Trip Out – Richard
Here we are in Istanbul at midnight having just invested in some light refreshment whilst we wait for our gate to be announced for the next leg.
An uneventful flight during which I managed to sleep through most of the first film (something to do with our visit to Wetherspoons perhaps????).
Then I decided to treat myself to a quality movie staring Olivia Coleman and Sir Anthony Hopkins, well, that was all very dismal but it kept me awake!
We enjoyed extra leg room by the emergency exits though the seats were all boney as can be, not the padded loveliness I’m used to, perhaps in didn’t bring enough padding with me this time????
The airport here is massive and like most airports there is a constant stream of people moving in every direction. Not us though, we’re just sat here, watching it all go by!
After sitting at the departure gate for half an hour or so the queue magically comes into existence as it does so often in this part of the world, we sit tight but successfully merge with it when the official call comes.
It’s a bit of a scramble getting on these flights as so many people have so many bags that they want to get into the overhead storage, get in quick to avoid disappointment!
Jo and I bagged the naughty seats right at the back where there are just two and not three together however these have the added disadvantage of having the overhead lockers filled with O2 delivery systems for the plane so we have to store our stuff elsewhere. Fortunately we get sorted but afterwards about 100 other passengers all fight for the remaining zero space!
All tucked in, Captain, you may commence airborne operations!
Ten and a half hours to run on the second leg, a leisurely arrival and a short transit to The Belmont for overnight stopover before 07.30 pickup for the trip down to Batangas Ferry Terminal.
We landed at Manila, almost last off the plane, straight through passport control, baggage took an age then we pick up a mobile phone SIM before making our way the The Belmont.
After dealing with a reservation issue we get to the room, order room service and watch the last Downton movie before passing out!
After what seemed not quite long enough we are up and heading to breakfast. I took advantage of the shower facilities and realised that they had the same feature as those at the Henry hotel in Cebu, if you know, you know!
Breakfast was an almighty buffet which I struggled to avoid and now we are headed south in our transport to the ferry port at Batangas.
Once at the terminal, we are met by a helpful chap that wrangles the porters and all our gear is taken through for us and ultimately put on the ferry. We take our allocated seats and brace ourselves for departure. Fortunately the weather is fine, sunshine and a moderate breeze so sea conditions are favourable, or at least that is how they look right now.
Doors have been closed and hatches battened, hopefully departure is imminent (due 9.45, currently 9.56) let’s hope that porter was pleased with his tip and he had loaded our baggage instead of tipping it into the sea!
Right now we are somewhere just east of Verde island, still nice and flat, probably just over half way to PG. Some Vin diesel movie is playing but you can’t hear anything! Then again I don’t expect there is any complex story line, just a lot of car chases through the jungle from what I can see.
I’d expect us to arrive at PG at around 11.30, just in time for lunch, oh good, more food ???? though I’m confident it will be something super delicious and very tasty. After that I expect we’ll be prepping cameras, sorting dive kit and bobbing in the pool, let’s see what actually happens!
… And it all happened like clockwork!
After unpacking we took a dip in the pool and then had lunch (BBQ fish, salad and rice, all beautifully cooked and washed down with Red Horse and Coke Zero) then it’s off to prep cameras.
We have a meeting with our supplier later this afternoon, apart from that, nothing to do but generally just holiday.
.. And that’s how it went, a thoroughly relaxing rest of the day spent in and out of the pool. Our visitor arrived later in the afternoon so we spend a few hours in conversation on all things dive holiday related which was great, after that, dinner!!
Another feast consisting of pasta Bolognese followed by grilled chicken in a lemon sauce with mashed p’tata! All topped off with fresh fruit and cheesecake (i’m going to need some serious dietary therapy when in get home).
I just remembered, the day did not pass entirely without incident! When prepping my dive gear I thought I would just check my pocket where the smb lives. Upon opening the zip it was like a scene from a horror film as gazillions (and I really do mean gazillions) of very tiny insects emerged and ran everywhere! Perhaps some kind of ant? No idea, and it’s not like the thing hadn’t been used recently, I dived in it only last week. It took a thoroughly good hosing out to get rid of them all, very spooky indeed.
Jo had also discovered a small shell that had got packed in with my jacket, the shell was still occupied by a very recently deceased creature and it’s aroma was really quite something!
We had a round of Rummicub after dinner but concentration levels were waning so we retired!