Ajuy (sounds like 'Ahoy')

The word is actually Dutch in origin, one of those words English borrowed (without asking, of course) and appropriated, together with other words like 'dijk'= 'dike', 'koekje' = 'cookie', and 'ziel' = 'zeal'.  On the other hand, I do not know of any written record that the Dutch were ever in this part of The Phil.  It is of course possible that seafarers picked up the word elsewhere and brought it here.  Not important, but it's just one of those things that intrigue both hubby and myself.

Today, anyway, our friend, the resort owner, suggested we go to Ajuy and climb the hill at Windy Willows to the resort there and take some shots of the views.  The owner is from London.  He's married to a Filipina from Dipolog.  He used to be a boxer.  He also used to work at some oil refineries in Brunei, and he's been employed in a couple or so other locations in Asia (not necessarily in connection with oil).  He built the resort, a simple one, and has been living here continuously these past five years.  He appears to be a very nice person, and was thankful for our company because he could speak proper English and be understood.  He talked about many things, but mostly about what it is like to live here and do business here -- the things he's had to deal with, the things that go well but also the things that don't work, and why they don't work.  He's positive about most things but has had to admit his disillusionment with other things such as the corruption, backward mentality of some groups, and the underlying reasons for these.  We have had to agree with him and are familiar with everything he mentioned.

Today, we had some lousy experiences with the local transport.  For the tricycle ride to town, we had to pay 50 pesos, although our guide made it clear that we should have had to pay only 30 per person, especially if we were sharing the ride with others.  Because hubby is white, though, we were charged more.  The bus rides were fine, fee-wise, but there was a little 'adventure' when our bus going there suffered an overheated radiator and we had to crawl to the next station till another one could be sent.  The most irritating incident was in the evening, after we had had our dinner in town before heading to the resort.  We asked a tricycle what it would cost, and I was willing to pay the evening fee of 75 pesos.  We were bluntly charged 200 pesos, at which we laughed and said that we would rather walk.  After about 200 meters or so, I asked another tricycle, and we were quoted 150 pesos.  Still too much.  We began to walk in earnest.  And then, as luck would have it, a bus came along and hubby flagged it down.  How much for two people, one of them a senior?  ONLY 25 pesos.  We didn't think twice.  On my FB page, I put 'I am reminded of what I used to miss, and why I don't mind missing it.'  Later on, though, I removed it as it could be misunderstood.