21st September - Coron (Busuanga Island, Philippines)

Sunday 21^st September

Coron is, after all, not like Hobart in any way at all, once one is on land.

We had a fascinating time wandering around, once we had got the dinghy settled, nestled amongst some other boats near the new sea wall.

They are obviously reclaiming land here at a furious pace, just as they are in Malaysia and Singapore.  It must have been just ghastly here on these very rainy days… And the new wet market (fruit, veg, fish, meat,) is way out here, quite a long way across the mud and the piles of dirt.  They are demolishing the shabby old one as we speak, and I feel quite sad – it is much more convenient, right in the heart of town, on what was very recently the waterfront.

Once again we have been impressed by how clean the streets are.

Not sure why I was so taken with this rubbish bin.  Rubbish is always an issue, on a boat.  It accumulates relentlessly, and only a very small amount can be tipped into the sea – veggie peelings, coffee and possibly the odd piece of cardboard.  I am always very anxious to find a safe place to put our bags of rubbish.  In some places, we have been directed to some sort of “tip” which, we find out within minutes, actually connects, via a small rushing creek, directly to the sea…But here in Coron – a nice big trashcan, donated by someone or another, and conveniently placed for my pleasure.

It didn’t take us very long to make some new friends.  Pete was waylaid by Jim, originally from Montana, and a long time (21 years) resident of Coron.  He built, owns, and runs a restaurant and dive centre – Sea Dive – and he very hospitably took us there for coffee.

Jim & Pete

Tomorrow, I think, we are going to move to an anchorage close to Sea Dive – much more convenient.  Pete will pick up one of Jim’s boys, who will direct us through the coral maze…we do NOT want to bang and crash again.

Dolores and Marguerite

Dolores, Jim’s wife, was also very welcoming and full of love.  She has just one daughter, grandly named…Princess Diana.  And a small grandson, called Moses.

Bridge to SeaDive

My darling MacBook Air wished me happy birthday…as did many of my darling family and friends.

Also - happy birthday to my friend and colleague over many years - Tim Abey also 21/9/1949!!  I can’t believe we are 65….