2004 Holiday Ride - Samar/Leyte, Philippines


Regent Hotel - Naga City


Boarding the ferry boat from Matnog, Southern Luzon (Bicol) to Allen in Northern Samar


A passing ferry boat


Our 1st look at Samar!


Unloading in Allen, Samar


Somewhere between Calbayog and Catbalogan - Western Samar


Looking back...leaving Samar


San Juanico Bridge - Leaving the Island of Samar and crossing over in to Island of Leyte.


The San Juanico Bridge crosses over the San Juanico Strait, it connects Barangay Cabalawan, Tacloban City on the Leyte side and Sta. Rita town on the Samar side. San Juanico Bridge is the longest and most beautifully designed bridge in the Philippines. It offers many picturesque views, especially of the San Juanico Strait with its thousand whirlpools as well as the lovely islets of the province. It is approximately 10 minutes from Tacloban City and is accessible by passenger jeepney, bus, motorcab or private vehicle (or motorcycle:-)


Sitting in a McDonalds - Tacloban, Leyte


The MacArthur Landing Memorial - Palo, Leyte (Red Beach).


This General Douglas Macarthur Landing Memorial is situated in Red Beach, Palo, Leyte, the monument marks the spot where General Douglas MacArthur landed with the American Liberation Forces in 1944. The statues of the liberators stand in a lagoon, 1.5 times bigger than lifesize. It is also the site of the 50th Leyte Landing Anniversary Commemorative Rock Garden of Peace.


Leaving the main island of Leyte and entering its most northern island, Biliran Island, Leyte.
This was a place we were very excited to visit as we know many people from this area!


Many of our friends here live far from civilization...aka Boondocks.


The boondocks is a remote, usually brushy rural area, the sticks. The expression developed among American military serving in the Philippines during the early years of the 20th century. It is derived from the Tagalog word Bundok for mountain (Tagalog is the national language in the Philippines). In demographics the boondocks/bundoks is a hardscrabble rural district characterized by backwardness.


Yet another audience checking out the white boys!


Marvin's Seaside Inn - City of Naval, Biliran, Leyte


Visiting the family of one of our friends


She came running outside thinking it was her boyfriend on his bike..but it was only us. She was still happy, long time no see :-)


Stopped to take a break on a pier...the local kids came out of the water to check us out...just south of Ormoc, Leyte


Just outside of Leyte State University


Hilongos, Leyte


Just outside of Maasin, Leyte


Padre Burgos, Leyte (Southern Leyte)


Eating dinner and this dog would not stop bothering me..so I flashed him with my camera...he never bothered me again :-)


The morning catch coming in to market - still in Padre Burgos, Leyte


Leaving DavLiz Travelodge Hotel (Dave & Liz took great care of us!) - Padre Burgos, Leyte


Look closely at the sand, in reality it's not sand, it's all coral! - Padre Burgos, Leyte


Liloan, Leyte (Southern Leyte)


Still in Liloan, Southern Leyte. This is where you catch the ferry boat to and from Butuan, Mindanao


Leyte Park Resort Hotel - Tacloban City, Leyte


San Juanico Bridge again..this time we're leaving the Island of Leyte and crossing back over into Samar Island.


Flat tire repair. Tubeless tire kits are a fast fix in the bundoks...where ever you are there's always an audience :-)


Break time at a tire repair shop...stopped to check my repair work and get a snack - Catbalogan, Samar


We found this old retired airstrip..so we blasted up and down it a few times :-)


I just can't say enough about how bad the roads are in Western Samar.
From Allen to Calbayog to Catbalogan and further it's a slow 2nd gear 6-hour ride.


Stopped in for fuel and to say hi to a old friend that came to meet us here - Calbayog, Samar


Samar girls love foreigners....hey joe can i go with you!


Back in Allen Samar. We'll catch the ferry back to Luzon in the a.m. The night ferry was cancelled do to rough waters.


It's interesting riding in the bottom of the ferry...everything's always rocking back & forth ..and my date seemed to like it too :-)

 

The 1st half of the 2004 Holiday Ride can be found here:  Northern Luzon