Island Life in the Philippines

Why do Filipinos speak such good English?  One word….. 'Karaoke'

Yep, there is a Karaoke machine in every town, village, bar, café, and eatery in the entire country.  The Filipinos love those very sweet love songs.  And get this…  when they start singing, the dogs and roosters join in for the melody.  Right now I'm in a tiny fishing village and it's just after sunset.  Everyone has gathered around the one and only eatery in town, and are right now listening to "Bryan Adams - Straight From The Heart".  The singer is actually not bad, but the chorus of howling dogs in the background is pretty comical.  It really is a blast, and has to put a smile on your face.

I just spent 5 days on a tiny island in the Visayas called Apo Island.  It is only 3 km around, and is inhabited by some of the loveliest and friendliest people on earth.  After only a couple days everyone greeted me with "Good morning David", or "Good evening David, how are you today?".   The people are so nice, and the kids are a blast… gathering around me and proudly escorting me to their school, where I got a tour by the Principal.  There is limited electricity (6 to 9pm only), and no fresh water on the island(rainwater only).  No computers, no internet.  The school relies on a tiny, little library, and some very dedicated teachers.  The kids are very polite and well behaved.  They start classes at 7am, and take the middle of the day off to help their family with household chores and fishing.  They return to class in the evening until the electricity goes out.   It's really a magical little island, and yes, they really love their Karaoke.

I came to Apo Island for the snorkeling and underwater life, but the memories that will stick with me are briefly getting to know some very friendly island people.  And yes, somehow Karaoke has taken on a new meaning for me.  Weird eh?

Photos from the Phillipines
https://photos.app.goo.gl/82Z3jKjcVo3TwhUKA

'For Whom the Bell Tolls' or 'Tales from the Philippines

I finally arrived in paradise, on the small tropical island of Bohol in the Philippines.  I checked into a really nice little guesthouse, with a very friendly old lady running the place.  She just laughed when I asked why no one else was staying at her hotel.  When I walked into my room I couldn't believe my luck.  It was a large room with huge windows and a nice sea breeze coming off the ocean.  When I opened the curtains on one side, I was looking at the azure blue sea.  On the other side, I was looking right at a large white Spanish Church.  Very beautiful and peaceful…..or so I thought.

Well, at exactly 5am I sat bolt upright, being suddenly awakened by VERY LOUD BELLS RINGING IN MY EARS.  After the bells, the Church music started, then a church mass being broadcast over loudspeakers.  I really didn't understand what was going on.  I had enjoyed a few beers the night before with some fishermen, and assumed this must be the church trying to wake up the drunken fishermen to get them out on the boats early, to catch the fish.  I really couldn't think of any other logical reason why someone would knowingly wake up this whole peaceful fishing village at 5 in the morning.

When I asked about it later that day, I was told this happens every day, and if there is music after the bells it means that the villagers are supposed to come to mass at the church.  At 5 in the morning!!!!!   My god, that's physically painful.

After 3 days in this very peaceful village paradise on the beach, I was extremely tired.

Beaches, diving, and tiny weird primates

After 3 days traveling in the Philippines, I finally reached the spectacular tropical island of Bohol.  It really is a little bit of paradise.  

Today I joined a scuba dive boat, as one of 3 snorkelers. The visibility was up to 30 meters, with bright sunshine.  Huge numbers of very colorful fish, giant coral, and weird looking squid.   We even saw a very poisonous meter long Sea Snake, which came a little too close for comfort.  When I ventured over the underwater drop-off wall, peering down into the abyss, I say this giant ball of large pike was being pushed up by something just below me.  I didn't hang about to find out what was chasing them.

Yesterday, I rented a motorbike to ride through the interior "chocolate hills".  There was almost no traffic, and I really enjoyed the breeze while riding.  Attached is photo of a Tarsier, which is the smallest primate on earth.  Each eyeball is 16 mm in diameter, which is larger than their entire brain.  They sleep with their eyes open, and can't move their eyeballs, but they can rotate their heads almost 360 degrees to look around. Very weird.