Back in the wet | Long Time Gone

***The lovely island of Siargao that I left behind. Pacifico is located midway on the east coast. My first visit was to the southern part of the island, at General Luna.***

Greetings from rainy Barretto! We didn’t have one drop of sky water to deal with during our six days in paradise, but I understand the rainy season there starts in December. Anyway, it is still nice to be back home safe and sound.

We enjoyed our time in Pacifico, but honestly, in retrospect, we should have spent a couple of days less there and explored other areas. If you are not a surfer, there’s not much on offer to fill the hours. Everything is spread out, so if you don’t have access to a vehicle, it’s not easy to get around. Unlike General Luna, tuk-tuks (Siargao’s version of trikes) are not readily available. And the ones we appraoched either didn’t want to take us where we wanted to go, or wanted to gouge us to get there. Nope.

The other complaint I had was a lack of hiking options. Only one main road through town, and I didn’t see many dirt paths to explore the surrounding countryside. There was not much traffic, and the road was wide and easy to walk on, but seeing the same old sights day after day does tend to get boring.

The bar scene was basically resorts that sold drinks and closed before nine. There were none of the pub-like places I enjoy here in my hometown. And of course, there were no girly bars whatsoever, not that that matters to me.

Although there were lots of tourists, mostly youngish Europeans and families, they were not overwhelming like we experienced in General Luna. That said, there were lots more options for things to do in Luna compared to Pacifico, so I guess one comes with the other.

And that is the extent of my negative impressions. On the positive side were amazing beaches, a laid-back chill vibe, great weather, and very friendly locals. I was glad we explored the small local eateries and discovered some great food as a result. Other than some minor and occasional boredom, we had an enjoyable time. It was also good to meet up with Chris and spend some time with him in Pacifico and at his brewery.

In summation, a nice place to visit, but I couldn’t live there comfortably. Here’s the lowdown on our final Pacifico morning and the journey home:

***A good night’s sleep in our very comfortable room at the Onda Resort.***

We only spent one night at Onda, but it was a nice stay. The staff was excellent and very accommodating. They let us delay check-out until 1 p.m. with no additional charge, which allowed us to have a relaxing nap before our pickup for the airport at 1:30. The only downside is that there is no direct beach access from this hotel, but for an overnight stay, that didn’t matter.

***We went back across the highway to this little shanty restaurant where we had dined the night before and had breakfast there.***

***…while Swan opted for the tuna steak. I had a taste and liked it very much.***

***Chillin’ while we wait for our van pickup at 1:30. They were right on time.***

***A wall full of inspiration. I liked the one that says, “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” Unless I get a “do-over” life*** ***I’ve been dreaming of.***

Chris hired a guy I know from Barretto to assist him with managing and marketing the brewery. We had our driver stop by so I could say hello and wish him well.

So, the airport at Siargao is the smallest I’ve ever seen. It’s also undergoing renovation, which has made it even smaller than it was during my previous visit.

***The solitary terminal was jammed with passengers waiting to depart.***

We managed to get a seat somehow, but two flights departed before ours, and it thinned out considerably. You can see what a popular destination Siargao has become. Our flight arrived late, so we had a delayed departure, but only about thirty minutes.

***The plane that carried us back to Clark Airport in Angeles City.***

***The firetruck is about the same age as me. Luckily, there was nothing to extinguish.***

***Bye-bye, Siargao Island. Thanks for the memories!***

We landed, claimed our luggage, and went outside to be picked up by our taxi driver, the same one who brought us. Hit the road a little after 8 p.m., and he dropped us at our door at 10. And yes, it was still raining. And it’s been raining all day today.

Facebook has been full of photos of the flooding and its impact.

***This is a river that runs through Manila.***

***The Philippines’ number one export. Coming to an ocean near you soon!***

***Scott walked the beach in Barretto this morning and posted this picture. It’s a crying shame. What goes into the bay must come out.***

Regardless, it is good to be home again.

From the March 2021 LTG archives, I recount meeting Bob and Cliff, the owners of a newly opened bar in Barretto, with the unique name of It Doesn’t Matter. Sadly, Bob died in a motorcycle accident a couple of years later. Cliff has moved on to Red Bar, but IDM is still in business with Bob’s widow at the helm. It’s a struggle for bars here these days, but I’m hoping this one holds on.

Today’s YouTube video talks about a taxi driver scam that made the news. At least this time the driver was held to account, losing his license and vehicle. On the rare occasions that I use a taxi, I always insist on the price upfront. The guy I used for my transport this week gave me a lower quote than I expected, and I made up the difference with a generous tip. I’ll be using him again in the future.

Here I go again:

***At least she didn’t make it hard on you.***

***A diagnosis and prognosis in the same meme!***

Time to revert to those old routines. Even if I have to do it in the rain. See you here tomorrow!

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