Blogs from Romblon, Philippines, Asia
March 24th 2012
Getting from Tablas Island to Romblon Island proved a bigger task than expected. Only a few buses run each day from Odiongan Town to San Augustin, the departure point for the banca to Romblon. So we went to the Jeepney terminal in Odiongan and got on an empty bus bound for San Augustin. After a one hour wait, whilst all sorts of repairs were done to the small bus we departed. As expected the bus was loaded to breaking point with passengers and all sorts of cargo and music was blaring from the stereo loud enough to make your ears bleed!. The old bus trundled along the coastal road, which although very scenic, was also very rough! The bus kept stopping for more passengers until it was standing room only inside, the roof was full and ... read more
March 22nd 2012
From Puerto Galera we caught a banca back to Batangas and checked for ferrys bound for Romblon. Unfortunately there were none! Only option was a RORO ferry that evening to Tablas. We boarded the dilapidated rusting RORO ferry and it left at 5pm. Actually the trip was quite good. Each passenger was assigned a bunk in an open deck area and you could sleep, if it wasnt for the Cockerels crowing all the time! We arrived at Poctoy Port on Tablas at 3am, 10 hours later! Luckily just next to the port was a nice little hotel and we stayed there. Next day we organised a motorbike ride into Odiongan Town and checked into the Shelbourne Hotel. Great place with big fan rooms for 400 peso and wifi. We asked the very friendly hotel staff about ... read more
October 7th 2011
Arrived in Manila on Wednesday afternoon, took a cab to the hotel … It was an interesting experience. For you guys who know how much I like the rules you must follow when you are driving and how mad I get when people doesn’t follow them, well let me just say that I would not be able to drive a car in the Philippines because NO ONE is following any rule what so ever… On a road with two lanes there were four cars driving next to each other. Anyway I was sad to see how some people have to live here (even worse than Peckham). Anyway we arrived to our hotel after sitting in a traffic jam for 30 min. When we checked in they said that they were going to give us their suite ... read more
A reminder to downsize my dreams
Published: January 3rd 2011Asia » Philippines » Romblon » Romblon » Romblon
January 3rd 2011
For both of us this was to be our first Christmas outside of Europe and, from the moment this trip was conceived, we have been incredibly excited by the prospect of spending it on a beautiful white-sand beach in the Philippines under a perfectly blue, tropical sky. Unfortunately, the weather and the Lonely Planet conspired to somewhat ruin those romantic plans of ours. We chose to spend our Christmas at San Pedro beach on the island of Romblon, due entirely to the glowing testimony it received in the Lonely Planet that described the beach as "a beautiful little white-sand beach". After spending two days travelling from Pandan island by assorted jeepneys, trikes, buses, ferries and bangkas, the last of which was a two hour crossing in some very heavy seas which, due to the small ... read more
The social food chain from top to bottom on Sibuyan Island
Published: February 21st 2009Asia » Philippines » Romblon
January 15th 2009
"Sibuyan island," said Fredrick, a young journalist making a documentary about mining in the Philippines, "is a microcosm of the Philippines as a whole, and all the problems facing it." We were waiting for the boat to Romblon, having spent two weeks on Sibuyan, and what he said summed up our own feelings exactly. On arrival in Sibuyan we headed for the town of Cajidiocan where we met up with a man who every one referred to as Manung Demet, or Big Brother Demet. Around sixty years old but still in extremely good shape, he was an unpaid volunteer for PANLIPI, a Filipino NGO fighting for the rights of indigenous people. Hoping that Lizz, who is writing articles for the BBC Russian website about our trips, would be able to draw some attention to his cause, ... read more
Philippines:- The Visayas: Shhhh, our little secret....
Published: July 2nd 2008Asia » Philippines » Romblon » Romblon
June 7th 2008
We begin this blog by expressing our grief and condolences at the shocking news of the tragedies visited upon the Philippines by Typhoon Fengshen. Scores of people died just off the coast of Sibuyan when a boat capsized. Islands like Illoilo, Sibuyan and Romblon suffered devastating damage to homes, farms and livestock. We feel the pain. The indomitable people of the Philippines will remain in our thoughts and prayers. For the record, our visit was pre-Fengshen. Spur Of The Moment It was eerily quiet outside the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila. But, then again, it was only 5:45 am. A guard, with a welcoming smile, pointed out the way to public transportation and we headed off. Clambering into the ‘jeepney’ after us was Raymond, a Ghanaian. He, like us, had no idea where he was ... read more
April 7th 2008
Here you go! If there are no photos, check back in a few hours because the site often takes a while to load (at least that's what they say) :-)... read more
The town, program, and other events
Published: March 1st 2008Asia » Philippines » Romblon » Romblon » RomblonMarch 1st 2008
Hello! Lucas and I are visiting Romblon town on Romblon island about a forty minute boat ride from San Agustin. There has been so much happening that I am not quite sure if I can get it all down, but I will give it a shot starting with last night. Scott, Lucas and I came over to this island in the afternoon yesterday and we met up at the local deli with the other volunteers and a New Yorker named Carlos. It seems where ever we go the alcohol flows; it's cheaper than water and their rum is the smoothest I have ever tasted. So people just keep pushing drinks at us the entire night and we have to fight them off as they balk at our low tolerance excuse. So we continue to chat, drink ... read more
