The long “overdue” break!!

Got to the bus station at 1:00am and totally disappointed to see right on the ticket counter,” Next trip – 3:00am!” I felt bad, I mean really bad!:( Though I was hesitant to buy it, thinking it could be a tactic, because if you get a 3:00 am ticket and get a chance on an earlier trip, they’ll charge you 10%. K True enough, I got on the 1:00am bus and paid 10% more, I’d rather than wait for another 2 hours! I planned to sleep when I got on the bus but couldn’t so, I opted for a cup of cappuccino on the first bus stop. After a few surfing on the net, thank God for wifi onboard! I was able to sleep. I woke up to a gorgeous sunrise!! :)

Arrived Baguio City at around 6:30 am. Was greeted by my all- time – favorite weather and the reason why I always escape to this city!! Brrrrrrr Walked from the bus station to Session road. Decided to have breakfast at pizza Volante, which by the way, also serves breakfast.  An hour later, I was walking towards the market, one of my favorite parts of this city as well. Strawberries and Sagada oranges were abundant! Went around and bought a couple of oranges. With no particular place to go, hopped on a cab and headed to “Café by the ruins”. Before I forget, I have to give credit to cab/taxi drivers of Baguio. Probably the most honest I’ve seen. Anyway, my day was filled with roaming around the city. Went back to session road for my strawberry shortcake! Mmmmmm You didn’t  go to Baguio City if you haven’t  tried it! :p

I thought about the good old times I came here, coffee with tira- tira, chicharon bituka along session road, longganisa, tupig, kakanin, mais na puti inihaw!! Wow! It’s all about food huh? Lol

I think I will never get tired of Baguio! Maybe it’s my love for cooler weather, maybe it’s the mountains, maybe it’s the food, or maybe, just maybe, it’s the thought that I’m  on vacation.

Updates!

Whew! I wanted order in everything, that's my disorder!:) Well, inspiration didn't come until my recent travel. I wanted to tell my stories about the places I visited, each one of them! Now it's too late for that so I guess I'll just start with the very recent one and eventually share the previous. I'm still in the middle of proofreading and hopefully, be done soon. :)

I want to write about this before it leaves my memory:)

I got a funny text message from my aunt (my dad's sister ). She asked how am I doing?, but that's not the funny part, the funny part was when she asked," are you home or "pinaylayas again?" " LOL I used to avoid talking to relatives about my travels, simply because I hate their comments. But I think I won my battle!!LOL Lately, they simply ask , " where to next??" :-O

I know they love me and are concerned, but I want to thank them for trusting me that I am a big girl now. :)

And my journey with strangers didn't stop: Went on another trip alone and met these wonderful people.

Sagada:

I've been wanting to visit Sagada  but I wasn't allowed to go alone and I didn't have anyone to go with , but that was 10 years ago!! One day, I decided it's time I make it on my own. Hopped on a 10:00 pm bus to Baguio City, arrived  Baguio city at 3:30 am. Had to wait for the only bus that goes to Sagada at 6:00 am. Had coffee across the bus station -- a gasoline station, spent an hour watching people there. Then took a cab to the bus station at 4:30 am, spent the rest of the time in a restaurant waiting for the bus to leave. At 6:00 am I was already on the bus, but it didn't leave until 6:30 am. Met Zeny and Morrie (who I called my adopted parents), a couple from Papua New Guinea. At first glance, I knew they were also traveling backpack style. Zeny (or ate Zen as I called her), broke the ice. She started asking questions about Sagada. And it pays to read stuff before heading on a trip, I told her some tips I've read about Sagada on the internet, thanks to technology!

Then, we met another group of youngters (4 of them in their 20's), and the conversation went on and on and on. It was a 7-hour kind of rough , winding , narrow, ravine roads but spectacular views. Reached Sagada around 1:00pm. Registered and headed to my hotel along with these people. We all decided to stay in one hotel, the famous Residence Inn of "Aunt Mary". It was a non-aircon room at 250/night. It doesn't matter if you're alone, rates doesn't change as long as there are available rooms. So, since I'm alone, I had 1 room all to myself for 250/night, what a deal!! I had 3 beds in my room and a hot shower!!

Freshen up and headed out to get lunch. I read about this restaurant " Yogart house" that serves delicious affordable food. Btw, the whole reason for my trip to Sagada was for that lemon pie house I read so much about!!LOL I like Yogart house's ambience, ended up with the couple in the same restaurant. And there, I had this conversation with them which made an instant connection.:) It was one wonderful lunch I had in Sagada.

We all went back to register and decided to stay together for the Sagada tour. There were lots to chose from, so we started voting, it was fun and we immediately had that connection. It started raining in the afternoon which left us with nothing to do but relax and stay indoor. Unfortunately, there's only one t.v. in the hotel at the reception, and it was too early for me to go to bed so I went out, alone this time. Went searching for the lemon pie house, it was about 700 meters away from my hotel. It was still drizzling when I went out and was getting cold. Finally reached the lemon pie house which was closed at that time. I was disappointed!!:(( I headed back and found a nice place for a native Sagada coffee, perfect!!

The following day, we were up at 4:00 am in time for sunrise, everyone was excited!! Was damn cold, windy and was drizzling when we got to Kiltepan. I prayed so hard to see the sunrise, and God is so good!! All the time actually! I knew I was experiencing heavenly sight because I saw it in the faces of my new found friends. Maybe they saw mine too.:) Headed back to the hotel sleepy but happy . We all decided to prepare our own breakfast and eat together. Even the kitchen conversation were so much fun. Shared experiences and passions.:) After breakfast, we started our trek, as usual, a tough one!! Thank goodness for a good guide (Manong Perry). I remember on our way to "Sumaging Caves" ate Zen asked me, "Joie, can you tell me why we're doing this again??" and we all laughed about it. We finally reached Bomod -ok falls, there we had so much fun and got really drenched!Amazing how we are all connected with nature and the sublime happiness it brings.

Went back to the hotel just before sunset, freshen up and went out for dinner. This time the young ones opted for a different restaurant, while I stayed with the couple. Our dinner turned out to be very productive in the sense that, we not only talked about the day activities but we talked about life in general, "Follow your bliss" which was on the wall of the restaurant and the reason why the conversation about life started. One reason why I like going with older people, I love to hear and learn from their wisdom. Maybe I also miss my parents. :)

Sagada turned out to be one memorable trip because of ate Zen and kuya Morrie. They brought me to the bus station and gave me a tight hug that I will always remember. We still get in touch up to this day, updating on things and them asking me every now and then ---"Where to next Joie?" :)

The very first time I joined a tour with total strangers: Banaue rice terraces  (10 hr bus ride from Manila)

 I didn't have any choice, unless I was willing to pay the whole amount for the tour. Anyway, it turned out to be fun and these guys shared their life stories during the trek. Very inspiring travel stories, humors, worries, and basically, anything under the sun. We trekked through the mountains, crossing the gorgeous rice terraces, view was just spectacular!! I remember standing on the tip of the mountain, yes practically on the edge, admiring the beauty right in front of us, one of them said, " this reminds me so much of Peru!". We stood there for a while. Then, decided to have lunch in one of the local restaurants with very entertaining kids who sang "Asin" songs for us. After lunch, we headed to Tappiah water falls, trek was tougher this time, considering it was all downhill. I was anxious about going back, I knew it will kill my legs!! True enough it did!!

Halfway on our way back to our ride , I felt my legs were giving up. Saved by the rain!! It poured so hard that we needed to find shelter, a shade along the road. I remember using a banana leaf as an umbrella. It was in the afternoon and was getting cold but we needed to get back in time for our shuttle. So we braved the rain, and I was left behind with the tour guide. I was practically dragging my legs up to those huge steps !! Seriously, it wasn't meant for locals or Asians!! My last 5 steps up were such a struggle, but these guys cheered and were screaming " go Joie go"!!!:(( I told them, " this stairs is meant for Europeans"!!:((

We went back to the hotel, cold & hungry!! The very first time I took a shower with damn cold water!!:((  Had dinner  along with a French guy who became a friend too.
I'll never look at strangers the same way again. :)

I just had my nightcap in one of my favorite getaways - "My secret garden":)

Enjoyed the moonlit night with fine breeze, gazed at the moon and a million thoughts. I attempted spending times like this without thinking of anything. Trying to practice meditation, but always failed. Then I realized, how people miss the simple pleasures that life has to offer just because, we always wish we were somewhere else. Yesterday, I was in a great mood swing, it's a woman thingy and I tell you, not funny!! I told a friend that I wanna be away from everyone and everything. Believing I can escape my miseries. Wishing I was somewhere else. It reminded me of getting the same mood swings even while I was on a holiday. There are just things that we are and can never be in control of.

But we can control things by becoming more aware of the things that comes for free, like they say those are the best things in life.

So tonight, I promised myself, it doesn't matter where I am and where I wanna be, I chose be happy. This is going to be an endless practice, but what I practice I will become. :)

Before I get started with my travel stories, there's one question that crossed my mind earlier: Why do people travel? I know for some the answer would be, because they want to see the world. But, it remains mysterious to me in so many ways. I believe there's a story behind every person leaving everything behind to see the world, without a guarantee of what they'll come back to. I envy these people though, and I wish I have the guts and the money to do the same. Maybe one day, who knows.:)