CEBU, PHILIPINES

Sadly, leaving Yangon airport we initially flew to Singapore then onto Manila where we planned to meet Foo and Neil and continue our journey together to Cebu. Manila airport is busy, bustly, confusing, overcrowded and definitely 3^rd world and our stress was heightened when Foo and Neil did not show up until the very last minute having experienced delays on their flights from Beijing.

Arriving safely on Cebu, all four of us, we now had to find our transport that was waiting to pick us up – somewhere!!!!! We had been given instructions on where to meet but, on our arrival, everything looked very different to what had been described and we could not find “Johnny and Edith” anywhere. We also had no local cell phone sims and the airport staff were reluctant to help us out. Eventually after a mad dash across the road and up some stairs for Foo and me we found a very helpful lady in the local Casino who was only too willing to make a call on our behalf and rearrange the pickup for us – thus we finally met “Johnny and Edith”!!!!

Next stop Cebu for a grocery shop which was slightly manic and at which we totally underestimated our needs but did find some great instant coffee granules and also gin at $4 a bottle which sort of compensated for the items we forgot. Funny how tonic was more expensive than gin!!!!

From here we travelled on to Barili about 3 hours away picking up some cheap, freshly BBQ’d chickens on the way. This trip gave us a good idea of what Cebu was all about but nothing prepared us for the beautiful home we had rented for the month from Courtney and Bryan on a premonitory overlooking the sea just a short distance from Barili township. This is where the four of us would be spending Christmas and New Year – unwinding, chilling out and, as it happens, drinking lots of gin.

The house was great – well designed and built by Courtney – and came with assistance from Edith. It was located between Barili and Dumanjug and both townships were easily accessible by local transport – crazy buses, 3up motorbikes, motorbikes with side cars or converted utes with seats in the back.

It was this sort of transport that took the guys and Edith into Barili town to buy a pig for Christmas Day!!! Chuffed that they had chosen the best pig on the block we excitedly awaited its arrival on Christmas Eve – hopefully cooked and minus its head and internal organs – and so it was, on the dot of 4pm, that the perfect pig arrived, smelling absolutely delicious. However, it is only those who know, who know whether it was the chosen one or not. Eating our way through this perfect pig took forever but we discovered many ways of presenting a palatable meal of pork day after day after day………..

Christmas was great as was New Year. Standing on the balcony on New Year’s Eve waiting for midnight, fireworks were going off everywhere around us – on every piece of land in view. It was like standing in an auditorium with an almost 360degree view of the spectacle which lasted for at least half an hour.

Our biggest problem here were tropical depressions of which we had three. The wind and rain were incredible and at one stage the roof started to lift at one corner which was a bit scary. We did have a few sunshiny days as well of which we took total advantage.

Sayaw Beach was just a few metres down the road – the sea was warm and great to swim in – White Sand Beach and the Kawana Falls were just a road trip away as was MoalBoal and swimming with the thousands of sardines which Gary REALLY enjoyed.

Fresh food shopping at the markets of Barili and Dumanhug were a constant necessity as fresh fruit and vegetables did not seem to keep very well in the high humidity. Barili deep fried chicken pieces and a 7/11 soft serve, chocolate icecream was a must each time we ventured out.

It was great to visit the small fishing village of Hapitan that we could see across the bay from our house. This village seemed to us to be a lively place – music floated across the water most evenings and flashing blue lights seemed to indicate a nightly disco or Karaoke session. The early morning sessions were not so cool though as religious services of maybe Catholic denomination assaulted our ears. Travelling 3up on a small motorbike we drove to the village along grossly potholed roads and then wandered through on foot talking with the locals and interacting with the kids. This was the most awesome part of our stay on Cebu and the locals seemed to enjoy our company too. Teaching the kids to “high 5” and do a ”thumbs up” was just magical – their happiness and smiling faces infectious – and of course everyone knew which house we had come from (the Veloso house) and everyone we seemed to cross paths with, in some way, shape or form, was related to Bryan!!!!!! The evening we decided to go to a Pizza restaurant in Barili and realised we had a problem getting back home after dark we were saved by – wait for it – Bryans cousin!!!!!! Got home safe and sound thanks to him.

All in all our months stay on Cebu was very enjoyable. The weather could definitely have been better but nature has her own agenda and we could not change that. You just have to read a lot!!!! Courtney and Bryans house with views to die for was very luxurious and to be honest we thoroughly enjoyed its remoteness, peace and tranquillity. Edith, of course, was an added bonus.

Thanks Courtney, Bryan and Edith for making our stay so seamless. Love to you all.