It’s been too long since I posted any news… so here it goes. I’ve been doing some traveling lately to the Philippines and Indonesia. The newest book, ‘The Adventures of Bo Avery – The Way West’ is out and available as either a KINDLE or paperback book. It is book one of the story and book two is at the publishers waiting for cover art and a release date.
I wanted to go to the Philippines and Indonesia because we have never been there, and I heard the SCUBA diving is excellent. The diving was excellent and the places we stayed catered to divers. I now know why so many people travel there… it’s very inexpensive. Other than the airfare, which is costly if you don’t fly coach, you can stay at very nice hotels or resorts for very little money. You can even get airline deals but remember if you’re flying coach, you’re going to be in that small, cramped seat for about for anywhere from 10, 12 to 14 hours depending on where you’re flying from. I’m not good with that so we got the premium economy seats that over more leg room and lay back further so you can sleep, and you receive much better service. So, we left from LAX on a midnight flight (11 hrs.) to Taiwan with a short layover (2.5 hrs.) then to Manila (3.5 hrs.) Then a two-hour drive to the harbor where the boat meets you and about an hour and a half boat ride to our destination… ASIA DIVERS RESORT.
ASIA DIVERS is located on a small island where every hotel is a dive hotel. There was a PADI dive shop on site and dives are scheduled just about hourly. There is secure storage on site and all your gear is transported to the boat whenever you schedule your dives. The hotel is very nice. Right on the beach. Nice room, good bar, good restaurant. However, the small town is rural and has very little in the way of services and no medical facilities. There is a high level of poverty in the Philippines and political unrest. One evening at about midnight we did hear a great deal of semi-automatic gunfire from the jungle behind our hotel. While I point this out, I in no way felt unsafe walking around the town during daylight hours.
When we left for Bali, we had to return to Manila. Manila has about eight million people and a great deal of poverty. When we arrived at the Hilton our car was searched for bombs, our luggage had to be screened and we had to go through metal detectors before we got into the lobby to check in. There was a section of about eight square blocks near the airport where all the high-end hotels and shopping were located. Officers armed with shotguns and rifles were on every corner. We caught a plane to Bali early the next morning.
Bali was much like the Philippines although the weather was milder. The area where we stayed was completely devoted to diving. The people at both locations were friendly and outgoing. There were temples everywhere and every morning people would put small offerings and light incense in front of their homes and businesses. We stayed with O K Divers, another PADI resort. Very nice hotel, good restaurant and bar.
