December 2013
I only had twelve days of Christmas vacation. What better way to spend it than going back to my province, Misamis Oriental, and be reunited with my family. Fact, I've stayed in Bulacan for 19 years but I've only been to MisOr thrice (including this vacation).
Given that my wanderlust is on loose again, I ended up going to places, trying out new things and seizing (ahm, documenting) every moment.
Hugs to my Ate for the plane tickets and to my Aunt Naneth for welcoming us to her 'humble' abode.
It's quite a vacation. I was able to visit three provinces --Misamis Oriental, Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur. I got to meet relatives from both sides of the family.
Here are random pictures I took during my wanderings. In no particular order.
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| helping out my parents in our mini farmville; we have eggplants and papayas |
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| the ukay-ukay paradise in Gingoog City |
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| kicking some rain clouds in a fishing village/coastal area in Magsaysay |
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| goat-herding this hard-headed kid |
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| salivating over Mt. Balatukan's peaks |
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| sketching some lechon left-over |
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| resting atop a balimbing (star fruit) tree |
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| river-wading with cousins; Linugos River is a few meters away from my Aunt's house |
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| backpacking in CdeO while waiting for my trip back to Manila |
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| tilling the soil like a pro; farmers call this equipment "turtle"--but it ain't slow |
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| inquiring about our delayed trip; the same day that there was a shooting incident in NAIA |
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| jumping for a new life on New Year's day |
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| skywatching on the ship's viewdeck |
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| killing time in an Ayala mall while waiting for distant relatives |
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| jeep-stuffing in this jumbo jeep; it can accommodate 40-50 passengers and tons of trade goods |
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| posing for a trike mag cover and earning some likes on fb |
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| daydreaming to be a fisherman while wishfully thinking of heading to Camiguin--that island in the background |
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| corn-picking in my Aunt's field; my mama and I filled two sacks of corn--very tough; I got to see and hear some Manobo pickers |
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| thanking the Lord for the second lechon of the vacation |
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| nodding my head while watching a refreshing Manobo instrumental music and dance performance in La Paz, Agusan del Sur |
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| taking a shot of another Wisdom jeep in waiting |
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| looking for a way to document my solo trip back to Manila |
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| bargaining with a Maranao lady for her authentic textiles |
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| toploading after sumabit sa jeep |
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| witnessing a forest fire in an island somewhere in the Visayas |
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| watching some Asia glossy starling without my binoculars |
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| boarding this vessel and praying for a safe seatrip |
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| insisting for mandatory family picture after church |
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| crossing this fell-off tree that reminds me of Terabithia |
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| waiting again after another flat tire |
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| running like it's the end of the world |
It's by far the best vacation I've had. I definitely enjoyed every moment of it--to think that I was in a very tight budget.
See you soon Mindanao!
