Reflexions Itinerant: June 2007 Archives

Arrived by ferry at Calapan, the capital city of Mindoro province, after a very eventful 14 hour bus passage down from Mountain and Ifugao Provinces.

In the last 20 hours, I've been caught up in a massive landslide - the mountain gave way on the road ahead of us and literally buried the route under 10 metres of heavy soil and splintered tree ferns; we negotiated a passenger and luggage exchange with a vehicle on the other side of the slip, unloaded and hiked over the landfall in the rain (it felt so epic!) - and then, as we continued down to Batangas for our ferry, a woman on the bus went into short-lived labour.

Our immediate diversion to hospital was pretty pointless, as the baby popped out in one bloody mess in all of five minutes (lucky woman), covering the aisle in blood. Apart from the roaring engine and constant emergency honking by the driver, there was total silence till the baby cried, then much relief all round as mother and baby were carried off the bus in a stretcher, health intact.

And now, off to climb a mountain that is supposed to be arduous to even Everest hikers because of the mad up and down terrain (fortunately, not so cold). I hope it's exaggerated, though there was a death up there not so long ago, which just goes to show that you have to be diligent at all times.

Before doing this, we visit the town mayor to get his blessings (permission) for the ascent.

There's a certain hint of adventure here; happy homo I are.

Anon!

And who knew that even tiny villages up in the mountains would have internet?

This is just a brief one to say hello from the Philippines! A 10 hour bus ride brought me here, and another one lies ahead at the end of the day. Next stop, Mindoro!

Incidentally, not a durian in sight.