On my first-ever trip to Manila, I took a ship from Cagayan de Oro, courtesy of M/V Sta. Ana of Negros Navigation. I remember getting on the ship alone proved to be a nightmare: you have to make your way through a mass of humanity; everbody seemed to be jostling, shoving and pushing, while carrying heavy luggages, roosters and that ubiquitous lamay biscuits (biscuits served during wakes and funerals along with Nescafe coffee).
Once inside, you had to compete for the available cots and mattresses as these were free-for-all and you can get it on a first-come-first-serve basis. This was the time when PAL was the only airline and you had to reserve several months ahead to book a flight. Those of us who live down South had no option but to travel by ship.
Anyway, while settled inside, we made ourselves comfortable and removed our slippers and shoes and put them in one place, sitting in front of a TV set munching chips.
Whereupon an obviously seasick guy suddenly threw up and promptly deposited the contents of his stomach onto our shoes and slippers.
Anyway, while settled inside, we made ourselves comfortable and removed our slippers and shoes and put them in one place, sitting in front of a TV set munching chips.
Whereupon an obviously seasick guy suddenly threw up and promptly deposited the contents of his stomach onto our shoes and slippers.
2 comments:
i also experienced this traveling from Bohol to Cebu, which by the way is 4-5 hours journey before (as opposed to 90mins now).. then Cebu to Manila which will be at least 21 hours!Quite an experience as you see all sorts of people.. i stopped taking a ship after i had this experience that we were in the middle of nowhere and both engines gone pfft.. for almost 1 day na.. luckily, it was near the tip of cebu city and we had to go down the ship via the stairs at the side and take a small boat back to Cebu.. it was a scary experience and after that i never took the ship anymore...
You know what Marc, you should start blogging about your experiences, considering that as an Expat based in Singapore, you have plenty of material--unique, in fact-- to write about.
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