It was Tuesday when our boat was supposed to leave from Cuyo town to Iloilo in Visayas direction. It is Friday evening now, half past nine, and we have been witnessing the ship trying to dock for over 2 hours. At first it was supposed to arrive at noon, then 13.30pm, then around 6pm. Well, it did, but in this wind it seems to be impossible for them to position themselves next to pier. We still keep watching. For the people on the boat, who come from Puerto Princesa, it has been a 24h ride, even longer now when they try to aim the boat to pier. Ok, as you might have already guessed the main entertainment in here is to wait the boats to arrive, or to leave. Another spectator sport is watching the boat to dock, as it seems today. Or wait for the right wind for kiting, not too rough as it seems to be today. Basketball is the main real sport around whole Philippines and we passed by many games played by the youngsters in the smaller villages on the island. There are also cock fights every weekend at 13pm every Saturday and Sunday, also during the week on special cock fighting arenas a bit out of town. We did not manage to go, but our friend told that most of the fights were over in a few minutes, it took more time to match the fighting bird couple.
You can rent a scooter or motorbike for 400PHP a day and take the ring route around the island. Takes about 2 hours to do it full speed, most of it is dirt road or just a path really, but of course it is better to check out some other places while you go. There is a fish sanctuarity in San Carlos. It is one of the outlaying islands, on island called Imalayan and a boat there costs appr. 3000PHP, but only when the weather is good enough and there is supposed to be quite good snorkeling. There are 4 guards on the island to make sure the reefs are in good condition and there is no fishing. There is also another fish sanctuarity near the Quijano beach, but if we trust the locals, the water is murky. 
One day we went to other outlaying islands 2h boat ride further away to the other side of the main island. It was disappointing to see the destroyed corals on the island of Cocoro, but the other island (Google maps say the name to be Pan De Azugar Island, locals do not call it that) had decent conditions and recovering hard + soft corals with starfish, small reef fish, sea cucumbers, giant clambs, sea snake and quite a rare sight of a Captains/ fishermans eyeball. According to info we got from our Pension House there is also a forest inside the island and springs where locals go to bathe.
New info right now! The boat is finally fixed to a position and there are some guests arriving in the guesthouse. 3h they were trying to get ashore. It was told to us, that the boat would depart at 04am, but it could also be that the boat will not be moving in next 24h.
Among all these normal things you might do, you can also get yourself a urinal thread infection and visit Cuyo district hospital, several times. It is a nice place, emergency room is open 24/7 and the service is very friendly and efficient. I was interviewed, was asked the basic stuff, but also " What is you religion, mam?" I was surprised, but later I thought it over and realized that it must be because of all the different religions in here and it is polite; if I was about to be given blood and I was a Jehovas Witness, or a hindu or a muslim they could offer me the proper food in case I needed to stay overnight etc. I felt bad to tell the nurse in a Catholic country that I do not have a religion anymore, not in that sense anyway. I needed to give a urine sample (now, this is too much info, I know) which never happens in Finland and I was asked to open my mouth and the doctor told I also have a mild dehydration. Next step was to go back in an hour during the urine analysis and have a breakfast in between. I never got a prescription of any antibiotics, which is also a standard in my home country. In my analysis they also found some more info and that is another story, all I am saying is that this might help me with some other stuff when I show it to my own doctor back in Finland. The lab cost 30PHP and the analysis took a half an hour, meeting the doctor was 80PHP. The medication was more than that but it included the rest of the info as well, which is to avoid soft drinks and sugar (and how is that possible in this country!?) and drink a lot of water. I visited there 2 times after that, to collect my info for the travel insurance and to my doctor and for the next analysis in a week, but they said it is not needed if I felt fine. 
Another thrill is to visit the post office. I might be the only person in the whole world who still writes handwritten letters, and at the moment possibly the only one in Cuyo, who wants to send something to Europe.They got so confused at the first time when I went to the office, that the lady simply weighted the letter, took a look t ome price tables and handed the letter back to me: " Please mam, come again." I went back in few days with 2 letters. Then it took some time to find the right price from the printed tables, but this time it worked out. I made the payment and got back 2 reciepts. Christiana and Wajska, be alert - if you do not recieve any mail in the next 2 months, I can track down your letters! And what comes to the boat leaving at 04 am, we keep our fingers crossed. Tight.
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