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.
No comments:
Post a Comment