I woke up this morning and said goodbye to Lumiere. I’ve been spending time with him during the last month as well as a half. It has been a fantastic experience hanging with him because he has so much knowledge on traveling and collecting. I definitely grabbed the right advice.
I took the shuttle bus from my resort in Bulabog Beach to the ferry station. Originally, the resort wished to charge me 500 pesos to get for the station but I was able to negotiate the purchase price right down to 250 pesos. I was carrying a backpack with my PS3, my laptop bag, and my backpacker’s backpack. I think I will get one small suitcase with me at night so I do not have to carry my laptop bag and backpack. I think this will likely minimize the volume of bags I have to hold.
Once with the ferry station, a guy who worked for the ferry taught me to be with my bags. I tipped him 20 pesos. I then had to pay 25 pesos for your ferry ride to Caticlan and 50 pesos for that terminal fee. The ferry ride would be a bit rocky, but I got a nice take a look at the forest for the way to Caticlan. After about ten mins, we arrived in Caticlan. I had among the guys working at the Ferry station assist me carry my big backpack again and paid him 20 pesos as well. I then got a tricycle taxi for 50 pesos that I needed to pay with the tricycle taxi are in position to Caticlan Airport.
At manchester international, there are two security checkpoints. Also, you need to use your flight confirmation or they won’t allow you to into the airport. Fortunately, the organization I was flying with had a workplace near edinburgh airport. I asked the guy who had been working with the front of the airport if he could watch my backpack. I know this became probably an error, but I didn’t think that lugging into for the office. When I went back from printing my confirmation, the safety guard working in the airport questioned me on why I left my bag there. He also explained that I shouldn’t leave my bag unattended. I think this is because it may be considered a burglar alarm risk.
Nonetheless, I caused it to be into manchester international. I checked into my flight and my backpack was just around 11KG so I weren’t required to pay a surplus baggage fee. Passengers are allowed 10 KG for flights leaving Caticlan. I then was required to go through an additional security checkpoint and then there was a small waiting room with two gates. I couldn’t obtain a wi-fi connection and my USB internet was not working so I messed around on my own computer for 2 hours. I got towards the airport early therefore it was mostly spent waiting around.
The flight with SE Asia Air was delayed over 40 mins, but the lose didn’t take long whatsoever. I presume because the airport in Boracay is small. They also served water and a smaller pack of BBQ nuts free of charge. I had my own window seat around the left aisle and I would say that the seats in SE Asia Air were more comfortable than Cebu Pacific. The flight time for it to Cebu was just 45 minutes. I felt like the flight was rushed with the flight attendant and in addition found her being rude. She created a comment in my experience “Turn off your laptop” we’re landing.
I’d point out that the cost in the flight which was just around 3,000 pesos outweighed the hassle of flying with SE Asia Air. I have yet to discover an airline that I like flying with in the Philippines. But it’s a low priced tickets right? So I’ll experience it!
I have got to Cebu and used my USB internet to find the map in the address to the hostel in the event I needed it. I then went over to the information desk and the lady mentioned the yellow taxis are less expensive, however the white taxes were closest to where we had been. I had plenty of luggage, and didn’t feel like walking. So I thought we would take the higher priced taxi which cost me 360 pesos.
My cab driver was very friendly and asked about “Where have you been from?” and other questions. He was quite lively. We drove from Lapu Lapu City where manchester international likes Cebu City. The drive took about 20 minutes and you must cross a bridge which connects both the cities. I needed to run some errands in the morning and the driver mentioned that he could produce a rate of a single,000 pesos for 3 hrs. I wasn’t too interested in it.
We arrive at Cebu Guesthouse. The security guard put on white asked “Do there is a reservation?” I told him “No, have you got private rooms available?” He responded “Yes.” I went inside on the sign in in the hostel and surely enough they did not have private rooms available – merely a dorm. I prefer not to sleep in dorms because I will lose out on sleep and it is hard for me to get things done when there are numerous people space.
I called for resort rooms and they also recommended the Mango Park Hotel next door. The security guard was even kind enough to hold my bags towards the hotel. I arrived with the hotel and went inside. The place looked nice and then I asked her the magical question “How much per night?” I thought she said 750 pesos, but I was mistaken. She intended to say “1,750 pesos” which can be roughly around 40 bucks. I thought regarding it for a couple of minutes and decided to never stay. “I’m not in the US and 40 bucks a night for a room is outrageous” I thought to myself.
I called up a couchsurfing girl I had spoken with previously and he or she knew of many places I could stay. She arrived about 10 mins later and he or she took me to this pension called C’est la Vie Pension that’s of a 5-minute drive away. It’s basically a regular private room with TV, air conditioning equipment, closet space, bathroom with hot water shower, queen size bed, along with a desk. Wanna know the price? Only 700 pesos per night! It sure beats residing at that overpriced hotel.