Calapan

Oh yeah, Calapan! I am somehow stranded here. After a week long adventure and family-time, time to go back to reality came so fast. I am on my way to Manila to take my flight to Davao tomorrow... and... I am stuck here. Nothing big time... some 5 hours only. I got my ticket already and decided to leave the pier to discover Calapan City.

The tricycle driver was asking me for Php60.00 from the pier to the town proper and I declined. That is way too much for a 2km ride... so I walked... under the heat of the Philippine sun... after a kilometer or so, a middle-aged guy asked me if I am from here... told him "no." And he guessed it right. He said, "that if you were from here, you wouldn't be walking. Have a nice stroll around our city. It's peaceful here."

I made another stop at a store and bought a bottle of Pop Cola (a local brand). I asked the lady there how much is the tricycle ride from the pier to the town proper, she told me Php20.00 (maximum). It is saddening that some people will ask you for way much more. Anyway, I am another stupid tourist for them. As the children I passed by murmured to each other, I am "banyaga" (foreign). I won't disagree some more. This is how they see me. Deep inside I am more Filipino than they think, non-typical however.

Back to Calapan, I think I won't make it to the city proper anymore having found this internet shop. I'll spend the time left here and walk my way back to the pier in a while.

But I promised myself to discover more of Mindoro when there's a chance. San Jose would be one target, a place where my father grew up.