Melissa: through local eyes

Ane shows us around "forest camp"


our brief meeting with the mayors of three cities in the Philippines


A lunch of fish, noodles, rice and vegetable curry dished out to us by George and Co.
on Apo Island



Our transport back to the main island of Negros



Reggae night at Hayahay (we see the guys from Apo Island again)


I think there is a certain paradox as a traveler. Or maybe it is just me, as a traveler. You always tell yourself that you want to see a place, to discover a new way of life, a new way of processing the world but...in when it comes down to it, you want to do this from a bird's eye view or from behind a plate of glass. This is why we want “untouristy” places but also want enough Western backpackers for us to mix and mingle with. This is why we gravitate towards people with our similar backgrounds and why we use our lonely planets as bibles instead of asking the people what they recommend we do. I don't like this reality of how I have been traveling but I will at least be big enough to admit that that is how it is.


Now then, I have now entered a place where travelers are scarce, where people that come from Europe, America, Canada and Australia/New Zealand are minimal. We get stares on the street- partially because we are two young girls but also just out of plain curiosity. Dumaguette is not a touristy place, so they don't see many outsiders around this university town. But, everyone can speak English here and American English to be exact. So, this enables us to actually read street signs and navigate our way around. A simple question landed us onto a series of events that has somehow given me the unique and priceless experience that I now find myself in the middle of here. I am actually breaking my patterns. We have spent the past two and half days with Filipinos. Granted, a lot of them have lived in America for a while, but all of them were born in Negros. There is an open hospitality here where everyone you meet is family that I have rarely encounted in my life. I can understand why so many of the people (all men actually...) that moved to the U.S. decided to move back- moving to a town where everyone is related (literally) and people say hello and smile at you even if they don't know you, to a place like L.A. where you walk among the faceless, would be quite a change.

Today we were laying on the beach of Apo Island (at the snorkeling sanctuary) when a jolly Filipino man and his 15 year old son approached us and asked us where we were from and then promptly invited us to have lunch with them and his three other buddies who he has known since kindergarten. They fed us well and even gave us a ride back in their car and we have plans to see them at “reggae night” at the bar (whose owned we met). It was that simple. And we keep saying “yes” because that is just the thing to do here. Why decline hospitality when you are only going back to a place where that mode of operation doesn't exist? Dumagette would have been just another city to pass through if we hadn't met people, but instead we will probably stay here for most of our stay in the Philippines as we await what other hands will be extended for us to take. Seeing a place through the eyes of the people has proved to be a more rewarding experience that I know I should appreciate while I can. Plans for a “real Filipino fiesta” tomorrow for the real Independence Day and then snorkeling with turtles with the owner of our hostel the next day. No wonder if took talking to local people to find actual good Filipino food! Needless to say, we are well (sunburned, but well) and taking in as much as we can. Thanks for reading!