Disappointed with the spoils of Bohol we took yet another ferry (this time a rather fancy catamaran) to Camiguin which is in the region of Mindanao. Mindanao is known to some only for its troubles but you would know nothing of it in the North, and if this area is anything to go by the people couldn't be friendlier.

Camiguin is a volcanic island, Hiboc Hiboc still active, last erupting in the 50's to devastating effect. Hiboc Hiboc is one of many; there are more volcanoes per square kilometre on the island than any other island. Eruptions and lava flows are spectacular but I'm not sure it's a great idea to be in the vicinity when they occur!

James never had a tree house as a child, come to think of it nor did I so we spent our first couple of days in exactly that, a very large tree with rooms and balconies built in over three levels. On the top floor we looked out onto the canopy. A mosquito net protected us from the worst of the bugs as we slept with the wind and rain rattling around us.

Hiring another motorbike we set off round the island on the coastal road. Everywhere we go the locals are incredibly friendly, the phrase of the day appears to be 'hey my friend, my friend' along with an obligatory hand wave. After a few kilometres on our motorbike we were sufficiently adept at balancing that I was soon waving like royalty to return all these greetings. Our first stop was to purchase petrol and this time direct from a pump rather than at a roadside shack where it was decanted from a large coke bottle. Next stop a little tourist stall to purchase some new sunnies so I could fulfil my navigation duties adequately. And then on to the sunken cemetery. A rather large white cross sits off shore in the ocean, there is little explanation of why it is there but with a little research we discovered it marks the site of a sunken cemetery. A casualty of an earthquake and volcano eruption quite some time ago. Passing by some ruins we were intrigued by a sign to the 'soda pool' so up a rather steep mountain road we climbed arriving at a lovely little outdoor pool with deliciously cool water. Rather sticky and covered in the odd squished fly we took a dip. Sadly the water was not fizzy as the 'soda' element implies but apparently it does taste rather like soda water. Nevertheless the dip was rather wonderful.

Our second night in the tree house was disturbed by a rather large storm and a visitor above our heads of the rat variety. I can't say it was the best night's sleep I've had, visions of rats falling on my head did not assist with peaceful slumber. It was with mixed feelings that we left the next morning for our second destination on Camiguin.

And so on to the north of the island and the black volcanic sand beaches with a view of white beach, and incredible pure white sandbar, just off shore.