Off I went to the Island paradise of Bohol. The place I so proudly call my province as my mum was lucky enough to have grown up there. I could hardly wait to show it off to Chie, my travel companion and cousin.. and the thing that made it extra special was the fact that Ron, my bestest friend in Oz was there to meet us when we touched down. As we drove through the city of Tagbilaran memories went rushing past and pride was bursting.. I know this place! I can speak the dialect! I know a sprinkle of people.. I have come to yet another place I consider HOME.

Morning and Arvo

We went to Panglao Island Nature Resort and even though it was raining we took advantage of their facilities (afterall we paid to do just that). Spent time at the resort resto and just chilled.

Night

We started off with a quiet drinking (tagay) session in the resort and then went off to check out Tagbilaran's night life. There was a bar opening at Metrocentre and everyone and their mums were there (not literally of course). Saw what apparently was Bohol's finest and got oh. so. pissed. (or at least i did). Maybe it helped that I saw ghosts from the pasts and I needed dutch courage to get through the night. Or maybe I'm just a plain old alcoholic.

Sunday

Morning and Arvo

Spent some more time at the Amarela resort and swam in the pool and bonded some more over future plans, past loves and life in general. Met the gracious and gorgeous owner of the place Bianx packed to leave the island and went to (Bisaya) mass at Dauis Church.

Night

And then it was time to go to Loay where Chie and I would spend the rest of our stay at my aunt's house. Loay, Bohol is my mum's little home town and I love it to bits. I remember going there as a kid on school breaks and loving it. Small towns are awesome I tell you. Having grown up in the city (a huge one at that).. I cherish the coziness, friendliness and openess of Loay. It's great being in a place where everyone knows just about everyone and there is an innate sense of friendship and shared history. I've spent quite a bit of time there and I always feel sad having to bid it goodbye. Feelings of nostalgia bombarded me.. and I instantly regreted that i had so little time to spend there to catch up with everyone especially my beautiful cousins.

It's funny how people think nothing new ever happens in the province. But that night I had a first time experience going to a faith healer to help Chie's injury. It was scary, funny and it was something that would only happen in the country.

Monday
Morning and Arvo

Sit back buckle in and hold on tight / A roller coaster ride / And I'm holding on the edge of my seat / And I can't know for sure / 'Cause I just landed on your shore / But I think you got nothing but another thing coming / If you think there's nothing more / That there's nothing more
{EDGE OF MY SEAT by Switchfoot}

Chie, Madel, Madel's friend Marie and I went to tour the famous sights of Bohol for Chie's sake. I've seen it heaps of times but it's always fun to revisit. No trip to Bohol is complete without seeing the Chocolate Hills, Bilar man made forest, cruising through Loboc river, seeing the "oldest church" in the Philippines, seeing the Tarsier (the smallest monkey in the world) and the blood compact sightS (yes there is more than one. the other 'real' one is in Loay). it was a camwhoring day of course full of adventures and laughter.

Night


Fueled by alcohol of course, my cousin madel and I had a heart wrenching talk. We talked about the most painful times of our lives, the things we knew about each other but never had the guts to actually speak aloud about. We spoke, listened, understood and loved each other all the more for opening up. It was a long over due conversation that I hold dear to my heart and regret not having sooner. It will always be my most revered memory of her the breakthrough that made us cousins in heart. The plaza will always be our very own blood compact sight where tears were shed and shared and will always forge us as blood relatives. I LOVE U DEL!

Tuesday and Wednesday

My last two days were filled with more drinking sessions.. laughs.. unending stories.. good natured(?!) teasing.. bonding sessions.. getting reacquainted with people I've known (in different levels) in the past.. new places (ICM??!! it wasn't there before).. seeking answers.. discoveries.. trips down memory lane.. open window drives to the city.. sightings.. new and interesting people.. adventures (of both kinds).. and plain old silliness that's a good sign of fun being had. And so there are different tracks dedicated to this soundtrack of the last 2 nights of my memorable trip..

Tuesday Night

OMG!!! I was so pissed. That's what you get when Rhum and Beer are shared by four people after you've supposedly gone home. hahahahahaha.. I could never live that down.

Wednesday Night

This night was both funny and sad.. I knew I was leaving the next day so I was feeling quite nostalgic. Good thing the running kept me from being too sad coz just when I was getting to know people .. I had to leave the next day. You never know what adventure you guys will come up with next.

Thursday

And then all of a sudden.. I had to go. It was a week and it felt like a lifetime and yet I wasn't quite ready to stop living it. Maybe I should just be grateful I had such an awesome time. I loved every single moment of it. I take comfort in the fact that there will always be a next time. That's what home is for anyway.. to come back to.

Lights go out and I can't be saved / Tides that I've tried to swim against, / You've put me down upon my knees / Oh I beg, I beg and plead, singing / ... / Home, where I wanted to go, home ..
{CLOCKS by Coldplay}