Several days ago we had our great boating adventure during a trip to the east coast of the island. While we were swimming and enjoying the beach a floating house appeared being towed down the beach by a couple of men. Shortly before a long, narrow outrigger boat had pulled up on the beach, and I was examining it curiously, assuming it was used by local fishermen.
It turned out that the floating "house" was a raft with a shelter, made out of bamboo, and the plan was to transport some 20+ of us on the raft out to a nearby island, towed by the fishing boats. As we all boarded, it became quite evident that the raft was designed for fewer people than we put on it--but we managed to stay afloat, even if not all of the raft floor stayed above water. Most of the people on the raft seemed to have little sense of the need to keep the raft balanced, both side to side and fore and aft, in order to prevent parts of it from going under water. The tow went quite slowly -- they started with one boat and decided they needed two. I addition to the people actually on the raft, we also towed a few behind us on inner tubes and ropes, and others clinging to the side. Can you believe it??
We got there--though our craft would never survive an OSHA review! And had a great time doing it. We are having lots of interesting adventures with our local guides planning them for us. And eating both well and way too much! That too is part of the Filipino adventure.
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