02 May 2006
The poorest weekend I've ever had
That's April 28th to 30th. It could just have been plain stupidity, but I don't care: Out-of-towners deserve READY access to their money in banks wherever and whenever they go.
It was my first time in Puerto Galera. Naturally, I was excited. We left Cubao 3am Friday, reached Batangas Pier around 5 (that was one cold bus ride!), and docked at White Beach around 8. Originally I brought three mini-luggages (haha), a kikoy kit, and a shoe bag; but the night before we left Manila, my companions felt the heaviness of them all--which I clearly didn't--and offered me ONE HUGE BAG. It was so enormous it looked like it should've been the one to carry me. That's Manay Nellie and me aboard La Natividad. Las puyatas en la vanca.
Anyway, we... err, I, thought that we had brought enough cash; it was
during the boat ride to the beach that I began feeling this... chill. I had planned to visit my temple (the ATM) before we leave civilization, but apparently amidst all the excitement I forgot to do so. Heck, we all did. I SMS-ed a friend who had been to almost all vacation spots in the country and asked for ATM locations in the beach area. He said there might be some in the town proper, but he had doubts. And those gaddamned doubts were right. Not even gasoline stations exist in the town. The nearest shadow of civilization lies after an hour of tricycle ride in Calapan. Left pic: Where's Art? (CW from left) Angel the shy girl, Chars the hot mama, Nellie of the Cage, Pao of Munti, Marlon the Nescafe guy, Ian the drinker. Right pic: (L-R) Si antukin, si Excited, si Mas Antukin, si Angel.
So by Saturday morning, we plunged to poverty level. By noon, we were untouchables. I call that pic on the left, The frail and the cashless.
Sunday came and we were all supposed to go home, but all of us were having Fun (check out the braids!)--sans cash and any means of acquiring it. Everybody wanted stay one more day at the beach. After the votes came in, we decided to play crazy: One of us went back to Batangas to withdraw cash. Talk about effort. Nellie, you're the best. Pic: Banda-banda sa Galera; (L-R) Inay Angel, The Cute Pao, Papa Ian, Uncle Art, Auntie Chars, Manoy Marlon.
After four hours, our pockets were full again. Eat, eat, eat. Buy, buy, buy. Eat, eat, eat. Buy, buy, freaking buy. By Monday morning, my batteries went low again. After lunch, I only had 50 bucks in my pocket. All those cute souvenir bags and no cash to go home. Stupid Pao!
Lubog! (L-R) Ang buntis, ang legal na mag-asawa, ang Cute, ang legal-kuno na mag-asawa. Indeed I will never forget my first time in Puerto Galera. The sun, the sea, the sand, Island Tattoo's henna and braids, the 10-peso fruit juice behind Island Tatto, the cool night breeze, the tiangge, the sweet booze, the yummy bodies...
And all you need is a mobile phone with a snooze-proof alarm to remind you to bring extra cash before leaving Batangas Pier.
Thank you guys for that tasty soup. And my cab fare.
Galera, I'll see you later.
It was my first time in Puerto Galera. Naturally, I was excited. We left Cubao 3am Friday, reached Batangas Pier around 5 (that was one cold bus ride!), and docked at White Beach around 8. Originally I brought three mini-luggages (haha), a kikoy kit, and a shoe bag; but the night before we left Manila, my companions felt the heaviness of them all--which I clearly didn't--and offered me ONE HUGE BAG. It was so enormous it looked like it should've been the one to carry me. That's Manay Nellie and me aboard La Natividad. Las puyatas en la vanca.
Anyway, we... err, I, thought that we had brought enough cash; it was
during the boat ride to the beach that I began feeling this... chill. I had planned to visit my temple (the ATM) before we leave civilization, but apparently amidst all the excitement I forgot to do so. Heck, we all did. I SMS-ed a friend who had been to almost all vacation spots in the country and asked for ATM locations in the beach area. He said there might be some in the town proper, but he had doubts. And those gaddamned doubts were right. Not even gasoline stations exist in the town. The nearest shadow of civilization lies after an hour of tricycle ride in Calapan. Left pic: Where's Art? (CW from left) Angel the shy girl, Chars the hot mama, Nellie of the Cage, Pao of Munti, Marlon the Nescafe guy, Ian the drinker. Right pic: (L-R) Si antukin, si Excited, si Mas Antukin, si Angel.
So by Saturday morning, we plunged to poverty level. By noon, we were untouchables. I call that pic on the left, The frail and the cashless.
Sunday came and we were all supposed to go home, but all of us were having Fun (check out the braids!)--sans cash and any means of acquiring it. Everybody wanted stay one more day at the beach. After the votes came in, we decided to play crazy: One of us went back to Batangas to withdraw cash. Talk about effort. Nellie, you're the best. Pic: Banda-banda sa Galera; (L-R) Inay Angel, The Cute Pao, Papa Ian, Uncle Art, Auntie Chars, Manoy Marlon.
After four hours, our pockets were full again. Eat, eat, eat. Buy, buy, buy. Eat, eat, eat. Buy, buy, freaking buy. By Monday morning, my batteries went low again. After lunch, I only had 50 bucks in my pocket. All those cute souvenir bags and no cash to go home. Stupid Pao!
Lubog! (L-R) Ang buntis, ang legal na mag-asawa, ang Cute, ang legal-kuno na mag-asawa. Indeed I will never forget my first time in Puerto Galera. The sun, the sea, the sand, Island Tattoo's henna and braids, the 10-peso fruit juice behind Island Tatto, the cool night breeze, the tiangge, the sweet booze, the yummy bodies...
And all you need is a mobile phone with a snooze-proof alarm to remind you to bring extra cash before leaving Batangas Pier.
Thank you guys for that tasty soup. And my cab fare.
Galera, I'll see you later.
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