It’s been a rainy, dreary day so far in Port Barton. Luckily it’s been our first. At this time last year, almost every day was like this. I feel like I’ve been making quite a few statements like this to B-Rod and am starting to feel like the “band camp” girl.
At this time last year . . . .
– the weather was more rainy and dreary
– it was quieter and there were a lot less whitey’s around
– the water wasn’t this warm
. . . . you get the gist
It is definitely different being here this time around. Last year, I was here for a purpose and was actually living here. This time around I’m a visitor here on vacation. A visitor, however, who received a very warm welcome! The minute we got off the bus, one of the ladies from a neighboring store saw me and excitedly said “welcome back” as she rushed off to get her worker to come out to say hello to me. I looked back to see Brian signing a “toursit book” (at this time last year, I didn’t have to do this) and the guy who was making him sign it broke into a big grin as it was another person that I knew. I’ve had quite a few encounters like this over the past couple of days. So, though most people may not remember my name, they remember my face and that I was here before and they are happy to see me back. It was kind of a nice feeling to have this sort of “homecoming”.
There have definitely been some changes around town (which I didn’t expect as this to me is the sleepy town that never changes, but I guess it is just proof that EVERYTHING changes). The first place that I stayed in last year – my “town house” – used to have a big open field beside it. Now they have built 5 more places in that spot and there is a sign on the gate that it is now actual guest cottages. The lady at the cheap restaurant is no longer around. There are many changes at my yoga teacher David’s place. Two of the girls are no longer at Deep Gold. I was told by one person that they are both on holidays, but found out one of the girls quit two months ago, so did they both quit?
David is currently running a teacher training program here, so I contacted him before getting here to ask him if I could join a class or two. I was welcome to join, but had no idea where classes were happening. Turns out two of the students are staying here at Deep Gold, so I was introduced to one of them and tagged along with them to a morning meditation and asana practice. Classes are now held up at his place instead of in town, so at 5:55 AM we started walking up to get there for class at 6:30. Got the scoop on how the training is going and sounds like David realized that last year was a learning curve and now has things running a bit more smoothly – not that my training suffered in the end, but there was a lot of confusion and chaos that I think has been prevented this time around. It was great to be up in the space again, immersed in that energy, and to see the changes. For one thing he has built a pyramid studio on his land, so all of the training is now happening up there and he’s built some structures for tents, so many of the students are also staying up there.
Other than that B-Rod and I have been doing a lot of swimming, some card playing, lots of walks along the beach, around town and in the area to show him “how things were last year”. It is great to be back even if I am just a tourist this time around. Tomorrow is the start of our dive course – interested to see how it goes.
Pretty drearly and rainy today. Not a lot to do in Port Barton when it gets like this.
On the way to yoga – that sign is new!
The newly built pyramid yoga studio behind David’s place. I’m going to guess it was completed just before students started arriving for the course.
Not a bad place to spend your mornings doing yoga!!
My journey back to town after class involved passing by the newly constructed tenting sites where a lot of the students are staying . . . . .
. . . . across the bridge and around the cow who freaked out when I went by .. . .
. . . . . going by a cleared out area (what are they going to build on there next?) . . . .
. . . . onto the main road . . . .
. . . . . through the jungle where I saw some houses . . . .
. . . . . towards B-Rod who decided to start walking from town to see if he would meet me along the way.
Later I took Brian to David’s beach studio, which is looking a bit rough on the inside. Probably because they haven’t built the bridge across the river yet (last year we only made it here once and had to use a “pull boat” – which we used this time, but we were so annoyed because of the the muck and mud and the fact that we had to pay (we didn’t have to pay last year!!), so there are no pics as we were both a bit cranky at the time.
To get back to town from the beach studio, we walked past this cool tree . . . .
. . . . . along the beach . . . .
. . . . into the thick jungle . . . .
. . . . amongst the palm trees and to the boat (where we were cranky again and just wanted to get across)
One thing that hasn’t changed is the fact that Margaret is still here. Margaret is the dog that my friend Danielle basically adopted and who seemed to latch onto me when Danielle left. When we all left, she was “adopted” by Deep Gold, and usually finds some tourists to attach to. She was hanging out with a couple of Dutch girls (one of which asked if it was possible for her to bring Margaret home – she was serious and not joking). They left today, no one else is around, so Margaret has made her way back to us.
Unfortunately this is what B-Rod thinks of Margaret. It’s funny how much the stray dogs bother him. I don’t even notice them much – for me it’s just a part of being in the Philippines.
Hey Brian, you look like Jack when DeVega is around!!
I would trade a Harleys and Diesel trucks for a beach dog any day.