Guimaras

Yes, despite out emergencies at home, I succumb (willingly of course) to a pre-arranged vacation to Guimaras. I went with my good friend Anna, who I worked with for three years in Pramerica. One of the trio (Dr.Mau) composing our Barkada was busy preparing for her birthday bash Tuesday after the scheduled vacation so only 2/3 of the barkada went. But with Anna around, it's like bringing a barkada of ten people anyway so it was as enjoyable as ever!


With the kind heart, understanding and blessing of the family, I headed to my vacation. . Since both Anna and I (supposedly) have work till Saturday morning, we booked a late afternoon flight to Ilo-Ilo. We arrived at around 4:30, went straight to the hotel we looked up through the net. Residence Hotel was more of an Inn here in Manila but the staffs are friendly, the rooms are decently clean and since we rented out a small room, the air-con was really cold.

As soon as we placed down our backpacks and freshen up, we hit the streets for a La Paz Batchoy at Ted's Old Timer. "Putok Batok" is how the 'indios" would have described it. As for me it was impossible to eat it without softdrinks.... and even later on... coffee or tea.

It was sinfully delicious with the lavish taste of Chicharon, garlic, "al dente" mami noodles and other ingredients that I know I would regret eating when I grow old! The restaurant was not much but they served the right food and there we were! At P55.00 it was Mega Super!

After that we went about our first installment for pasalubong shopping. On our way to our hotel, we passed by SM and saw that there was a Biscocho Haus right beside it so we decided that is where we will go next. We went inside SM of course and since everything is pretty much the same, we wasted no more time and checked out the store for our pasalubongs. Of course we got the Biscocho, Piaya, Butterscotch and other sweets I could not recall the name of.

After our short shopping, we headed back to the hotel. The noodles from the Batchoy must have swollen as I felt fuller by the minute. In no time, I was asleep... a contented cow (or pig?). Anna had to beg me at 7:30 p.m. to wake up as our next stop was what she anticipates the most.

So despite my drowsiness I stood up, splashed water on my face to keep me awake, and moments later we were hailing a jeep (yes, no taxis for us... this is amazing race people!!!) on our way to TATOY's for some serious oyster eating! It was not without our own version of a city tour as we picked the farthest Tatoy's in our list. The jeepney driver and people riding the jeep with us were kind enough to look out for our destination and brought us safely to our dinner.

True to what we heard, 1 kilo of oysters (with shell of course) was sold @ P30.00. And so we ordered two more shell fishes (I am oblivious of their names) and ate to our heart's delight.

It was a rainy evening and the ambiance and cool air was conducive for a hearty dinner. At 9:00p.m., tired but definitely satisfied, we headed home, watched t.v. and had a restful sleep.

The next day was Sunday and we rose up early on to get our breakfast and head to church. It was just a blessed coincidence that it was St. Augustine's Feast Day and the chapel right in front of our hotel is the chapel of the San Agustin University in Ilo-Ilo.

After mass, we checked out and rode the jeep to the "pantalan" going to Guimaras. Guimaras is just a P10.00 pump boat ride away from Ilo-ilo. It is, for us visitors, filled with hospitable people who readily gave us a guided jeepney ride tour again. Knowing that we were first timers, several passangers would gladly comment on some landmarks as we make our way to the town of Nueva Valencia from Jordan. They would point to us their municipal halls, the "central market", where people gather on a Sunday, the mango plantations, etc. (Unfortunately, no Mango was in sight).

There are some things I noticed though... the people in Guimaras are so familiar with each other that none of them signals the driver where they would want to be dropped off. The driver just stops and even signals the passenger that it's their stop already. One time during that jeepney ride, the driver stopped at the San Miguel Market and the passenger in front of us went down but left his bag to save him his seat as he does not have any companion. How trusting can one get! And the driver waited for him as he went about his marketing. There are tons of other stories in that seemingly long ride... but space just isn't enough.

And so we arrived safely and enriched by our guided tour to Alibuhod where we rode a tricycle to Raymen's Beach Resort. We checked in, checked the canteen, and while waiting for our lunch booked ourselves a 1:00p.m. island hopping tour.

Lunch was Anna's treat (thanks friend!) It was a surprisingly sumptous, reasonably priced lunch that we had enough left over for dinner which the waitress gladly volunteered to re-heat. The island hopping experience was also pleasureable although quite odd because there's only four of us in a boat good for ten (four including our guide and driver).

Our first stop was the Turtle Island where I met two "pawikans" and their care taker. It was called such as pawikans would come here to lay their eggs and leave. We were so afraid to touch the pawikans at first and even if our guide recommended we carry them to show the belly in our pix, we hesitated. Anna, supposedly more "matapang" tries to catch the pawikan, but afraid to break it in pieces when she becomes squirmish decided to just let it be. Kakatawa nga, we were panicking catching the pawikan because it wants to escape us when our guide told us, "Mam, wag kayo mataranta, pagong ho yan eh!" HE HE... he thinks he's funny... hi hi.

In front of the island ( where by the way, only the caretaker of the pawikans live) is a coral garden where Anna and I had our snorkelling. It was high tide elsewhere but not in front of the turtle island because it is actually a cove. So we had a better view of the fishes and corals. The fishes were so "naive" they do not swim away but rather towards me. Hah! Natakot talaga nila ako!

In front of the Turtle Island was the Ave Maria island which our guide told us was for sale (can't say if that is true) but if I had the money, I'd surely get it!

Imagine this for a house! There will surely be trouble commuting but if I do get the money to buy this, I'd surely have the money to tuck in a jetski and yacht as well so.... Wake UP Check!!!

The rest of the afternoon was just cruising along the many other islands in Guimaras. Our last stop was the SEAF (South East Asian Fisheries) where we saw giant bangus and dalag and other fishes I don't know the name of. It's like IRRI only it's fish... well.... you get the picture.

Tired and hungry ... (me for food and Anna for more pictures) we went back to the Resort and spent the rest of the afternoon taking pictures and swimming. My first time to swim in the sea while raining. I was just floating there and allowing the cool drops of rain refresh me even more.

The evening was supposed to be Videoke night but power interruption got in the way so we were in bed by 8:00 p.m. It was a nice, long sleep I'm sure Anna haven't had for quite a long time now.

Our last day in the island was swimming, sunbathing and singing day. We spent about P80.00 in the P5.00/song videoke machine situated in a nearby sari-sari store. Whereas others could sing in these places only after a doze of alcohol, we smashed into the videoke highway with just a cup of coffee...and in broad daylight to boot! Zaldy, the store keeper couldn't be more delighted to have such CONFIDENT guests! We know cause he gamely replaces our mic every so often after we smash them on the table while singing "Always Somewhere" and "Total Eclipse of the Heart".

Despite our short visit, hindi kami bitin. The rustic appeal and relaxed atmosphere in Guimaras allows time to just stop. There is so much time in this island that looking at the hurried life in the Metro from here just seems insanely unnecessary. Since there's only me and Anna in our little holiday, there were many times when we don't even talk. There are times where I felt I was on vacation on my own (much like when I was with Jheng's group in Puerto Galera). Since there's not many people in the resort and at the beach front, there were moments when time seems to stand still and cuddle me in.

Guimaras does not pretend to be what it is not. It does not try to be the hip, IN place. It just IS.

Thanks Guimaras for embracing us for the weekend. We... well, at least I am... calmer because of it. :)