Philippines In A Flash
(by Dennis Yan)
The Philippines, a tropical paradise of over 7000 islands, is home to one of the most diverse species of plants and animals in the world. What can you hope to experience in only 40 days? While the Philippines was one of the countries I most wanted to visit, I hadn’t looked into what to do or what to see. Having already been on a Thailand trip
through Free & Easy, I knew I was in good hands. All I had to do was keep an open mind and enjoy the unexpected.
Meeting any group for the first time can sometimes be stressful for anybody. I became acquainted with the Free & Easy group for the first time in Manila, and right away something clicked. It’s meeting family you never knew existed… and it’s only the beginning.
Our first stop was to Banaue, taking a freezing cold overnight bus ride to get there. Getting around in the Philippines often involved long travel days, this night in particular. Fortunately, I was in good company, listening to great music and enjoying some much needed beverages. All in all, travel days are what you make of them, and I
have to say I’m glad we made the most of them. Getting back on topic, the 2000 year-old Banaue Rice Terraces was a refreshingly breathtaking sight after an exciting morning of overcoming landslides and hiking through rain forest. Take a glimpse of the man-made mountainscape of two millennium of labor and history. Even the Cinque Terre of the Italian Riviera can’t compare to its simplicity and charm.
Speaking of simplicity: Catanduanes. Our visit to Catanduanes was my most relaxing time in the Philippines, with one of the more memorable moments being the local school fundraising dance. Having the chance to mingle with the locals, sharing dances to Western club music as well as traditional Philippine dances. After leaving Catanduanes, we did a little island hopping around the ‘remote’ Survivor Island where I got chased off set by a guard with an assault rifle, then stung by jellyfish. The group finally ending the night playing guitar and examining the beauty of phosphorescence before heading to CWC the next morning for wakeboarding. Watching one of our group leaders being strung along face-in-water for what must have been almost half the
track was an extra special treat!
What can I say about Malapascua other than that the diving was fantastic! With manta rays and thresher sharks in nearby waters, Malapascua is a diver’s dream come true. Even though I wish I could have been on the dives where others in the group were able to see such magnificent creatures, I can hardly complain after witnessing a
blowfish balloon into a ball of needle-sharp spikes. I was even fortunate enough to play with the highly rare and unusual R. frondosa that even the dive master has only seen for the first time!
The world-renowned beaches of Boracay is home to the most magnificent sunsets I have ever seen. You really need to let the symphony of colors sink in while you soak in the ocean, and enjoy that last ray of sunlight before heading to the bars. Let it be known that jam jars of long island ice tea can be a dangerous thing, particularly for Canada Day celebrations with a group of crazy Canadians. Needless to say, the
‘Still Standing After 15’ challenge at Cocomangas is an even more daunting feat… As delicious as cocktails and shooters can be, my favorite times at Boracay were new experiences such skimboarding during the day and simply relaxing to the great live music at night.
Panglao is another fabulous dive location I’m told, though I was unable to dive. Instead I spent my time hanging out by the pool and at the house I could call home for the next few days. Having a kitchenette and a deck was such a convenient and relaxing setup; a
great place for hosting little gettogethers and shoot the breeze. So relaxing in fact that I never made it to the beach, which was only a 5 minute walk away! At the very least, I got to see the Chocolate Hills of Bohol. Just beautiful!
Siargao was our last stop before heading back to the big city Cebu to end the trip. Surfing, surfing, and more surfing! We also did a day trip of island hopping for some amazing cave adventures. The group even had the chance to swim in a lake full of hundreds of jellyfish! Can you imagine?! Luckily for me, these jellyfish don’t sting. In
fact, you could even scoop them up in your hands quite easily. When the boat driver said it was time to go, I could hardly bring myself to climb back on board. It was time to say goodbye: to the jellyfish, to the Philippines, and to my newfound Free and Easy family.
