Well i nearly didn't make it. The night before i was due to fly out to Manila i had a slight mishap playing indoor football. One trip to the medical centre and a pair of crutches later i hobbled off to try and cancel my flights in 6 hours time. Thankfully i managed to change the flights and the new date was set for 18th September.
I was heading back to help out as a technical advisor to a company called Globecare - a remediation contractor based in Manila. I was tasked to help out with the clean up of a mercury impacted site, as well as cast my expert (hehe) eye over a few other sites that require some work.
Most of the time was spent in the office frantically emailing and sending off proposals and setting up meetings. I did get out to a few sites though, even though my mobility was not at its best. Hopefully all the hard work will pay off and i will be back out there fairly soon.
Manila is an interesting place. Well, i guess i should say more busy than interesting. The place hums with activity. Well i guess it would with 12 million people living in the same place. The traffic is quite frankly epic. But enough of the city stuff. I had the opportunity to escape so i took it. I spent the weekend on the island of Boracay.
Boracay is a 45 minute plane ride south of Manila. It is one of the 7,017 islands that make the Philippines the second biggest archipeligo in the world (interesting fact no.1). The Philippine islands actually have more coast line than the whole of the United States of America (interesting fact 2 - and now i am out of facts).
Anyway, Boracay is approximately 7km long and 1km wide. You can't actually get there by plane, you fly to the neighbouring island and get a boat to the island. It takes about 20 minutes. The flight over was, err, horrendous. An 18 seater prop aircraft flying in the monsoon season afternoon. Asking for trouble really. It was extremely bumpy. Baggage was rolling around the cabin, water was leaking in the door, we were thrown left and right and up and down. At one point a couple of passengers even screamed - it was that bad. Thankfully we landed safely and it was off to catch me a boat.The first thing i noticed was how helpful the Filipinos are. Much more so than in Manila. I am used to carrying my own bag and opening my owns doors etc. But here i was not allowed too. Everything was done for me. Very odd. I mean its great and all, but i am just not used to it.
So i arrived on the beach on the western side of the island. All the accomodation and bars etc are on the east so it was a short jeepney ride across the lush green island. Thankfully the jeepneys here are far more sedate than the ones in Manila.
So all booked in to my accommodation it was time to hit the beach. Not far to walk - all of about 10m. Niiiiiice. Now it is supposed to be one of the best beaches in the world. Personally i am not convinced. Now its a really nice beach, don't get me wrong, but it is flanked by loads of bars and various forms of accomodation. Surely there are a fair number of better beaches in the Philippines let alone the world. Anyway, i hit the beach.
Met up with a guy called Wim from Holland. He was on the same transfer boat. We found a bar and started drinking. Ice cold San Miguel on a white sandy beach on a hot sunny day. Great.
After a swim in the sea the day turned to night and we hit the bars. Again, San Miguel was the drink of choice. At some time around 2.30am i managed to stagger back along the beach to hit the sack. And this was early for Filipinos!!!
Breakfast on the beach then a transfer to Daves Straw Hat Inn. I had had enough of the overpriced and underspecced hotel i was in. Daves was much cheaper ($20 a night) and every bit as good. The only difference being it was 100m from the beach not 10m. Then it was off to another bar, out for a swim, out for a short sail and a bit of a snorkel over the reef. Excellent. Then it was back to a bar for dinner and an acoustic open mic night with Boracays finest till the wee small hours. It was an awesome night. The bar was tucked in amongst the palm trees, lit by lanterns. Amazing. No idea what time i got home. All i know is the next morning i was feeling somewhat sub-optimal.
It was monday and i was feeling quite hungover. An ideal day to go sailing then - obviously. We managed a lap of the island on a traditional outrigger called a Paraw. Basically a very narrow hull (like a canoe) and and outrigger on each side so it forms a trimeran type arrangement. It was totally wooded and help together with wire and rope. Splendid. The sail appeared to be plastic tarpauline, but it didn't half shift in the wind. It was superb fun. We even manged to stop en route for a spot of snorkelling. Feeding the fish with left over sarnies. The coulors were amazing and having them nibble straight from your hand is incredible. I could see myself getting into this diving lark!!!
Sadly my time on the beach paradise was over all too soon. But next time i am back there i have grand plans. Active volcanoes to see (i mean really active!!!) deserted beaches to explore and rice terraces galore described as one of the natural wonders of the world!!!
The hustle and bustle and the hot and sweatiness of Manila was a bit of a downer after all that open ocean and white sand. Ho hum. It was back to Auckland to prepare for the kiwi summer.
