Camiguin (Mis)Adventures
30 September 2004
Last week, I decided that it was time to finally have time and start finding myself.
Where else is the best place to find solitude and solace but the island of Camiguin!
Without much planning, I flew to Cagayan de Oro City via Air Phil last Friday 8:30 in the morning. Arriving there shortly after 10 a.m., I didn't know what next step to take. Taxi drivers were following me like mad stalkers ushering me into their respective cabs. I finally got rid of them by telling them that there was someone who would be fetching me. After a daing na bangus breakfast at one of the eateries by the airport, it was time to go and conquer Camiguin.
The ride via taxi (the only means to travel from the airport) was surreal. Being able to personally see the SM Cagayan de Oro, the Ororama billboard, and other famous spots from Ian's and other Bisaya friends' stories brought smiles to my face. Less than an hour after, I boarded a de luxe bus in Agora bound to Butuan. I was so sleepy but I tried to stay awake so as not to miss the view and more importantly not miss my stop in Balingoan pier. I had two hours of battle with sleep, good thing I got help from the powerful wind which stretched my face beyond its limit. The bus stopped in an eatery and most of the passengers were getting off the bus which made me panic. There was no pier in sight. I asked a passenger by the door "Saan po papuntang Camiguin?" Dazzled, shocked, stunned, the man answered after catching his breath "DUUN!" while trying to avoid my eyes (in this region, conversing in Tagalog with a local is worse than asking someone if he/she is still a virgin). Trusting my instincts, I rode a Motorela (hybrid of a jeepney and a tricycle) to the pier.
It was 1.15 pm. The boat (RORO) to Benoni pier in Camiguin was ready to go sail. I settled at the boat's third deck and enjoyed "the life". At that moment, it was pure bliss. I did not want it to end. At least at that time, I was back to my old self------ grateful, content, and carefree. TOOOOOOOOOTTT!!!! Back to real life. The boat docked and introduced me to the island of Camiguin. This was where the adventure officially began.
I did not know where to go. I just knew that I needed an affordable place to stay. After some bargaining with a local motorcycle driver, Manong Tangga, he toured me to some resorts. All the time during the motorcycle ride (without helmet...tsk, tsk, tsk... very risky), Manong Tangga tried to keep a conversation... in Bisaya. I understood most of it with my half-baked knowledge of the dialect but many times I had no idea what he was talking about and just noded like a stupid dog figurine on a taxi's dashboard. Unsurprisingly, like in any other province, the locals here seemed to know everyone else as they say "Hello, friend".
At 3.30, tired from the travel and itchy from all the dust, I desperately needed a room on my own (being the introvert that I am) and a cold refreshing shower. I checked-in at the Secret Cove Beach Resort in Yumbing, Mambajao. The beach was not as enticing as Bohol's but what the heck! I wasn't there to swim or make sandcastles. I nested in my room. It has one double bed, a stand fan, and its own toilet and bath. Whew! I ought to relax and 1 hour of cold shower did it for me. Dressed up with my own interpretation of a beach attire, I checked out the other amenities of the resort. They had scuba diving lessons but it came with a hefty price. Maybe next time. Where was the pool that the receptionist was talking about? She directed me upstairs. Weird!A pool at the second floor?! But when I got there, there was no pool, just cable tv, books, magazines, scrabble, billiard table, and darts. Then it came to me. Pool NOT swimming pool BUT a billiard table! Hehe ;-)
The rest of the afternoon was like a pictorial with the universe. But first I ate an egg sandwich from the resort's restaurant (I wanted to eat other than that but it was the cheapest). Using Ket's complex camera (dunno how to call it but I sure do want to buy one for myself), I photographed pretty much everything as if I was a pro. I waited for the sun to set. Indeed, it was worth the wait! Magnificent!
I went back to my room after the photo shoot. Reflected on my life.... "21 years..." Got bored so I looked for some excitement and the best that I could get was play pool with.... myself! "KRUM KRUM!" said my stomach. I headed for the in-house resto and ordered the grilled tanigue (you guessed it right! it was the cheapest at 160). I had a short chit-chat with the owner- Tom Solski, then, devoured the sumpty fish! YUMMY! I said to myself again, "This is life!"
The night was still young when I got back to my room. Again, I reflected on my life. Wrote down my dreams and ambitions (but now using a different perspective- as an adult). ZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZzzzzzzzZZZZ
...to be continued....
exhaled by milbenski at 12:12 AM
|
HTML... What's that again?
28 September 2004
These recent weeks i have been rediscovering the other features the net has to offer. Before, my net life was so boxed to checking my mail and Friendster. Thanks to the sites of jaja, anders, and aris. These sites inspired me to make my own website and express my "repressed" self through the web. I started with Lycos' tripod but the HTML thingie has yet to be processed by my techno-ignorant brain. So the birth of my current website thru the friendlier programs of Yahoo's Geocities and the dot tk.
Watchout for milben's domination! Hehe! ;-p
exhaled by milbenski at 4:33 PM
|
