There's no two ways about it.
Before I touched down in Manila
I knew next to nothing about the Philippines.
When I arrived I carried no guide books.
I'd done little to no research.
My phone would only be helpful if I happened upon wifi.
What I did know was:
- I should only use metered taxis.
- There was a hostel near the airport called the Blue Mango open 24hrs.
- The names of three places rumored to have wonderful beaches.
- It was theoretically possible to "bus" across the country.
- I speak two of the three official languages.
- Lots of ferries leave from Caticlan.
- I don't really have any money.
- The country is not safe.
- I was leaving from a place called Cebu on Sunday.
- I did't want to go to Boracay.
With this in mind, here was my plan:
Ask the first person I met, "Where is the bus to Caticlan?"
This is the story of how that plan worked out.
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| We aren't in Kansas anymore, "American" breakfast is everywhere and it's delicious. |
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| Unknown to me, a Typhoon hits land the day I arrive. Yes, I realized it was raining a lot, but I didn't realize it was part of a larger weather system moving in. |
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| The Tricycle delivers me to the taxi drivers as the rains begin en-force. |
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| The first taxi driver has family near Caticlan, he knows all the buses from Manila and when they leave. |
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| He does me right. I'm loaded aboard a chicken bus as soon as I arrive. $25 for the trip. I don't really know where I am going and I have no idea how long it's going to take. All I know is that this is an island nation so I'm going to have to get on some sort of boat eventually. |
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| At first they were sure what to do with me. |
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| I eat my first meal alone. It tastes great. I notice nothing is refrigerated. The woman waves her stick to keep of the flies. |
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| The first bus / ferry connection was uneventful. However, across the ferry yard I saw the only white people I would see outside of the main tourist cities. They were getting on what appeared to be a special ship. I'm guessing it cost a lot more then mine. |
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| During this voyage I begin to notice my seat buddy has begun to take a liking to me. He makes sure I get to see all the kids diving for candy and doing flip of the ferry roof. |
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| As the night rolls on. We get deeper into nowhere. My companions begin to take full responsibility for me. I'm watched like a hawk now. No more worries about begin left behind or not knowing what will happen next. |
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| We arrive for our final bus/ferry connection. It's now official. I'm not traveling alone. I'm ushered inside as the Typhoon begins to build around us. We must wait until morning to leave so my buddy makes sure I'm safe and "comfortable". |
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| In the morning my guardian ushers me away from the group to go stand with the bus drivers. |
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| Then hurries me onto the ferry ahead of everyone so I can have my first choice in where to sleep. I'm thankful because when the others are allowed onto the boat they charge in at a mad dash to clammer for the choice spots. |
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| Soon I notice that I'm surrounded by a group of happy guards. My posse has grown from one to six or eight. They never let me out of their sight. Someone always stays with me. |
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| As the trip wears on, it becomes apparent the ocean is not a safe place. Even though we are on the third floor, waves are dashing against the tarps. People are throwing up everywhere, and clinging to each other as they try to get much needed rest. |
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| Everyone is thankful as the day brings brighter skies. |
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| However, the ocean is still not friendly and it takes nearly 30 minutes of nervous work to get us safely docked. However, we have arrived and everyone is excited. |
The stress of the last ferry has me concerned about continuing on to more rural islands.
The ocean is not safe right now and I am not sure ferries will even be allowed to leave.
So, despite the fact I didn't want to go to Boracay
that's exactly where I was going to end up for a few days.
