Day 117 and 118: Stars and Moving On

Day 117

It's our last full day here and it's going to be so hard to leave it :( We wake up and have the best poached egg on toast as its on normal, non sweet bread and Sue makes it, nom. We want to have a photoshoot with Julian today as he's pretty sad to leave the place too. He goes everywhere and decides he's going to become a travel reporter and uses this shoot as his interview, have a look here to see how well he did.

We spend about an hour taking snaps before it gets too hot and we strip off and dip in the pool, practising our diving. We want to grab some rum to take back and it was our plan to do so after the dip but one of the staff is going into town and grabs some for us which is really lovely.

We back our bags now, sad as it reminds us we are leaving. It's a bit of a logistical nightmare as well as we try and fit the rum in but after dumping a few bits we manage to squeeze it all in. At 2pm, I head over to Sue's as I'm going to get a manicure and pedicure as a pre birthday treat curtsey of Ben. Oh it's amazing, I have a foot spa, a leg massage and I picture some bright red nail varnish to top it off, I feel so good. After this 2 hour beauty session we cash up our bill and head over to Phil and Sue's again for our leaving dinner. The food, as always, is incredible which makes me want to leave even less :( Today we have an aubergine salad, okra with Spanish sardines which is amazing and Ben has refried pulled pork and I think he's in love. We are eating early as we are going to a little opening of the Nightscape project tonight which is going to be a camp where you go up and spend the night learning about the stars you can see from the mountain with a trained astrologer which sounds so cool!

We bundle into Goldie and head up the steep volcanoe, stopping every so often to grab some shots of the sunset. Once we arrive, we meet up with the Spanish team organising it and wait for the local teachers who will be using it for their students and the dignitaries to arrive. Once everyone has (about 40 people) and taken the obligatory selfies, we all grab torches and head up to where the camp will be, it looks amazing to look back and see the trail of lights weaving through the forest. Nothing has been set up yet but we see the space it will be and have a look at the very clear skies.

It clouds over and the speeches have started so we sneak off and head back, seeing fireflies for the first time as we do. So so cool!! We drive back with a detour for me to get some marshmallows and a farewell drink at Linus's where we meet his really cool diva dog :D

Day 118

We are up nice and early as our flight leaves at 7. Phil and Sue are being there usual lovely selves and taking us to the airport and its so hard to say goodbye as they made us feel so at home, luckily they leave quickly so I don't get chance to dwell on it and cry. The airport also distracts us as the bag scanner isn't working so they are checking every bag manually, which is fine if you have a small bag or a suitcase but a tightly packed rucksack? No way, luckily they just had a quick peak inside and don't take out half the contents like I thought they would. We check in and sit in the tiny airport where you can see all parts of it, arrivals, check in, security, the gate and the runway from our seat. Our plane is on time yay and we wave as sad goodbye as the plane takes off. 

We both feel like we are heading home and not off to the next part of our adventure and this plane ride is a little glum until I remember it's 2 days till my birthday :D woohoo! The flight is quick and we land in Cebu ready for our next long wait. First things first though is a snack and I fall head over heels for a tuna sandwich, I haven't had a good one in ages and I'm in love. Seriously I could have eaten another two straight away. Whether it's today with leaving our little bit of paradise or the long wait we are both a bit fractious with each other and this wait doesn't go so fast. Once we are in the plan though and had a little chat we are back to being our silly selves again, with Ben pretending to be deaf as his ears block up and I pretend I'm taking when I'm actually just mouthing. We carry on with that for about half hour when we hit a bit of turbulence which is easily the worse I have ever experienced, luckily we are both strapped and no one was walking aisle. It started off like a little bounce on the roller-coaster then suddenly the plane drops (probably not even a few cm in reality) and the whole plane bounces out of their seats, the guy in the row opposite didn't have his seat belt on and he hit his head on the ready lights. The pilot comes over the speaker system to apologise and seat belts are suddenly fractionally put on but luckily we have a smooth flight after that.

We land in Kota Kinabula and grab a quick snack before checking in. Another long wait here but we do have a try out the massage machines which are 50p for 15 minutes and very good. We aren't sitting together on this next flight but my guy isn't too bad who I'm next to and I get some bits done. The plane lands and I'm so happy our day of travelling is over. We grab a taxi and head off to Borneo Life Home Stay, the nicest home stay and hostel we have stayed in all trip. 

Day 115 and 116: Exploring Islands and Mantique

Day 115

We are up at 5am so we are in time for all the bargains and miss the crowds which appear after first mass has finished. We pick up an odd but friendly German (I think) man also called Goldie and it turns out him and Phil and Sue have a little rivalry for who can get all the best produce at the market, all in gest of course :)

The first one we go to is a vegetable market from the growers up the mountain and it's so colourful. I could eat it all. Sue goes round, grabbing bits and making deals and it's so fun to watch. Once the veg is got as well as some beautiful flowers, we drop these bits off at the car before heading to the uncover market to get everything else. This is also where we are having breakfast and it's of hot chocolate with warm sticky rice and mango and it's delicious. I'm quite keen on mangos at home but these are something else and if I ever spot any in the UK I'm going to buy a truck load. We are having a traditional Filipino dinner tonight and that's what Sue is trying to get fish for, no luck but we do see a very yummy (according to Ben, not me) spit roast.

Once we are back and after second breakfast, we grab the bike as there is more of the island that we want to see. First on our list is a zip line which goes over a lagoon, it's on the other side of the island and the ride there is as beautiful and interesting as it was the other day. After driving for about 30 minutes a sign points us up a dirt track on a steep hill, but when we get there the zip line looks deserted, so no zooming for us. Luckily our next thing we want to look at, the Clam Sanctuary is close by so it's not really a wasted journey. 

We do get a little lost looking for this, as we are to mp busy nattering to pay attention to signs but we find it and after going down a very bumpy and then up a steep road, we arrive. It doesn't cost a lot to go in and for a little more, I think a £1 or so you can get a guide to take you snorkelling to the best parts and see the clams in the sea. First things first is going to the nursery to see the baby clams before they are put into the sea which also currently has a baby shark in, very cool. After learning a bit about the clams (did you know the colourful stuff on them is actually food? And they change sex depending on their age) we grab our snorkels and follow our guide to the beautiful blue sea.

Wow, just wow. It's got to be the best snorkelling I've ever done. First you go around the giant clams that are absolutely massive, then you make your way to the shallow nursery area but on the way we saw some absolutely huge coral and all manor of brightly coloured fish, including clown fish, parrot fish, Dorys, black and white ones and so much more. Annoyingly the battery died on the camera so we did get many pictures but it was really cool. Next you go to the shallow area and here you see some larger clams closer up and more of their first neighbours.

We were easily snorkelling for 45 minutes and it was amazing, even with the over amorous crab who wouldn't leave me alone. We come away both stunned and in awe and decide to grab some lunch before we take anything else in. I manage to burn my leg on the exhaust when we get back as I forgot what side to get out, idiot and ouch. After a quick lunch we go off to find a waterfall.

It's around the island a bit and we have to go up another nice, steep hill which the bike wasn't too keen on and I thought at one point I'd have to get off and walk but we made it. It cost us about 60p to go in and it an other oh my kittens in beautiful. I know I've said that about most of the island but really, it is amazing. Here, due to the mist from the waterfall, there are loads of dark leaf plants and brightly coloured flowers all surrounded a 70ft waterfall, that plunges into a pool you can swim in. Ben's desperate for a dip but I stupidly forgot to pack a tee, only my bikini (Filipinos are quite conservative) so I sit on the side and take snaps for him, he says it's refreshing which means cold so I'm not too fussed :D

We head back now for our feast and oh my we are spoilt. We have kinilau which is like raw fish in vinager and onions, aubergine salad and Ben has some of the yummiest beef he's swear he's even eaten. We sit around and chat for hours and it's so lovely as Phil and Sue are so nice and so friendly that they make us feel like family and it made me realise how much I'm missing mine.

Day 116

We are off for another adventure today and another island, Mantique. Now this is somewhere that I went to when I came before and one I actually remember, I know this is definitely going to be paradise. We are spoiling ourselves and getting a private boat from the guy next door, Bob, which will take us straight to the island from just outside Golden Sunset. Luxury. 

The wicker picnic basket is out and Sue has made a delicious spread to take with us, including salad, pie, boudin cheese, faux caviar and crackers, yum can't wait to eat this. We set off with Bob and his girlfriend coming to in his glass bottom boat. It takes about an hour to get there and the boats loud but gives me chance to take in the scenery and check out all the fish that swim underneath. As soon as we docked, we went over to the picnic table and spread out the contents of the frankly delicious wicker basket. There is also a sneaky bottle of wine and a peanut fruit salad which we devour.

We eat and chat for so long though that we only have half hour to snorkel and I'm not even sure about that as I'm so full of food but we don our masks and set off. The first 5 or 10 minutes of swimming out you don't seen much apart from dead coral and the occasional fish but as you get closer to the jetty which is just at the edge of the snorkel area the place comes alive! There is bright coral underneath us and schools of fish of all shapes and colours swimming around us, it was amazing. The edge of the snorkel area just drops off and we see divers heading into its depth. We swim around taking snaps for ages and we are both in love but don't want to leave everyone else waiting so head back to the shore. It is easily the best underwater experience I have ever had and we both can't stop talking about it.

The trip back was a little rougher and a lot wetter than the way there and we all get soaked but it still can't dampen (get it?) our spirits. Bob is interested in Ben's snaps so after a quick dinner tonight we head over and Sue teaches me how to play a cool marble whilst Ben downloads the snaps. Another brilliant day in paradise.

Day 113 and 114: Rum and VW

Day 113

We left the day unplanned today so we could so some bits with Phil and Sue but their jeep still isn't fixed so it's a day at Golden Sunset but it's probably not a bad thing after seeing how sun burnt we got yesterday.

Ben's determined to get his blog done so he ploughs his way through that whilst I get stuck in watching the election results with a suprise for me as our 18 year Lib Dem MP gets replaced with a conservative. I'm in shock and not in a good way. The day continues like this with me avidly refreshing the BBC and Ben finishing his Borneo blog when, at 4pm, Phil asks us if we want to meet him up the top for a drink of Tanduay Rum to watch the sunset, we both jump at the chance.

Now Tanduay is a local deadly rum that even at its most expensive only costs £4 for a litre. We are starting on the 12 year stuff tonight and it's instantly deadly. Their Swedish friend Linus joins us and he's very funny and soon the evening starts blending into one for me. I know we order food but I don't know what and I know we talk and laughed but I couldn't tell you what about. It became apparent the evening needed to come to a close when I can't walk straight and I know I'm going to be paying for this in the morning. 

Day 114

Urg. Just urg. Last night was good but oh my we are paying for it this morning. I somehow managed to injure my shoulder last night and I can't quite lift it above my head this morning. Our only plan for today is to go to a launch party thing for a fibreglass boat builder and luckily that's not till about lunch time so we hide in our pit until then. 

We are going in Goldie which is Phil and Sue's fabulously converted Beetle that has been stretched, it's amazing! We jump in the back and enjoy the scenery again but we haven't been driving for more than 5 minutes before Phil lets us know that the breaks failed for Sue early today and she nearly crashed into a tree. Hmm. It's only a couple of minutes after that, that thr car starts to make an odd noise. We drive a little further before it starts to smell and we pull over. Turns out the bearing has gone on the front right wheel and the wheel looks like it's coming off, eek. There is a mechanic nearby and he's going to check it out but it means we need to take a jeepney to the party. Now these are odd little things, similar to a motorbike tuk tuk in Thailand but a slightly different shape and they lean pretty low at the back. Even lower when Phil and Ben get in. The party isn't too far down the road so it's not too bad a ride. The oddness of our day doesn't stop there as this party is just strange. It's full of Expats with their wives and corrupt mayors and officials and more annoyily they have run out of food and there's not beer! We don't stay long.

The car still isn't fixed by the time we need to leave so we grab another jeepney into town where we wait for a bigger truck to take us all the way back. Whilst we wait we grab some delicious caramelised banana on sticks and wander round the market. It's whilst we are pursuing that we get a call to say Goldie is fixed woohoo! So another short jeepney ride back to our golden chariot and then back home. We have a lovely dinner with Sue tonight as Phil isn't feeling too well and catch up. It's an early night though as we've got to be up at the crack of dawn for the market and I can't wait.

Day 111 and 112: Sunsets and Exploring

Day 111

An relatively early start today and yummy pancakes for breakfast, nom. We want to do a bit of exploring today so ask RJ, the manager is he's got a bike spare for us. He does, woo but after a frantic 10 minutes, it turns out they have mis placed the keys. No worries he says, you can use the jeep. Even better we think as Ben has never ridden a geared bike but then that won't start, eek. Luckily another bike is found for us and we can finally start the day.

First thing we want to have a look at is the hot springs which are only a short ride away from us. The scenery is incredible as we start to make it up the hill, both sides are full of towering palm trees and green plants, it's just beautiful. It's only 80p to get in and we head straight to a lower pool and slip in. The water is naturally lukewarm due to the volcano it comes from and it's so lovely. We stay in that pool for about an hour before moving up to the second, much cooler pool. Then up to a deeper pool which is warm again and then finally to the smallest but warmest pool right at the top. It's bliss and we stay for about 2 hours before our tummies rumble and we head back for so lunch.

We jump back on the bike again after noms but we haven't gone a few metres up the road when we both realise the bike is riding right. I get off and notice a bad flat at the back, ah it's just not our day for transport. We hadn't gone that far though so we head back, and RJ gives us the first bike to use, this time with keys :) We decide to head round the island and zip off westbound taking in all the sights, it's such a beautiful island and me and Ben are both a bit of agog at it. We get about a third of the way round when the lights starts to go down and we are running out of fuel so we head back. We catch another beautiful sun set and have dinner outside our room, very romantic.

Day 112

Phil and Sue are back today so we work out day around seeing them. Addicted to its white sands we decide to go back to the White Island this morning and book a boat. Learning from our lesson of the other day we only stay for 4 hours and try to not get too crispy (failed miserably at that) and sunbathe a swim all morning.

Once we head back, Phil and Sue have arrived! We don't want to bombard them straight away so grab some lunch then pop over and say hello. They welcome is with open arms, open a beer straight away and we catch up, letting them know all about our plans. As the sun fades and our sunburn turns redder it's obvious the 5am start Phil and Sue have had to get back here is taking its tole and we leave them to relax and go take in another beautiful sun set.

Day 109 and 110: Arriving in Camiguin and the White Island

Day 109

It was all going so well till about 20 minutes off from boarding after our 7 hours wait of not being able to check in without food and our 3 hour wait with norms, we get to our get just as the delayed sign appears, nooo. And it's not leaving for another 2 3/4 hours urg, it's a bit too much for our tired brains to handle so we go off to find a corner to nap, waking ever time a loud speaker starts, worried we will miss our flight. I mishear one and make us go back to our gate to find its the flight before, before ours they are calling and I get several glares from Ben. We do however get free breakfast as an apology and about 20 mins after than our plane arrives, a little earlier than expected.

The plane is tiny with only about 60 seats and it's so noisy but it's taking us to paradise so we just don't care. The plane comes in to land on a tiny air strip surrounded by thick trees to a tiny airport, just like I remember. Ben's a bit shocked by the size and even more so when we just pick our bags up from the runway, right next to the plane. We are staying when we are here with some friends of my Dads who have a resort place here, they are on the main land at the moment so can't come pick us up but they have arrange a taxi/jeepney thing for us and he's waiting just outside. 

The drive is about 15 minutes and so strange for me as familiar smells and sight trigger a flood of odd memories. It's drizzling as we turn up and my weird little memory forgot that the sand at the resort is brown, it's being volcanic, not white like I told Ben and it's weirdly puts a dampener on our moods, obviously nothing to do with the 36 hours without sleep. We crash out now, napping till 3pm when I wake us up for food. The weather has improved and so have our moods which go more so as we see the menu. It's got all manner of filipino food but it also has some staple British and I have a much craved jacket potato with beans and cheese with a glass bottle of coke whilst Ben does his usual, get something he doesn't recognise and gets a fish stew which he is well happy with.

We can only get wifi in the bar so we set up camp, check in with everyone and start to plan our trip. The time flies by and the sun starts to set and it's unbelievably beautiful. Ben gets loads of pictures which I've put below and gets all geeky with his camera settings. We eat after this and then go back to the room as the travels have caught up with us and we settle in ready for beginning out island adventure tomorrow. 

Day 110

Oh that sleep was well needed. I briefly wake at 7am but the duvet monster grabs me again and I finally properly wake up at 9. Though I would have sworn I was awake the whole time, even when the Ben turned into a bath.

We breakfast and then arrange a trip to the incredible looking White Island which we can see from our room. A cool little boat picks us up and within less than 10 minutes we have hit paradise. It's not really an island but a sand bank of the white and softest sand we have ever seen, surrounded by bright blue water and it was near empty. 

There are two sides which get separated by high tide and we stay on the first for half hour before moving over to the second, wading through the water to a side even more secluded. We have 5 hours here and we will the time wisely, with snorkelling, swimming and sunbathing. The temperature of the water here is amazing, warm enough to be amazing but cool enough to stop you over heating, we have both fallen in love. 

We hit maximum sun intake at about 4 hours and pack up and go hide under a tent until our boat man arrived. We have both caught the sun a lot so after a late lunch/early dinner, we hide in our room, filling out books and lounging until sun set which is even more impressive than yesterday.