Biliran is a small island just north of Leyte. The capital is Naval and is very small town. No McDonald's. BTW, I judge small town versus big if they have a McDonald's.

I stay there in a barangy near the even smaller town of Biliran. Absolutely no bars on this island to speak of. Even the search for a cold beer can be futile. Two cantines and several large sari sari stores downtown is all you got. In the barangy there are sari sari stores all over, but what they sell is extremely limited. One sold beer and rum.

Naval is a 20 minute drive and does have a bank, with an atm. There is an actual aircon restaraunt and a supermarket. Also has a few internet cafes.

In general, Bilaran is incredibly beautiful. Most scenes look like something out of a disney movie. Very clean and unspoiled. Most people live in very simple shacks. Concrete floors are rare. My girl's house actually had just the living room concrete, the rest was dirt. Of course aircon is non existant. Farm animals often wander in and out of the houses since most leave doors wide open during the day. Pigs and chickens run unrestrained. I have no idea how they know which belongs to who, but apparently they do. I know it sounds uncomfortable, well, it is.

My overall experience so far has been pleasant. Of course I'm with the most beautiful girl I ever seen, IMHO. The family treat me like a king, a poor king, but a king no less. Walking down to the sea and taking a swim is one of the best things. The beaches are clean and most times you have it to yourself. Mary's family has a party house on the beach with toilets and a huge screened banquet room. Has a nice concrete dock and all is gated and locked with about 5 acres or so of groomed land. Rice harvesting is practically a daily routine. Everyone helps others to harvest. One particullar day about 25 of us harvested a field yeilding 35 sacks each 45 kilos.

Bud

That sounds great! But I'd bet I'd be really bummed if a goat ate my laptop bag.....

How did you deal with security issues with your personal items at your girl's family's place? Did you have locking hard shell luggage?