Welcome to Tom's Blog.

Welcome to My Adventure.

I commenced my adventure on 2nd December 2005 returning on 24 January 2006 to Sydney, Australia. One of the greatest experiences in life is the opportunity to visit and share in the daily life of differing cultures.

Each day I recorded on paper my thoughts and experiences as I travelled to some of the most beautiful and exciting places in the world.

I give a heartfelt thanks to Lonely Planet who provide excellent reference books on the countries of the world.

This is my first attempt at maintaining a travel blog. You will find that on some days there are no photgraphs. This is because I didn't take any. The photos here are only a small amount of the photos I took during my trip.

I hope that you enjoy my adventure and that you also may have the opportunity to visit as many countries as possible.

Best wishes,

Tom Transfield.

3-Dec-2005: Down to Moalboal

Had a wonderful breakfast at the Waterfront Hotel. Included in cost of accommodation.

At 11.00am I was picked up by Ricky for drive down to Moalboal. Before we hit the road proper, we drop off at a shopping mall in Cebu to use the ATM.

Most important: There are no ATM's in Moalboal so you will need to use cash.

Hit the road to Moalboal. The drive is over 3 hours - Distance 89kms over some of the worst roads imaginable. Pot holes everywhere to avoid. One of the most obvious things you need to get used to is the driving in the Philippines. There does not appear to be any road rules.

Safely arrive in Moalboal and Love's Lodge. My room is basic consisting of two single beds and a fan and bathroom. Small hotwater heater on the wall. About $25.00 US a day.

This first night in Moalboal relaxing in the restauarnt over-looking the water towards Pescador Island was just the best. I felt a million miles away from any care.

Tonight I had the vegetable curry which was the best I have had for ages. What a treat. Very inexpensive, but so basic it made my mouth water. Wll sleep like a log tonight, after all the running about. My holiday finally starts properly, and I can unwind.

2-Dec-2005: On the Road.

The Adventure begins........

First day of my adventure. Arrive at Sydney Airport and departed on flight CX110 to Hong Kong. Arrived in Hong Kong at 3.00pm on time.

Booked to fly out of Hong Kong at 4.00pm but due to a defective plane was delayed until 5.30pm until another plane could be found.
Arrived in Cebu and stayed my first night at the Waterfront Hotel at Cebu Airport. The Hotel is within 100 metres from the Airport. What a hotel. It takes up one whole block and is magnificent. I would recommend anyone flying into Cebu to spend their first night in this hotel.

Here is a picture of the interior......... enjoy.

4 Dec-2005: Moalboal. Unwinding.

My peace and tranquility will be broken tomorrow as Matthew arrives. Oh the joy of travelling alone. But then again, it will be great to have the company.

Continental breakfast again this morning. It is a very simple meal and makes me feel good.

After breakfast I stroll along the waterfront on the rocks to town. This was an interesting exercise as I was wearing thongs and they kept getting stuck in the sand.

Lunch today was in a very dimly lit cafe which was a real experience in itself.

Had my first swim in the water today.

FANTASTIC..

Dinner tonight was curried vegies... I am falling in love with the curried veg and thinking about it during the day.

After dinner tonight, two British tourists came accross to me and started asking me where the action was. It was one of the girls birthday party. A swedish travel agent I had been talking to joined the conversation and arranged to meet them at a bar down the road later. One of those little incidents on the adventure........

5-Dec-2005: First full day in Moalboal

Today I had the continental breakfast. This was great sitting in the restaurant, looking over the sea to Pescador Island.
Went for a walk into town, 3 kms along the road. Moalboal is very rural and is completely difference to Cebu. It is a rather small coastal town in the south of Cebu island. I wandered trhough the town, exploring the markets and town. Grabbed a tricyle back to Love's.
I then wander along the Waterfront where I am staying . How to describe it, lots of small stalls and dive shops and resorts with very few tourists. I am starting to get the sun on me, and it feels good.
Dinner is curried veges again, ( I am a creature of habit). Getting to know some of the guests over dinner.
Early night tonight 7.30pm.

6-Dec-2005: Matthew arrives today.

In my notes it is continental breakfast plus 2 coffees. It is black instant coffee as there is no fresh milk, (only condensed milk).

Big day for me as Matt arrives. I worry as he is travelling by himself for the first time. He also had to transit in Hong Kong at around 6.00am after travelling through the night.

After breakfast the two british girls are panicking. They had got on the grog last night and partied till the early hours of the morning and missed their bus to Cebu. One had to make it to the boat in Cebu by 11.00am the other had to make it to the airport for a flight to Singapore. Tom was able to jump on his white horse and solve the problem. As I was going to Cebu that day I was able to arrange a lift for them as I had spare room in the van. I don't know why I did it as they were both pretty hopeless and an embarrassment to themselves. Bloody pommy tourists.

Even after dropping the girls off we made it to the airport to pick up Matt. His flight was only 20mins late arriving.

Off to the Ayala shopping centre for lunch and to pick up some things before driving back to Moalboal. Also dropped off to the dive shop on the way back to buy some reef shoes. (If you are coming to Moalboal make sure you have reef shoes before you come, as you will be walking over the reef).

On arrival at Moaboal I went to the internet cafe...

Dinner tonight was ......... Guess what.................Curried veges...

7-Dec-2005: Time to Party - Matthew is here.......

Breakfast today was surprise, surprise..... Continental breakfast with 2 black coffees.

Went for a walk today. Mattthew decided to sleep for most of the day. Catching up with jet lag and he has the flu. He woke up feeling much better and ready to go.

The sewdish travel agent I had been talking to, said he was going for a soccer game with the locals. He said that Matthew was able to join as well. Matthew disappeared for a game of soccer.

Back to Love's Lodge that was to be our base. I decided it was time for a massage. Great, full body massage for over an hour for the equivalent of about $8.00. and what is so great, is that the masseur is experienced and knows how to do it properly..

8-Dec-2005: On the Move to Dumaguete

Big, big, big day today. After breakfast we took a tricycle into Moalboal. Did not know when the bus to Bato would come, but it appears they come on a regular basis. Ended up being a wait of about one and a half hours.

This is our first ride on a local bus in the Phillipines. and what a ride.. This driver must be the bus driver from hell. The ride was so fast and erractic at times it reminded me of a cartoon I saw quite recentlywith the devil as the bus driver, taking the passengers to hell.

At Bato we raced accrossed the dock, to catch the ferry to from the island of Cebu to Negros. On the other side we discovered that we were a fair way out from town and took a cab into Dermaguete. We discovered there was a bus at about a tenth of the cost of the taxi.

On arrival we tried Harold's which was recommended by Lonely Planet. Very tacky, rundown and overpriced at 770 pesos a night. Walked up the road where we found a newsih looking hotel called the Coco Grande, (referred to as the Habitat in Lonely Planet). Lovely looking hotel and very reasonably priced. On booking in we received an invitation to an anniversary party at a waterfront hotel. We were advised that the hotel was owned by and Australian and his wife.

After checking in we went for a walk down the waterfront of Dermaguette. The restaurant we received the invitation too appeared to be full of germans and swedes. we decided we did not wish to hang out there. Kept on walkeing and instead had dinner at Sharkey's... a pizza restaurant. Must be one of the best Pizza's I have ever tasted and was blown away. Matthew really enjoyed it as well. After dinner took a leisurely walk back to the hotel, and breathing in the atmosphere.

I have booked a tour for tomorrow with a cost of 1,700 pesos each for 2 hours. Spent a lot of time, worrying that I may have made a mistake. All part of the adventure. Tomoorw i will need to recover the position if I can.