Travel Journal

Live the adventures of Dan Walker's travels through reading his travel journal. The travel journals are listed below in descending order of date. To search the travel journals, use the keyword search at the bottom of the page.

Journal Entry:

Trips | Philippines 2013

Tuesday, May 21, 2013 05:44:23
Philippines 2013: 9 - Boracay to Manila, Philippines Thursday, May 16, 2013 This morning we returned to the dive shop where we had booked a boat for a snorkeling. They outfitted us with fins and weights - we brought masks & snorkels. The teenaged captain of the motorized outrigger and his ten year old crewman proved to be surprisingly competent boatmen, although I don't know if the Philippines 375 peso ($US 9.80) daily minimum wage applies to them. He headed around the island, stopping at a reef where about a dozen other boats were anchored. We snorkeling between boats - most had Koreans peering into the water while handing onto the boat. We only saw two other people who looked like they knew what they were doing. There were a lot of fish and the water was the clearest yet. The second place we stopped was at the end of the island, where it was a lot deeper and there was a bit of a current between rocky islets in the bay. There was only one other boat - I suspect mass tourists aren't brought here unless the boatman feels they know what they are doing. There were less fish but interesting coral formations. Our final stop was back on the famous beach side of the island. The water was unbelievably clear; there were no other boats and lots of fish. We noticed we had run somewhat over our allotted 3 hours, which didn't seem to bother anyone when we boarded the boat to complete the circumnavigation of the island. In the afternoon we went across the street from the hotel for a relaxing hour long massage before hitting the pubs. Dinner was in a good German steak house. We have been told that Boracay has no crime - there are security police everywhere. Friday, May 17, 2013 Our transfer back to the airport was the same as on arrival, but in reverse. The ferry this time was a small open air outrigger with lifejackets hanging from the roof. The small airport at Caticlan is quite well done, which was just as well as the flight was delayed as usual. There were five flights listed on the display, the four Philippines Air Lines ones were all delayed - only the Cebu flight left on time. On arrival in Manila we were met by trusty driver Arnold and the travel agency rep who ensured we received Marilynn's purchases from the north before we were driven to beautiful Manila Hotel. We said a final goodbye; we are now on our own. The Manila Hotel is very historic - construction started in 1908 and finished in 1912. General Douglas MacArthur lived in, and managed the hotel from 1935 until 1941 when he was working to rebuild the Philippine army. He lost a lot of personal belongings when his penthouse suite burned as the US was retaking the city in 1945. The list of famous guests is impressive: Bob Hope, Marlon Brando, Tyrone Power, John Foster Dulles, Robert Kennedy, Sir Anthony Eden, Charlton Heston, the Rockefellers, John Wayne, Henry Luce, Richard Nixon, Dwight Eisenhower, Lyndon Johnson, the Beatles and a long list of presidents, kings, queens and other royalty. We spent three nights in a beautiful 17th floor room overlooking Manila Bay and the harbor, leaving only for a dinner at the Hobbit House to meet Kevin Hugh's friend Jim Taylor. Jim started the restaurant about 40 years ago to provide work for dwarfs, who have a tough time finding work.. The rest of the time we relaxed, swam, took advantage of happy hour at the pool bar, did some writing and sorted photos. On the night before we flew to Cotabato we had room service bring us a bottle of wine and a fabulous prawn dinner, enjoyed in front of our window while watching a spectacular sunset over the Bay.

Tuesday, May 21, 2013 05:44:23

Philippines 2013: 9 - Boracay to Manila, Philippines

Thursday, May 16, 2013

This morning we returned to the dive shop where we had booked a boat for a snorkeling. They outfitted us with fins and weights - we brought masks & snorkels. The teenaged captain of the motorized outrigger and his ten year old crewman proved to be surprisingly competent boatmen, although I don't know if the Philippines 375 peso ($US 9.80) daily minimum wage applies to them.

He headed around the island, stopping at a reef where about a dozen other boats were anchored. We snorkeling between boats - most had Koreans peering into the water while handing onto the boat. We only saw two other people who looked like they knew what they were doing. There were a lot of fish and the water was the clearest yet.

The second place we stopped was at the end of the island, where it was a lot deeper and there was a bit of a current between rocky islets in the bay. There was only one other boat - I suspect mass tourists aren't brought here unless the boatman feels they know what they are doing. There were less fish but interesting coral formations.

Our final stop was back on the famous beach side of the island. The water was unbelievably clear; there were no other boats and lots of fish. We noticed we had run somewhat over our allotted 3 hours, which didn't seem to bother anyone when we boarded the boat to complete the circumnavigation of the island.

In the afternoon we went across the street from the hotel for a relaxing hour long massage before hitting the pubs. Dinner was in a good German steak house. We have been told that Boracay has no crime - there are security police everywhere.

Friday, May 17, 2013

Our transfer back to the airport was the same as on arrival, but in reverse. The ferry this time was a small open air outrigger with lifejackets hanging from the roof. The small airport at Caticlan is quite well done, which was just as well as the flight was delayed as usual. There were five flights listed on the display, the four Philippines Air Lines ones were all delayed - only the Cebu flight left on time.

On arrival in Manila we were met by trusty driver Arnold and the travel agency rep who ensured we received Marilynn's purchases from the north before we were driven to beautiful Manila Hotel. We said a final goodbye; we are now on our own.

The Manila Hotel is very historic - construction started in 1908 and finished in 1912. General Douglas MacArthur lived in, and managed the hotel from 1935 until 1941 when he was working to rebuild the Philippine army. He lost a lot of personal belongings when his penthouse suite burned as the US was retaking the city in 1945. The list of famous guests is impressive: Bob Hope, Marlon Brando, Tyrone Power, John Foster Dulles, Robert Kennedy, Sir Anthony Eden, Charlton Heston, the Rockefellers, John Wayne, Henry Luce, Richard Nixon, Dwight Eisenhower, Lyndon Johnson, the Beatles and a long list of presidents, kings, queens and other royalty.

We spent three nights in a beautiful 17th floor room overlooking Manila Bay and the harbor, leaving only for a dinner at the Hobbit House to meet Kevin Hugh's friend Jim Taylor. Jim started the restaurant about 40 years ago to provide work for dwarfs, who have a tough time finding work..

The rest of the time we relaxed, swam, took advantage of happy hour at the pool bar, did some writing and sorted photos. On the night before we flew to Cotabato we had room service bring us a bottle of wine and a fabulous prawn dinner, enjoyed in front of our window while watching a spectacular sunset over the Bay.