Cebu & Bohol, Philippines - December 19, 2005
Yesterday I picked up my girlfriend at the airport. I was thinking earlier how much better it would have been if I'd just told her to meet me in Manila instead of Cebu at this time. It all worked out though.
One of things we did today was visit her aunt and uncle's house. It wasn't far from the Ayala Mall. Their house was among a large number of other houses, all with the winding curving trails and such that go back into little packs filled with small houses. Once at their place, it was actually very airy and nice. There was a great breeze, and their house was half inside and half outside with some really nice security in a funny way. Lots of houses and people squashed up all around them on all sides as well. I guess it was a very cheap place to live, but also a very nice place in many ways at the same time. They had everything you would need in there, and felt really homey at the same time. Actually, only pictures would do the place justice, and too bad I didn't have a camera. They also made dinner for us, an entire chicken with soy sauce and rice. Tasted great!
Afterwards, we went to go to TOPS which supposedly has an amazing view of all of Cebu. The taxi drivers quoted way too much, so as we went by a place called Casino Filipino, we had them drop us off there. Across from there was some really large techno party of some sorts. We walked around the perimeter of that, and then finally went into the Casino Filipino itself. I don't know what was up that night, but they had a good 500 women or so dressed in their best. Hardly saw any men though. Kind of strange. This was also the location of the Waterfront Hotel (which we found didn't have a waterfront). Very nice decor throughout the Hotel Casino, and enjoyed spending time there. Even one walk way that felt extremely Italian with its decor, and we sat in their for awhile during a heavy rainstorm that during that time. A very interesting evening.
The next day, today, I spent most of the day trying to get travel arrangements in order to go to General Santos for Christmas, as well as getting out of General Santos so I can get back to Korea shortly thereafter. While doing that, I also organized a boat trip to get out of Cebu and go to a beach instead!! We found a boat to Bohol, and that evening around 5:30pm, we boarded our boat to a town called Tagbilaran. The entire boat ride was quite dark, and when we arrived in Tagbilaran it was quite dark and filled with tons of tricycles and mopeds everywhere just like the Lonely Planet Philippines book described. To get away from the circus near the port, we walked into town, met a strange foreigner drinking San Miquel who invited me for a drink as well. As we were far from settled, I declined, and as we couldn't find a taxi, we went back to the circus of taxi drivers once again.
Once there, I just accepted a taxi drivers offer of 350 pesos (US$7) to take us to Panglao's Island ALONA BEACH. It ended up being around 13km and it seemed like we were just taking back roads everywhere. I also had a very exhausted and tired girlfriend on my hands. Finally we arrived at our destination, and found our hotel room would cost nearly $40 and it didn't even have a TV or much of anything else really except an aircon. I took it for the next two nights anyways. Thats what we do for our girlfriends anyways. That evening, we had a very romantic overlook of a gorgeous beach at night. After dinner, we walked along the beach hand in hand. I have a feeling its going to be a very good couple of days coming up.
Continued journal entries in the Philippines:
December 20, 2005
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