Just Sit Right Back and You'll Hear a Tale...

Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip that started in this tropic port aboard this tiny ship..... Yes, that actually is the perfect start to this story.
      Ok so the trip actually started in our beautiful town of Baguio at 4am, but the good stuff- that happens in a tropic port....  after a jeepney ride, 4 hour bus ride down the mountain, an overcharged taxi to our beautiful hotel and a relaxing night. The next day we flew from Clark airport to the island of Cebu where we took a taxi to another bus to get to the port of Danao! (exhausted yet?) We finally made it to the port of Danao where we should catch a ferry to the small Camotes islands. When we arrive at 10 am all the ferries are completely sold out until 5:30 pm. The only shelter at the port is a small alcove selling food that if we ate it, we would have some serious stomach issues. It felt like it was about 90* and rising, we had lots of luggage and the place is packed with the natives of the island who we learned were all trying to get home after working on the mainland for Christmas. We definitely stuck out like a pair of what looked like "rich tourists".  We did not want to be waiting there for much longer, let alone 7 hours! We met 2 local girls who were trying to get over to the island for vacation as well and they had secured passage to the island on a private boat, we would have to pay a good bit more than the ferry but we could be there in 2 hours- on the beach of the resort the girls were headed to. Our place was going to send us a ride wherever we needed so this sounded great!
       So it turns out that the private boat is a tiny banka boat (traditional fishing/personal transport boat of the region). Our luggage was stowed in bins and we all climbed on. There was no shade on the boat and we could not get into our luggage safely (without flashing our electronics etc.. )so we decided we'd cover up as best as possible with a hat and my cardigan. Off the boat goes- we are sitting single file on top of this boat that is so narrow that when sitting cross legged, my knees hang over the side an inch or two and we are sitting about a foot off the surface of the water.  About 30 minutes into the trip Craig says he's just slightly worried that our drivers could be pirates- that they will stop us in the middle of our trip and demand money or something.  Also, there are storm clouds in the distance around the northern tip of the island.  As we prepare to get wet and pray unceasingly for protection and safety, the engine of the boat sputters and shuts off. We sit idle on the water for about 10 minutes before they can get it running again, although it is at a slower pace, we continue on toward Camotes Island.  Of course with the thought of these guys being "pirates" in our heads- we were terrified when the engine shut off.  Thankfully, they weren't! :)

         Finally, we arrive at what I thought was the resort of the girls we traveled with. It was gorgeous! A pavilion on a small cliff over-looking turquoise shallow ocean. I thought, perfect, we'll go get some water and lunch at their resort, call our driver then head to our place.  This was quickly shattered.  This was not a resort, nor was it their resort. 

The banka boat that took us across form Cebu to Camotes. 

Where we landed on Camotes.

       We ended up walking through a palm tree forest, getting directions from locals then the girls we were with got a ride to their place and we hiked what was said to be 1 kilometer- but was definitely more- to the road!  Past a goat, around a cow, through a few tiny village  areas. What a sight we  were! Two young sunburnt white people with backpacks and purses rolling suitcases down their little dirt road (which tourists probably never come down). They just smiled and stared.  We walked as fast as we could, trying to make it to the main road where we hoped to call our driver to come get us!

          When we got to the road, we didn't have cell phone service and when I tried to ask locals for help they were very unhelpful- all they wanted was to offer us motorbike rides ad get a good laugh.  Others we asked for help, ignored us. Finally we crossed the street to a water station and found a white man- in my desperate and heat exhausted state and I frantically asked- "Do you speak English!?"  the guy says, "Well I should hope so, I am from England!"  Praise God!  This British man and his wife gave us free water and a place to rest and cool off with a fan.  We are So thankful for them.  When we had cooled off they drove us down the road where we could call our driver. 

           Our "driver" was 2 motorbikes! Welcome to Camotes- this is how we get around here!  So, they hold our luggage on the front of their bikes and we get on the back and hold on for dear life- again praying fervently for safety!!  The island is beautiful- full of local Filipino charm- rice fields, cows, water buffalo, chickens, goats etc...   We make it to the beach house where we found out there was no electricity- but the care-takers in true Filipino fashion told us it should be on in a few hours or by morning.  Long story short, it took us getting a bit tough, but finally they did what really needed to be done and go it fixed the next day.  Things got better from there.  What an adventure- I enjoyed most of it.  :)  - Meghan