We returned from Nasugbu to Manila undecided whether to stay in the city or leave for New Year. In the end we decided, last minute, to leave for 100 islands on NYE. It was the wrong decision timing wise, but I will get to that in a moment. We caught the bus from Cubao (Victory Liner) to Almininos, which was a really quick easy journey as the roads were empty (3.5 hrs usually 5). At Alaminos we took a trike into Lucap, the jumping off point for 100 islands - on the way we passed a great many stalls, with piles of what looked like homemade fireworks- someone had helpfully hung up a cardboard sign saying no smoking, but knowing how Filipinos like to flout written rules ,it did not inspire confidence and the kids were kept in the trike, which probably was not that much safer. Marc decided to buy some fireworks to help let in the New Year. So there we were, in our little trike, with several large rockets sticking out the back, just the same as every other bike or trike we passed - thank god nobody ran into one another or it would have been like Beirut.
We arrived in Lucap, fireworks intact, which is basically a dump of a place and I would NOT recommend it to anyone....We realised too late that most people seem to merely pass thru on their way to the islands ... consequently it is NOT the place to be for New Years Eve.
The main attraction of our night was as ever the karaoke, but even then but the only singer was Gianna, in a deserted bar that shut at 9pm. We had decided we would eat at the recommended sea restaurant at 8 - which closed at 7.45.......so retired hungry and grumpy to our hotel room to eat our left over sandwiches. I suppose things did hot up at midnight when there were lots of fireworks and motorbikes dragging bin lids, but as I could see at least one person with their gun in their back pocket, we stuck to the hotel lobby to watch the ensuing mayhem....what was a deserted town now resembled a war zone.
All I could hope was that this was not an omen for 2009.....stuck in a war torn backwater with old sandwiches and no pubs for the next 12 months!!!!!
Luckily we did have a bottle of wine and another of fizzy to drown our sorrows - needless to say getting a million texts from people all over the world having fun was most irritating, so I switched off my phone, sorry guys!
The next day was better (could it be worse?) and we went off around 100 islands which is the picture with Gianna in the foreground. It was ok ...... but theres better places and it certainly does not warrant a night in Lucap hell....... The highlight for Gianna was the Pinoy Big Brother house which apparently u can rent and for Angelica playing with Mary on the beach (see pics)
Happily we set off for Bolinao late afternoon and caught a packed bus that got in just b4 sunset. Eventually we managed to find a great beach place to stay, but it was mere perseverance that we kept going and did settle for another bar less/restaurant less hut, the previous nights ordeal was still fresh in my memory and I was not going to settle for anything less than beach and cold beer on tap.....
Its one long road from Bolinano down to lighthouse near the resort Treasures of Bolinao http://www.treasuresofbolinao.com/which is actually 17 km from the town...once it was dark it was near impossible to know where we going to end up or where to stop... best to get there in the day next time
The place we stayed was called and was a fabulous find http://villacarolinabeachresort.webs.com/roomsandamenities.htm- lively, right on great beach and cheap with a rather kitch pool with Rialto (Venice) bridge over it. see the site!!!...it had 3 karaokes was incredibly loud but had cold beer and was just what the doctor ordered. It is owned by a Belgian ex-seaman and his Filipina wife. They had a 10 year old daughter who Gianna got on with really well so the place was pretty much perfect ....Well for 2 nights, after which I think the karaoke would wear a little thin. The place next door looked great http://www.puntarivieraresort.com/ but we tried to eat there and the food and service was appalling
Anyways I LOVED Bolinao my new favorite place on Luzon and definitely the best overland trip close to Manila (5.5 hours). The sand is lovely,theres a huge beach, big waves, cheap places to stay and mostly self catering . The best place to stay if one wants to splash out is Puerta del sol...http://www.puertodelsol.com.ph/main.html absolute dream of a place P3800 per night, real 5 star resort. Only P200 for a day pass so can even stay in small nipa hut or camp and crash all day by the pool..
Finding Bolinao made the Lucap trauma worth it.....hopefully we will be back before too long.
January has been tough. Applying for a few things, but mostly getting fed up at lack of opportunities to try for...Have applied and been accepted for UN Volunteers which actually pay a very good wage for here and allowance for family etc. If I got a posting here would be a good side step, but bit of a long shot that the right vacancy will come up within the right time frame. Once in with the UN should be possible to switch to paid consultants work or at least that would be the plan.
Waiting on a couple of applications at the moment, one with a Dutch organisation one with the Canadians and I can extend with VSO of course, but the uncertainty is killing me. I suspect, unsettling Gianna too, a she would still prefer to back to UK.
Marc seems to be settling better into his job although its tough getting up at 5.10 everyday and its a culture shock working in a wholly Filipino company. If we knew I had something here we could make decisions about moving house nearer to work or school and/or get a car..
If nothing happens here by May I will have to start applying for jobs at home and then hope for interviews in June/July...Hope to get back to UK in May/June or at least send Gianna by herself.
We spent a week in E.Samar making my first film which was great - a real highlight of my time here. We filmed lots of local communities around Matarinao Bay which provided a fascinating insight into life on the coast. People have very simple houses made of local materials, mostly on stilts in the mangroves, living off fishing and farming or trying to... The film was about some of the alternative livelihood projects in seaweeds, crab ranching and coco rope. I have to say, everytime anyone said crab ranching I sort of expected to see someone lasso a crab wearing a stetson....the picture would just not disappear from my head
Angelica came too and loved it - out on the boats and visiting the communities. She would find herself a friend to play with and she'd be happy...she even ended up in the school one day. The hardest thing was to keep her out of the film and this was not entirely possible
The cats are growing up quick, rather too quick - Molly has been disappearing this week with her "boyfriends" as Angelica politely calls them -Skanky old toms more like... Poor old Ran Ran, her brother ,has been beside himself not only because he keeps looking for her , but when she comes back she does not want to know him - Little do they both know they are off to the vets tomorrow for their ops! The last thing we need are more kittens, which is what will surely follow very soon if action is not taken now.
Better get back to the applications :)
