Port Barton, MIMAROPA, Philippinesdoes it take the others so long to say what they have to say?
Elenka and I were flying north, somewhere high over Hudson Bay.
She was already into her second episode of “The Marvellous Mrs. Maisel”; I had just started watching “Lizzie”, the latest adaptation about axe murderer Lizzie Borden, who back in 1892 was accused of murdering her step-mother and father. It starred Chloë Sevigny (Big Love) and Kristen Stewart (The Twilight Saga). As the original story and poem went:
“Lizzie Borden took an axe and gave her mother forty whacks,
when she saw what she had done she gave her father forty-one.”
In the end Lizzie Borden was acquitted of the murders, inherited her father’s immense wealth, and may or may not have lived happily ever-after.
Elenka and I were on a journey that would take us over the top of Canada, the Arctic Ocean, Russian Siberia, Mongolia and China, before reaching Hong Kong. But it was way back over Hudson Bay where I first became annoyed. I wasn’t ten minutes into the chop flick when it was frozen for a P.A. announcement about duty free sales. This was followed by the French version of the message which was followed by the Cantonese interpretation. Twenty or so minutes later the same such blather occurred: this time about smoking not being allowed on the airplane, something many passengers would not likely have ever known existed on airliners in the first place.
What was perplexing about the three language announcements was that while a typical English message might take say a minute, the French and Cantonese versions would take twice as long.
I recalled something I’d once read about word-makers. There seems to be a general consensus that the English language has a larger vocabulary than all other languages. Why then a consensus? Just count the words, it’s arithmetic. And why, if English has more words, does it take the French and the Chinese so much longer to get their points across?
By the time we reached the Arctic, French translations were no longer being offered. Perhaps one of the crew went through the passenger manifest and found there weren’t any French names on the list. While there were still plenty of P.A. disruptions during the balance of ‘Lizzie’ they weren’t nearly as long.
***
Elenka and I, along with Renatka Schönbach and her youngest daughter Julska, are now in the beach village of Port Barton on the Philippine island of Palawan. Yesterday, Julska passed her Open Water examine and is now a certified scuba diver. Last night we celebrated with a raucous game of German-English Scrabble.
Tomorrow, while the gals go island hopping, I’ll spruce up on my Deutsch.
It was an hour before sunrise when I was darn near thrown out of bed by the roar of my lioness.
“Fucking worst sleep I’ve had in all my life.”
There are as many fighting and/or fornicating dogs on Port Barton Beach as there are people. Last night the roosters started crowing just after we went to bed and were still going strong at five in the morning. Couple that with not-so-bright dogs that too often try mating with jungle skunks and you can find yourself caught in the middle of a night filled scented symphony.
We’d gone to bed under the light of a full moon, but I chose not to remind Elenka that we can all get a little feral and ornery under such circumstance.
.
A turn of events:
Poor Julska has taken ill with stomach issues so we’ll hunker down in Port Barton longer than expected:
Peter
2019-01-20
Yeah, those jungle skunks "don't like it up em" (dads army quote). Are you diving too? It's Komodo for Mandy n me in Feb
jackdrury
2019-01-20
Yes, we plan to dive El Nido, and we have the Chinese New Year week booked in Malapascua, so the Thresher sharks will be in order. Moalboal is in the plan as well ... oh, and maybe Donsol too. Afterwards we’ll try and find a Karaoke Bar where I’ll get Elenka to do her new rendition of “Hotel California”. Have you guys dived Komodo before? There’s some real nasty current in dem der seas.
Basha
2019-01-20
Oh happy day, another gnome entry! Thanks for great chuckles this morning. Hope Julska is better soon.
StephZ
2019-01-20
Thanks for sharing. Once again we get to travel vicariously thru you and Elenka!
Cathy
2019-01-20
Relax......sign of your time, enjoy! Once again another beautiful place....and great pictures........I do hope Julska will get better soon so she won't miss out on the diving. Such great plans.....looking forward to your next chapter. Our belated wish to you and Ellen "Bon Voyage"..... and enjoy!
Mary P
2019-01-21
Hey Iak maybe the problem is too many roosters and not enough hens. Please say hello to Renata from us and I hope her daughter is feeling better.
Val
2019-01-21
So great to see the pictures of underwater beauties. Hope you are all doing well. This is fun following your adventures.
Leta
2019-01-21
Great pictures! Enjoy xoxo
Ross Black
2019-01-21
Great information Jack. Fantastic photos. Would love to be there. Minus -20 here in Crystal Beach ON
Irene
2019-01-21
Love travelling incognito with you! amazing pics as per usual. Envy you both, and am happy to call you both our friends.
Margo
2019-01-24
I can't get over the pics from your snorkelling adventure. Do you have a GoPro? We're going snorkeling on Friday in the D.R. somehow I don't think it will be quite so fantastic. Enjoy!
dpbaril
2019-01-30
What are you using for underwater photos, the HX80 with case or another camera?