NUTS HUTS

There's me typing away thinking I'm doing really well and I forget one of the most important parts of this particular journey.


I was all ready to finish Bohol off, when in my diary, I see the word Nuts Huts... if you are reading this guys.. does it not just make you cringe inside? But more so on the happy side.


Slovenia and Montana had found a hostel in the LP whilst on the boat which they thought would be really cool for us all to stay at.
After the 2 hour boat, we get a taxi and they drop us off in pretty much, the middle of bumfuck nowhere.
We get dropped off, and it's a 1000M, yes, you read correct, walk to the actual place. With 20KG on my back and god knows what else in my other 2 bags (I never learn) I felt like I was going to collapse. If I would have had to endured any more walking the strain in my face would have most probably left life long wrinkles.
If it wasn't enough that we had the most torturous walk of our whole entire trip, we then witnessed the stairs, lots and lots of steep downhill stairs. You had to be really careful with your pace on the way down as if you went one step too quick, that's you rolling down a thousand concrete steps with your backpack smacking you in the face on the way down. It was quite truly, horrendous. Even the boys were moaning, and we all know, how boys 'don't moan'.


We finally reached the hut, and again, tears could have rolled. It was a big sparce hut high up in the mountains surrounded by tree's. Typing this back, it really doesn't sound that bad. Get a grip. To ease ourselves from the journey, we take a few beers and some food just so our legs can relax and we asked where our room was. I'm surprised we didn't guess.. it was down yet more stairs, and just a hop skip and a jump across a muddy field and a yet another short climb up some bamboo steps to the room. Who found this place again?


The dorm only had us 7 in it so that wasn't too bad but I don't really recall seeing many more people around, hhmmm, wonder why. Considering we were right bang in the middle of the jungle with nothing else in sight but tree's, mosquito's and some scabby cats, we did our best to make the most of it.


Ireland seemed to struggle with this place the most, I don't think he said one single positive word about it. Even I didn't moan that much about it... and we all know how much I LOVE a good moan.
Granted, there were no mosquito nets, fans, sheets, it had dirty toilets and showers, tasteless expensive food, and no one else around.


Just to try and take the edge of the place, we had yet another beer and tried to think of something constructive and positive to do whilst we were here. I think everyone had gaged by this point, only 1 night was needed.


As we were literally in the jungle which looking back, you don't get that opportunity every day, we decided to explore and make the most of the experience.
Reading the 'what to do' book, we read about a waterfall which was on the other side of the river. Bikini's and shorts on, one by one, we swam across it. 
The boys dived in first, boys will be boys and all that, yet Caroline and I were a tad more hesitant. Caroline's reasoning being very understandable, jellyfish gate, and mine for the mere fact, I am a rubbish swimmer and the water was murky green and all I could envisage was me merrily swimming across and something coming up behind me and biting an arm or leg off. Not much to be worried about really.


Caroline took the plunge first and made it across, so hell... I can do it too... but my god I was shitting myself. I had no idea what was in that river and I dread to think. 
The next thing Ireland walks up to the side we had just left and is the only one not on our side, so he gets in and swims over. Ireland only decides to tell us he can't really swim when he is mid way across. We all just stand there laughing as he's laughing.. but then we realise, he isn't joking and he looks like he's starting to struggle!
Not knowing what to do as we actually think he might drown, Slovenia jumps in, and brings him over slowly. Ireland thinks it's funny, we don't!


Walking through the jungle, 7 tourists in swimwear and no shoes, we just happen to stumble across a small little village. I felt so embarrassed just for the fact of what we were wearing, and I wish I had my camera! There were people making things for their homes, singing in group choirs, cooking, full on normal day to day life yet still all smiling as us idiots walking past - now getting absolutely drenched in the torrential rain. We get to the waterfall, and I've seen better looking swamps, so off back through the village we go, waving at all the locals again as they stare at the tourist idiots.


To make our way back this time round was a bit more difficult. Because of the rain, the tide was alot stronger so now I was even more scared. Montana, Australia and Finland took Ireland across to avoid another fiasco, and Caroline and Slovenia took me. 


Back on dry land and with enough exploring done for the day, we brave the showers (eurgh) and head all the way back down to the main reception for some food. Now we just sit there and wait for the mosquito's to attack!


The San Miguels roll out and to cure the bordam we play a trusty old game of Monopoly. It's lights out at 10pm if not earlier and we head back across the sludgy field in the dark to our mosquito infested room and settle in to watch some Family Guy on Montana's laptop topped off with some valium. 


Now in all honestly, I can imagine this place would be incredible in the right season. Yes, it's basic, but the setting was nothing more than peaceful, beautiful and true Filipino. I think we had just been so scarred from all those steps we took it for granted. 


We were up at 7 and couldn't leave any quicker. Good old Nuts Huts!