The trip from Mindoro was insane. we firstly took a tricycle plus all our bags to a jeepney station in Calipan city. these things are a motor bike with a box on the side. "death in a box" i would more closely discribe them.

we then took a jeepney around the huge mountains of mindoro, long and windy roads, thaaaaaat lead...... to us breaking down. in the middle of a mud track on the side of a dead volcano...... oh, forgot to mention, before we broke down, all 5 of us were lying on the roof of this jeepney (a big van with no sides to it) clinging on to our bags and our lives.....

so, we got picked up by another jeepney, and before we could come down from the roof, 20 other people crowded out of this van big enough to fit about 5 comfortably. problem was that we had to now get on a roof which had a chest of draws, several bags and huge metal rods running down the length of it. the girls got up and lay on top of our bags, holding onto eachother and feeling each bump, which sent them flying up into the air then landing on the jeepney which caught them on their way down. me and Mavro were literaly standing on the back of this jeepney, holding onto the roof bars, you can imagine how these long, muddy,bumping and deadly cornered roads made this position feel a little uneasy. still, at least it was a bit of a work out for me literally holding on with my arms while my feet were spending the majority of their time in the air.

we then got to a petrol station after FINALLY getting to a ATM!!!!! (HALLAYLUHA!!) ............ then followed a 3hour journey through which seemed like a scene out of commando, where Arnold Swartzenhatzen is stomping his way through jungle, navigating around civilian settlements and considering how to get over a variety of broken bridges. all good, at least at this point we all had chocolate and Fanta.ACE. nearly at the boat port.....

so we arrived at the boat port, forced to tip the driver (almost at gun point by the already crowding locals). ended up in conversation with "boat port staff" who told us we had to stay until at least 2am (now 7pm) to get the next boat to where we needed to then get a further boat to Bouracay island. lying c*** , we found a ferry which left at 8pm, which would give laura an opportunity to stun everyone at the karaoke, me and mike to eat some instant noodle contraption, and faye and adele to get some much deserved rest.

got to Caticlan port at 1 a.m, and ended up being picked up by a drunk tricycle driver who took all 5 of us (plus bags) to "his aunties" hostel to stay the night. alreay this felt bad... wont go into details here, but blood splattered up the walls and signs of people leaving in a hurry probably the icing on the cake. i stayed awake all night after triple locking the doors and tapping the walls for any hidden rooms or cameras!

we woke up early, f***ed off out of there and got the 10min boat ride to bouracay the next morning.

imagine a postcard- palm trees, white sand, blue crystal waters, a sailing boat or two, and what feels to be metal melting heat....welcome to bouracay island. we are staying with the most wonderful family in their hostel and loving each day.

finally the philipenes feels real, it feels safe, if feels welcoming, it feels like home.

(the kitchen is a s*** hole and Faye fainted) byeeeeeeeeee x x x

Nick