So their I was alone in this stupid queue with my backpack etc. Then things got worse - heavy rain started. Many Philippinos went to the front of the queue for shelter. I didn't want to give up my spot so I stayed in the rain. But when the rain stopped the Philippinos didn't come back - they just stayed close to the counter. People were constantly coming in from the side. I was soaked and miserable. After 8 hours and absolutely no perspective for a ticket I gave my 4 USD to the guy in front of me and told him to buy a ticket for me. I would give him another 2 USD if he gives it to me. (knowing that I cant trust any Philippino) I finally ate something, drank something smoked and went to the bathroom. 12 hours after I arrived they were selling new tickets. But the guy had also been tyred and gave his and my money to a friend of his. But the girl apparently ran of with the money and the spot in the queue was gone. I stood in line once again because I had to get on the ferry. The guy felt really bad and went all the way to the front and pushed into the chaos. He found another guy at the front gave him his money and they achieved to buy the tickets. But when were in the back. the other guy said that he never received any money. So my guy got really angry and got a police man into play. He then forced the bad guy to give my guy the ticket, which he sold to e afterwards. 15 hours after I arrived at this messy, stinky port I was on the ferry. I arrived in Manila at 3 AM and went straight to the beer til morning.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Calapan
I still shiver if I think about Calapan. It was not that bad when we arrived and stayed in hotel, ate some pizza in the center etc. But the next morning we wanted to go to take a ferry to Luzon (Manilas island). The harbour was full of people and apparently standing in only one line, because only one company was selling tickets. I already hear 2 weeks earlier that two ferries sunk on that route. But it was not capacity issue - the problem was that smart people bought their ticket in advance and that's why almost no tickets were sold anymore. I stood in line with the Burmese girl and the English guy I met the day before. Philippines were cheating all the time and have an unconventional queueing culture. So slowly I moved forward. My friends decided to leave because they were not in a rush.
So their I was alone in this stupid queue with my backpack etc. Then things got worse - heavy rain started. Many Philippinos went to the front of the queue for shelter. I didn't want to give up my spot so I stayed in the rain. But when the rain stopped the Philippinos didn't come back - they just stayed close to the counter. People were constantly coming in from the side. I was soaked and miserable. After 8 hours and absolutely no perspective for a ticket I gave my 4 USD to the guy in front of me and told him to buy a ticket for me. I would give him another 2 USD if he gives it to me. (knowing that I cant trust any Philippino) I finally ate something, drank something smoked and went to the bathroom. 12 hours after I arrived they were selling new tickets. But the guy had also been tyred and gave his and my money to a friend of his. But the girl apparently ran of with the money and the spot in the queue was gone. I stood in line once again because I had to get on the ferry. The guy felt really bad and went all the way to the front and pushed into the chaos. He found another guy at the front gave him his money and they achieved to buy the tickets. But when were in the back. the other guy said that he never received any money. So my guy got really angry and got a police man into play. He then forced the bad guy to give my guy the ticket, which he sold to e afterwards. 15 hours after I arrived at this messy, stinky port I was on the ferry. I arrived in Manila at 3 AM and went straight to the beer til morning.
So their I was alone in this stupid queue with my backpack etc. Then things got worse - heavy rain started. Many Philippinos went to the front of the queue for shelter. I didn't want to give up my spot so I stayed in the rain. But when the rain stopped the Philippinos didn't come back - they just stayed close to the counter. People were constantly coming in from the side. I was soaked and miserable. After 8 hours and absolutely no perspective for a ticket I gave my 4 USD to the guy in front of me and told him to buy a ticket for me. I would give him another 2 USD if he gives it to me. (knowing that I cant trust any Philippino) I finally ate something, drank something smoked and went to the bathroom. 12 hours after I arrived they were selling new tickets. But the guy had also been tyred and gave his and my money to a friend of his. But the girl apparently ran of with the money and the spot in the queue was gone. I stood in line once again because I had to get on the ferry. The guy felt really bad and went all the way to the front and pushed into the chaos. He found another guy at the front gave him his money and they achieved to buy the tickets. But when were in the back. the other guy said that he never received any money. So my guy got really angry and got a police man into play. He then forced the bad guy to give my guy the ticket, which he sold to e afterwards. 15 hours after I arrived at this messy, stinky port I was on the ferry. I arrived in Manila at 3 AM and went straight to the beer til morning.
Boracay
The rush up to Manila continued to the northern end of 
Panay. The town called Boracay is the Philippines main tourist draw. It still has some style on the sides of the main beach. But the center is overbuild and out of touch with the village inland where the locals live. The beach itself is nice and offers perfect sunsets. I crashed in 4 USD dorm and woke up early the next day to go to Mindoro Island.
Panay. The town called Boracay is the Philippines main tourist draw. It still has some style on the sides of the main beach. But the center is overbuild and out of touch with the village inland where the locals live. The beach itself is nice and offers perfect sunsets. I crashed in 4 USD dorm and woke up early the next day to go to Mindoro Island.
Bacolod
With a headache after New Year Eve I headed up nort
h and couldn't get further than 5 hours. Bacolod is a strange city. Maybe also because everybody was in bed for the 1st day of 2010. Streets were almost empty. And instead of building sometimes there was just a little grass field in the city center. But I couldn't have bothered less. I just slept most of the day. The next morning it was tricycle to the port and of to the Island of Panay.
h and couldn't get further than 5 hours. Bacolod is a strange city. Maybe also because everybody was in bed for the 1st day of 2010. Streets were almost empty. And instead of building sometimes there was just a little grass field in the city center. But I couldn't have bothered less. I just slept most of the day. The next morning it was tricycle to the port and of to the Island of Panay.
Sipalay
Sugar Beach is 5 km north of Sipalay town. It is cornered between to hills on each side. There are ab
out 4 low key resorts there. I choose the Driftwood Village because it had traditional huts and is the cheapest. It is also Swiss owned which normally is a downside, but the guy in charge was quite cool. Sadly I had some fever when I arrived and it took me 3 days to recover. Only to get an ugly cough just afterwards, which lasted for an unbelievable 10 days. After the Christmas seafood buffet diarrhea joined the cough. I didn't move more than 100m from the place, mostly just because I needed a long awaited rest. When I finally made a little hike to the next bay I bend my toe badly and was pretty much limited to my 100m. Nevertheless I got to know a lot of people at that place and had some nice hammock time. The girls in charge of running the place were a lot of fun and were always extremely good humored. Some tourists have been there for a long time and were pretty much into the beer all day. Of course there were also sex tourists which you can find anywhere in the Philippines. The food was good even though a bid expensive. Chess, Boccia and Black Gammon were the mo
st sophisticated things I did during these days - and I read about 4 books. In the second half of my stay 25 German volunteers showed up, to spend there New Year holidays. Hm mm. Well I got a long with this vast group by avoiding them. Most of them were travelling the first time outside of Europe. For New Years Eve we lit 4 huge piles of dry palm leaves which burned 15 meters high. The next day I had to leave to rush up to Manila to catch my flight
out 4 low key resorts there. I choose the Driftwood Village because it had traditional huts and is the cheapest. It is also Swiss owned which normally is a downside, but the guy in charge was quite cool. Sadly I had some fever when I arrived and it took me 3 days to recover. Only to get an ugly cough just afterwards, which lasted for an unbelievable 10 days. After the Christmas seafood buffet diarrhea joined the cough. I didn't move more than 100m from the place, mostly just because I needed a long awaited rest. When I finally made a little hike to the next bay I bend my toe badly and was pretty much limited to my 100m. Nevertheless I got to know a lot of people at that place and had some nice hammock time. The girls in charge of running the place were a lot of fun and were always extremely good humored. Some tourists have been there for a long time and were pretty much into the beer all day. Of course there were also sex tourists which you can find anywhere in the Philippines. The food was good even though a bid expensive. Chess, Boccia and Black Gammon were the mo
st sophisticated things I did during these days - and I read about 4 books. In the second half of my stay 25 German volunteers showed up, to spend there New Year holidays. Hm mm. Well I got a long with this vast group by avoiding them. Most of them were travelling the first time outside of Europe. For New Years Eve we lit 4 huge piles of dry palm leaves which burned 15 meters high. The next day I had to leave to rush up to Manila to catch my flight
Dumaguete
Dumaguete was part of the broader goal to get to Sipalay to spe
nd Christmas and New Year at a nice place. But Dumaguete is actually pretty nice and pretty calm. The seafront is full of trees decorated with lit up with Christmas lights. In the market I went to a barber shop where the guy couldn't get over the fact how thick my hair apparently are compared with Asian hair. The next day I had to take 3 buses to Sipalay, which were as full as inhumanly possible. But after 5 hours I arrived in Sipalay city from where I took a tricycle to a river. A boat for 15 cents and a last walk to the Driftwood Village where I wanted to spent the next 10 days. A spa after Cebu City.
nd Christmas and New Year at a nice place. But Dumaguete is actually pretty nice and pretty calm. The seafront is full of trees decorated with lit up with Christmas lights. In the market I went to a barber shop where the guy couldn't get over the fact how thick my hair apparently are compared with Asian hair. The next day I had to take 3 buses to Sipalay, which were as full as inhumanly possible. But after 5 hours I arrived in Sipalay city from where I took a tricycle to a river. A boat for 15 cents and a last walk to the Driftwood Village where I wanted to spent the next 10 days. A spa after Cebu City.
Cebu City
After taking a bus from Legazbi back to Manila and a flight to Cebu Island I found myself in this chaotic city at midnight looking for a cheap room, which eventually didn't find. This was especially annoying because I couldn't get money from the ATM. Apparently a bank in Legazbi charged my credit card up to the limit. I only had a bout 80 USD left and didn't know what happened. After calling my bank about 10 times in total I still wasn't able to get cash. Then finally they increased my cash advance limit. But the banks were already closed. So the next day I tryed again - but it didn't work. Then i found out that over night my bank cancelled the credit card. So there I was - in ugly Cebu City eating at the bakery for 1.5 USD a day and drinking water out of a 6 liter water bottle. After days of struggling I phoned my dear mother to send me some money with Western Union. And suddenly my wallet changed from 20 USD to a 1000 USD/ Money rules this world. Without money the shit easily hits the fan. Of course the whole experience was awful, but there are some interesting side effects. For instance you get a much better understanding about the situation of the kids asking you for money all the time. You look at tourists with different eyes if you see them eat a 7 USD pizza and getting drunk. You understand why all young Philippine girls are drawn into prostitution. And much more. After one week I was able to leave this ugly city and went to Dumaguete on the Island of Negros.
Legazbi
Close by of Legazpi I settled at a beach resort that must have been build some 50 years ago. Not a nice place and the water not suitable for swimming. But ate seafood with locals and hit the karaoke machines once again. "Lemon tree" is the one I can sing the best. Apparently karaoke in the Philippines is not that innocent as people may think. There are constantly news about shootings because the previous singer had a lower score than the next one who picked the exact same song to annoy the first singer. Combined with serious alcohol abuse and you have an unpredictable outcome. But since my singing is pretty bad I was never at risk. Lagazbi is also close to the biggest volcano of the Philippines, which erupted 2 days after I left.
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