Malapascua Island, Philippines - February 4, 2006
Arrived in Malapascua Island tonight. I also met up with another university teacher from up in Korea. The three of us took a bus through Rough Rider Buses from Cebu all along the island to the northern tip to a town called Maya. Apparently Ceres Bus goes all the way as well - it was really difficult getting information about this beforehand, so I'm reporting it here. In addition, they leave from the Northern Bus Terminal every 15 minutes until sometime in the afternoon. All of this was hard to get information about as Rough Riders Bus' phone number is out of service.
Anyways, it was about 4 hours to Maya by bus, and once in Maya, no one wanted us to take us to Malapascua. They said it was raining and storming too much. One brave captain volunteered for a price. There were about six foreigners total and many locals. We took them on the offer. Quite a boat trip though. It was raining and the waves were HUGE and the pumpboat was small - maximum 40 total and everyone sits up on top without protection.
Essentially we were soaked! The boat would ride over one road and then the front of the boat would hit the water and be pushed back up throwing water back. My girlfriend was scared to death - and her being Filipina, made me nervous she knew something I didn't know. The hard rain didn't help things either. In short, my entire body was pretty much soaked with seawater. My eyes and mouth had salt all over them. The up and down motion of the boat was quite the ride as well. Reminded of this 'VIKING' ride at the amusement parks. Now I really understand that ride, as when those larger waves were hitting, our boat was really going up and down much like that ride! Quite an experience!
As to Malapascua Island itself. Well, its dark and we can't see anything. Its also windy and raining tonight. However, we did get a really cool nipa hut right on the boat with a large balcony on the second floor. Its very airy and roomy. I love it - and best yet its only 800 pesos a night! (US$13). The strange thing is that someone else's belongings are in the dresser drawers - probably a local. Makes me think someone else might have a key to get in or something. Actually makes me wonder about a lot of things - like whose room is it usually and did they give us fresh sheets?
The island itself looks cool though.. and tomorrow in the sunlight.. we can explore much more easily. So far so good, and just really happy to have made the rough boat trip through the storm. Intersting that no one on the Maya side was willing to take us! As soon as we left shore, I instantly understood why!
More on the Philippines..
February 5, 2006
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