Off we go again on what turned out to be a most leisurely travel experience.
We were picked up about 20 minutes before the allotted time (always nice) and we had an uneventful trip to Heathrow though it was not without the usual (and expected) abuse from our favourite driver!
A short walk into Terminal 4 and we joined the swiftly moving queue at the Bag Drop.
We were quizzed in some detail regarding the quantity of batteries that we had stashed in our carry on baggage and were told in no uncertain terms that we had exceeded our limit several times over (I checked this later and it was absolutely true) but they suggested we just shared them between us and to be prepared for rejection at security.
We put on a brave face, passsed through security, nothing mentioned, go figure?
Anyhow, nice seats, plenty of room, A380!.
Good food/drink and movies. Dont ask me what I watched, can’t remember!!
Before long we arrive at Abu Dhabi for a 3 hour rest (about 2.5hrs too long IMHO).
Next up, a plane load of residents heading back to Manilla. On older plane but still plenty of room. This was the 8.5hr stretch so I dozed through several more movies and then we were descending in to Manilla, clear skies and plenty of sunshine.
Passport control and baggage reclaim took an hour and a half and it seemed that they had just one luggage belt running for several flights.
Regardless, we left the airport and entered the furnace (thank goodness our van had good A/C).
More dozing bought us quickly to the ferry terminal at Batangas. We were met by our appointed representative who organised our bags and escorted us in to the terminal. Despite everything being organised for us (and paid) both Jo and I were asked for more money for transporting our baggage, local scammers trying their hardest!
Inside the terminal we get our tickets and make the 3.00pm ferry (which did not leave until 3.30pm!).
Chatting to some locals on the way, all very convivial!
We arrive at PG, pay our visitors entry fee (jobs for the boys?) and were presented with our transport.
Last time we came here we had a massive Jeepney. This time, another example of local transport;
We are whisked (as much as a tuktuk can whisk) away on our 5 minute transfer to Fishermen’s Cove where are are made most welcome.
We have the same Garden room as last time, super lovely, all bags emptied then straight in to the pool where we meet the other guests (all three of them!) Maggie from North Wales (BSAC diver) Bennie and Matt (both from Australia).
To say the resort is quiet would be an under statement!
Dinner was most excellent (pre set menu here) and consisted of pasta with clams (so very tasty!) followed by carpaccio of fish (they must have super sharp knives here), oh, and I had a panna cotta, lovely.
All washed down with mango and banana smoothie and a Red Horse.
Then sleep, 9hrs! ZZZzzz…