Trip was like clockwork and Manila Airport a surprise. I had expected chaos based on internet insights but I was processed at speed in a very orderly fashion, and found our designated meeting spot with ease. The 2 hour drive to our boat launch site was reminiscent of Vietnam traffic in part; another attempt by the universe to turn me to religion.

Banka crew carrying our luggage on board

Immediately we alighted from our van a little old lady came up to sell me the filipino version of peanut brittle. I may have lacked some judgement due to passing on the breakfast options on both flights and missing lunch for travel. As is my wont in these situations, and without Linda to stop me from buying everything the locals put in front of me, I bought some. I thought I was buying 1, but apparently I was buying 4.

Banka to Sabang Beach 

After I offered some to others in an effort to not get diabetes on this trip, Bob, one of my new trip companions, helpfully suggested I might get something else before diabetes. So for fear of some unknown dreadful disease I desisted from eating more after a couple of bites, although happy to report 3 days in that I am not dying. I still have 3.5 peanut brittle wheels in my mini bar.

A scenic boat ride and we arrived at Sabang Beach and walked right into our hotel, were greeted with refreshments and wet towels by the friendly staff and settled in. Can't ask for better than that.

Sabang Beach

The hotel is delightful, the food delicious and the staff are fantastically friendly. We get fed 3 course meals twice a day (with choice of menu) plus 2 courses at breakfast, and I'm guessing the chef/s have some good training behind them.

my room at the Atlantis Dive Resort

3 dives yesterday, which started with a few minor disasters on my part.  It seems I neglected to pack the bolt that attaches the strobe arm to my camera tray. Then I didn't have time to work out the nitrox settings on my new computer for running around trying to find an alternative light source for my camera (RIP my trusty Mosquito, you served me well). So I started on air, switching on the 2nd dive to nitrox. And then I was under-weighted on my 1st dive, to find the boat had disappeared when I ascended to get some more. Not my finest hour.

It dawned on me that I was shaping up to be the dickhead of the trip. The universe requires there to be one on every trip, and seeing as everyone else here appears to be a reasonable person it seems I had defaulted to this unenviable role. Although the next couple of dives went without any drama and today has been fabulous, so I think I may have had a false start and now redeemed my position as a normal traveler. I am watching for who is likely to step into the dickhead breach...

expecting some ok photos from today (none from yesterday), but I'm headed for dinner and a massage so they'll have to wait. We did see a pygmy seahorse, so I'm thrilled to bits about that.