Malapascua :-)

Boldy bro, this is short so you can read it on your lunch break at work :-)

After some train journey and one night at the end of the street ‘cul de sac’ in the hostel named Beginning I was ready to hop over to another island this time Cebu in Philippines to go diving at famous Malapascua Island. Three hours of Air Asia shake ‘as I felt like in shaker, it was shaky and ice cold’ so I distract myself with editing photos and then some guided meditation from my friend until the air hostess ‘damn hot ones’ were all disappeared from my sneaky viewing point over the laptop screen which meant that we are ready to land and they are seated for landing or training for roller-coaster ride. Anyhow all well on the land and the airport is really nice and clean like newly build or renovated and I like it. Now the jail procedure, fingerprints and photo, does not matter that I have biometric passport still all double checked and register ‘her it goes freedom’ passport stamped and on my way out. Since I was early up today 5:30 I was thinking about the travel arrangements as I realized that time is precious on this trip and that maybe the usual public transport is not sufficient here and since there is not much I could do that early except to wait for bus at 7:00 I searched other means of transport from Cebu to Malapascua and found that I can arrange private car pick up at airport and drop off at the hotel for 5000 pesos and that itself save me a day of travel and exgted diving days so wo hoo, send few messages and emails and then talked a bit to friend Gianni as he was going to bed in Dublin until it was time to wake up and move. My Japanese roommate already up and packing his suitcase so I just opened curtain on my bed, feel like need to put some show but there were not enough visitors so I just got up and went down to make myself cup of CABRA COFFEE what I was carrying in my pack from Hualien and sipping that nice hot cup I flicked through the Lonely planet guide to Taipei so i would know where to go and what to see, at least have idea when I will return. Based on this very early idea of private transport I have a guy waiting in arrival lobby with sign saying ‘EMIL BOSS’ nearly got myself pissed laughing but kept appearance and gently nod that this is me and we walked out of terminal where I realized that obsession with air condition is not only American but even Asian and Philippines too as when I went of the terminal I quickly looked down on my foot if any of my frost bitten toes are not falling off as I have read that defrost in such condition has to be gradual otherwise they might be lost forever and this difference in temperature in airplane and airport versus outside was far from gradual, more less like freezer to oven. This is like ready meal pizza feels like when you are cooking lazy dinner. Thankfully the driver Jasper had experience is such life / limb threatening situation and after starting car the air condition blasted warm 19 degrees Celsia air to the cabin and my toes and any limbs were saved from fast defrosting. I have asked if we can stop in Bank for some cash as well as for some food and hoped to be outside for a little bit to gradually get some feeling into my body. Well careful what you wish for as when we stopped at ATM the lady in front of me must be either a thief or nurse in old folks or big mom as she changed so many bankcards and took so many bills that when she used the last card and did not take any cash I thought that she bleed the ATM dry and no more dough will be left for me. Thankfully I was wrong about that one and I have got my cash on four withdraws as the limit per transaction is 10 000 pesos and as for user of non-Philippines bank card each transaction is charged by 250 pesos so here it is how the bank make a money on both ends.  Then our journey resumed but since my limbs partially defrosted without any damage I have adjusted the AC to 22 degrees Celsia and fan to minimum speed as my hair was already dry blower like John Travolta’s in Grease, just without grease only with ice cold air. This way it was much more pleasant drive and when we stopped for a food I did not have to wipe the water from melting icicles on my forehead when got of out of the car. I have resolutely refused proposed dinner at McDonald which was either proposed by Jasper because he would love to have one or because I’m like other foreigner who cannot eat anything else, which from subsequent later conversation came as the later. So we stop at dining for drivers  where drivers are eating for free and passengers not, not sure how it works but food was good and cost me only 150 pesos for rice with two types of pork meat. We were talking a lot with Jasper about family and life as he was a bit shy but when probed, he answered and discussed the life, family and sport as in every village we passed was a basketball court and even nearly beside every house were kids shooting the hoop with basketball. Apparently this is the most famous sport and past time of kids and he himself is going to shoot some hoops after dropping me of at the Maya New Harbor. As we were still on the road he pushed the gas a bit harder after the phone call, because the last boat is leaving at 17:00 and we were a bit delayed on our journey so he went silent and pushed on like he was practicing for F1 and I was just happy to observe country and passing bodies beside our car on scooters and tricycles as he beep the horn and overtake, slide beside them. We hit the harbor 16:55 on dot, paid him the fare get my backpack on shoulder and my suitcase from hand of a man who tried to sell me a service of dragging my suitcase twenty meters to the boat, well tourist is everywhere treated as waling ATM ‘mainly those who come by private transport’ but not this time and as I signed to Coast Guard duty sheet we were off to the boat and cross to Malapascua. Arrived by dawn and walked behind the guide who took my suitcase, even if I said no we walked on the beach front and then went zig zag through alleys and narrow paths, when suddenly he stopped, dropped my suitcase and I was thinking what the heck now…. Middle of nowhere in dark tiny alleyway….so the another guide front of him took the suitcase and we continued ‘I told them it is heavy and I will carry it myself as I did to the boat’ to the Sea Slug Divers where the adventure begins. Owner came out and the two guides left, I unpacked my gear to the basket for morning dive, sing the release forms for diving that they are not held liable for anything at all and walked to one night accommodation as due the mine early morning idea I have arrived one night earlier than planned so in the Hippocampus resort where I booked my stay, they have no room available. Well thankfully I’m staying here only for one night as this is cheap as chips but that is what you get and actually the name is BB stay so I think that this means Battle Bunker but for 500 pesos, I can survive one night for sure. It is a place what will not be my first, second or third choice but beggars cannot be choosers and also I’m supporting local people and no expats here so money goes direct and therefore I feel good in toilet without toilet seat, paper and shower what is like waterfall in dry season trickling water in saving mode, Over all I have to admit I love this Island, accommodation and all as this is the real island with sand, dirt streets / trails and road I call those ones in concrete but it is Island on the verge of change for worse like every beautiful unspoiled places what were discovered and then ruined by thousands of tourist demanding the hot showers, European style food, drinks etc etc in style and presentation like they are having at home there is even Italian, Swiss, German restaurant at least that is what is on the sign. But there is also little market with local people grilling fresh food on order for reasonable money and much better atmosphere, plus this way the money again goes to local people ‘I hope’   well my 130 pesos for skewer of veg and skewer of prawns and one fresh coconut is in my line of budget and experience as 500 pesos for some Italian food. Anyhow the Island is fabulous, electricity lights are spare and you are walking under the sky only disturbed by light of scooters on the streets   and fires in the yards of local people, where they sit and eat as family at least it looked like that form the age group. I do like this island I can only imagine how pristine must this looked for the first divers tourist who came here long time ago. Ahhh progress….non stoppable but maybe not good. Tomorrow is even earlier start as we are meeting at dive shop at 4:30 for dive with Thresher Sharks if we are lucky so nite nite now.