Archive for June, 2010
The Most Expensive Visa Extension – Ever!
By Thomas on June 21, 2010 | 10 Comments »
The Philippines is one of the easier countries to get a visa extension, even for longer periods of time. But it comes at a hefty price – and we had to learn that the hard way.
While looking for a new camera in Manila, we realized we had to extend our visa NOW. The expiration date had totally snuck up on us and we only had a few days to remedy the situation. Warnings all over the Internet about the Manila Bureau of Immigration made us quite wary. Even Lonely Planet urged not to use the Manila office and warned of long, long lines.
But we didn’t have a choice. With the looming threat of becoming illegal aliens, we ducked into the big, blocky immigration building. What we saw was beyond our imagination. » Continue reading this post »
Bye, Bye G7
By Tony on June 19, 2010 | 2 Comments »
We would like to dedicate this posting to our wonderful little G7 which was tragically lost to the waves off the coast of Verde Island.
Our little G7 traveled with us from the heights of the Himalayas to the depths of the oceans in the Philippines. From the dense jungles of Sri Lanka to the arid expanses of the Thar Desert, our little snap-and-shoot performed admirably.
G7 biked the plains of Bagan, climbed the root-shrouded temples of Angkor, learned to ride an elephant in Cambodia, and explored the waterways of Kerala. Not many cameras get to do so much in one lifetime.
G7 produced more than 40 videos for us, quite an accomplishment for such a little camera. You can check out some of her better works on our Videos page. We will miss her and her outrageous macro features terribly. 
Puerta Galera Underwater
By Tony on June 17, 2010 | No Comments »
Sabang’s incompetent dive shops have caused us quite a bit of pain, but the underwater experience completely makes up for it. With over 40 spectacular dive sites close to shore and plenty of snorkeling off of Monkey Beach and Big La Laguna Beach, we have managed to look beyond the sloppy service and, instead, look at colorful coral, fish and crustaceans. Hold your breath and follow along on our underwater safari.
Capt’n Gregg’s – Little Dive Shop of Horrors
By Tony on June 14, 2010 | 14 Comments »
Reputations mean something. Subtly, they can shape your entire experience. For that reason, when I entered Capt’n Gregg’s for the first time, I felt confident that I was in for some good diving. Recommended by both Lonely Planet and a host of online resources, I felt convinced that Capt’n Gregg’s would be a professional institution with a focus on safety and fun. From the start, I ignored the small signs of pending problems. Why? Because I was blinded by reputation. Reputation which caused me to put my common sense on the back-burner and place my faith in Sabang’s own little dive shop of horrors.
The first signs of trouble occurred almost immediately. After signing up for the following day’s dive trip to Verde Island, the shop assistant took us to choose our gear. Sizing Thomas and me up, she handed us both large BCDs. Clearly, this woman had a bad eye for size.
“Umm, ma’am, I think » Continue reading this post »
Splish Splash
By Thomas on June 12, 2010 | 3 Comments »
If you think evil sea creatures only live offshore, think again. Sometimes, the real danger lingers where the surf meets the turf.
While snorkeling back to the beach, I noticed three pairs of little feet stirring up sand all around me. When I popped my head out of the water and removed my mask, I looked into a young girl’s face – smiles and all. Boy, was I fooled. The second I opened my mouth to say hello, she » Continue reading this post »
