Anyway, we were dismissed by the hospital by 930 AM. Unfortunately, some of us were stranded in UST because of the flash flood. So we waited for the flood to clear and ate lunch in Mister Kebab in UP Tech Ayala something. Anyway, we were finally out of QC by 1PM and just met the "stranded" Manila people along Quirino Hi-way. We were excited, hoping that the beach is really nice and smooth without need for scuba shoes or sandals. However, PGIs that we are, sleeping is still a major part of our life, even at the van hehe
We got there about quarter to 5PM, and lo and behold! Les Caraibes can be found almost at the end of the Laiya strip, near La Luz already, where the road is really narrow, accommodating only one van at a time (if you have a vehicle bigger than a van, good luck!) The accommodations were great, clean, and relatively nice for the price that we got it. (Worth every penny comes to mind!) And we were pretty excited to get to the beach, because the sand looks nice when we passed by Virgin Beach...Unfortunately, the beach sand in this part of Laiya is not as smooth... It wasn't that rocky... But it was pebbly... The beach may be white, but lots of pebbles! Poof! Dreams of walking barefoot gone! There were also lots of people, day trippers and campers
from the neighboring resorts (well, can't really do anything about that part...)So, we took lots of photos, and then went swimming. The water was clear, but we noticed that the sand gradually deepens rather fast (especially for those of us not able to swim or not very tall either), though I didn't notice any sudden deep scary holes. When it was getting dark, we washed up (very cold already) while waiting for dinner.
Dinner was very long! I think it took an hour (almost all of us could go washed up already, but we ordered so long ago, so we thought that it will arrive any minute! Hehe Patay-Gutom Interns tlga!) for orders to arrive. We had Sinigang na Baboy (hot soup is really nice against the cool
winds), Inihaw na Liempo (could not go wrong with that) and Chicken in Moroccan style with Yang Chao fried rice. Price ranges generally depends on number of people (not on food itself): good for 1 (PhP 150), 2-4 (PhP 350-400), 6-8 (PhP 500-600), and 10-12 (PhP 900-1000). Obviously, we ordered for the 10-12, though there were 14 of us, including the driver. Either we're really hungry or just plain takaw, or masarap tlga but the food disappeared after about 15 minutes, compared to our long waiting time hehe We didn't even had the energy or time spared to take a picture of the food!
Then it was time to bond over drinks, shots, lemons, chips, and oreos! We stayed in one of the tables facing the beach, where it's cool and big enough to accomodate all of us. Blah, blah, blah, dancing around, then lying at the beach to look at the stars, then BAM! The main event of the evening... of the trip... My ELECTROCUTION!I mean it! Some of us went back to our table to get something and were running and playing around. I touched one of the bamboo poles to catch my balance using both hands, and the next thing I knew, I couldn't get my arms away from the pole! I was just being electrocuted (actually, my first thought was, "seizure, seizure!"). One of my friends hit me on the shoulder, who felt the electricity. For me, I just can't get my arms away, and I can't cry for help. I just kept on looking above the roof, with thoughts of "Paano na ito? Hindi ko maalis kamay ko! Hindi ako makapagsalita! Hindi ba ako na feel ni Jecai? Takte, hinga... hinga..." then I just blacked out!
I later learned that two of my friends actually touched me and felt the electricity, they just don't know how to go about it (Cha thought of ripping me from the post with my hair, which I would have been thankful since I won't feel the pain anyway). They shouted for help, with one of the staff going over and kicked me to get me away from the pole. (So that's why they were there... Apparently, these electrecutions happened before... And they didn't even prevent it? Posted a sign anywhere "Caution: Possible electrocution" to warn others?) They said I fell forward (probably, why I have a scraped wound by my knee), with my eyes and face full of sand. Lyka felt for my pulses, and shouted "cardiac zero." (Imagine! Code?! Sa Beach? On vacation? Ng walang stethoscope?!) Whoever was still awake got up to checked what's happening. (Tin and Melli were actually on the way to bathroom, when they realized the commotion. Tin went to get her camera, and hence the documentation! Hehe) They lifted me on the table (with the staff carrying me one way, and then the other, so I sort of twisted until they agreed on what direction to take). Fortunately, Jan said I was spontaneously breathing by the time I was laid on the table.
Then I just remembered them over me and asking me if I'm alright. The owner came by also to check on me. Then I remember sizzling hotdog being placed on the table, which apparently was sort of a way to reconcile with the incident? By that time, I felt my body aching, including my head; I just want to vomit, I almost went into a code and my life hanging by a jolt of electricity, and I was given sizzling hotdog? Come on! Anyway, people were just leading me back to the room, and our things were being packed up. (And some of us were just dead asleep at the beach! They only knew about the incident the next morning.)By that time, we already finished two bottles of GSM blue, two bottles of the Bar Vodka, and a bottle of tequila. Knowing myself, where I couldn't refuse any drinks and continuously challenging myself, I know that I can't possible sleep or lay down because my head still feels heavy... where I have to vomit first prior to sleeping... which I did, thrice! Knowing my ability to drink so much and still remain conscious, they made me take a shower with the doors open, just in case I would need help. (Nope, hindi ako gagaya kay Chino-Myke-Jappy incident. Kayang-kaya ko pa mag-isa!) Finally, I slept.
I know I originally hoped to be able to wake very early the next day, then take pictures by the rocks (in La Luz already) etc, but no... Realistically, I wouldn't get up because we just had a drinking session last night! AND I was electrocuted... so forgive me if I can't get up right? My body was aching! My back and my calves, oh my calves hurt! I was already thinking into complications like rhabdomyolysis as complication of electrocution? I was also able to observe my wounds better, with an ugly third-degree burn on the right wrist, blisters on my left hand, and scraped on my left knee. (I checked, third-degree na kasi paresthesia na at wala ng pain! Pressure nalang pag pinipindot.)
The rest of the stay was uneventful. We had a late check out because there are some enjoying and still swimming around, while some are just plain enjoying the aircon and sleeping (ahem, ahem) hehe We stayed near the beach, where we hanged out the previous night where some of us dozed off... though I was wary of touching any bamboo poles this morning.
I got the story from my friends. Took me a while to realize that the resort is so stupid, that if these electrocution happened before with previous guests, why don't they fix it? Even a sign of caution would be helpful! But no, I guess they just give sizzling hotdogs instead. Besides, how would anyone suspect to get electrocuted from a bamboo post in the middle of the beach? I know metal is a good conductor of electricity, I wasn't even wet when I touched the pole! My friends also looked for whatever piece of wiring was open, which was the source of electricity, but they couldn't find it either. I remember Cha getting riled up at the staff who was explaining and defending himself, that what if we weren't doctors? What if I didn't breathe spontaneously? Are they ready to code? Do they have a doctor in the house? Will sizzling hotdog help me live? Geez...
Thus, no tip for you guys! No letter of recommendation either!I would have sue (just like lots of people advised me), but Batangas is so far away and I don't really want to spend so much time there! Mom just said to file a letter of complaint to Bureau of Tourism... though I'm not also sure how that would help! So, I hope this would help! I hope lots would be able to read this and see... or at least warn of the electrifying bamboo posts!
I don't know why I would want a souvenir with the killer bamboo post, but I complied with my friends' wishes... and thought about the future victims of this deadly post!
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