Biri Eco Park

Wednesday, the 10th of December. yet another day at Sea.

There was a briefing at 9:15 when Dawn gave us a new schedule but there was still no apology from Coral about the deception of what they were selling. She also told us about what we would be doing the next day ashore at Biri Island. After this there was a talk by Stella about the last surrender which was a story of a Japanese warrior soldier who held out in an island just south of Manila for 29 years at the end of World War II: at first he had three other soldiers with him but they gradually died or were killed. He terrorised the local Filipino community and killed at least 30 of them maybe 50 of them in his sorties for food , while believing that he was still fighting the Americans. Eventually he was old wartime Colonel convinced him that the war had actually ended when his superior travelled to the Philippines to tell him that he must surrender. President Marcos gave him a pardon and he returned to Japan a real hero, married a rich lady and went to Brazil to farm dying in his 90s in the present century.

Then lunch out on deck and he talk by Yogi at 3 pm on Filipino fish and the story of the whale shark. Basically the Filipinos subsisted mainly on rice with just a sprinkle of fish. Then at 5 pm there was a wine tasting with three wines given by Aaron. This was very well done and there were three tapas to pair with the three wines offered, a Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay and a Barrosa Shiraz.

We went out on deck again, but it was very humid

Then we discovered that we had to be off the ship by 7:30 on the morrow, so we had an early night.

Thursday, the 11th of December. Biri Island

We took the second Explorer to Biri Island, where we were welcomed by a colourful display of dancing. We then climbed into the tuktuks, but they called them chariots in the Philippines, for a 15 minute ride to a fishery village. There were five of us in the chariot and it was a bit squashed and not very comfortable. By the time we got to the fishery village, it was pouring with rain, so we sheltered for a while and then walked down to the village where they had stations set up to show how they prepared the tiny rabbit fish, which was the normal catch in the area. They first filet it, and then take out the tiny bones and then soak it in brine for an hour and then dry it. The drying process took two days in the sun or a lot longer when they had to keep collecting it up due to the showers . We had some food here which was better than at the last session and it was quite acceptable. They package the dry fish and distribute it to other Philippine villages. The cost of it did not seem particularly cheap.

We then went on to a beach which was very scenic and they had quite a lot of food prepared for us and a really peculiar drink. After this we crossed the river which involved me taking off my trainers and then borrow David's shoes to walk on the very stony beach area to a lookout over two scenic Islands. On the return journey I put on my trainers again so that David could wear his own shoes and not have to go barefoot over the coral. Then I had to take trainers off again to cross the river. Then put them back on again.

Then a journey in the tuktuks/chariots back to the Explorer and another dance display before returning to the ship just before 11 am. After lunch at 11:30, we went out again at 1 pm to La Laguna Mangrove Ecopark, which have been set up by the local women around 2018. We were only the second cruise boat that had ever visited them and we were made very welcome. There were walkways along the mangroves and bridges over inlets. And several bits of entertainment en route. We got to an area where there was a lemon grass drink and more refreshments. We were then ready to climb many many steps up to a lookout where there was a tower with a circular staircase up to the top of it. From here a wondrous view over the surrounding countryside. Really worthwhile the effort to get there.

When we got back to the Explorer, we waited for about 15 minutes or so whilst about half a dozen people had a swim off it . On board there was a brief briefing at 5 pm and then we went out onto the back deck on deck 6 and a very enjoyable cocktail and some Tapas A thunderstorm raged around us with magnificent sheet lightning. We were pleased that we could still have dinner outside on deck 4 and have a pleasant time with Charles and Ciara and Kim and Karen although the conversation was always difficult to understand across the table with the noise of the engines. Then back to the cabin for a little whiskey.

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