Priority was to obtain a San Miguel beer. Then, legs resting upon the railing, I
sighed and looked out over the zip-line passing right in front of me, wondering
whether to do a ride in the morning. Soon, hunger drove me to a roadside food
vendor for one of the Filipino favourites. As in other Southeast Asian countries, the
food was bite-sized as most eat using chopsticks or a fork and spoon.
Benoni – Mambajao, Caves Dive Resort – 25 km
A coastal road ran around the island for approximately seventy kilometres. Cycling
into the tiny city of Mambajao, the island’s capital, revealed a bank (offline), a
market, various stores, bakeries and eateries. Unfortunately, Action Geckos was
costly, and the next-door Caves Dive Resort was slightly cheaper. Being desperate
to dive, Caves Dive Resort was an excellent place to stay and do the deed.
Booking a dive meant retrieving my diving certificate for which an internet
connection was needed. Even though the staff informed me the establishment had
internet, there was no connection, making me feel the room was a waste of time
and money. It took some getting used to the laid-back manner of the Filipinos.
Having internet that wasn’t connected was the same as not having internet at all.
Give me strength!
Mambajao – 20 km
The following morning, the internet was still offline and it was better to pack up
and cycle to Jasmin by the Sea, which offered large rooms and bathrooms right
upon the water. They, at least, had working internet, albeit slow. At last, and with
the help of my sister, the diving certificate was retrieved. But, besides editing and
uploading pictures, not significantly else got done.