The unseasonably hot and humid weather plus the fluctuating electricity did have one positive effect: we had more opportunities to interact with our fellow guests who, like us, could not sleep soundly because of the heat. This was how we met and became travel buddies with RC, an outdoor buff and mountain climber who was traveling solo and staying at our lodgings. R., A., and I had just come in from a tour when we ran into RC at the veranda. We asked him and a couple of other travelers to join us for dinner and a chat while the lights were still on.
R. and A.mentioned to the others that they had plans to go hiking up Mr. Iraya the next day. They’d asked me to go along, but my bad knee precluded hiking anywhere for that long. They were worried that I’d be at loose ends for the rest of the day despite my assurances that I could entertain myself quite well for a few hours, so they tried to come up with alternative activities for me. RC mentioned that he was going to Valugan Beach at 4:00am to catch the sunrise, so R. and A. encouraged me to go with him. I said I was game if I woke up in time.
Of course, the electricity decided to cut out again at around 1:00 am, and the heat was making it impossible to sleep yet again. Rather than spend the time futilely tossing and turning in my sweat-soaked bed, I ended up half asleep and scrambling over boulders at 4:30 in the morning, wondering if I was going to slip and end up breaking my neck in the pre-dawn dark. 😛 Luckily, the view made up for the early call time.
RC was so absorbed in getting the perfect shot that he set up his gear a little too close to the water’s edge. Of course, that’s when a friendly wave decided to come up to say hello…
…and drench him (and his non-waterproof camera) from head to toe.
And in case you were wondering, nope, the camera didn’t make it.
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