Right down by the beeeeach

I am alive. I am also doing great, this week has been ridicules in more ways than one. Boarding the bus to manila i wondered what was awaiting me on the magical ride that is Filipino public transit. Sitting i noticed that the seat in front of me was moved and re-bolted to the floor and coincidentally a few inches closer to me. I wedged my legs into position, i literally had my knees jammed into the back of the seat in front of me. I wondered if everyone was as uncomfortable. As i looked around i noticed men with there legs crossed and girls wiggling there feet free and easy. Dang! I tried to stay positive, "its only a 9 hour bus ride, it will go by quick". When getting a bus ticket in many places you pic your seats by signing your name in one of the empty spaces on grid. There was no one to blame but myself, unlucky pick i guess. As i wondered what had happened to the old seat that had to removed the bus began to fill. The man in front of me took his seat and just that little pressure kept my leg from moving even the slightest without help from my arms. As the night grew later, we all tried to get some sleep many people reclining there seats to add to the comfort of riding a bus for 9 hours and the man in front of me was no different. shocked awake by the seat slamming my knees as he tried over and over to lower the back. i leaned over the seat and said "sorry man, truly but its not a broken seat its my legs that are preventing you from moving back", most Filipinos know some English at least enough to get around and this man stopped instantly. As i swallowed a motion sickness pill to help with the roads rolling hills. i dosed off again, only to be shocked yet again buy the same maneuver. i hadn't gotten through to him. I tried again, actually many times that night but still have the bruises at a testimony to his lack of English understanding. As we came into Manila at 3 am we were told for our own safety we would be allowed to stay on the bus till daybreak, that was a new one for me. So there i slept. After calling "my guy" in manila to procure his cab, i sat wondering what the next week would bring. Krystle, my friend from Boston has a stepfather who has a brother who has a place in San Antonio that i was free to stay at along as i wanted. The details were a tidbit light and my instructions on finding the pace slim. Regardless, after three buses and a taxi and a total of 15 hours transit i was coasting on a tricycle on my way to Pandakit beach in search of the "Surf and Sun" of which my driver told me he knew its location. I had stared at him, feeling that he had no idea where it was, but asking four or five time varying my sentences he assure me. So there i was rolling in town, the first stop, a place to ask for directions wahhh wahhhh haha. i think he and my favorite bus passenger were cousins. No one had heard of the "Sun and Surf resort" They all talked for what seemed like a decade in tugulog me sitting there trying to explain what the word surf meant, "no, NOT surfing. Surf." Finally i said the proprietors name "Kevin" Having no last name i figured it was a long shot, but instantly everyone said "Ahhhhh Kevins place, yeah sure sure", lesson learned. I go there to find a charming bungalow right on the beach. When i say on the beach i mean in the sand, nothing separated me from the deep blue green waters but a small fence and a fewr bankas (Filipino boats that look like a big canoe with outriggers). As i set my things down i noticed that the bamboo hut had no lock. Hmmmm, not good. But i was assured with a laugh that my things were safe there when i asked if they had a secure spot for my things. "everyone is afraid of Kevin" i was told, can't wait to meet him i thought! Alarm bells going off in my mind i tried to think about what i would do with all my stuff, not wanting to leave it unattended, ever. I sat down still in awe of the beauty to a wonderful meal cooked by the resident chef Marie. Fried chicken?! there wasn't a menu, i had just been asked if i was hungry, there wasn't a price list either but i was staying for free and that all i needed to know. It was hands down the best chicken i have had. Feeling slightly better about my predicament. i sat lazily looking out at the beckoning water. Three large island lay not far from the beach and i wondered if i could swim there. I tore off my dirty cloths (the last hostel forbid its residents from washing cloths but did offer a cleaning service, how convenient! i opted out. never the one to worry about smelling a little, or a lot) and jumped in. Wow, the familiar feeling of the ocean and the wonderful lapping of the waves lifted my spirits. This week has been amazing and the most expensive thing i have bought was sunscreen, no one uses it here. I have been hiking with a friend i have made named autie Olivia. She was to be my guide (for free, others wanted 500 pesos) to hidden waterfalls. We trekked for 3 hours and when there was a split in the river and i was asked which way i wanted to go, i wondered who was guiding who. As the mountain stream grew smaller we were forced into the bush, pushing our way threw, me guiding, her following till i said i had had enough, tired in the 90 degree heat we trekked back. Maybe another day, or guide i thought. I have eaten fresh tuna brought in from the resident fisherman, oliver and cooked whole on the grill. I have been invited to cock fight training camp, feasted on a homemade meal a couple made just for me. I have been treated to what feels like 1000 rounds of brandy, drinking it, sometimes reluctantly, almost every night as bottle after bottle is passed around the table each taking a shot till it is done. Just when i thought that would be it, another bottle would materialize in front of me. I have been brought to the local market and treated to fresh coconut milk and spent a long night playing "Sorry" with the locals, their all locals here and i am the only "white face of white monkey" anywhere near here. Most girls say they want my eyes and my large nose, exclaiming in front of the boyfriends and husbands that they wished there respective mate had those features, making me just a little bit uncomfortable, to say the least. There have been some sketchy moments too,when at night i left my bungalow to take a picture of the sunset over the beach (we face west and they have been the sunset of legend proportions) one guy shouted out from the darkness "hey buddy, where you go?" knowing that my bungalow was without a lock. i thought, well nowhere now damn it. ( i have since used what i call the trifector of security measures, a Bandana, a cloths line and a padlock) When a beach jewelry dealer would not stop looking at my watch and trying to trade me the same Chinese made necklaces that they sell on all beaches (substitute the name pundakit beach for myrtle beach or ocean city) and me trying to explain that it was worthless, (i had bought the cheapest they had at target) him pronouncing "Timex! i want this watch, trade me watch", i have not worn it since. Or when after a few brandy rounds someone produced a snack called "Ding Dongs" and i explained that i often call my friends that when there being stupid, or vise versa. When that didn't go over well and i was asked to explain what i meant hoping someone would chime in with a joke or anything really to cut the tension, and no one did. i apologized to the man who's favorite snack i had offended (it was time to call it a night). But all in all its been paradise and i have had a great time joking with the children that often come by to ogle at the "white face" with all the odd trinkets that they have never seen before. I am getting to know people here just in time for me to leave. I wish i could stay but the road calls. Just three more days... wish you all could be here with me and i missed you all dearly on thanksgiving. i will through one back on the beach for all you stuck in the cold rain and snow. Krystle, thank you for going out of your way. Thank you a million times over.