Week 10: Finding a new place to live in Dauin

November 11, 2008 - Filed under Scuba Diving, Weekly Report

Another week gone by. Week 10! I can hardly believe how fast time is flying. This week was mostly spent working and looking for a new place to live.  Both of us had a few work projects on the go, and finding a new home has been top of the list for a couple weeks now. I’ve actually been a bit surprised at how hard it’s been to find something decent. I realize we have a lot of things on our list of wants/needs, but for some reason I thought it would be a little easier.

Much like we did when we first arrived in Dumaguete, we checked out a couple of cafes where they have a few listings posted. One place in particular, the “Why Not Bar”, seemed promising at first, but we quickly realized most of their listings were for show, and not much was actually available. We did a few more searches online, and even resorted to the old fashioned walk/drive around looking for ‘for rent’ signs.   Just as we were beginning to give up and start looking at other options, (such as heading to Thailand earlier than we thought) we found something. It turns out, as with most things in life, it’s all about who you know. Read More…

Posted by: Kelly

Week 9: Back in Dauin

November 3, 2008 - Filed under Scuba Diving, Weekly Report

When we last updated you guys we had just arrived back in Dauin after spending a week in Boracay. With only a few days left before Halloween, and no plans yet we decided to head into town and wrangle up some costumes. Those of you that know me, know I love halloween, so I have to admit that this year was a little strange celebrating in a country that barely even notices it. Read More…

Posted by: Kelly

Learning to Dive in the Philippines

October 19, 2008 - Filed under Scuba Diving, Stuff to do, Underwater Photography

While Kelly is a certified Dive Master and has done more than 150 dives during her various travels, I was always somewhat reserved about getting involved in the sport. Partially because it was her hobby and I was into motorcycles, giving us each our own independent, expensive, recreational interests. More so because the idea of submerging yourself underwater with a can of air can be daunting at first. But, given that we’re in such legendary aquatic surroundings, I decided to do a discovery dive.

After getting fitted with a wetsuit, fins, mask, weights, regulator, and BCD (Buoyancy Control Device… basically a vest that fills with air) another couple and I submerged below the surface of the five foot deep pool at the resort and proceeded to learn the basics of diving from Phillip our instructor. Learning to clear the mask when full of water, signs to communicate underwater, how to find the regulator if you should lose it, and basic buoyancy control came to me quickly. So that afternoon we continued the discovery dive in the house reef beside the resort. Lucky for me, the house reef at El Dorado is a marine sanctuary with an abundance of fish, corals, and sea life. Going no deeper than 10 meters, I had an amazing first dive surrounded by all kinds of coral and small fishes. I was even lucky enough to see a turtle. Needless to say, I was hooked and dubbed the ‘Canadian Fish’.
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Posted by: Shim

Siquijor

October 17, 2008 - Filed under Scuba Diving, Stuff to do, Travel

Saturday morning we left for Siquijor. A small island about 45 minutes from Dumaguete. We got up early and took a trike into town, had breakfast and then headed to the pier. We had planned to take one of the larger car ferries because we heard they were reliable and unlike the fast ferries there is room to walk around, stretch your legs and check out the view from the open decks. However, when we arrived at the pier we were informed that the 10am ferry was cancelled during low season, so instead we ended up taking one of the Delta Fast Ferries, instead.

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Posted by: Shim

Week 6: Happy Thanksgiving!

October 14, 2008 - Filed under Weekly Report

I can’t believe it’s that time of year already. Not surprisingly it doesn’t feel anything like Thanksgiving. No cold fall weather, no turkey, and no friends or family to share it with. That’s not to say that the day went by unnoticed, it definitely didn’t. I thought about all of you back home and wondered how you were spending your holiday. I wondered who was hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year, and whether or not Randal had been put in charge of the turkey again. I also thought about our new life here, and how thankful I am that we are able to do this, and more importantly that we’re able to do this together. I know that may sound cheesy, but hey, that’s what this day is all about. Read More…

Posted by: Kelly