Boracay Blog: Of Trips and Accidents - Boracay Zorb Park, The Island Clinic and Drug Stores

I bumped my head hard today and I saw blood trickling down non-stop from a person's face. I can't sleep and I'm still thinking about it - I'd gotten someone hurt and I zombied my way to a clinic in Boracay, a number of drugstores and finally back to our hostel in Boracay. What do you do in these situations - if you're on a trip far away from home?

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I was the one who suggested to go to the Boracay Zorb Park. My first experience of zorbing involved rolling down the desert hills of Inner Mongolia, China and we were strapped all the way helmets and all - 2 people at a time. It was a frightening and fun out-of-the-body experience. I was thrilled to find out that they introduced zorbing to Boracay a few years ago. We did it (the same one with Mongolia) and I found out a more enjoyable ride with water inside and a less nerve-wracking one without the straps. For my third time just last year, I just did the aqua zorb again and the good folks at the Zorb Park introduced getting run over by the ball. Today, I just wanted to have fun and go do one round of the aqua zorb with my little sis. We paid the P380 per person fee and went up happily.

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We took our slippers off, gave the camera to the guy and they gave us like wornout styro kickboxing helmets (first time I saw this). Mine fitted more snuggly than my sisters (her velcro strap didn't stick as much) although our heads were a bit small so there was space. This was our last happy picture for the day (note that the tattered headgear was not enough...).

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I recalled thinking that this time, the ride was more like I was in a washing machine with too much water.

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Instead of just staying at the bottom and have the water just splashing our faces, we went all over the place (maybe we were too light...) and then something hard hit my forehead. I thought it was over but we landed with another jolt (probably the new pool they set up to end the rolling ball).

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Next thing I knew I was staring at a face with blood waterfalling beside me. They must have seen her because they yelled to jump feet first fast. I was out and they focused their attention to getting her to sit down at the counter. The folks before us were mortified (they were probably thinking of doing it again) while the guys from the park dabbed on tissue with Betadine and wiped some of the blood clean for what seemed like 15 minutes. They told us that the cut was not deep and that we should probably have it checked (and cleaned). I asked them if a similar case already happened and they said this was the first time (I couldn't help but think that I should have taken those wavers more seriously and taken a closer look at those helmets...). I think they even charged us for the bottled water to wash the blood with coz they gave me my change (which I noticed was lacking) as we were about to leave with the shuttle they called in. I was too stunned to even process anything and just wanted to go to the doctor. I was unsure of my sister's silence and kept on asking questions. Later, my little sis said that it was a good thing she wanted to be a doctor before and knows how to be calm. 

We went to The Island Clinic and it turned out that the cut was deep. She had to get shots and stitches (around 3-5). It will just continue bleeding if we didn't stitch her up, they said. There was a doctor on call and quite a number of patients. I guess I've never really thought about trouble and accidents in paradise and in any of my trips. Like the other patient who drowned while inebriated...

Time just seemed to slow down as I was waiting. I thought about the importance of bringing money (everything cost almost P5k, good thing they accepted my credit card), of bringing a phone (didn't have one with me so I couldn't call anybody) and somebody I know (to get me to think straight at my weak moments). I was waiting for my head to hurt but it was just numb. I was numb, serious and a lot of things ran in my head.

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Things like: A tour guide should know what to do and his job must not be as simple. It's important for a hotel and tourism establishment to have a clinic with a doctor and a first-aid kit. I probably shouldn't do (and invite anyone to do) dangerous things. Things may look like they're not dangerous but they are. I should probably stick to walking in the beach, lying down and reading a book. Maybe you're meant to read a waiver and think about it more than once. If they only allowed one person per ball, could you hit your head anywhere else or get hurt another way? Is the zorb even safe? It's my fault... How come I don't ask where the clinic or hospital is when I go on trips? I think I'm going into shock with this bump in my head but it's probably nothing. How come I feel like floating? Why does my neck hurt? Apparently, you have to do a lot of things right after an accident concerning your trip like rebooking your flight, cancelling hotel reservations, calling family, looking for a computer, etc. and I need to stay here until the doctor is finished and she's alright. Do we go home or have her rest first? Will the wound reopen when she flies immediately? Will my bump enlarge and eventually pop while on flight? How do I take care of her meanwhile? Not having a phone while on an emergency sucks... My first priority is her like clearing up what they gave her, what forms they let her sign (there's one about wound stitching and another one that if eer we decide to take the Zorb Park to court - that they can't provide documents since they're only a clinic), how to change the gauze in her head, getting her back to the hotel, buying meds, feeding her so that she can take her meds and making sure that she's comfortable.

The shuttle driver waited for us and dropped us off. I think that's how far the Zorb company will go. I wouldn't be surprised if they will not even ask if we ended up alright or seek us after the incident... I found a drugstore near DMall Budget Mart. There are two more on the way to the restaurants. I bought food and water before heading back. When I got to my phone, I explained things to family. 

Just a while ago, I poked my roomie once while sleeping to see if she's breathing fine and she opened her eyes. I just hope she's not in pain and she can sleep well with the noise. I have my earplugs on and I can still hear some drunk woman puking on the street outside, dogs barking, people talking and some dudes coming back from their parties... I guess this is very common in backpacker hostels... I'm really glad I'm more of the private room type... Tomorrow, I will find my way to Cebu Pacific's sales office here in Boracay (tricycle to Boracay Tropics, walk to the Tourist Center through the Filipino Travel Agency at the Station 3, White Beach) to see when we can fly back earliest (update: Thank you, Cebu Pac for returning around 50% to the travel fund and PAL Express for getting us home safe).

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Writing calms my mind. And this incident has given me a lot to think about when it comes to trips and accidents. Thank you for listening... All is well.

Boracay Blog: Of Trips and Accidents - Boracay Zorb Park, The Island Clinic and Drug Stores