Just four hours and a slightly delayed 2Go ferry later, Tablas is finally back to what I love about the Philippines: silence, peace and simple, pure life. My local kiter buddy Cocoy picks me up directly from the harbour in Odiongan and takes me to the nearby Hiland Resort right on the kiteable beach. I wander through the cockfights and night market, watch a basketball match and celebrate the opening of the island’s first Jollibee with the locals.
The small international local kite community from Tablas drops by the next morning. After 25 days of travelling with just one kiteable day, I’m incredibly happy about the mild 17 knots and 50 cm ramps in the bay of Odiongan. The Amihan finally gets going. With a northerly wind, it is fully onshore. If it turns to the north-east, which is typical of the Amihan, it is more stubborn due to the mountains in the hinterland – then it is better to head to the east coast, e.g. to Aglicay Beach Resort.
After the heavy rainfall of the last few weeks, the beach in front of the nearby river mouth is a bit littered at first – but whole tree trunks with strong branches sticking up exactly in the direction of the wind also provide nice natural rail sliders. I mess up the first attempt magnificently without impaling myself. The rest is rush, gliding, flying and bliss.
On the second day, the Amihan catches its breath. I look out to sea, finish composing a song and work. In the Videoke Bar in front of the hotel, the “Kitten Bar” sign indicates that the cultural gems on offer must be courtship songs. I only discover it during a smoking break. The brothel madam’s offerings are much more unobtrusive than those of Boracay’s swarms of pushers.
Back at the hotel, a single employee of the Philippine Tourism Authority asks some funny questions: “Do you wear underwear and shower every day in Germany? Are you all circumcised?”. After the fifth Red Horse, his questions drift more towards genital fixation. I defuse the situation with videos and stories from the Oktoberfest. Now he really wants to see it, because a public blowjob is a traditional welcome ritual at the Oktoberfest. Sorry, it just had to be…
On the third day, the tide cleaned the whole beach. A few sand flies and ants are annoying – but that’s all. Philippine guests want pictures with our kites and boards. They are particularly keen on Cocoy’s new RaceFoil. The fishermen’s children run after us laughing as we run up the beach. The bay of Odiongan is a wonderfully unspoilt kite spot. If you want to take a kite course at Tablas: Cocoy runs the kite school Yalla Adventure – mobile 63 9472079256 (Smart) or 63 9452640304 (Globe). He is a very good guy, a participant in the Philippine Kite Championship and speaks perfect English. Contact him if you have any questions!
The Styrian expat Engelbert conjures up excellent chicken schnitzel and coffee in the Star Palace Restaurant – in case anyone fancies some local food. For Filipino dishes, I can recommend the Ghetto Plates.
At lunchtime, we pack a huge pile of kites onto Cocoy’s monster truck and set off for the Philippine Kitesurfing Championship on the neighbouring island of Mindoro. The wind forecast is so crisp that after 20 years of rather religiously motivated kiting, I’m thinking about taking part in a betting competition for the first time…
Frank Woelky, born in 1973. Kitesurfer since 1998. Since 2006, I have been combining kitesurfing and web design on trips lasting several months off the beaten track.