“In the Middle of Nowhere”

by Sheetal Kanvajia (Singapore)

I didn't expect to find Philippines

“In the Middle of Nowhere” ‘I didn’t expect to find’ I have a thing for unique and isolated places and they are hard to find. My quest for one took me to Philippines. Intrigued with the concept of houseboat stay, I instantly booked the only one inside a lagoon in Coron Island. An ancient island belonging to its native tribe has remained untouched even during foreign intrusions. I knew there is something special about it. My mind was captivated with the fact that there was only one houseboat set up by an Italian guy. I wanted to see who built it, why chose to and how he did such an impossible task being a foreigner. I surfed internet for days to find this place, waited for three months before travelling during a pandemic and just now had taken a bumpy boat ride, finally making it to the secluded lagoon. All of this not only to experience remoteness, beauty and peace but also to find out an incredible story behind it. Slaps of oceanic wind had dried up my eyes before they took a sigh of relief seeing the glass boat. I wanted to hydrate and take a nap, when I heard a strong voice greeting us on the premises, it was him. The man who set up his business in the middle of nowhere. He wore a pair of grey cotton shorts, his skin all red basked under the sun. I couldn’t help but notice his thin wrinkled lips and enormous energy in his persona as he came forward to shake hands with my husband. I watched them talk to each other while I eased up looking for water to drink. The next twenty minutes passed chatting as he made us aware of the facilities on the boat, its restaurant and how they ensure providing fresh food every day. I felt my brain adapting silent mode, just observing and thinking he must be so lucky to have found this place before everybody else and turn it into a business masterpiece. No wonder he is making huge profits now, putting some locals at work and earning out of the secluded setting whist living on a sailboat just outside the lagoon. What an amazing life, I envied him as I ordered food for later. Two days later, I placed my coffee mug on a table next to one of the long chairs I relaxed on, reflecting upon my life when his text caught my attention. He remembered that I was keen to know his story. I began reading it only to correct myself for tagging him ‘lucky’. He quit being CEO of a few IT companies after he lost his sister. Realising life is too short, he ventured across Atlantic & Pacific oceans on a sail yacht, conquered extremities of untouched lands before he got lovestruck by the beauty of Coron and a native girl. His struggle continued as he built the first houseboat in a year with help of natives. His skills changed from economist to mechanic, electrician, plumber etc. The houseboats are constructed combining wood and leaves, fitted with eco compatible amenities, merging traditional and modern techniques he never trained for. These natives became his family as he educated and helped them connect with world. He did all this holding on to one simple thought- ‘Everything can be done if it is done in a proper manner’. I always saw him busy again during my stay, realising first impression is not the last impression!! I got to know more about his work through his employees, how natives held him in high regard. The fact how well they all spoke of him left me inspired for life. He is doing more than a business. We met him once again, he came to say goodbye, holding a cat, coming back to rest after he had funded treatment for dogs struck by parasites, in the nearest town. I looked at him astonished, how in the world he could find time to do that too? My husband and I smiled at each other. Our eyes in agreement of that fact that sometimes we receive more than we give.