Back on the Beach

We finally left Siquijor four days ago taking the ferry to Cebu where we stayed two nights then flew to Kalibo on the island of Panay, then took the air-con van to Caticlan and finally the little boat to Boracay. Because we couldn't quite get the organization of flights to get us to Palawan we decided the least we could do was come back here to the nicest beach we've found on our travels.

It was like homecoming for us - as we walked down the beach we were greeted by all the people we'd said good bye to 3 weeks ago and welcomed back with open arms. People here really are friendly and genuinely welcoming. We are at the same place we stayed for the last 12 days we were here, and are quite comfortable. The beach is as nice as we remembered although I can't yet enter the water. I haven't mentioned that I scratched my leg somehow about two weeks ago and haven't been able to swim again, because it too got infected. I thought I was safe swimming in the pool at Coral Cay, but I was a little too cocky. The pool. water is mostly salt water pumped in from the ocean so whatever is in the water affected my leg. I'm taking care, it's almost fully healed but I don't dare go in until I'm certain it's complete. I think it may take a couple more days. Sigh.

We are off to lunch shortly with folks we met at Coral Cay. Charlotte and Anders and their their very young daughter are staying a long walking distance from us although on the same beach, so we are going to catch a tricycle on the main road to get there. White Beach where we are staying is 4 kilometers long which explains why we are so hot by the time we get to D'Mall where our favourite restaurant is. In order to look less than soaking wet, the tricycle makes eminent sense. And it's cheap enough.

We do have good news of a different kind. Our friend James from LA is in Thailand right now and is flying to Manila on the 21st of the month. Because we haven't seen him for some time and it's so close, we have rearranged our schedule again so we can meet up with him in Manila for at least a day. We are going to fly to Manila early then head to Tagaytay which is a community about 2 1/2 hours from Manila near a non-erupting volcano. We will spend several days there and then head back to Manila the same day James arrives there to spend two nights before going off to Puerto Galera and our last stint on the beach before we finish in Manila for the trip home to Vancouver and the Olympic games which we will watch on TV.

We look forward to your messages both on the email and on the blog. Do continue to keep in touch. We really do miss you all.