Sabang

All clear given by the dentist and no charge for the thorough check up which included x-rays of the implants. Last time here I stayed at the Great Eastern Hotel on Makati Ave and while it has seen better days, overall it was fine with quiet and clean rooms. This time round the hotel was fully booked so I had to find something else close by and stumbeld into Simcas Appartelle & Tourist Inn. If you are ever in Manila DO NOT stay there, it's bloody terrible, the noise from the street can only be drowned out by the incredibly noisy air-conditioner.
So onto better things. After a close study of my new Philippines travel guide and some friendy advice from Alan and Erlinda at the dental surgery, I now find myself ensconsed in the dining room at the Swagman Hotel waiting for the ticket office to open so I can secure a van ticket to Pourto Galera. The Swagman Hotel in Ermita ph. 02 523 8541 is a reasonably priced hotel very close to the bay. Tickets for buses to Batangas and to Angelis City leave from here. To book call Gene ph. 0919 6529710 if you're looking for a return from Pourto Galera call Ponce ph. 0915 7494135.
The van turns out to be a very well appointed Jeepney with reasonably comfortable seats and working air-conditioning. The seats are supposed to take two but it would be a bit tight for two average size Westerners for the two and a half hour journey. There are cheaper ways of getting to Pourto Galera, like using one of the numerous bus companies servicing this route but for the extra personal service and lack of pickpockets and other thieves I consider it money well spent. The ticket is a combination Bus/Ferry ticket so no getting hassled at the Batangas end by touts.
The ferry turns out to be a traditional big outrigger boat which provides a safe, comfortable if sometimes wet ride across to Sabang.
Arriving in Sabang is where the fun begins as dozens of touts vie for your attention and the opportunity to escort you to lodgings. I tried my best to get away from them but in the end gave up and got escorted to a lovely little establishment called “Reynaldo's” Ph. 0917 4895609, it's up the hill a bit and at the extreme end of the beach away from the bars and disco's and most importantly it's QUIET and after some hard bargaining, only 500 pesos a night, which turned out to be 100 pesos cheaper than the guide book advertised.

Very happy with my choice of lodgings, it's spotlessly clean, the bed is comfortable, I have a fridge and a small kitchen and the room also has a TV. I have a view through the trees and over the rooftops of the bay where I can see the small boats ferrying divers out to the various dive sites.
Had a nap in the afternoon and a great sleep last night. It was raining when I went to sleep and was still raining when I woke up this morning, it's nice to be in the tropics again.