This will be my last blog post from the Philippines, i leave for Thailand on Saturday. I spent my most wonderful day here so far yesterday when i finally rented a Banka to take me to the islands you can see in this pic (it was taken from my front porch). When i got to Pundakit beach, where i have been living for the last week, i knew that somehow i would get to them (not that it was some great feat, you just need money, but still). They seem deceivingly close, maybe close enough to swim to i first thought. But after watching the many boats leaving for them everyday and watching them turn to tiny dots on the horizon my dreams of getting there for free where dashed. Asking around town i was quoted 1000 pesos repeatedly, once even 1500. i held out and as i made friends that owned boats of there own there price growing less by the day but running on what is referred to as Filipino time, those offers never materialized. Still i stayed hopeful that i would get there for less but as the days wore on i was preparing myself for the real possibility of hiring anyone at any cost. As luck would have it the ever resourceful Auntie Olivia mentioned that her brother had a boat and he might be able to take me. The next day i was offered to be taken for 350 as long as my guide Richie could fish while i explored. I spent the day hiking the big island, exploring the old Spanish outpost that sits swallowed by an ever determined jungle to reclaim what was once apart of it. I finally was truly able to put the snorkel gear that i had lugged this far to its proper use. Harvesting my inner Jacques Cousteau i marveled at the sea life, coral and fish. I caught a long glimpse at a eel, watching it hunt from afar, very afar. I saw my first rather good sized octopus. Fish that were small, large, schools and loners. I saw fish with such bright psychedelic colors i knew right away it must be a deadhead. I watched fish change colors as it laid lazily in wait for its next meal, Jimmy Buffet fan i figured. Some were scared of me at first sight, others stared at me wondering much as the locals do here "what is this white face dong here". I found my ample belly helped me coast above these miniature seas city's without much effort from my arms and legs, much like my snorkel gear, i was thankful that i was able to use it finally, for a good purpose after lugging it all this way (besides scaring the averagely slim locals). I was ferried to all three islands and found the crystal clear waters of lore. Getting an early start i had swam, skipped stones and searched for that ever elusive perfect sea specimen that i could take home with me for four hours, all before lunch. I watched as Bankas jockeyed for position in a sea alive with jumping tuna. The tuna i watched unaware that their feast of small fish, their effort for survival, would lead to there eventual demise, and my next dinner. I ate fresh tuna, fried with... wait for it... rice! what else? Sigh. I will not miss that part of the Philippines. As the day wore on i climbed an outcrop of rock and suffered my first casualty a small but relentlessly bloody cut. i at first paid it no mind, but remembering some fact about sharks being able to smell blood from some ungodly distance away. I stayed put till the pressure i was applying would stop it from making me the whitest and slowest moving target in the sea. I have had to swim all these days with a shirt on, having no one to put lotion on my hard to reach middle back. It was odd at first, common place now and i have been able to avoid the suns fiercest weapon. The day came to an end and my driver, do you call them that? my captain had caught nine tuna, both of us satisfied, well, the only words spoken to each other that we both understood were those understood only by the widest of grins. It had been a wonderfully fulfilling day and i mentally checked seeing the islands of my to do list as we coasted through the blue waters that reflected the tremendously blue skies above. Many of you no doubt have swam like i swam and seen fish and sea creatures greater then these but for me, it was paradise fulfilled. Landing on the beach and thanking el capitan i set out to quench my ample thirst under the trees you see in this picture. The rain began to fall and i welcomed its cooling ability. It had been the first drops of rain since i had gotten here. I was able to finally convince myself that my cloths smelled bad enough to do a wash. So, this AM as i sat with my coffee reflecting and writing in my journal while watching the sea and my cloths drying.
To the children: You will never read this, but i wish you well. Raneer, your big smile and easy laughs have made my days funner and reminded me of my younger brothers. At 4 years old you are smarter than your age and even though all you do is repeat the words that i say someday you will understand them and have a bright future, stay curious. Ronnick, the trouble maker of the group. I can tell your life hasn't been an easy one and i choke up a little seeing where you spend your nights. i hope i was able to impart just s little bit of guidance in you. You often worked your darn est to get me to buy you something, repeating Jack, chips, jack chips over and over, but i was proud of you when you returned that necklace to the man who dropped it, i know i made you but you did the right thing and look you got the chips after all. Janiepo, i truly hope that black eye was gotten by some wrestling match and not the proverbial "fall down the stairs" i fear the worst. i have not met your parents as i have most the other kids but you have been forced to grow up early. i have seen you carrying your little sister everywhere even though you yourself, not to long ago needing carrying of your own. Mika, stay cute little one, your mom loves you. And little baby Justin who was born to the Bungalow family not more than 10 days before i arrived here, you have a great cook and caring mother and a fun and smart farther who wakes up early to fish and stays up late working in the store. I don't know most of your names but i enjoyed showing you my only magic trick, your the only ones that ever really liked it haha. Be well and safe.
To the other friends i have met, some of you may read this, Rona and Kevin, thank you for taking me in and giving me a free place to stay and someone to talk to, joke with and sing with, even though i hated every minute of my Aerosmith renditions, you were encouraging. Aunti Olive, thanks for trying to help me get to the lost waterfall as i will always remember it and thanks for being a good friend, i have really appreciated it. In a land where i have none you were the closest thing to. Rondell, Ludi, Benz, Raymond, Mr. Bert, Marie the chef, Oliver the fisherman, Rob the cop and your wonderful wife who cooked for me on your one day off. There is more but thanks, truly and as many of you have said, come back, you have to come back. I just might. I will certainly try.
In closing, it is with bittersweetness that i leave the Philippines. Happy to be heading west, but sad to go away from the closet thing to home i have felt yet. Its only been three weeks, I know haha, i am making it more dramatic per usual right Lauren :), but thanks again. Get on that trash problem and put down the rice for one meal and i will definitely be back. promise. Alright Thailand, you ready for me?
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