An hour on Philippines Air from Cebu City and we were landing at Porto Princessa, capital City of Palawan Island. In terms of scenery, Palawan is supposed to be the most dramatic in the country, and if it wasn't for a couple of drawbacks, the place would almost strike tourist gold.
Firstly, there's quite a problem with Muslim nutters at the Southern end of the Island. Anywhere 100km or so south of the capital is deemed dodgy for westerners and there's even talk of an Al Queida presence.
Then there's the weather. For 6 months of the year it gets battered with typhoons, hurricanes and every other severe weather pattern known to mankind.
Luckily we were headed 200km north of Porto Princessa and the rainy season ended 6 weeks ago.
Port Barton was named in the mid-nineties in honour of Warren Barton, stalwart of the mighty Newcastle United team of that era and all-round good bloke.
His portrait smiles down from all the civic buildings, small children sing his name from street corners and old ladies lie prostrate in front his solid gold statue in the town square worshipping at his shiny adidas predators.
Or at least that's what we expected to find here. Sadly though, it's basketball that floats the locals' boat in these parts. Perverse, given that the average Philippino stands 5'3" in his platform sneakers.
Nevertheless, we enjoyed watching the Barton Giants take on the next village in the big local derby.
They lost. Badly
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