Last updated on April 24, 2003.
***As
a member and former student, you are welcome
to stay at Skip's resort in Southeast
Asia (as his
guest)
at no cost to
you.
Skip's friends can camp out on
the beach, or sleep in hammocks between the palm trees for free. If you would
like a private air conditioned room at the resort, the cost is just $20 per
night, including all meals, and of course Skip's hospitality. Guests usually
spend their days seeing sites with Skip, or borrowing one of his motor scooters
to see the island on their own.
THIS IS AN INVITATION FROM SKIP -- TO ALL OF HIS PAST STUDENTS:
Howdy folks !!!
Hopefully, the following statements are true:
1.) Things are going well for you.
2.) You just finished building a beautiful log home.
3.) You just sold the home for a HUGE profit.
4.) You are now ready for a nice vacation.
If so, I hope you will come to visit us at our new beach-resort in the Philippines (see photos below). The resort is now almost fully completed and open for guests.
The pictures below were taken before the resort was finished, we will be adding more pictures later.
This is our new beach-front "home/hotel" On the fourth floor (soon to have a hand-rail) there will be a "roof garden" -- with a bar, a stage for the musicians, a dance floor, an observatory (with telescope), etc.
At high tide, this building is only 20' from the ocean. When the tide is "in" we can walk out into the water for nearly 3/4 of a mile and the water will only be four or five feet deep. In other words, this is one of the shallowest beaches we have ever seen, so it is an excellent place for kids to swim.
Also, it is a good beach for "walking" because at low tide we can walk towards the water for almost 3/4 of a mile without getting our feet wet.
The tide was in when I took this picture. I was standing in the water more than 3/4 of a mile from shore -- and the water was only up to my waist.
IMPORTANT !!! When you come back to the resort in one of the boats, you should aim for the place where the TALL trees and the SHORT trees come together. That is the exact location of our resort. If you look carefully, you will be able to see our new "hotel-home" at that location.
This is the "landward" side of our new "hotel-home." By the time these pictures appear on the website, the building should already be painted white, with blue accents. Also, the landscaping should be complete.
As our guest, you will "camp out" on hammocks among the coconut trees near the beach -- eat with us at our beach-front "hotel/home" (there is always room for one more friend at our large dining room table) -- swim -- hike up and down the exceptionally long beach -- take our bikes into town so you can shop at the local stores -- explore the shoreline in our small sailboats -- visit the native fishermen and their families (they are the friendliest people on earth) -- talk to the beautiful native girls -- talk to the beautiful native girls again -- etc. :-)
Our beach-resort is located on the large, beautiful, tropical Island of Cebu -- which is located near the islands of Bohol -- Negros -- Camotes -- Leyte -- Siquijor -- etc. In this area there are also hundreds of smaller islands that are fun to visit.
In other words, it is very common for our "tourist-friends" to go "island-hopping" here.
This is one of our boats -- called "THE LUCKY CHIP." The boat is named after our son, DeWelle Ferguson (Chip) Ellsworth IV (the fourth). This is a native-style boat, with bamboo outriggers on both sides, and a 16 HP Briggs and Stratton engine.
This boat is smaller than our other boat, "THE SULU QUEEN" (see photos elsewhere at this site). It is not as fast, but it is still extremely stable and sea-worthy.
The table is in the picnic area at our sea-wall. "THE LUCKY CHIP" is anchored offshore. This is where we often anchor our boats.
When boats are anchored close to shore then they become "beached" when the tide goes out. Therefore, it is customary to tie a small log (as shown) to keep the prop and shaft from being damaged.
The bottoms of these boats consist of a shallow "dug-out-canoe" (called a "cosco" in the Cebuano language) to which the ribs are attached. Most of the coscos come from a nearby island called Masbate.
Our "eco-tourist-visitors" often like to spend a day or two working as "volunteer laborers" with the native boat-builders -- so they can learn how these boats are built.
Our guests greatly enjoy learning about (and participating in) the culture of these wonderful island people.
In the Philippines there are more than 7,200 islands, and more than half of them are NOT inhabited.
In other words, if you want to experience what Hawaii was like 150 years ago, then you should come to the Philippines.
This is the first floor patio. The patios on all four floors (including the roof-garden) are all facing the sea.
This is the same first-floor patio.
This is facing East from our sea-wall. When the tide is out, we can walk for miles on this beach.
This is facing West from our sea-wall.
This is our karaoke bar -- where there is always plenty of beer, food, and music. Our customers are a "mixture" of tourists and locals.
The gate to our beach.
Chip and my wife Elvie -- playing pool.
My jeep is made of galvanized steel. There are three motorcycles at our beach, and they are often used by our visitors.
Our home/hotel is located at the exact point where the trees change in height.
This is the home of a "wealthy" neighbor.
This is the home of a "not-so-wealthy" neighbor.
This is the home of a neighbor.
This is the home of a neighbor.
These are some of the many neighbor girls who live in grass shacks on the beach.
They had never seen a camera before, and they were quite shy about having their pictures taken.
This is the home of a neighbor.
This is the home of a neighbor.
This is the home of a neighbor.
In the background is the home of our our immediate "next-door" neighbor to the West.
This is the home of our immediate "next-door" neighbor to the South.
The neighbor boys love to get coconuts for us. If you look closely, you can see one of the boys about half way up this tree.
This is a huge public market in the town of Daanbantayan. It costs approximately 20 cants to take one of the motorcycles with a side-car (which is the Daanbantayan version of a "taxi" ) into town.
At the public market in the town of Daanbantayan.
During a holiday -- with many people on our beach.
This is the home of a neighbor.
This is the home of a neighbor.
This gentleman is a good friend of mine who lives in Daanbantayan. He is a retired sea-captain from England. This is his Filipina wife. She is a teacher in one of the nearby public schools.
The average age difference between my "foreigner" friends (Americans, British, etc.), and their Filipina wives and/or girl-friends, is 35 years. Obviously, we are dealing with cultural "differences" here. The age difference is the result of the Asian "reverence for age."
In case you are heading in our direction, this is where you can find us:
SKIP'S BEACH RESORT
Barangay Agujo
Town of Daanbantayan
Cebu 6013
Philippines
The phone number at the beach is 001-63-32-437-8173
My "in-Asia" cell phone numbers are 0916-4991839 AND 0916-5782031
The cost of airline tickets: Your round-trip airfare will vary depending upon the time of year. At this writing, the tickets from Seattle to Cebu (and back) will cost approximately $600. We generally purchase our tickets from a Filipino named "Art" at Bayani Commercial Travel Agency, in Seattle's Chinatown. He is an honest guy, and always seems to get the cheapest possible price for us.
Changing money "before" you arrive in the Philippines: At your American airport of departure, you should visit the money-changing booth, and change approximately $30. U.S. into Philippine Pesos. When you arrive in the Philippines, this should be enough money to get you from the airport to the hotel -- and from the hotel to a money changer that will give you the best exchange rate.
The cost of reaching us once you get to the Philippines: From the airport on Mactan Island (near Cebu City), you will take a taxi to the Mercedes Hotel in the "city-center" area. The taxi ride will cost you approximately $8.00 U.S. A nice room at the Mercedes Hotel will cost you approximately $16.00 U.S.
Changing American money into Pesos: After you get settled at the Mercedes, you will probably want to change your American money into Pesos. To do this, you can take a taxi to "Rosita's Department Store" at the "Fuente Circle." Inside the store there is a "money-changing-booth" that is owned by a man named John. He is an honest man, and he will give you a fair rate of exchange. In other words, he will not cheat you.
Restaurants: #1.) A restaurant called "Pete's Kitchen" is directly across the street from the Mercedes. It is an excellent place to eat. A good meal at "Pete's" will cost approximately $2.00 U.S. #2.) A restaurant called "Our Place" is on the corner of Palaez Street and Sancianko Steet, which is 1/2 block away from the Mercedes. Their pepper steak is quite good, although it is one of the most expensive items on the menu (approximately $2.50 U.S.).
The bus to Daanbantayan: The next morning you should take a taxi (approximately $1.50 U.S.) to the "NORTH BUS TERMINAL." It will cost approximately $2.00 U.S. to take the air-con bus to Daanbantayan. If you can remember to do so, be sure to bring ear-plugs with you on the bus. Also, you should sit on the right side of the bus. It will take approximately 3 1/2 hours to reach Daanbantayan, and you will get off the bus at the main intersection of that town -- which is approximately two kilometers from Skip's Beach.
From "downtown" Daanbantayan to Skip's Beach: There will be many motorcycles (with side-cars) at the intersection. These are "taxis." Tell one of the drivers to take you to Skip's Beach -- at Agujo. Agujo is pronounced "ah-goo-ho." The ride will take less than five minutes, and it will cost you less than $ .40 (forty cents) U.S.
When you arrive at Skip's Beach -- you are "home."
Things to bring: A swim suit -- two pairs of jeans -- one pair of shorts -- two short-sleeved shirts -- one long-sleeved shirt -- a broad-brimmed hat -- sun-tan lotion -- sun glasses.
OPTIONAL: A camera -- small binoculars -- small presents for the local
fishermen
and/or their wives (lipstick, small
flashlights, candy bars, cigarette lighters, etc.).
More information to be added soon...