MANILA, 16th December 2003

A bit of a rush then to get across the busy city, put our bigger bags on a bus to San Fernando (Donna’s hometown) and meet Derek (friend from Dhaka now moved to Shanghai but presently at a conference in Manila ) at the Shangri La Hotel. We entered the posh hotel feeling a bit out of place with backpacks. Derek was in his room when we arrived, but the phone was busy so the reception let us go on up. He came out of the room to greet us and the door promptly locked behind him. A trip downstairs to get a new key card and then we dumped our bags, Derek changed out of his conference gear and we went out to hit the town. A taxi to one bar where a band was playing. We had some food – various Filipino delicacies selected by Donna – and a couple of cocktails before moving on to a club with bands on a stage. A couple of Long Island Iced Teas, some dancing and a couple of beers later we left at about 3am . A taxi to Derek’s hotel to drop him and pick up our bags before another taxi to the domestic airport. We met Donna’s friend Marielle, checked in and boarded the 5am flight to Cebu .

CEBU

Soon after sunrise we landed in Cebu Airport . Having no immigration to wait at, the baggage wait was a bit longer but not bad. No cash machine at the airport, so when we arranged a taxi we requested a cash-stop diversion on the way to the ferry port. Some doughnuts and coffee for breakfast and then we boarded the fast Supercat ferry that was to take us on the 2 hour crossing to Bohol . A bit of sleep and watching parts of a movie.