First full day in the Philippines

It’s so easy to travel to the Philippines from the US. They are very westernized and in an American way. Their plugs are the exact same, they drive on the right side of the road, they take USD in a pinch, and it is the only country so far this adventure where I do not stand out like a sore thumb. I am constantly being mistaken for being Filippino! Apparently women here will also wear t-shirt and cargo shorts since my taxi driver said I dress like a Fillipino. It’s nice not to be branded as an American tourist on sight.

Gorgeous morning in Moalboal in Cebu

Since I went to bed at 7:30 my first night, I woke up early, around 3:30 and took care of some school stuff for a few hours before attempting to join a school zoom meeting. My wifi was horrible so finally I grabbed my headphones and went out to the common area for better reception. It was a good choice since the area overlooked the ocean and it was a beautiful morning. I saw a guy playing fetch with rocks. He would throw it into the ocean and his dog would bound after it to the place where it splashed into the ocean. After a few secionds it would bound back towards him until he threw another one. It was entertaining and impressive. The guy tired out before the dog did. Here’s a video of a few of their throws

Cat approaching meowing loudly for food

On the way back to my bungalow, I met the Ungrateful Kitten. It was a grey spotted kitten meowing loudly for food. It came in my direction when I called to it but would not get close enough for me to pet it. Clearly it wanted food. I had none suitable for a cat, but I tried giving it some fried banana chips (I figured it at least had protein and lots of potassium though honestly I was floored that it ate it). It still kept its distance though there were times when I was close enough it gave an angry warning meow and swatted at the food in my hand. I guess I did make progress as the initial swats were more violent and in my general direction and the latter ones were focused on the hand holding the food and it tucked its claws in.

Cat refusing to come closer

Cat looking cute and innocent

Philippino Breakfast Pork Tocino with egg and rice

I went to breakfast and had the excellent “Philippino Breakfast” which was rice, egg, and choice of meat. At the waitresses suggestion I went with scrambled eggs and fried pork, which was delicious. It also came with a mango juice and a banana. All for 295 ($6) which might be a bit more than street food prices, but quite reasonable for a resort. Dinner later that night was not as good but still quite tasty. I got the chicken adobo, which was good, just not like the adobo at home. They add red onion and red bell peppers here. I also got a mango shake, which was blissfully cold. It actually made me cold for a few seconds, which is impressive in 87 degree heat. The one drawback about the Philippines is that the average monthly temperatures range from 85 to 91, about 15 degrees too hot for my liking.

chicken adobo

Little guy beating the heat hiding out under a van

My next objective this morning was to walk to the sardine run which was “down the road” 5 minutes. However, the “road” zigs and zags a bit (not according to google maps) and I was quite certain I was at a dead end at one point into a Greek resort. Luckily, someone painted instructions on the wall “this way” with an arrow left into what looked like a wall but was really a narrow passage between buildings. A young man offered to be my guide in the water but I declined, belatedly remembering that I should have brought money with me so I could support the locals a bit. Many of the traveler reports I’ve been reading have encouraged hiring local guides, which are relatively inexpensive and help out the economy. Much better for their morale than giving them stuff.

Sign to hidden passageway

Salmon Shoal

The sardines were very cool. And there were so so many of them. Unfortunately I suck at snorkeling so I was unsuccessful at diving down amongst them but there were a few times they were right near me close to the surface. It was cool seeing the shifting pockets of blank space in this moving wall of fish. I was glad I had watched a nature show on them with my friends Michele and Chris last week. That shoal was migrating but this shoal pretty much stay here all year round. It’s safer that way (the migrating one on tv got picked to shreds once the smart dolphins arrived). Looking down at them they sometimes looked like giant sea plants with sardines shaped leaves though the occasional flash of silver when the light hit one just right gives them away.

shoal looking like plant with salmon shaped leaves

Drinking coconut water with a cool shop owner

On the way back I tried to find some items at the local stalls that I might want to get. The last stall wisely offered to front me the bottle of water I wanted, saying I can pay later thus requiring me to return. I managed to buy things from the 3 stalls, buying more than I wanted, but everything I bought are items I like so all sound purchases. I also got a coconut drink for $1. She chopped the top off the coconut with a BIG knife (think small machete) and popped a straw in. Can’t get fresher than that!

waterfront with stalls

tiny blue fish

When I got back to my resort, I decided to snorkel a bit since I was already wet with salt water. It was much better than last night! I saw quite a number of fish including 4 different kinds of blue fish, several different yellow fish, and many striped ones including a clown fish. Then I something large caught my eye and it was a turtle! I have seen many turtles in Hawaii but this guy was in very clear, fairly still water and his shell was gorgeous. He was busy chomping away with a number of fish hanging around him. After a bit, he went up for air and even looked right at me for a few seconds before deciding I was not very interesting. I swam a bit further out to the “drop off” and saw a few larger fish, then headed back.

turtle eating with fish friends

large blue fish

killer jellyfish

At that point I noticed some odd looking translucent fish and I remembered the warnings about jellyfish. I managed to avoid three of them and headed back to shore. Just when I was getting caght up watching fish, I’d see another jellyfish right next to me and I’d have to swim around it. A few minutes later I realized I was swimming in the wrong direction, back out to sea, and I corrected. Then I ran into more jellyfish. There were loose groups of them about and it was difficult avoiding them. For awhile every time I poked my head up I was swimming in the wrong direction! I was starting to think someone was moving the shoreline. And I was getting tired. This must be how jellyfish catch their prey. Finally I gave up on the fish and just focused on swimming to shore, checking the shore every few strokes and watching for killer jellyfish. I did feel a few tiny sharp stings (like an ant bite) while I was out there so I think I may have encountered a few without realizing it.

Good massuese Edith

On the way to the sardines, a massuese asked if I wanted a massage. She did a good job getting me to commit, asking which resort I was in and offering to come to my bungalow at any time I selected. Her price was just 400 pesos ($8) so I figured I’d give her a try. She showed up prompty at 2:00. While none of her moves were familiar and she did slightly different things on my right and left side, indicating she was likely self-taught, it was still a good massage especially the lower back, arms, and feet. If you are ever in Moalboal, ask for Edith at the Pacitas Beach Resort.

I got all packed up and hit the sack early. Tomorrow my taxi is picking me up at 6am to go to Osmena Peak and Kawasan Falls for canyoneering.

sunset day 2

Sunset from the water from the first day