Hey ho , still trying to upload photos onto this blog, and they still keep disappearing into the ether. John, you said this was easy!!













The approach to manilla was much better than to Hong Kong, a large eaxpanse of urban sprawl below us and as we came in to land we could see the shanties, which are still prevalent in Manilla - some in the most idyllic lagoon-side locations, sites we can only dream of having a home in.





It was a bit of a shock asI had not realised how prevalent they were here - usually associating them with Mumbai and Brazil





I had sat next to a returning Phillipino , david, who was coming home for a month to see his wife and two children he had not seen for 18 months. He works as a maintenance engineer on an oil field in canada and worked outside in temperatures of - 40 degrees. Makes our winter seem a little bit irrelevant really. And it did make me feel tha my trip was a bit of a folly.

I had to take a taxi to Olongapako bay, near to the Subic bay free-trade area - formerly a US Nava l Base. The streets of Manilla were crowded with traffic - despite the 6- lane carriageways throughout the city. It was noisy and dusty and dirty with rubbish, with the trycycles and Jeepneys scruffy and battered. ButI i was safely dropped at the coach station and immediatley caught the coach to olangapoko.

Jeepney in Olangapoko-

a much prettier and ckwaner ans well - kept neighbourhood than Manilla city. Clean streets and Jeepneys and tricycles were well looked after and painted and licensed. I wanted to take a tricycle to the yacht club, but the prot authrorities would not let them in - obviously too down market for the yachties and Four star hotel by the marina.




The Marina could be anywhere and after having been driven through some vey rough and impoverished areas, its wealth was in stark contrast to what I had seen. Do I feel guilty- possibly, but in this trans-global world, if those who have do not spend then those who have not have even less and less chance to progress ther lives.


After and hour and a half,I caught up with my skipper - Sam and his co-owner, Alan and their 9-strong crew. A very welcoming bunch they were too and made me feel very much at home - depite their talking chinese amongst themselves. I have a cabin to myself, being the only woman on board, and very comfy it is as well.


Once settled in we went off for a great meal on the town before setting the boat up for leaving the mooring and doing an overnight motor to Mindoro and Port Galeera to stay in a hotel for a few days and enjoy the diving and some of the sights.



I think I will stop here as this has taken so long I have nearly lost my power on the computer and want to get somEthing published.