Week 34 (Philippines (Batangas and Boracay))

02/08

Woke up at 8, rose at 9. Breakfasted in my room (bought bread and cheese
yesterday). To the bank. Got my 10.000 PHP without a problem. Now here at the
neighbours coffee cafe on their wifi doing the media. Laterz.

Strolled to another part of town, where I hadn't been yet. Walked through the Super
Mall for more than 3 hours. 3 music stores and i played guitar at one of them. Felt
good and got a lot of attention. Back in the hotel i did a nap, watched a
basketball game. Out again to take some pictures.

Showered and back in coffee cafe now to publish week 33 of my blog (and eat a pasta carbonara).

Tomorrow the ferry to Caticlan and Bocaray. Im curious about it. Need some
relaxation. Noise and smell of cities starts to annoy me.

Sipped some beers and slept ok.


02/09

Woke up late, showered, ate, watched the tele, all very slowly since i had time to
kill. Did the media in the canteen and in the coffee cafe and slowly walked to the
pier. Showed my ticket, bought a ferry ticket (everything has to be bought twice
or three times here) and the wwaiting begun.
Met some nice guys (Julian and Milan from Holland and Thomas from Germany) to pass
the time (Julian even brought a guitar!) and then at 7.15 we boarded the ferry.

Me, Milan, Julian, all from Holland.

What a surprise! It looked like a partyboat. Live music, bar on the deck.  It was
great. We celebrated obviously and had a great evening. I went to sleep around
midnight, the rest (lot younger) partied on. I switched sleeping rooms, since the
aircon was turned on so high, that it was freezing. Slept very well.

02/10

Woke up at seven, just before we entered the harbour of Caticlan. The other three
had gone on drinking all night, so they were completely pissed when i met them.
Anyway, we disembarked, went to the next ferry (3 tickets again, for a 10 minutes
boattrip) and went accros to Barocay. Took a tricycle to the mainroad in station 2
(= part of the island) and we dropped at my hotel. Since i had booked a room for
two i decided to share it with Julian.

Unpacked and ... off to the beach (one of the many) it was. Spend all afternoon
there swimming, sleeping and laying in the shadow. Got sun burned though.

Now a shower and to find a supermarket for some water and cookies and softdrinks.

Laterz.

No supermarket, but had diner with Julian. Back at the hotel now to do the media.
Then out for a last one. Good night sleep is needed here.

Went to the station 3 direction on the beach to find a lot of bars and nice little
live music places. Back at 11. Facebooked and fell asleep for a long night.

02/11

Woke up at 7, rose at 9. Did the media in between. Now out for breakfast. Laterz.

After breakfast i met Milan again. I took tea (and he a beer) and catched up. Then
a coke at his place (where i would like to go next month (yes i will go here again
in March after Tokyo i think)). Back to the beach, where we met Julian. We did a long stroll to
the northern point of the island, where went up with an elevator to a high
restaurant for a beer. Great place, great view, great walk.

Back to our place, another beer, see the sunset. Then Julian went to his new house
(he rented it for a month (fraction of the price i pay)). I went with him to see if
there's anything for me next month (don't know yet). Showered, updated blog and out
now for a late diner. Laterz.

Small snack (2 actually) was enough. Met Julian on a terrace near the sea. Walked
to the south end of the beach, sipped a beer and went to sleep. Got my own privacy
again, since he moved to a house, he rented for a month. Star trekked and slept
well.


02/12

Woke up at 7, bacause Milan was at my door. (He had no idea of the time). So, told
him i needed some more sleep and would meet him at 10 at the Indian restaurant
(that's the place were we meet every day at 20.00h). And so i did. Went for
breakfast at the pancake place (just like yesterday), booked a nice hotel for the
10-25 March, here on Boracay again (with sea view for 400,- for 15 nights
(expensive for here, but hey...)), moved to another room in my current hotel again.

Sitting there now, updating my blog and about to book the ticket for the ferry back
to Manila again and a reservation in The Slouch Hat. Laterz.

Did all my administration (ticket booking and so on) and went to the beach for a
swim at 16.30 or so. Swam, sunbathed, swam, sppped a beer at "our" meeting point
and indeed ... Julian turned up, so.. chatted and beered some more.

Now back in the hotel. Showered and update blog. See what my FB friends have gone
through and back to the beach again i think. Laterz.

Spend the evening alone at the beach. Couldn't find Milan and Julian. Listened to
somelive music, sipped a beer, strolled, but did not get the right mood.
At 11 PM went back to my hotel for some media. Slept good though.


02/13

Woke up at 8, rose at 9. Breakfasted at 10 (at the "routine" Crepe place). Then
made a long walk to the harbour. Away from all the tourist things. Saw the locals.
Drank a 5 pesos coffee and went the other way back. Loved it. Did some shopping.

Back at the hotel I ate a bun. at 4 PM did some running. Just 30 mins at a slow
pace.
Went for s swim after wards at the Indian place. Back in hotel: showered, did
laundry. Laterz.

Met Milan and Julian round 20.30. They were already pissed. I just started ... We
sipped one at the Indian restaurant, then visited Milans place for a second one.

Then off to the beach with a bag full of beers and snacks. Met two nice english
blokes there too and two other musicians who had played there. Paul and Raymond (?)
and ... and .... Paul had a guitar and so... it became quit cosy. Was not able to
play that well anymore, but ... it ws appreciated anyway. Went back late (round 3
AM or so). They other dutchies were asleep already. On the beach that is. All in
all a great, but unhealthy night.


02/14

Woke up at 9, 10, 11 and rose at 12. Hung over. Breakfasted, strolled to Milan's,
but he was still asleep (as was to be expected). Arranged an extra night in the
hotel here, shopped, banked, slept on the beach and saw the sunset.

Showered, ate and met the two english blokes again. Chatted the evening away with them at the same place where we met last night. The same musicians as last night played there live. Back at 11 PM.

Time to recover. Laterz. Going for a star trek now... zzzz....