Homeless Diver

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