Experiencing the Southern Phillipines

The Phillipines - MINDANAO in the South.


























Well the travel bug got to me again and off I went to explore the southern Phillipines in Mindanao.


I stay with a family in Mandug village not far from the foot of Mt. Apo which I climbed many years ago. Here life is happy but basic. Transport is by Jeepney or by motor bike and side car. There is no running water so water is trucked in or pumped from the water table by old fashioned hand pumps.

















We trekked up to the top of the nearby Prayer Mountain to visit the local pastor who lives up on the summit. We were invited into his house and enjoyed his families hospitality and I had a long chat about missions he had initiated to the tribal areas of Mindanao and overseas in Burma.



I discovered that we had both been there at the same time assisting the white Karen tribal peoples who live in the war torn border regions on the Thai border.





In the early 90's I had been smuggled into the region in the back of a truck to take medicine to some of the villages.

Here are some more photos from this trip:

My dream boat!

OK so I am back updating this site again. At last I have got my own yacht and am preparing her for voyages to places yet unkown near and far! She is an ENDURANCE 35 a Peter Ibold design(French designer) built in Perth in Australia 1988 and made out of GRP.

The Endurance design is a blue water boat with a long full keel and a heavy displacement which makes her a comfortable and safe ocean crusing boat. She has a roomy pilothouse which is light and airy and provides a safe haven away from the elements yet affords good viewing from below. She sleeps 7 comfortably and has loads of storage space.

I have lots to do to her to prepare her for long distance cruising which includes installing a hot water system with shower, 240V inverter, 2000kw generator and solar panels as well as an Aries windvane.

I already have a kerosene heater to install and, as the stove is kerosene fuelled I will have no need to carry dangerous gas aboard.

The engine is a 50hp Dart Rees BMW diesel with low hours. This is above average power for a vessel this size which I like as it gives me comfort to know that there is always a little extra uuumph for when that lee shore is looking a little too close!! Or for struggling against strong currents like I experienced in Indonesia where we had 8 knot tidal flows.

I plan to liveaboard her very soon and ultimately go cruising. HAPPY SAILING!