Summer is never too late or so am I.
Everything happened in a whim.
In a one random day (that's Thursday!), I thought of
fulfilling one of my bucket list, "Try to ride the
PNR from the first
station up to the last (
which is in BICOL) and back forth."
Well that DIDN'T HAPPEN.
Later on, I found myself staring blankly at the
CebuPacific website. (Yeah, I'm out of thoughts, so I'm literally staring.)
Luckily, I found out that they do sell tickets for like 1 Peso from MNL—KLO
sans all the charges that they gonna add up on top of the fare they have for promo.
Afterward, without doubt, I found myself clicking on the final stage and stuff
for booking a 3 days/2 nights stay heading to Boracay. It was so uncanny of me
not even thinking the pros and cons of traveling
ALONE.
Just to keep the record straight, I have never traveled
alone to a distance which is so foreign to me. For sure, I'm gonna be fucked
up. I'm stupid with directions tho.
Still, I'm determined to get there. I need to conquer the
unknown. So I printed all the necessary things and pay the corresponding fees I
have to.
Soon enough, I went reading blogs on how to go to Boracay,
what to bring, where the must-see places are and where the good place to stay
are.
I was
that lucky to book a very cheap, but decent room that suits well all the things
I need.
Oh okay,
so here is my story now.
The main
reason why I’m doing all these random crazy things is for me to forget what
needs to be forgotten. I also need to find myself again which I eventually lost
in one of the most unfortunate events months ago – SOUL SEARCHING, as
most people say. And I’m really determined to achieve that feat.
 |
| One of MY NECESSARY SELFIES |
As I already
booked my flight heading there, I went on shopping already for like clothes to
wear (a very nonsense compulsion) and
all the stuffs I need like toiletries et al. Soon enough, I found myself
already inside a cab heading to the airport and just hoping everything will be
fine.
I boarded
the plane and just took the NECESSARY
SELFIES A NEOPHYTE TRAVELLER should have ~ I succumb to that tradition. I
just can’t help it. I’m ecstatic.
On board,
I met my seatmate, Ana, a French
architect who is heading to Boracay, too. (I
FORGOT TO TAKE AS MUCH PHOTOS AS I COULD, AS WELL AS, THE PHOTOS OF PEOPLE I MET.
MAYBE BECAUSE, I PREFER TO CHERISH EVERY MOMENT I’M SPENDING RATHER THAN
STICKING MY HANDS WITH THE CAMERA AND JUST CLICK AND SNAP EVERY SINGLE TIME.)
Oh well, we shared stories and yeah talk in French just a little bit. It’s
really harder to be at par with those who all their lives speak French in a
more conversational context. On one hand, we decided to travel together up
until Boracay so that it’ll be easier.
As far as
the view and the experience concerned, it seemed to be fine, there’s nothing
more to highlight there except that we arrived 35 minutes earlier than the
expected time of arrival and that this
is my first airplane ride. There you have it!
Ok, so
what happened is when we arrived at Kalibo International Airport, Ana, since
she’s a transferred passenger from another flight, her luggage are found out of
sight and so I decided to move forward just by myself.
I rode on
a white van and whilst waiting, which is so frustrating because the guy there
told me that it’s
“paalis na” when
totally, it is not. That’s where I met two Japanese tourists – Dai and Hiro. They
are very good people. Albeit they cannot speak English well, they manage to
have a good chat with me and share some stories from both different cultures.
This is what I really loved with this travel. I got to speak with as much
people (read:
STRANGERS) as I want and they are really nice. They treat
me as if they know me long before. One funny anecdote is I gave them Skittles
and they liked it. Dai said there’s no
Skittles there and have never ate one
before, but thinks that there’s like A
SIMILAR PRODUCT in Japan. It’s so cute
how they talk about things back and forth coz they have to translate it.
It has
really been a long ride before we got to the jetty port. From there, we rode
the boat and got to ride a trike going to White Beach.
Hold your
bananas!
 |
| Look how the sea comes back to life. |
 |
| One of the Sand Castles made during my stay. |
Ok, I
arrived there at around past 8 o’clock maybe, so its total darkness that holds
around the island, but no. The beauty of the island is still captivating even
at night. The ocean breeze the hugs you so tight are just perfect. The sand
that every step of the way warms you bare feet and what not, the lights that
surround the busy pavements from Stations 1 to 3 are just there letting you be
amazed. It was such a joy.
Right off
the bat, I started having my alone time. The sole purpose while I’m here. I did
walk the coast from Station 3 (where I stay) up until Station 1. I can barely
notice anyone, but me having deep thoughts. Reflections of what I’ve done and
what I’ve experienced in the past and realizations came in like a wrecking ball
handy. I fully recuperated from all the hurting and just let bygones be as it
is. I walked for like several kilometers already.
The start of new me.
I started
walking back along with the heaps of people going around and started mingling
with one or two. Met two Spaniards, I think the other one is Italian and the
others who I don’t know what the hell their race is, but they surely are nice
to talk with. I forgot their names, but surely, we had a great time.
It feels
like so great to meet new people and be like hang with them for a little while.
They got
the booze, I opted to sleep.
Day 2
 |
| Spell Paradise: B-O-R-A-C-A-Y |
Early
morning, she wakes up | Knock, knock, knock on the door. I woke up again
to, what?, walk and walk and appreciate all the morning glory. I really love
the fine weather, the wind, everything. I even forgot how far I’ve walked
already. From there, at the end of Station 1, I just sat there for like almost
an hour just to think and think and think forever.
Soon enough,
my Japanese friends told me to have lunch at their hotel. Since it’s free (#FREELOADER), I willingly oblige. We then
eat and had a little talk. They had to go to play golf as scheduled so they
sent me to my room and I just slept for hours (coz I haven’t got any since I arrived
in the island.) as I woke up, it’s freezing cold and it’s raining so I stayed
for quite a while and then went out as soon as the rain is gone.
I forgot,
on that day as well, I met some local kids trying to catch fish. Another kid
even offered me to build my name in a sand castle in exchange of 50 pesos. The other
offered me the fish she caught, which both I gently declined. So we just talked
there regarding how they live in the island and how they spend time during the
whole week. It’s pretty decent and light talk. Soon enough, I found myself in
the coast, and some foreign peeps went lining down the block just to watch what
I got. Lol. I’m trying to catch several fish which were brushed by the waves to
the shore. I even found a man-made sand pool wherein a school of fish and a
crab swimming in there.
Come night
time, I met with the Japanese people (aside from Dai and Hiro) that I just met
as well in DMall. We had dinner and then stroll a little more. But since I’m
kinda not feeling of having drinks (which I don’t normally do), I kindly
declined their offer of going to a club.
My second
day is really not that noteworthy of happenings, but I manage to be familiar
with the beach and how people interact there.
My last
day is really something worth remembering.
I really
can’t like exactly tell everything right now, but it’s really really fun.
I woke up
late and still cuddled with my comfy bed and then head out around later in the
afternoon. When I got the courage to stand up and go out, I went to DMall to
have my lunch and then buy things that I want. What’s funny is the vendors keep
on insisting things to me as if I ain’t a Filipino and they always do the Stupid English, like they do with the
Korean tourists. In my head, there’s like a thought bubble that says, hey, I can
speak English, don’t act like I can’t understand you [insert evil laugh]. But part of me wanted to ride that craze, and
so I walked around and acted up like a foreign tourist (even if I don’t really
look like one). Whenever I bought things or even haggled with some, I try to
speak to them in English. And that’s it, they spoke to me like I can’t
understand when they are speaking in vernacular, put on my poker face and have
a blast. I even asked directions and they still speak English even tho one ate is having a hard time explaining
things sans their mother tongue. Gee. I commend her for being so persistent.
All the locals are helpful. They really are!
Me: Where’s
Ta-li-papa? (in a weird accent)
Ate:
Ta-li-papa? (imagine the intonation) You see green house? There. There.
(pointing at the two storey house) Then you make liko. You know liko?
(demonstrating the narrow alley near the house) … She kept on giving directions
just to guide me. I flushed. Why are they like that? Really sweet.
So yeah, I
really had fun being a foreigner in your own native land. Haha.
BEAT THAT.
As I walked
heading towards my room, I was allured by the huge waves hugging off the coast.
I hurriedly went back to my room and left my thing… poof! I already was in the
middle of the sea. Too bad, I can’t swim. Too lucky, the sea floor ain’t rocky,
but a just a vast fine sand like a cushion to your feet and it ain’t deep, too.
So I started playing with the waves. I had my own makeshift stage, the sea is
my playground. The see is my platform. I’m gonna perform. That’s what I said to
myself. That’s where I started singing and dancing to the
ARTPOP tracks. I sing my heart out with joy whilst the sun kept
going down slowly as I perform gallantly. That was like one of the happiest
days I had. It’s like a metaphor of my
Freedom
while succumbing to the rules the wave had given me. At that point, I was playing
my own game already. I’m a league of my own. The phoenix in me has finally
arisen form the burrows of its ash.
 |
| Loving how fine the weather is. |
After
that life changing moment (IT TOTALLY
WAS!), I head back and prepped up for my upcoming departure.
As soon
as I left the island, I told myself that it’s never gonna be my last. I just
came there for myself. The next time, I will go there for Boracay already.
Finally, I
had three lines crossed out of my bucket:
-
Travel alone
-
Ride on a plane
-
Experience Boracay
That’s three birds in one
stone.
BEAT THAT.
As I went back to Manila, I have
already been a different ME.
Same name. Same person.
Different perspective. Different endeavors.
Will it be bad or good? I don’t
give a fuck.
The Queen has already
laid down my cards, it’s up to me how to play them.
Boracay will always be my
haven.
On a final thought, funny
how strangers treat you better than those who you know more. Love them. My
respect will always be with them. I will always appreciate the people who
appreciate and respect me. It’s a totally different reality from my own
reality. :)
The adventure is so spontaneous!
The fun never stops.
Everything is full of spark and quirk.
I really love travelling alone.
I really love travelling.
I really love every single thing that had happened.
IT's all worth it.
PS:
WARNING:
DON’T FALL IN LOVE (NEITHER
GET HEART BROKEN).
MAHIRAP MASAKTAN. MAHAL
MAGMOVE ON.
KIDS, DON’T TRY THIS AT
HOME.
HAHAHA
