Saturday, December 13. Camiguin and Mantigue
We were delayed setting off to Camiguin due to the local customs man not coming aboard on time to clear us into the island. Once he arrived, it took him a good two minutes to sign us in. Once ashore we were divided into five mini buses. each taking six passenger,s plus a guide, plus a member of the expedition team. It was around a 30 minute drive to the foot of Mount Vulcan which we were to climb up to a certain level for a view over the island. Originally we had been given an hour and a half for the climb and 30 minutes for the descent but this was suddenly reduced to an hour for the climb and 20 minutes for the descent, so there were some pressure on us and it was really really humid making it quite a difficult climb but we eventually got to the viewpoint where we were allowed all of 30 seconds to admire the view, before returning. Carl assisted me in places on the descent which was less of a demand on the lungs but slippery underneath with loose stones.
After this we drove to the waterfall place. Katibawasasan waterfall which was 70 m high and quite scenic. David surprised me by going in for a swim there, but the access to the waterfall pool made it far too difficult for me.
We got back to the ship about one for lunch and set off again at 2:30 pm to the tiny island of Mantigue. Here we were could snorkel or swim, but we decided to walk round the island. The walk was slightly difficult in places to avoid the branches without getting our feet wet. After this David persuaded me that I could go in for a swim and this I did with considerable help from Dawn, who got me in, and then got me out. We got back to the boat just as a huge rain shower hit us.
To get a larger photo, click on a thumbnail below
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At 5:30 we enjoyed a cocktail and talking to Gail and Charlie, Gail having adopted Elfie, a Father Christmas style elf that have been put up with some Christmas decorations. Then a preview which told us that we were going to an island with the tiny mammal called a Tarsier. I had a long chat to Barry, a widowed diver, who was very bitter about the death of his beloved wife Robin. In his opinion her death was due to bad care by the medics and he held himself responsible for her death by not doing more to insist on more care. Then a documentary on the Tarsier that we were to see tomorrow.
To get a larger photo, click on a thumbnail below
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