Saturday, May 24, 2008
A trip into danger two
Bob and Migs have articles in depth on this journey so I show just an overview here.
Last week I told you about day one of our trip around Mindanao and now the story continues.
Day two we left Ipil and travelled on to Dipolog a very friendly place on the coast it looked like Southern England holiday town and although we did not stay too long we ALL agreed it looked so good we are going to come back and spend a day or two to learn more and enjoy more.
SEE THE MAP BELOW
With only minutes to spare we sped on to Ozamiz where we had an excellent Chow King meal and managed to buy a new charger for my phone and I so wish we could buy a battery for my video camera that refused to charge, hence my video diary is very small and is enclosed at the bottom of the article.
We then entered the ferry port which was very frustrating as for over an hour we never moved where everybody else seemed too. As our tempers increased and our boredom became total we finally understood the system. Our tyres were secretly marked with a number and trucks and other big vehicles took priority then wherever your car was in the four lanes you were put on the ferry when your number came up. Thank goodness it was not rush hour if there is such a thing in Ozamiz.
Again this City was very friendly and again I will be back.
At the other side we had a 45 min travel to a place that I have been repeatedly warned NEVER to go to Illagan. This place was a very nice clean and well presented City that I so wish I had visited before when I was in that area. It was dark when we arrived and we stayed at a budget accommodation that also had wifi in each room, small but excellent vale at less than p500 a night for the room. In the evening we met Bobs friends for dinner at a small Italian restaurant which I will give details on at another time, but its well worth a visit if you are in the area.
DAY THREE
A two hour journey to get pass the beautiful city of Cayagan De Oro before we had an amazing breakfast of the BIGGEST and TASIEST steak I have ever had in my life. See Bob Martin blog on this subject.
Then with very very full stomachs we passed through many cities on a five hour journey heading back to Davao City
# 1 Migs said:
I am glad to have been part of such a wonderful road trip with you and Bob. The memory of it, I will keep and treasure - until the day when I get another chance to set off and explore my country. I am even gladder that you are here to stay!
Thank you again for sharing the beautiful experience with me and with the rest of the LiP community!
# 2 rick b said:
John
Nice one here, between the three of you i have got a great impression of your trip, all from different perspectives, makes it all the more interesting cheers John
# 3 Dr. Sponk Long said:
Hi John. Jolly good show indeed!!!!
# 4 john said:
To be honest if it was not for Bob I would have never had this opportunity, it was an adventure that has made me hungry for more
# 5 roy said:
Hi John. I enjoyed ur piece. I felt a connection w/ ur experience. Abt 10 yrs ago, I made my 1st trip there (so far). I went through the same cities you visited. I am amused though that each time U mentioned them, the spellings do change. I liked Mindanao. The feeling I got there is not like what I got when I was in Luzon. Did you try Tinago Falls in Iligan? What abt Camiguin?
# 6 Jim Cunningham said:
Hi John- Your video record of your journey was excellent till the battery ran out never mind maybe next time.
Well done.
But I’m afraid you will have to practice your pronounciation of the towns and cities if you are ever to travel on your own with out Bob to help you.
# 7 Randall Jessup said:
Hi John,
Excellent video! Felt just like I was along for the ride.
Have you thought of applying to the BBC as their Mindanao correspondent? I think you’d do a great job.
Cheerio!
# 8 JOHN said:
Randall
My BBC voice is a little bit too common for the high brow news people, but I enjoy doing the article. I have to apologise for big gaps in the video I have a recorder that hen fully charged dies after 5 mins…very useful.
JIM
No excuses really. wrote the article along the way, guess I had too much beer.
# 9 Jim Cunningham said:
Hi John-It wasn’t Fr Franco’s special brew by any chance, now thats powerful medicine. In fact I was thinking you could suggest to Bob he carrys a Jerry can full……………..just in case he runs low on fuel. Remember its to run the engine on.