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| This was a 9 hour bus ride from Davao City to Cagayan De Oro on the northern coast of Mindanao. Left Davao at 9:30am and arrived at CDO at 6:30pm. |
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| This guy shows up to pick me up in the morning on his small little scooter and puts my luggage in front of him like the other guy did where as you can see he can BARELY see over my luggage. Not to mention this guy was wearing pink nail polish. I certainly don't understand some filipinos. To each his own I guess. |
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| I see Jehovah Witness places all over the Philippines and even in the most remote locations. I guess they are busy recruiting. |
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| Back on the Island City Express but heading back to Davao City in the background. |
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| Taxi driver dropped me off at the bus terminal in Davao City. I am told to head to the back where the buses for Cagayan De Oro are located. |
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| Just me and the gang on our 9 hour journey to Cagayan De Oro. I had gotten on a red Rural Transit bus and it will be the last time I use them. This bus driver was passing around corners and honking at oncoming traffic constantly telling them to pull over as he traveled in their lane and he would stop in little towns every 20 minutes and those same slow vehicles would pass by and once we caught up again he would do the same thing and NOBODY cares as if this is just NORMAL PHILIPPINE DRIVING. |
After I go through security I ask a guy where to catch a bus for Cagayan De Oro and he says it is at the end so I keep walking. As I am walking past all these buses and see what I think is a woman sitting down in the middle selling stuff as I see her bright red lipstick from a far and when I pass by I take a look and am 95% it is a guy. You just know that male look in the eyes. Guys dressed up as women is treated as normal over here. I was planning on getting a CERES BUS which are the yellow ones that I normally take but ask a security guard which bus to Cagayan De Oro and he points to a red Rural Transit bus that is almost full and helps me put my bag under the bus and I get on board. I see a yellow Ceres Bus beside me and am thinking I want to get on that one but I say I am on this bus now so will stay on it and we leave and I will just say I will never take this bus again.
The driver was passing around corners and couldn't see oncoming traffic and later on he did pass around a corner and there were vehicles coming and he stayed in the oncoming lane and honked his horn at them and they pulled over to the side of the road. This is considered NORMAL over here. Normal driving behaviour. When the ticket guy came over for payment I asked him how much it was to Cagayan De Oro and he says "500" then pauses and hesitates and then says "600" (when they pause like this I always feel they are just making up the price on the spot) so I give him 600 pesos and he punches the ticket and gives it to me and leaves. 10 minutes later I am questioning whether 600 pesos was the right price and look at my ticket which shows PESOS at the top with the 535 numbers punched out so I realize the ticket is 535 pesos and call him over to show him and he looks at it then looks at me and says "CHANGE" and I shake my head OK because I do see these guys take money and later on give change back for the passengers going farther so I let him hold onto my 65 pesos in change until the end of the trip. My guidebook said the bus trip from Davao city to Cagayan De Oro takes 6 hours but it was 9 hours long. Left at 9:30am and got to the Bus terminal in Cagayan De Oro at 6:30pm! After I got my luggage I had to remind this guy of my 65 pesos and I am sure he was hoping I would forget. I might have already mentioned but these buses stop along their route where what I call a "CHECKER" comes onto the bus and starts counting heads and checking the tickets to ensure the ticket taker is giving out tickets and not just pocketing the cash. Filipino minds think alike.
I arrived in Cagayan De Oro at 6:30pm and it was already dark. Taxi drivers were meeting me at the bus door as I was getting off and I told them I didn't want one yet as I needed to get my luggage and my 65 pesos and also take a look at my Lonely Planet Map of the city and get oriented. As I left the terminal some filipino with a huge black eye that was completely swollen shut (Hmmm doesn't look like a trust worthy guy) asked me if I needed a ride and I said I wanted a taxi which was right beside me so he tapped on it and said "Right here!" and he tried to help me and grab my luggage but I said no and did it myself. The taxi driver had a very bad memory and reminding me of the Peter Falk character "COLOMBO" as I asked him what street we were on and he would always say "Umm ummm I know the name but just can't remember it right now" and I asked about 3 different streets and he would say the same thing and then later he would remember it. I told him to drop me off at the Natures Pension house and he drops me off and I ask him where it is and he points and say "Right there, Natures Pension house!" as if he was reading from a sign on the building and I look and can't see any sign that says Natures Pension House but I assume it is just my eyes that can't see it since this is his city and I am sure he knows so I get out and go over there and go in and find out it is NOT the Natures Pension house and it is the Casa Crystal house and then they tell me Natures Pension house is down the road. So my taxi driver definitely has a faulty memory. I found out Natures Pension house was booked so I went back to Casa Crystal house and went with them.
I headed out to get some drinks for my room as I was very thirsty and as I got out of the store I crossed the road in front of this white taxi cab and just as I passed I heard this loud CRASH with metal crushing metal sound and look around and see the passenger in the back of this white cab was getting out by opening his door only 6 inches when a newer green car was trying to squeeze by (something they always do as they are always in a rush here) and the green car basically took off the white taxi cabs passenger door! Me and a filipina nearby looked at each other in shock basically saying "HOLY SHIT!!". I waited for a minute and nobody even got out of their vehicles yet so I kept moving. This is so typical here. The passenger thought they were in only one lane so could get out but the green car guy saw room to pass and not realizing the passenger was getting out. I don't know how the insurance works around here and who would be at fault as they seem to do anything in traffic to get through it. Back in Canada the Green Car would be totally at fault but here in the Philippines I just don't know for sure. I knew I was going to see an accident while I am here in the Philippines. It was just a matter of time.
It is morning right now as I write about last nights journey and as I walked to McDonalds at 5:30am there are 3 kids fast asleep right in front of the door. As I came in, a man went out and told them to move. I am wondering "Where are the parents??". Right now as I write this there is another young 12 year old kid down below jumping up and down to get my attention and doing the rubbing his stomach and fingers to the mouth routine. I looked down at him and start imitating him by rubbing my stomach and making painful looks on my face and he sticks out his hand for money. When I am not looking he is jumping around like an excited kid with Attention deficit Disorder but he is definitely waiting for me to leave McDonalds. Stubborn kid!! I don't like giving kids money but maybe 5-10 pesos but just don't want them thinking begging works and become career beggars. OK I am heading out from McDonalds to explore Cagayan De Oro.
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