Philippine Kayak Expedition

[hoz]

Buzzy Budlong, a friend of mine from Cebu, is currently attempting to paddle the length of the Philippines. They started at the southern tip of Mindanao and will continue 3,300 km to Pugudpud at the northern tip of Luzon. If they succeed, he and Khoo Swee Chiow, a Singaporean adventurer, will be the first to accomplish this.

They are currently on week 2 of the trip and anticipate being in Cebu October 5th.

http://friendshipkayak.com/blog/category/blog-entries/


Swee Chiow,Buzzy and Arnel


A remote village on the coast of Mindanao.

[DarenN]

thanks Hoz!
i posted the link over at westcoastpaddler. that shot of the remote village is very striking!

Daren......

[zelph]

Wow!!!! quite and adventure to be taking on. Anything planned for National Geographic to get in on the sucessful conclusion?

Is the remote village a group of families surviving on the land type of scenario???? Fresh seafood, land animals to eat some extra cash from paddlers passing buy. Looks like some yellow kayaks down at the far left on the beach. All the cabins are on stilts. High tide brings the fish in right under the kitchen for a quick fresh meal delivered right under your doorstep

[hoz]

The village is remote, probably accessible only by boat. The villagers fish and raise vegetables on the land behind their huts. You can bet those palms are more than scenic,providing coconut and also wood for building.

Those "kayaks" you see on the left are "Bankas", Philippine outrigger fishing canoes. The men take them out at sunset and fish all night. They go out to reefs, often a mile or more offshore.


Like this:


This is the "support boat" BTW. It got snagged on a reef the first day out and had to be rescued.

I paddled with Buzzy when we visited the Philippines. We did a 9 mile crossing to an island. He's a very strong paddler and a good waterman. I have no doubt he is giving Swee Chiou a run for the money.

[DarenN]

Hoz;
is that outrigger canoe 'powered' or 'paddled'?

Daren......

[hoz]

Propulsion depends on how "prosperous' the owner is. I've seen them both ways, driven by a rough homemade paddle (single blade, no doubles) and others a 5 hp Briggs mounted with a small shaft and propeller let out the rear. This "support boat" probably has a small motor.

The lifestyle looks idyllic from our vantage, but it's precarious for these fisherfolk. They suffer almost every day to survive, yet when you meet them they smile, say "Good Morning" and would give you the shirts off their backs (sometimes more holes than fabric) if you are in trouble.

They have a saying in the Philippines, "He will catch a fish". Which means you are reliable, sufficent, and can do what's necessary to make a living. I've heard it used for all sorts of people.

[zelph]

Who are the three wearing vests???? looks like a group being ferried out to camp on an island.

[hoz]

That I don't know. I assume the ones wearing vests are part of the support crew and the others actually own the boat. (Only "city boys" can afford vests in the Philippines.)

The paddlers have rounded the corner of Mindanao and are now on the eastern coast, battling the open Pacific. The next week will be the most exposed part of the trip until they reach Luzon and the China Sea.

[hoz]

Many many more pictures have been uploaded to the Friendship Kayak Gallery.

http://friendshipkayak.com/blog/gallery/

Lots of shots of locals interacting with the expedition members.

[zelph]

battling the open Pacific.

Photos of that should be interesting!!!!!