"Lets do this!"

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The story of today is a story
of when poor planning and over ambition meets good Karma and plain dumb luck. A
day that started off on the wrong foot, and time seemed to be going out of
control, turned into somehow working. Our day started lazy, waking up at 8:30,
leaving at 9:00, accidentally passing our bus stop on our way to Los Banos. Our
plan was to climb mount Makiling, enjoy the hot springs of Laguna, and if there
was time left to go rafting. It would turn out that we did not have enough time
for item #1 on that list.

By the time we got to mount Makiling, it was already 3, but we
said, never mind, lets do this! 3 hours of mountain climbing later, with our
shirts drenched in sweat, we decided it would be a good idea to start heading
back. We were a few hours up a mountain, a few hours south of Manila, and
planned to catch a bus to travel north from Manila at 10 PM. This would be a
mission impossible, hadn't we been saved. 5 minutes into our walk down the
mountain, a van full of local medical students visiting the mountain on
vacation stop next to us to inquire what we're doing. They are as excited to
interact with us as we are with them. We tell them our story, and they are
eager to not only drive us down the mountain, but have us join them for the
whole ride back to Manila. Day saved. We drill each other with questions about
every subject under the sun, for a half hour, then we all pass out. Traffic was
unfavorable, so by the time we got back to Manila, we had to choose between
eating dinner, or showering. Eating won.

We make it to the bus stop in time, just to find out that the
bus going to Banaue, our destination, was canceled. But instead we can take a
bus that will take us about half way there, and hope to take another bus the
rest of the way. Sure there are risks involved, leaving at 10, getting into a
new place at 4 AM, what if the transfer bus doesn't leave untill the afternoon?
but the only other option is to stay in Manila, and that is not an option. So
we boarded the bus northbound.

We start at 10:45 from Manila, and get to the transfer city at
4:00 AM. Luckily, the transfer ride is there ready to go. However, its not a
bus, its a Jeepney - like riding on a bench of an elongated open jeep. The ride
is both beautiful, and exciting. On the Jeepney, we meet a Korean pasture, and
his 18 year old son, touring on vacation that will accompany us for the
following days in Banaue.

We arrive in Banaue around 8 AM, we've been traveling since 5 PM
of the previous day, and are completely exhausted. But our options are to check
into the hotel and sleep - loose a day, or.. enjoy the fact that we're in at
8:00, bright and early - lets go tour the rice fields. These fields are breath
taking. literally, because the hike was soo intense... but at the end, we reach
nirvana, a mesmerizing water fall, with the perfect temperature to go for a
swim. Hiking down was the easy part. The hike back up... killer. There is a
restaurant mid way, where we have some rest, and snack. I had shakshuka. That
night we sleep like babies.

The next day, we get more travelers to take a Jeepney to the
town of Sagada. A laid back sleepy town, that we hike to visit their famous
hanging coffins. A bit weird, but fascinating. The highlight of Sagada: the
yoghurt shop. A place that you get yoghurt that is bliss. They milk the cows
and make the yoghurt locally.

Next day another 1 hour Jeepney ride to the town of Bontoc -
this time sitting on the roof. Terrifyingly fun. From there, a bus back to
Manila to catch our flight to Lazpi. So, as of now, I'm in the hostel in Manila,
killing a few hours until we need to get to the air port. It is unanimously
decided. No more bus rides. From here on out, its all beaches, and
diving.

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Comments

[Carol Goldin]

Wow what a time!
Hey Daren It sounds amazing!!! Keep those posts coming. I search for them every day(5 times a day!) In between, madly trying to finish my latest course work for Nova(all 7 assignments due Sunday) Be careful there with the sharks! love and kisses, Mom