Sunrise - Sunset

Sunday October 8^th, 2006

The next morning we met the hotel owner who turned out to be a HUGE help to us and such a generous man. He was a retired English teacher and so not only was able to communicate with us well but delighted in the opportunity. He drove us to the bus stop so we could get to Sunrise Peak, one of the top ‘must sees’ on the island. When we got off at the stop we were directed to we were told to take a taxi, but a few locals said it was walking distance so we trusted. We walked, and walked, and walked, then finally turning a bend we saw the Peak far off and hazy in the distance around the bend of the ocean. We headed to the beach and continued our walk, me lagging behind as I picked up and looked at the cool seashells I’d never seen before. The myth of the peak excited me as we climbed up the steps to reach the crown. On the way I took moments to go off and explore. Finding a rock formation I climbed up, slightly hiding myself among them. Sitting, and gazing out at the panorama of sky, ocean, rock and land around me I breathed a prayer of thankfulness of Joy and peace. After reaching the peak and taking a few minutes to look around and snap some pics we headed back down again hoping to catch a ferry to a nearby island – U-do. Again we were told we could take a taxi but a local told us it was only a 5 minute walk to the dock. Once again, sadly, we trusted a local and walked and walked in the heat for 45 minutes. Grrr, but eventually we made it and got on a boat. Looking at the water as we traveled over it was wonderful, such a deep aquamarine and the boats and rocks all around us, ummhmmm. On reaching the island we decided to take a bus tour since we only had about an hour and a half before needing to catch the last ferry back to the mainland. Our first stop was a volcanic ash beach and lighthouse cliff. We headed down to the beach first and through following someof the other tourists found ourselves entering a large cave. Crawling through the first we came out on huge rocks to enter the second. Whoo! Such beauty, the light from the sea shining in and reflecting off of smooth pink and black stone. I had hoped for a cave – and there it was, in glory and beauty, a wonderful and surprising gift. After heading back to catch a bus (we didn’t take time for the cliff) we traveled around the island looking at the quaint farmlands and burial mounds separated by the islands characteristic stone fences. At another stop we got off at a coral beach. All three of us waded in the water though mom and I had our bathing suits we knew we didn’t have time to get really wet and also catch the next bus. Sitting among the white coral we soaked in the sun and serenity for a few precious moments.

Returning to the mainland we decided to not be cheap and just take a taxi directly to our next destination – Manganggul – a lave tube cave! It was well worth it and amazing to walk through the long lava tubes, traversing through the cold, wet, darkness and imagining the rush of lave that must have coursed through making that trail years and years ago. Looking at the stalactites, stalagmites and lava streaks I had a sense of mystery and mischievousness come over me … that I could only fulfill through my imagination. We walked on until we reached the famed 7 mtr. stalactite then headed back through the darkness.

After finding a nearly deserted restaurant (we were the last tourists we saw in the complex) and having some Korean pancakes we realized we had missed the last bus and decided rather than getting a taxi just to the nearest city bus route we’d go the whole way! It was somewhat of a perilous ride as we had agreed on a price beforehand and I think the driver was trying to make sure he didn’t lose out too much, but another day’s events that ended just with the sunset (at 6:00!) at least afforded us a view of a massive and beautiful harvest moon – AND, we arrived alive.