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The Philippines Take Two - The Final Chapter!
I write this blog entry in tribute to my latest namesake Francis James, a beautiful baby boy, born to my good friend Franklin's older brother on the day of my arrival in Cebu City.
I must admit, I write this feeling ever so slightly hungover after a night out in the bars of Boracay, so apoligise in advance if the blog entry is a little weak.
I am sadly still waiting nervously for my camera, so remain pictureless, and find myself praying that it will actually arrive before tomorrow, as I have to take the ferry to Manila by Sunday at the latest, an epic trip of nearly 20 hours, which means it will no doubt take much longer, but hopefully will arrive before my flight leaves to Singapore!!! I must confess if I was to be stranded anywhere then the Philippines would be pretty high on the my list.
Well it seems from my last endeavour that I have yet to mention most of my trip, so shall kick off with my visit to Sagada. Previously referenced with my joyful story about GQ, and my style advice. Maintaining my cheap ways, I chose to not get a guide to the hanging coffins, so went on a stroll around the hills, soon getting lost, before finding a local, who kindly pointed me in the right way, I was heading the absolute opposite direction before the guidance. When I finally reached the hanging coffins, there proved most disappointing, and were literally just strapped to a cliff, but were hardly thrilling. I then popped down to the cave to check out some more coffins, I guess with the mummies too, I must have been going through quite a morbid stage. The cave proved more enlightening, but sadly without a light, I was too much of a wimp to venture far. It was pitch black, and considering I slipped over in the entrance, the thought of delving into the bowels of the beast felt just a little too daunting. After my exhausting day I treated myself to pasta, which I think remains my only day in Asia so far that I have not eaten rice, not that I am complaining, rice is quite tasty and very cheap. I followed up with some famous local yoghurt, sadly it was not the best, tasting far too much like cow, if that makes sense, if only they sold kwark, yummy.
After Sagada, I went to the rice terraces of Banaue, sadly at the wrong time of year, so they were muddy brown, rather than a delightful green. I also found the cheapest beer ever, Red Horse at a meagre 19 peso's, a worthy investment even if it meant an epic trip up the hill to find the shop, all to save 16 peso's, with beer at the bottom being a huge 35 peso's. The next day I went to Batad, for more rice terraces, the Philippines is pretty famous for them, so I considered it a necessary adventure. I also checked out the waterfall and the quaint little town, full of a million kids playing the national sport of Basketball - quite random, perhaps I should have brought some football's with me, so that they could play a real sport.
I then made the epic trip from Banaue to Daet, about 20 hours on a bus, leaving me with a very sore bum by the end. That night I attempted to do some washing, medieval style, dipping my clothes in a large bucked of water. Unsuprisingly it proved quite unsuccessful, leaving most of my clothes dirty, and forcing me to pack them wet in the morning, my bag still remains a little musty. Daet and Legazpi were just like most towns, and had little entertainment value, plus my memories remain bitter due to the camera incident.
I experienced my first ever international couchsurf in Cebu City, staying with Franklin, a fantastic person, who is lots of fun, immensely generous, funny, and a most fabulous host. My first night I hit the bars and clubs, a fruitful night, that finished with a rather nasty special soup, supposedly a hangover cure, in the early hours of the morning. I even popped to the cinema, which was freezing cold again, so i really must remember my coat next time. I tried some local food, and some seafood, a first for me, well the crab soup was at least. The lechon, a spit roasted pig, was delicious, as was the halo halo, or something, a strange ice cream, and ice, and fruit concoction, is that spelt right at all?? Cebu was a cool city, even with the scary driving, Filippino's don't really follow the laws of the road, but it sorts of works still, kind of anyway.
I am now in Boracay, and the amazing White Beach. Everything is more expensive here, like three times the price of the rest of the country, but the scenery makes up for it. As i warned before I have done little here except for chilling on the beach, which reminds I still haven't been in the ocean, madness I know. Last night I proved to myself again that I have become quite the lightweight since travelling, as find myself incredibly sleepy today, so will now make my excuses and hit the beach for some sun action, although it is a little cloudy today.
Until next time, take care my friends...
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