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New destination, new world..
Airport bus to HK airport, checked my backpack in and got an emergency exit chair. Which is nice coz if you think the normal legspace on KLM planes is kinda tight, try Cebu Pacific. Well it's a budget airline but still.. Two hour flight to Manila, where I had a good 5 hour stopover. Walked around, had some lunch and after 4 1/2 hours I decided to have a quick look outside. Walked out the terminal, took a couple of pictures and when I tried to re-enter the terminal I was told that door is exit only. Why? Because towards the next door was a huge queue of people getting into the terminal (which is 'passengers only') having to through a security check including xray, just to get into the terminal. Time was short, this line looked like at least 30 minutes long. I talked to a security guard who directed me ti a door 50 meters further on; no line, 6 officers doing nothing, took me 15 seconds to get through. Very relieved I walked to my gate, after paying 100 pesos 'terminal fee'. One hour flight to Kalibo where it was dark upon arrival.
Walked out of this tiny airport and got on a tricycle (kinda like a cross between a moped and a tuk-tuk). Ride was 20 minutes and costs 100 pesos (1,80€). I had booked a room online here, showered and walked around town a bit. Ended up having a beer in a very local bar (Sungrace), chatting with the locals. Very nice people. At one point a dude walks in with a bucket with some rugs in it. You want an egg, the people ask me? Hmm not a fan of eggs served out of a warm iron bucket in a Philippino bar, so thanks but no thanks. You guys gonna have one, what is it, a hard boiled or how do you eat it? Well not exactly sir, local delicasy, duck embryo. Ok now i know for sure I am skipping this little treat. But by all means, all have one on me (they were 14 pesos, 0,25€ each, a bit on the expensive side for them) and enjoy. There is a pic on my facebook, picture says more than a hundred words.
Next day tricycle through town to a van that would take me to Caticlan. Tricycle took 10 minutes and the van 1 1/2 hours. 1 1/2 hours with 11 other people in a mini-van without airco of course. Hey, you want adventure, you get it. But with Pink Floyd on the earphones and the scenic views of the ocean in my right it wasn't so bad. Sometimes I just wondered with wich particular washing powder their free driving license came.
Upon arrival found the ferry, now first please pay a bunch of fees for the terminal, for the tax, for s cleaner Boracay etc. Was not much actually. Then the ferry ticket across and off I go! Took another tricycle to get to the Trafalgar cottages and checked in. Room bit of a disappointment, so walked into town, did some exploring and found a really nice place for 29€/night with airco and a pool. Has a bungalow feeling to it and a 3 minute walk to the beach. The first afternoon stayed a bir too long in this grilling sun, was standing in the warm ocean and didn't noticd my back was being roasted Medium-Rare.
Oh did I mention my porch has a hammock, so relaxed there for a while before walking back to the beach for dinner (local dish with pork) and a few drinks on the beach side.
Boracay is a long stretched island and a beach is running on the entire west side of it. This is the beach where I am relaxing and where the sun sets every night in a magical way.
Today is thursday and i feel at ease here. Mom, sister and rest of the family are travelling to Tenerife tomorrow and so I wish them a good and safe trip and it will be hard, first time without my dad.
Ik hou van jullie en denk aan jullie.
Made arrangements to go do some scuba diving tomorrow, met up with the guys from the dive shop. 10am tomorrow, wreck dive, nice! Day after tomorrow boat trip around the island, cool as well. Try to get some more people together, then we can charter a private boat. Better.
Asked these guys about boats back towards the north as well, don't want to fly back to Manila, but see something of the country/islands as well. It's an option to island-hop and take a bus to the next ferry. All I know is that I fly back out of Manila on the 26th, so will work my way up there somehow.
A weird thing here is that people want to be in a picture with you. Onlh God knows why but feels strange, this is what crlebrities must feel like? Photo sir, photo please? Haha why? They answer: why not? True, why not, let's do it. Weird.
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