March 15, 2016

Bonus post. LOL. Didn't think there would be much more to report in on today but....here we are again with a few tidbits to share.

Currently sitting at the airport in Tagbilaran City on Bohol waiting for our flight to Manila and breathing a sigh of relief that we had enough money to get through this airport.  We had used pretty much all our cash when we checked out of Veraneante and then put the rest on a card.  We wanted to set ourselves up so we didn't have a bunch of cash leftover that we'd have to return but....boy oh boy are we cutting it close!

Shuttle from resort brought us to airport so we knew we only needed enough for a tip for that BUT....then we discovered we each had to pay 800 pesos for our checked bag.  Fortunately we were able to put that on the card too but then.....uh oh.....now we have to each pay a 100 peso terminal fee which pretty much cleans us out.  Our breakfast tomorrow in Manila is included with our hotel but we have our fingers crossed that we can find a spot for dinner that is near the hotel and that will take a card!  We are also hoping that we can get on the hotel shuttle from Manila airport as I know we don't have enough cash for a taxi.  Oops!  Let's just think positive and trust that we will get on that shuttle!  :-)

Will update when we get checked into hotel in Manila and let you know how we made out.

OMG!!!!  We made it....sort of.....well.....actually .....you may have heard of something called the Amazing Race?!  Well, welcome to Amazing Race Philippines starring first place finishers Lynda and Lorrie.

You'll recall that when I last wrote in Bohol Airport that we were pretty much out of cash and fingers were crossed that we would be able to get hotel shuttle in Manila.  WRONG!  The damn plane landed at Terminal 4 where there is NO shuttle service at all.  Not good for two girls who have no $$$ left.  Well, actually we had 120 pesos (which is about $3.50).  A cab to our hotel was 330 pesos (non negotiable) and so...we had almost resigned ourselves to either taking more pesos out of a cash machine OR asking everyone at the baggage carousel if each would gift us with 20 pesos cuz if 11 of them would do that....added to our 120.....we'd be good to go to the penny!  Alternately, Lynda was prepared to sing and dance for cash but honestly....the people here are pretty good singers and I'm thinking they might not be too forthcoming with much cash for her talents...although...on second thought....maybe they would have paid her to stop.  Hmmmmm....I'll remember that for next time. :)

In the end, Lynda spied a guy she had spoken with in Bohol Airport, asked me to watch for her suitcase on the carousel, and made a beeline for the guy.  The poor man didn't have a chance!  He is on his way home to Germany and headed straight for the hospital as for no apparent reason he lost his hearing 4 days ago and they can't figure out why.  As well, the man has a knee brace and is on crutches so he's definitely had better days.  Lynda had helped him in Bohol as he wasn't able to hear when they were calling our flight and so she just went up to him and said...."I know you're going home and my friend and I are stuck as our hotel shuttle doesn't come to this terminal and we have no pesos left - do you have any you could give us?"  He looked at her and said, "I can't hear you" to which she mouthed the words, "do you have any pesos I can have?"  He thought for only a moment and said..."sure I won't need it where I'm going....how much do you need?"  She mouthed and gestured "200" and he pulled out a 500 peso note and gave it to her with a smile.  What a guy!!!  He was our hero and as a result we high fives our way out to the taxi line where we were able to purchase a voucher to get us to the Remington where we are now sitting in the bar enjoying an ice latte with the knowledge that we still have enough change leftover to be able to buy bottled water to brush our teeth tonight.  Wahoo!!!  Seriously, this truly did feel like one of those Amazing Race roadblocks and I'm happy to report that thanks to Lynda....we passed and are into the homestretch now.

Doubtful that you'll hear from us again but heh....we still have a few hours in Manila to get into trouble so who knows what will materialize. :)

Till next time,
L & L