A Travelling Sprout

A Sprout Sets Sail in El Nido
By Shelley Banks

We’d already taken a short flight a few days before, from Manila to Coron, but this flight was even shorter only 30 minutes. We’d only just levelled out when the pilot announced we were about to commence our descent.

On arrival in El Nido, we discovered the airport was one of the smallest we’d ever been to. After exiting the plane, walking across the tarmac and entering the only building onsite, we watched as airport workers wheeled suitcases, two at a time, from the cargo hold to an open door at the side of the building and then push them through to where the passengers were standing, ready to catch them before they rolled by.

Our accommodation at Charlie’s was ten minutes out of town but in the middle of a rainforest. Having arrived in the afternoon and with a full day tour the following day, we decided to stay at the resort and hang around the pool until it was time for dinner. We tried several Filipino dishes, some of which we liked and some of which we didn’t. Many Filipino foods are sweet—even the pasta has added sugar.

When our private transfer arrived the next morning, we hopped into a car with a leaking roof (it was raining) and no seatbelts. Luckily, by the time we got to the harbour, the rain had stopped and we headed off on our private day tour.

We met our guide and he was lovely. And very young. And from another island. He came to El Nido for work and saves most of what he earns to send back to his family who he’s separated from for a large part of the year. 

We headed out into the bay in our traditional boat, a Bangka, and already, the scenery was stunning. Mountains coming out of the sea, azure water and an island in the shape of a helicopter. It has a proper name but our guide said everyone just calls it Helicopter Island.

For our first stop, kayaking was the focus. And it was amazing. The water was so clear it was like bath water. We kayaked through lagoons, along coves and through caves. On the way back to the boat, our guide tied our kayak to his and said he would tow us so we could concentrate on the scenery.

Back on the boat, we sailed on to our next stop, Secret Lagoon, which as the name suggests, is hidden from view, but our guide led us through a cave and on the other side, the lagoon, surrounded by cliffs, revealed itself. Unfortunately, it was full of tourists. But luckily for us, most of them weren’t confident swimmers so they stayed on the edges, clinging on to the rocks, leaving us to swim freely about in the middle.

Outside Secret Lagoon was a beautiful snorkeling spot, and we happily paddled about above the coral while our guide watched us swim further and further away from the boat. Then at one point, we realised the anchor had come up and the boat was following us. Just to make sure they didn’t lose us.

On to lunch at the next stop which was Shimizu Island, and our guide set up a table on the sand under some palm trees while we swam. It was a late lunch so after we finished eating chicken, rice, noodles and fruit, we headed on to Commando Beach, our last stop of the day. It took 30 minutes to get there so we sat back and enjoyed sailing across the sea.

The beach is one of the nicest we’ve been to. The water was crystal clear, the white sand powdery, plenty of palm trees to sit under, amazing views across the bay and a bar that sold gin and tonics in milkshake cups for $3.50. We enjoyed one of those while we watched the sunset, which unfortunately meant the end of our day trip. We had a few more days in El Nido seeing the sites, but none of them matched our amazing day on the water.

Musings

Up at Dawn
By Shelley Banks

Earlier this year, we holidayed in the small, central Queensland beachside town of Emu Park, population approximately 2300. The timing took in both Easter and Anzac Day. Having heard that the dawn service there is the biggest in the region, we decided to join the crowds and pay our respects.

After being woken up at 3.30 am by the sound of the PA being tested, we waited another hour and fifteen minutes before taking the two-minute walk from where we were staying to the location of the service. As we walked, we could see a very long line of cars on the road into town.

We found a vantage point among the throng and waited for the service to begin. Unfortunately, despite the earlier testing, the PA failed to perform as it should and we missed the first few minutes of what was being said, but once it was fixed, we were able to hear the story of a young local man who signed up in 1915 and went to Gallipoli, and from there on to France where he died in 1917. At the age of twenty.

As the sun continued to rise, we heard more stories of courage and bravery and death, followed by The Ode and the Last Post. The service ended with a twenty-one-gun salute.

It was fantastic to see so many people of all ages attend and to see the veterans march, people thanking them for their service.

Getting up a dawn is nothing compared to the sacrifice of so many.

Short Stories

A Trip Down Memory Lane
By Shelley Banks

As soon as Maddie stepped onto the verandah, snippets of memories flashed through her mind.

A bicycle leaning against the wall of the house, music coming from the piano in the front room, the smell of freshly baked bread wafting from the kitchen.

The last time she’d been in this house was over twenty years ago.  She wouldn’t be here now if it wasn’t for a chance meeting in a coffee shop.

A last-minute decision to buy a coffee rather than make one caused her to order at the same time as someone she’d met on a few occasions. A friend of a friend. The only difference with this meeting was that Kate had recently bought a house and after descriptions of where it was and what it looked like, Maddie realised it was the house she’d spent the first seventeen years of her life in.

After disclosing this to Kate, an invitation was given. And now, walking through the front door, she smiled, remembering how happy she’d been here, until things changed.

As she walked from room to room, more memories came flooding back. At first, they were joyful but eventually, they became tinged with sadness. All the times she’d spent with her twin in these rooms, playing when they were younger, talking when they were older, conversations that were often worrying, and became more so overtime.

And then came the day when her twin wasn’t there. They moved soon after. The reminder and the grief were too much for her parents to bear. Too much for Maddie to bear as well.

She didn’t share any of this with Kate, and she didn’t let her see the tears that had formed.

But as she left, Maddie thanked her for the chance to revisit precious memories.

Something Light

Come in Spinner
By Shelley Banks

While the morning of our Anzac Day spent in Emu Park this year was solemn, the afternoon was quite rowdy. This was thanks to the overenthusiastic crowds at Two-Up.

Illegal every other day of the year, Two-Up is an integral part of Anzac Day. First played in 1854, it later became synonymous with the ANZACS.

On this particular afternoon, the crowd was in full flight—cheering, calling out heads or tails, waving money in the air, all while watching the spinner in the middle of the ring throw the two coins in the air.

The way the crowd reacted was often more entertaining than the Two-Up itself. Many beers were consumed in that room at the RSL and I was surprised by the number of mullets I saw, so much so that for a minute I thought we’d gone back to 1983.

We didn’t stay long as the noise was deafening and the room was stuffy. I’m glad I got to see it though and take part in this almost 200-year-old tradition. And I hope I get to see it again. While I didn’t take part, it was wonderful to see the crowds keeping the tradition alive.

Books

If you like my short stories I’ve published ten books.