Cebu & El Nido

Glen has already posted a bit about our trip so far, so I'll try not to repeat.

We are currently at the port, waiting to board 'The Jessebel' for and eight hour boat ride up the coast to Coron.  A short while ago, they announced a delay of boarding time until 9:00, which amounts to a two hour delay, and means we will be searching for a room in the dark again tonight.  Bummer.  (Not to mention, a nagging worry about what might be mechanically wrong with the Jessebel to cause the delay in the first place.)  There are a few boats that ply the waterways between El Nido and Coron, but the Jessebel is the only one that runs on Tuesday.  Also, we picked it because it looks like it has a more protected indoor area, so hopefully we will arrive in Coron with dry backpacks.  We saw a picture of the Jessebel on a poster, and she looked like a lovely boat.  We saw her on the shoreline last night, and she looks much less sea-worthy than in the poster.  Guess the poster has been around a while!  Guess I'll check to see if there are life jackets when we get onboard!

Back to the beginning:

We spent one day and two nights in Cebu City.  (I hate cities in developing countrie.) It was pretty nice as far as cities go, and was amazingly clean and felt safe.  However, really NOTHING to do there but go to the mall,  Which we did.  (Not to shop, but just to pass time.) We ended up eating lunch at a Philippino fast food place.  Erica had some delicious Pork on a Stick. Glen and I choose 'sizzling pork', which turned out to be suspicious bits of pork, mostly innard type stuff, which came on a sizzling hot plate. (think fajita's.)  I picked out as much as I could handle.  Glen ate less.  A little while later we  were walking through the food court at the mall and saw this fabulous stall that was selling succulent looking pork, right off the whole roasted pig.  (I sure wish we had seen that first!)  When we went to the airport, there was a 'drive-through' stand selling roast pork as well.  I am hoping we run into this again, as I would LOVE to have some!

El Nido,
After our trying arrival, and ridiculously expensive room the first night, we got up in the morning and looked for a cheaper room.  Found one right away, and moved our stuff.  Erica and I enjoyed a short cool-down in the swimming pool before checking out, so that we could get our money's worth out of that pricey room.
With  no plans for the day, we checked out the village.  (Wonderful)  Booked dives and a boat tour of the Bacuit Archipelago.  (In our book of 1000 places to see before you die.)  With most of the day still before us, we all went to get a massage.  About $12.00 US for a one-hour massage.  Since many places were closed in the afternoon heat, we stirred a woman in a small hut from her nap, she sent a little girl to get two more women, and we all enjoyed a massage at the same time.  All three of us were in a tiny little room, about 8 x 12 feet in size.  But it was a fabulous massage and we all felt great.
On Sunday, we went diving.  Saw some cool stuff and had a great time.
Yesterday, we took our boat trip "Tour c" in the Bacuit Archipelago.  Despite a few problems with getting the boat started after our stops.  It was a great day of snorkeling, swimming, awesome scenery, and a delicious lunch of fresh fish, grilled on the beach, with yummy local papayas and banana's along side.  We all managed to keep from getting sunburned, despite a long day in the sun and on the water.

Well, that is about it for now.  Despite my doubts about the "Jessebel", I am looking forward to our boat trip up the coast of Palawan to Coron.  Will try to blog again soon, so you will all know we made it safely!