We have left the boat Dotche - new adventures await!

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Now we have left the boat Dotche, and set off on new adventures in the Philippines. The idea was actually that we would have travelled longer with the boat, but things don't always turn out exactly as planned. Now new adventures without a boat await us. Happy Friday!

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Time to leave the boat Dotche

We have been on a real adventure - a boat trip in the Philippines - in the Filipino boat Dotche. Actually, we should have been out even longer, but as some people warned us, it became challenging to travel so closely with others for such a long time.

Although we had a lot of fun together at the beginning of the trip, over time we ended up wanting different things. We realised that it was best to continue travelling in the Philippines separately, and after the island of Pandanon we therefore decided to leave the boat.

It was of course sad to leave the beautiful boat Dotche and the boating adventure behind, but we felt it was the best decision.

Even though the boat trip was shorter than planned, it was of course a memory for life. We visited 12 islands, nine of which we reported on:

• Malapascua
• Tabango on Leyte
• Kalanggaman
• Tulang Diot
• Pacijan in the Camotes Islands
• Apid
• Digyo
• Himokilan
• Pandanon

What was life like on board the Dotche?

This week we got a question about what life was like on the boat Dotche, when it comes to things like toilets, space on board and food. Now it feels like the last chance to tell about it, so we do!

How did we get on board?

We travelled together seven people on the Dotche, of which three people were Filipino crew. The boat was quite large after all, so we thought we could fit quite well. At night, we Swedes often slept in tents on some beach. The crew always slept on board, either on deck or below deck, where there are some smaller spaces.

How did the toilet work?

The toilet is in the small room at the back on the left. There is a real toilet seat inside, and it is flushed with a bucket of seawater, straight into the sea.

How did the meals work?

In the second small space, to the right, is the kitchen, which consists of two gas hobs. There is also the possibility of grilling. The deal was that the Filipino crew cooked three times a day, for all of us, and we usually ate together.

Occasionally, Micke or Peter cooked the food instead. If we disembarked on an island where there was a restaurant, we sometimes ate there, and then the crew cooked only for themselves.

What did we eat on board?

It was easiest for the crew to cook as they were used to, so on board we ate as they usually do, perhaps with a little influence from us sometimes. We bought food at markets, but we didn't have a fridge so we mostly bought rice, noodles, eggs and vegetables.

Breakfast: Rice mixed with eggs, sometimes with some vegetables. Once we got white bread.

Lunch and dinner: Rice or noodles with vegetables or beans, sometimes with fish, pork or chicken. Flavourings often include soy and chilli, and perhaps sachets of 'Magic Sarap'. We also made spaghetti and Spanish omelettes.

In many ways, it worked quite well on board and the crew, who also became our friends, was fantastic! But, as I said, it was still tough to travel so close together, and it turned out over time that we wanted different things.

From Pandanon Island to Bohol

Once we had decided to leave the boat, Aldrin, one of the Filipino guys on board, organised a ride for us in his small motorised boat Alleah, which he had always kept for fishing.

Aldrin drove us from Pandanon and straight across to Mt. the large island of Boholwhere he dropped us off at the first available spot with our luggage. We hugged and waved goodbye, and then it was time for our further adventure ...

South on Bohol - to Tubigon

Aldrin dropped us off at a small pier in a small village, and as soon as we started walking on the pier, a man came to meet us. He welcomed us and asked where we were going. South, maybe a bus...? The man walked us up to a bus stop, waited in a van and made sure we got on properly. It's amazing how helpful people are in this country! Many times without expecting anything in return.

We got off the van just before the town of Clarin, where we first planned to stay in a guesthouse. When it turned out to be full, we stopped a tricycle and continued to Tubigon.

Hotels in Tubigon

In Tubigon we went to the hotel Seeya, which has a good location and which felt very luxurious compared to the recent nights in tents.

Tubigon on Bohol

Tubigon is a municipality and harbour town on the western side of the island of Bohol.

From the roof of our hotel we had good views in all directions.

We also walked around the city, which featured a large harbour, a church, a market, and a museum. lots of tricycles.

McDonald's - and a bit about rice, pasta and potatoes

There's a McDonald's in Tubigon, and after a few weeks of rice, noodles, vegetables and the occasional fish, a hamburger and fries didn't go amiss.

It was also interesting to check out the Filipino version of McDonalds. We don't know if it is the same everywhere, but in Tubigon they have all the usual McDonald's dishes. plus a wide variety of dishes that Filipinos want.

You don't want to be without rice in this country! We saw many people at McDonald's ordering fried chicken with rice, or fried chicken with rice and fries. You can also order a portion of plain rice or maybe peppered steak with rice.

There was also a wide range of pasta dishes, such as chicken with spaghetti or spaghetti with tomato sauce. Yes, spaghetti is also popular here.

What about potatoes? "We don't eat them to the same extent as we do in Sweden. Potatoes are comparatively expensive and when you buy them, it's usually as a vegetable. You might buy one or two potatoes and put them in a pot, which is then served with rice, much like we would use carrots.

Best this week

Best thing this week? It was really sad and hard to leave the boat Dotche, but once we made the decision it felt a bit good anyway. Now we are looking forward to new adventures, and we try to see that as positive!

How are things in your life? What can you highlight as positive from the week?

The week ahead

In the coming week, there will be stories from our continued adventures, now on our own without the boat Dotche. There will also be the occasional guest report, probably from both Africa and Europe. Don't miss it!

Did you miss the last Happy Friday? Read the Beautiful islands and hospitable people in the Philippines

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