Kumusta!
I was very sad to leave Vietnam! The last night there was so much fun. We sat outside at a street restaurant/bar type thing, across the street from 'Crazy Girls'. The potential for gossip was very high. Watching all the men go into the bars, buying the girlies drinks and taking photos was amusing. I wish Alex had thought to do this every night! We considered going inside for a drink at one point, but decided it wasn't the best idea. The end of the evening was not so fun! The second Alex turned off the light a MASSIVE cockroach ran across the floor and then under the wardrobe. Alex was very annoyed at me for making him try and get the intruder out. Whilst shaking around the wardrobe an even bigger cockroach came out and then ran back in again! It was easily one of my worst nights out here so far. Alex decided there was nothing we could do and me sitting up all night on guard was a mistake. He wouldn't even let me keep the light on so I had to use my phone to look around. He climbed back into bed and went to sleep within minutes! MISTAKE! I sat up for around 2 or 3 hours and eventually went to sleep. I was not happy with him in the morning.
So far Alex and I really haven't done anything in the Philippines. We arrived in Manila quite late in the evening, considered sleeping at the airport as we would be back again within 12 hours, but eventually waited for a taxi. The accommodation wasn't brilliant. A communal toilet and shower and a room with a double bed and a fan. At least there was hardly any places for cockroaches to hide. The next day we got up early to go to the airport. When we got there we found out that our plane had been rescheduled for 1:10pm around a month ago. So we sat in the airport and waited- dull. We arrived in Legaspi with the intention of hiring a scooter to go see the the Volcano- Mount Mayon. By the time we had found decent accommodation (which again was pretty expensive) it was too late. So we chilled out, had a look around the millions of burger stands and headed for the mall...
There on the wall...heaven sent...a Harry Potter poster advertising the latest movie on at the cinema. I originally wanted to wait and watch Harry Potter Boxing Day, but it was too good to be true...I couldn't resist. The show was in English with no subtitles, so it was no different really to watching it in England. I enjoyed it very much. Next door to the cinema there was more of heaven, Bingo, but Alex didn't wanna go...
The next day we headed for Cantanduanes...The journey itself was good fun and I particularly enjoyed riding on the top of the Jeepney (until the rain came down). I remember when I was younger, for some reason or another my Dad had to drive a van. I remember that either Adam or Ben were allowed to stand in the back of the van because of limited space in the front (don't worry, only for a very small journey). Being a girl and young I had to be strapped in safely in the front seat. I feel that taking this 30 minute journey sat on top of a jeep makes up for this deprivation.
I still don't really understand why we went to Cantanduanes. I think Alex was just desperate to get off the beaten track again after spending so much time surrounded by tourists in Vietnam. The place we stayed at was OK, don't get me wrong, but there was nothing to do. The beach was just a normal beach, far from spectacular. The hut we stayed in was made out of bamboo or something and had a million entrances for insects, including 1 enormous spider one evening. The toilet was so small that it was clearly made for the borrowers...and it had no flush (yet Alex thinks this could take off in the UK). There was no shower either so we had to go outside to another building. It did have a hammock though which I adopted. The only real reason to go to this island was to surf...and it clearly stated in the book that the wave was not for beginners. A surfer we met at the resort even suggested that some medium to professional surfers would find this wave intimidating. Alex chose to ignore this advice and wanted to learn to surf there anyway. The lady who owned the resort disagreed and organised for Alex to go to another bay to learn...no professional wave for him. The weather wasn't great though, so I stayed behind. Alex suggested that I might do the washing whilst he was away! I did it- how wifely of me.
We had to leave Cantanduanes a day early because the weather was just horrendous. We thought it would be best to travel on a wet day. Yet again I was ill this day. I don't know what is wrong with me. I am not an ill person, yet over the past 6 months I have taken more medication than I have done in the previous 22 and a half years of my life put together. Since we have been back in Legaspi we haven't been able to do much because of the rain. Of course I have taken this opportunity to catch up on Eastenders and start searching for Christmas presents! After spending 4 hours on the Internet yesterday we vacated the Internet Cafe and to our surprise Legaspi finally had some sun! Alex and I speedily made our way to the Volcano! The place where we stopped on the Volcano was pretty cloudy, but worth doing. It would have been a shame to miss out on one of the biggest attractions in South Luzon. We were meant to go to Donsol to snorkel with the whale sharks, but unfortunately they haven't migrated yet so was already one attraction we had missed.
We leave for Cebu today, flying with Cebu Pacific. My friend has already notified me or a pretty cool safety dance they do so my camera will be ready! Hopefully the weather will be much nicer in Cebu...both our tans are fading (sad face). Alex's nose is peeling beautifully however which is one positive!
xoxo
Harry Potter!
