Saturday, February 8, 2014

Photoblog: Biyaheng Mindanao

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.
helping out my parents in our mini farmville;
we have eggplants and papayas

the ukay-ukay paradise in Gingoog City

kicking some rain clouds in a fishing village/coastal area in Magsaysay
goat-herding  this hard-headed kid
salivating over Mt. Balatukan's peaks

sketching some lechon left-over

resting atop a balimbing (star fruit) tree

river-wading with cousins;
Linugos River is a few meters away from my Aunt's house

backpacking in CdeO while waiting for my trip back to Manila

tilling the soil like a pro;
farmers call this equipment "turtle"--but it ain't slow


inquiring about our delayed trip;
the same day that there was a shooting incident in NAIA

jumping for a new life on New Year's day
skywatching on the ship's viewdeck

killing time in an Ayala mall while waiting for distant relatives

jeep-stuffing in this jumbo jeep;
it can accommodate 40-50 passengers and tons of trade goods

posing for a trike mag cover and earning some likes on fb
daydreaming to be a fisherman while wishfully thinking
 of heading to Camiguin--that island in the background

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

thanking the Lord for the second lechon of the vacation

nodding my head while watching a refreshing
Manobo instrumental music and dance
performance in  La Paz, Agusan del Sur

 taking a shot of another Wisdom jeep in waiting

looking for a way to document my solo trip back to Manila 

bargaining with a Maranao lady for her authentic textiles

toploading after sumabit sa jeep

witnessing a forest fire in an island somewhere in the Visayas

watching some Asia glossy starling without my binoculars

boarding this vessel and praying for a safe seatrip

insisting for mandatory family picture after church

crossing this fell-off tree that reminds me of Terabithia

waiting again after another flat tire

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!