Chillin’ by the beach

We are now in Moalboal, actually at Pangswana Beach, on the island of Cebu. However, I have a story and pictures from Palawan and some details of the trip to get here to relate before I describe how wonderful this place is. Our last evening in Puerto Princessa, we walked back down to the celebration on the Bay Walk after I made the previous blog entry. We hadn’t eaten dinner yet, so we were fair game for the sales pitches from the various food vendors. We went with the one who had a full meal for two for 300 pesos. She allowed us to substitute more barbecue sticks for the squid that came with the meal (neither of us are fans of squid). I took several pictures as just when I thought they had brought all our food, they brought out more. Even this picture isn’t complete as after we dug in, they brought a grilled fish! Clam soup, barbecue (pork) sticks, boiled shrimp, two crabs, rice, four different vegetables including okra (Phillip’s hand covers it in the picture), an Asian spinachy veggie, a grilled eggplant topped with diced tomatoes and onions that resembled salsa, and some vegetable (just north of the barbecue sticks) that looked like little balls on a stalk. They popped in my mouth when I ate them, but they were a vegetable. It was all placed on several banana leaves laid out like a tablecloth. Including out bottled water and tip for the waitress, our feast came to the equivalent of $9.30. Very much worth it!

The next morning, after breakfast, I messed around with my pictures and Phillip walked a few blocks to the bank to gets funds for our next destination. Moalboal has not ATMs and our hotel there does not take charge cards, so cash is the order of the day. Before I leave the description of Puerto Princessa, I have to include a picture of the worthwhile cause for which we were asked to donate when we checked out. Robin, notice the logo of the cause… The World Wildlife Fund. Or, as Phillip called it when you were a member, “Save the Mutts.” And we did donate, with funds going for elementary school eco-programs.

The Puerto Pension staff provided a free transport to the airport (we would definitely stay there again!) and we were on our way to the island of Cebu. The airport was a little bigger than the one in Manta, Ecuador, but not by much. I will say that airport administrators could use a lesson in orderly queing. People would inadvertently cut in line because there really were no lines. Oh well, we had plenty of time and eventually made it to the counter to check our luggage and get our ticket. The plane ride was totally uneventful. Up to 35,000 feet, then descent to Cebu. About an hour from gate to gate. The Cebu Airport is a modern airport with international flights and real ramps, not stairs. Then a taxi ride to the bus terminal; however, we needed to be a few blocks away at the van terminal. That was a bit frustrating for me, so Phillip took the lead to get us out of the bus terminal. I will say that the van ride from Cebu to Moalboal ranks in the top five of our most miserable transportation experiences. Just a brief description: overpacked van, ineffective air conditioning, our luggage beside me and charged as a passenger instead of under the seat, several coughing fits by me (leftover from inhaled salt water during snorkeling) and terrible traffic (even the he-shes sitting in front of us told us this was unusually bad traffic). And FYI, “he-she” is not a disparaging term. It’s what the transvestites call themselves here. And we’ve come across several, not just at the hair salon. Enough about the van… we are here at the beach and it is great!

We had an understanding motorcycle taxi driver for the 4 km from Moalboal to this beach where the resort is. He waited for us to cool down from the van ride and spoke to us of the activities in the area. The price he quoted us was actually less than what I had read it would be, and he knew exactly where he was going. Our room is the closest of the ten rooms to the water. Air conditioning, a comfortable bed, friendly staff. I had only paid one night’s rent as a deposit when I booked this one, and Phillip tried to pay for the other two nights when we arrived, but they said, “No worries, pay tomorrow or maybe when you check out. It’s good.” And good it is indeed.

From the corner of our private porch, we have an excellent view of the water. This morning, we walked a little bit on the beach during low tide and saw two fisherman in a very small boat, like a skinny canoe, come to shore. One of them ran to the hotel restaurant staff and brought her to the water’s edge to inspect their catch. She bought this tuna from him for the equivalent of $1.90 a pound. I’m thinking a tuna steak for dinner tonight or maybe a dish called kenlau that a guest here from Switzerland told me about this morning at breakfast. And speaking of breakfast, I ordered pancakes with bananas. what I received was even better than American pancakes. It was actually three rolled crepes covered with banana slices. I had locally harvested honey to drizzle over the top. Phillip had a ham and egg omelet. Not nearly as special as my “pancakes.”

After breakfast, we decided to just walk around. The “road” in front of the hotel is more like a hard-packed wide sidewalk, easily navigable by the motorcycles and motorcycle taxis, but a bit difficult for the occasional van. We walked in both directions from the hotel. I bought a banana (short, stubby, and green looking, but very sweet) from two little girls who were walking with two tubs of them for sale. They wanted to sell me a bunch for 20 pesos, so my 5 pesos for one was actually more than she was asking. She was very happy with the sale. Once back at the hotel, it was time for… mango shakes! This picture is for Eddie Wells, as Phillip said he was holding one for his dad. These mango shakes were very smooth and creamy, the smoothest we’ve had. We could hear the blender and it sounded ferocious as the staff made them. A final picture from the grounds of the hotel… If you look carefully. you can see Phillip sitting on our porch.

Tomorrow, we may try to go to Kawasan Falls, or maybe we’ll snorkel, or maybe we’ll just have another San Miguel while sitting on our porch listening to the surf….