Homeless Diver

I’m back in Manila after a long bus ride and its been raining this afternoon. I was hanging out with some local friends and finally broke down to eat with my fingers….something I swore I would never do. These people are just way too cool and fun to be around. Lunch was BBQ whole fish, pork chops, rice, veggie mix, grilled eggplant, avocado slices, salted shrimp paste (didnt try), and…I think that was it. - served on 2 large banana palm leaves covering the table. I was the only one with a plate and fork/spoon. Everyone else plopped it down in front of them and dug in, so I did likewise (but with a plate still) with my fingers. I guess I was looking awkward because I was instructed on how to properly ‘push’ the food from hand to mouth - and that shit works!

I’ve always had this phobia of eating whole non-gutted fish with head, tail, skin, and scales on it. But honestly, its easy as hell. I enjoyed the whole lunch!

I asked why there were so many police check points along one section of road. The answer: New Peoples Army. Yup, the NPA was in the mountains to my left. The person described them as revolutionaries that went after corrupt government officials and business leaders. I’m not sure what I should read into that. They have support from within the military and police ranks yet are enough of a danger to have frequent vehicle check points.

There is certainly a difference between deluxe and the cheaper first class buses of Partas lines. Perhaps is due to the time of day, but first class is a step above chaos, a small step. Its not the bus itself but the operations.

The deluxe was 805p for a 7 hour trip from Manila to Vigan. Nice seats, kickin’ aircon, western movies, frequent stops for dropping off people and rest stops.

First class, on the other hand, is 200p cheaper. However, there is one HUGE flaw and that is they let these damn vendors on the bus at rest stops and seemingly random spots on the road. At the rest stops, u cant even get off for a snack or smoke before these annoying people start blocking the narrow isle hawking everything from peanuts to grapes to newspapers to something looking like a taco bell burrito that had been run over in the dirt (but was actually coconut based).

The ones that get on randomly, they dont seem to pay for traveling a few blocks or a few towns while standing in the isles leaning their butts on seated people.

I think we all know what i think about pushy vendors.

Some minor things would include the constant stopping all over the place for new old people like it was a city bus line while lacking all but two comfort stops for a trip thats now already into its 7th hour and only halfway there, mediocre aircon, lacking movies, and leaky ceiling.

To be fair, I should point out that the deluxe trip was late at night with no traffic. This one is middle of the day with traffic all over the country side.

(UPDATE: the trip was 10 and a half hours total)

I got a wild hair up my ass and headed to Manila. I dont really remember much about it but they said I arrived around 7pm. Audie invited me to stay with him in the Manila townhouse where we partied with Brian, Maffie, Jaqi, Gaz, Sai, Bukkit, Jay, Amirah and pretty much most of the Boracay gang. Yes, we drank a lot. Boracay must be dead right about now since theres no-one left to party there any more…..I wonder what they think about our remaining bar tabs.
Audie then invited a bunch of us to stay as guests of his generous family at Baluarte. Just google that name and the city of Vigan and you’ll see why I used the word ‘generous’. I havent been online in about a week and a half I think but finally found a spot outside where we can pick up wi-fi. ‘ll get on a little more now for pic uploading. I’ll post more later but left my good camera on Boracay so only a cell phone camera. For some reason, I didnt take many in Manila. The rest of the crew arrives today. Here’s a few pics.

Oh yea, I also got to see a lion gettin’ it on with a tiger - then he started playing rough and bit her neck (hell yea!) - she got up and he slapped her in the ass with his paw as she walked away. No shit. It was hilarious.

Gaz and Audie in the bell tower

Audie in his cousins bar

Baluarte house from below

The living room of the guest house

Looking down on the house from the new tower construction…thats th roof of the private house. Complete with 2 swimming pools and a couple of tigers. For a sense of scale, the path coming out of the patio is wide enough for 2 people to walk abreast. Its friggin huge.

Audie, Gaz, and Baya next to a callista (sp?)

Gaz and Sai in the pottery shack

Audie and JD striking a pose for the bell tower

Living room of the Manila townhouse

The crew in front of a really old church…. just waiting for lightening to strike us all down.

JD in the bell tower

Today, July 1st, 2008 marks my one year anniversary on Boracay.

I had parted ways with Iraq and The Company in mid June 2007. No more contractor for me. They gave me a ticket going to Texas by the most lengthy and impossible route imaginable. I had no intention of going back to the USA. In Dubai, I purchased my own ticket to Manila - one way. Copped a squat there for a few weeks for some dental work (bad decision), new glasses (that broke in 4 pieces when a took them off and they refused to replace them), and to wait for Chad. He had been visiting Boracay for 3 or 4 years constantly and suggested staying here for a few months before we parted and looked into other fields of work. Neither of us had any great plans at the time so it sounded like a new plan in motion.

We set foot on July 1st, 2008 and walked up to Blue Mango where Chad secured us a couple of rooms at monthly low-season rates with ease. Vaughn was very accommodating and the party began!

It honestly doesn’t seem like it’s been a whole year.

We might have our differences Chad, but for this past year, I say Thank You. I can easily say that its been a blast and the best time Ive had.