My Panty Line

4 November 2012 
Maricaban Bay, Busuanga, Palawan, Philippines 

I've always been turned off by the sight of flapping clotheslines in otherwise elegant boats and I try not to hang anything in Paraluman.

I packed enough clothes to last me for my one month trip without washing. Not just to avoid peppering Paraluman with hanging laundry but also to save my precious fresh water supply. I love it that I need very few pieces of clothing here. A bikini and sarong for the day, a rash guard and board shorts for swimming and snorkeling, a well-loved pair of denim cut-offs and a top or a dress for drinks at the bar at night, a tank top and Raul's boxers for sleeping. So far, I've used about 1/10th of my supply of fresh clothes.

Except for underwear which I've just run out of. Today I washed my used underwear and had no choice but to hang them to dry in Paraluman for the world to see. Sexy and lacy panties for when Raul is around, big loose ones for when Raul is not around, happy ones, regular ones. I apologize to the unfortunate observer for ruining the view.

Hanging laundry- I've accepted it as a reality in boating life.

The Joy of Doing Nothing

November 2012
Maricaban Bay, Busuanga, Palawan, Philippines


I sailed into beautiful Maricaban Bay, Busuanga, Palawan on a full moon and left on a full moon.

I spent almost 5 weeks living by myself in Paraluman in my favorite place in the Philippines, in clear blue waters ringed with lush rolling hills. Alone but never lonely, my days were dictated not by my To Do list or the traffic situation, but by the weather, the sun and the moon.

View from Hunter's Peak. Paraluman is the faint blue line.

I start each day by watching the sunrise and end with the sunset. On calm windless days, I swim laps around the reef, kayak to the mangroves or snorkel with the friendly resident school of jacks. On cool windy days, I run on the beach, climb Hunter’s Peak for a panoramic view of the bay or wrestle the sand rake from the maintenance guy so I can rake the beach myself. Then I go to work- load fresh water, refill fuel tanks, charge the batteries, operate the generator. I clean Paraluman inside and out, and Putol, my trusty dinghy. Cook, wash the dishes, do the laundry. Read the news, check email and manage the city household remotely. During the hottest hours of unbearably scorching days, I take a nap as moving alone becomes an effort. Without planning to, I lose weight and get stronger in a way that I couldn’t in Manila despite hours in the gym and watching what I eat.