Knowing there isn't much diving back home, I pushed for one more tropical dive. Destination: Puerto Galera. The city is only a "hop, skip, and ferry ride away from Manila," according to the Lonely Planet. The authors also noted the water crossing may be choppy. That was our first warning.
Three and a half hours of "Transformers," "Final Destination," and other high-speed collision type movies on a speeding bus and we arrive in the port city of Batangas. I noted the Anti-Hijacking Office to my left just before stepping off the bus. After searching the options on both piers, I resigned to our only option: a small outrigger. Our advice was to take a big fast craft, but none could be found. I bought my ticket, then the mandatory environmental usage tax, and then the mandatory port fee. I politely declined the optional life/severe injury insurance. Warning number two.
Three and a half hours of "Transformers," "Final Destination," and other high-speed collision type movies on a speeding bus and we arrive in the port city of Batangas. I noted the Anti-Hijacking Office to my left just before stepping off the bus. After searching the options on both piers, I resigned to our only option: a small outrigger. Our advice was to take a big fast craft, but none could be found. I bought my ticket, then the mandatory environmental usage tax, and then the mandatory port fee. I politely declined the optional life/severe injury insurance. Warning number two.
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| Bamboo poles of the outrigger |
