions for her friends so that they could enjoy their remaining time in El Nido but neither girl was interested in staying. They spent some insane amount of money to change their flight during our dinner together and electronically severed all connections with Mini. A four year friendship down the drain because of a simple misunderstanding. It was kind of sad actually. They were to leave in two days and needed out help getting out of El Nido. Thus, after dinner we spent the night getting their plane tickets printed out, writing down instructions, to be handed to the drivers of the taxi and bus, that would enable them to get back to the airport, and generally making sure they would be fine for the next couple of days. We sat around drinking beers on the beach and, once the bar was closed, grabbed some additional drinks from a small liquor store and headed back to their hotel, were we drank and talked on the rooftop for a few hours. Various large butterflies and insects caused these girls to squeal in terror and book it towards the "stairwell of safety". It was pretty damn funny.
Things were enjoyable when, all of a sudden, a weird french guy blew up out private party by sitting down with us like he was our best friend. It was early in the morning and he apparently thought it was cool to crash our intimate setting. All four of us looked at each other, puzzled at who invited this guy, but apparently he simply heard us and decided to come up and join the party. Two nights in a row and drunk-ass guys thought it was okay to insert themselves into a male/female dichotomous situation. Lesson to the world: Don't do this. It is rude as hell!
I'll preface this next part of the story by saying that I did a considerable amount of research on the Philippines. In popular tourist places, stories emerged that the local police would go to bars, offer people a joint to smoke during the evening (marijuana is extremely illegal; ironically based on the West's strict "drug" policy) and, once the illegal product is in the person's possession, extorting him or her for money or take them to jail, where they would have to spend a significant amount of money to get out. A pretty dirty game but, Hell this is the third world. With that said, this french guy came up and tried to sell us some pot during his inappropriate stay. I emphatically declined and we turned our attention away from him completely until he finally left. Another weird ordeal.
With him gone, things returned to normal and the night proceeded in whatever ways the reader's imagination sees fit.
Apparently, the trio was previously on tenuous terms and some argument that occurred a few hours before was the straw that broke the camels back. We would not be eating hot pot that evening. She apologized for putting us out and was determined to leave El Nido and get to Coron the following day. She was extremely distraught and not only rapped Chinese but her English was spoke so quickly it was difficult to keep up. We informed her it was impossible get to Coron the follow day but she wasn't having it and refused to give up. After talking with a few travel agents, she and Dacota departed to search for another possibility. I stayed at one of the agencies to keep a tentative Friday reservation, bullshitting with the employee to pass the time. A half hour later, they returned and informed me that we were indeed heading to Coron on Thursday. Overjoyed that our plans somehow worked out (after being assured it was impossible), we walked around with Mini to help her get a hotel for the evening. After trying a half dozen places, Abbey and Michelle approached us in the street, hoping to buy us dinner for canceling the date. Since Dacota and Mini were in conversation with a women who might be able to rent her a room, I said a few words to the tense looking girls. We were in the middle of some weird vibes. Torn between the quarreling parties, Dacota left with Mini and I was left trying to understand what happened between the ex-friends. It was extremely awkward standing between the two parties. Mini spoke excellent English; however, neither Abbey nor Michelle spoke very well and an uncomfortable and poor conversation took place as I attempted to explain what was going on. The girls invited us to dinner, feeling bad that they cancelled on us, but Mini, Dacota and I already had planned to grab dinner together after getting accommodations worked out, so that we might still enjoy the evening. The appearance of the other two girls threw a wrench into plans and, with Dacota gone, I didn't know what to say to these girls whose eyes shone with accusatory intensity. What was to happen? I forgot to mention that, since we didn't have enough money on us, Mini had fronted us the money to pay for tickets to Coron and held the reservation on one receipt in her possession. An unintentional power move on her part.
After her accommodations were secure, Mini, fortunately, sent Dacota back to help her "friends" get back home safely. These girls were obviously extremely more bitter than Mini about the divorce. Both parties had similar accounts of the argument, but their emphasis and sides altered considerably. According to Mini, neither of her friends were grateful that she was literally taking care of them during the entire trip. Mini is a world traveler and extremely proficient with getting-shit-done, whereas the other girls were basically helpless outside of China. Michelle and Abbey complained about being mislead by Mini to accompany her on this trip and continued insisting we should not trust Mini. Although we trusted Mini (who gave all impressions of being awesome... and she was... we were still slightly stressed about possibly not getting to Coron (remember, she held our tickets at this point))
Mini, feeling these helpless girls were ruining her holiday, decided to save her vacation by meeting some other friends in Coron and doing some shipwreck diving. She was obviously less bitter, and not vengeful, and gave detailed (written) instructions for her friends so that they could enjoy their remaining time in El Nido but neither girl was interested in staying. They spent some insane amount of money to change their flight during our dinner together and electronically severed all connections with Mini. A four year friendship down the drain because of a simple misunderstanding. It was kind of sad actually. They were to leave in two days and needed out help getting out of El Nido. Thus, after dinner we spent the night getting their plane tickets printed out, writing down instructions, to be handed to the drivers of the taxi and bus, that would enable them to get back to the airport, and generally making sure they would be fine for the next couple of days. We sat around drinking beers on the beach and, once the bar was closed, grabbed some additional drinks from a small liquor store and headed back to their hotel, were we drank and talked on the rooftop for a few hours. Various large butterflies and insects caused these girls to squeal in terror and book it towards the "stairwell of safety". It was pretty damn funny.
 |
| A gigantic beautiful butterfly |
I'll preface this next part of the story by saying that I did a considerable amount of research on the Philippines. In popular tourist places, stories emerged that the local police would go to bars, offer people a joint to smoke during the evening (marijuana is extremely illegal; ironically based on the West's strict "drug" policy) and, once the illegal product is in the person's possession, extorting him or her for money or take them to jail, where they would have to spend a significant amount of money to get out. A pretty dirty game but, Hell this is the third world. With that said, this french guy came up and tried to sell us some pot during his inappropriate stay. I emphatically declined and we turned our attention away from him completely until he finally left. Another weird ordeal.
With him gone, things returned to normal and the night proceeded in whatever ways the reader's imagination sees fit.
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