Claveria, Blue lagoon and Vigan

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Still in English, because no French protested and I got more support from the English-speaking speakers =) (notwithstanding the fact the last part of this sentence is the indisputable proof that this language cannot subtle when vocabulary is concerned =p ). After my two laid-back days in Palaui I went back on the road, heading to a bit more of the North coast. Claveria sounded nice, so I decided to stop by here, and pitch my tent on the beach. But that can wait, looking around the town to smell its vibes is more urgent. Around 9 000 souls here, far from being a notorious tourist spot, a global electricity breakdown, people craving for relaxed short talks, I call it a good start. Heading back to my bag hidden under some banana leaves (still amazed how big one can be) I happen to meet a biker, who after a five minutes friendly talk tells me : "Oh you're gonna sleep on the beach ? Better you sleep in my nearby cottage, no one is there at the moment, here are the keys". Once again...wow =D Another 20 minutes chatting together, and I settle in my stuff. Electricity's back, it's been a while I haven't had Internet, I'm gonna look for a web cafe. Twenty-five minutes of pointless and unsuccessful wandering and eventually I find the Jester crew : four pals enjoying the beginning of a just-as-it-should warm evening, and inviting me to join...net can wait, encounters not, let's go. Among our talks and between two pieces of menudo (a local dish with carrots, pork meat and potatoes) we arrange a meeting for a bit of hill roosting tomorrow. Four of us in the tricycle the next morning, could have done better but whatever, we wander for two hours, appreciating the sea breeze and tasting some raw seaweed, just an another good day :o)

The Blue lagoon is waiting for me, let's drop by there. After my lift a thirty minutes walk makes me discover a nice homestay and unfortunately quite seriously scarring my guitar for the first time. You want the recipe ? Here it comes. Take a backpacker with his backpack (promise) and the guitar attached to it, make him stroll along a beautiful coastal road that impeach him from really paying attention where he goes. Don't forget to make him wear flip flops, take a quite large trickle of water crossing the road and the corresponding damn slippery algae it creates on the asphalt, and you'll get a bump on his guitar (and at his self-esteem, but that is not to be taken in account =p ). After having got relieved of my big backpack I taste the pleasure of walking along the peaceful though vicious road, take two fresh coconuts from the tree, and eventually arrive to the so-called Blue Lagoon...ok it deserves its name. Pristine beach, azure water, just the right amount of wind not to sweat too much, just goooOOOoood ! We share a fresh grilled fish and cooked octopus with a freshly met Aussie surfer, and I spend the afternoon walking along the shore, playing guitar in a field with the carabaos, and ending up with a nice dinner prepared by my host family, who is granted a free concert ;-)

The next day will be under the sign of the visa extension, Laoag here I come ! The town by itself has nothing exceptional to display, but the formalities take less than 20 minutes, and I leave to Batac. Sun starts to settle down, finding a place to pitch the tent starts to be urgent. A bunch of nice people accept to give me a piece of grass to fulfill my duty, and they happen to be bakers. The evening passes by like a minute, nicely chatting while packing the freshly-cooked bread they'll sell tomorrow. I wake up at dawn (which means here before 6am), walk to the nearby Paoay church, and before leaving the town I pay a visit to Commandant Marcos, peacefully resting in his glass coffin (yes, like a certain Lenin somewhere) and to celebrate this moving encounter I take a halo-halo. This is so far the best piece of dessert I found here : coconut milk with ice, preserved fruits, a bit of creme brulee, some coconut paste and a scoop of ice cream, because it lacks a bit of sugar hihi...see the picture to have a better idea ! My most beautiful and legendary efficient thumb finds the route of a grandpa bringing his granddaughter back from school, and after him two truck partners drop me in Vigan, where for the first time I should couchsurf in the Philippines. Shawi welcomes me, and I immediately feel at home : welcome meal with the family, nice chats and smiles around the table, just great :o) Then came three tasteful days of guitar, wandering in the beautiful town, Tagalog lessons and making each other discover our respective cuisine. Now heading back to the mountain, what for...to be detailed later :o)

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