Still sleep-deprived, I slept much later than I had intended. This turned out to be no problem since I wasn't planning on laying out on the beach anyhow, due to my high level of crispiness. So I just walked up to the main street and took it all in.
The level of destitution here is staggering. I've never seen anything like it. Everything seems to be aimed at the tourist, so there will be a 'resort' or hotel next to a big field of dilapidated buildings/trash and building materials. And then there will be a little corner store type thing in a hut, filled with basically convenience store goods. There are probably more Filipinos around than tourists, which was a surprise to me. There are also a lot of people begging for money, which I didn't really see in Thailand, or in Mexico, which are the only other tropical holidays I've been on. I have to say, it's hard to see, knowing that I'm here on vacation. I feel something like guilt, but at the same time, most of these people make their livings off the tourism so it's a strange dichotomy, sort of a vicious cycle. It's hard to get your head around.
After I walked through town, I walked the beach, going left from my hotel where I had gone right the night before. I found a place called Cowboy Cocina, so of course I had to stop and eat there. Had some delicious chicken and sweet corn soup for lunch, and then proceeded back to the pool at my resort. Since it was finally in the shade, I took a dip to cool down my poor, burnt skin, and read some of The Unbearable Lightness of Being (which so far, is a little depressing). Then I took a nap (because of course I needed it), and got up the gumption to go out and make new friends. It felt sort of like going on a first date, where you really don't want to go because there's the chance of awkward conversation or uncomfortableness, but I made myself go out. I promised myself I would 'get out there' and meet some people, which proved to be the right decision.
I headed back down to the beach, looking for a bar I had seen walking the night before where they had live music. I wanted a place where I could sit up at a bar and not look too conspicuous and lame being on my own, and I found it at Charlh's Bar. The band was set up behind the bar, which was a half-moon shaped with plenty of room behind the bar for the bartenders to move around without the band being in the way. Saldi, the singer of the first band, immediately pointed me out and dedicated a song to me, a John Mayer song, if I remember correctly (Asians who sing American songs LOVE John Mayer). It was very sweet. Then I met a couple of Canadian brothers on holiday, Trevor and Jared, and ended up hanging out with them the rest of the evening. I'm hesitant to admit to anyone that I am traveling alone (because the friends I am meeting here are still in Manila), but I felt pretty safe with these two guys because they were brothers and they really didn't try to hit on me or anything. And I also sort of felt like Saldi was looking out for me.
All in all, a really nice Day 3. Hopefully (most likely) an indicator of how great the rest of the trip will be.
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