Go to Manila, the capital of the Philippines, get on a flight to Cebu or Tacloban and make your way by ferry or bus to Padre Burgos. Jump on the back of a bike with all your gear and arrive at Ampo Maritime College in Tangkaan: the home of Coral Cay Conservation in Southern Leyte. One of the first places you will head for is the Vols Dorm and on the left hand wall is the memory wall.
A remarkable collection of prints from almost every part of the anatomy: hands, feet, lips and bottoms. Whatever next?!!
To put your mark on this wall shows that you have endured Coral Cay: the good and the bad; the Saturday night drinking binges; the occassional trip into Burgos or Maasin; adventures, disappointments and 40 winks on Sanga; the incredible diving in Sogod Bay, or Limasawa or the stunning home reef and the extraordinary warmth of the wonderful people of Southern Leyte and beyond.
To look at the wall now takes those memories down to each individual who shared but also created that experience. You could not have had that adventure without each and every one of those people being there, then.
Go back and have a look soon. In the meantime... click here to have a look at the wall. Oh and please leave a nice comment after this post! Just click Comments straight after this post.
We MUST have a reunion soon!
Posted by: Carla | Wednesday, 21 December 2005 at 10:46 PM
Wow, seems like so long ago that I was there. Its great to know that there is still a mark of mine left over there. Must.... go.. back... :D
Posted by: George | Thursday, 22 December 2005 at 10:35 AM
Hi Gosling,
Awesome stuff. Shame mine's not up there. Miss the place so much already.
See you in the UK mate!
Posted by: Jan | Tuesday, 27 December 2005 at 06:45 AM
Good effort on photographing every print! Will have to go back and see if it's all still there in 10 years.
I've been trying to contact you - are you still using your hotmail address?
Posted by: Matt | Sunday, 15 January 2006 at 10:13 AM