Another Travel Day
As we bought our ticket we noticed some new signs had been put up in the office saying the online booking system was only a test and the office was not responsible ... Interesting!
We also discovered that the ferry did not leave until 2pm (we had thought it was 1pm) and as you have to arrive an hour before departure, we were rather early!
We walked out the other side of town and found this is where the fishing boats leave from. A kind Korean lady allowed us to sit on her jetty whilst we waited for the ferry. After a while a Filipino lady came and sat with us. She explained she worked for the Korean couple, who do not speak much English but wanted to ensure we felt welcome. This lady had, prior to the pandemic, been a freelance tour guide. She is now working for the fishing company but hopes to set up her own tour company soon...she gave us some great tips on kayaking, snorkelling and hot springs for when we return to Coron in a few days.
Onwards to the port but not so much of a queue as from El Nido. Culion is not yet on the tourist trail so there was just us and one other chap who were not Filipino. This time there was no bag scanner but we had to have our temperature taken.
On the 1 hour journey we passed lots more islands and before we knew it we were on the 'island of no return'. This is what Culion used to be know as, as from 1906 to 1970 it was a leprosy colony, possibly the largest in the world(?).
On arrival we walked the 100 meters to our accommodation and were greeted by an English man who took over the accommodation in October. We checked in, sat and chatted for a while and then went out to explore and find some food.
On the way we walked through an archway which was the gateway which had separated the "leproso' side from the 'sano' side. Staff leaving the leprosy side had to disinfect themselves and their shoes before passing. On our walk around the small town there were various signs with information about this time including the nursery where the children of people with leprosy were taken and the parents could only visit once a week, through a glass window.
We found some food at a local little cafe, it was very nice but much more expensive than anywhere else we have been in the Philippines.
The evening was spent relaxing and watching a movie.
