Heading To Where the Storm Is: I Think I Need To Practice My Rain Dance.

Ok.  This is the situation. 

The family trip will be tomorrow.  And I just heard that there is a storm at that part of the country where we're going: Ilocos Region. Great!  How can we possibly go around town when it's raining?  Last year, we went to Cebu and the same thing happened. It was raining hard almost all day and we had to go buy something from the wet market.  We had to walk on puddles of water, holding our umbrella. But Mr. wind was kind enough to join the rain so, yeah, umbrella was no good.  After almost an hour of walking outside the rain, we finally got what we wanted to buy, we took a taxi and went straight to the mall for shelter.  I don't wish for it to happen, but then I'm faced with this fact again.  The stupid Dindo(name of the storm) bothered to visit us on our trip!  It won't be just a normal rain showers.  It will be a storm, signal 2, I heard. Weeehh!

Just thinking about it sucks out my energy and excitement.  I need to think of Plan B.  It won't be something drastic like change of destination.  No. Not like that.  It will be too late now.  I will try make videos while I'm  stranded somewhere.  What about that?   A music video.  Yeah. Call me Maybe?  Maybe.  Or have a pictorial while drenched in the rain like Vanessa Hudgens.  Oh, I remember, I just got 2 pimples below my nose and a stye on my right eye! I told you it was bad timing! A very nasty one indeed!  But who the hell cares!  It will be fun how I could turn things around. 

Oh dear! It will be great! We will have great time! It will be AWESOME! 

Will let you know how it turned out.

I have a feeling.

This will be very interesting.

Source

Life is not about to wait until the storm stops... It is about learning how to dance in the rain.

Check out our Ilocos Family Trip Series:

3D/2N Ilocos Family Trip: Itinerary and Expenses

What I'll Wear in My Ilocos Trip - What I wore

Family Ilocos Trip: Video

My Ilocos Family Trip Experience

Series:

Day 1: Ilocos Trip: Davao to Manila, Manila to Vigan

Day 2: Ilocos Trip: Vigan Tour - Burgos Museum

Day 2: Ilocos Trip: Vigan Tour - Bantay Church And Bell Tower

Day 2: Ilocos Trip: Vigan Tour - Syquia Mansion

Day 2: Ilocos Trip: Vigan Tour - Pagburnayan Jar Making

Day 2: Ilocos Trip: Vigan Tour - Baluarte ni Chavit

Day 2: Ilocos Trip: Vigan Tour - Hidden Garden

Day 3: Ilocos Trip - Juan Luna Museum

Day 3: Ilocos Trip: Laoag to Pagudpod - Paoay Church

Day 3: Ilocos Trip: Laoag to Pagudpod- La paz Sand Dunes

Day 3: Pagudpod - Blasting all them Waves!

Day 4: Ilocos Trip - "Where have you been?" at Kaibigan Falls

Publisher: Shy - Thursday, June 28, 2012

Free Taste at Bohol Bee Farm

Free taste attracts me like a firefly gets attracted to light.  Who doesn't? It's food and it's free.  Two words that serve as magnet to just about anybody.

Malunggay Ice Cream at Bohol Bee Farm

Now before my group and I went to Bohol Bee Farm, our kind-hearted tour guide already oriented us about it.   We were going there for the malunggay ice cream. 

Malunggay ice cream at Bohol Bee Farm

Publisher: Shy - Monday, June 11, 2012

Taboan Market, Cebu: Bulad Kayo Diyan!

Mr. Jeepney driver taking us to Taboan

Buying Bulad in Tabo-an Market

It was our last day in Cebu and we were to buy bulad or dried salted fish.  Now for those who don't know what that is, it's basically any seafood particularly fish that has been sun dried and salted.  This will last for months on end since it is preserved by salt, which is known to be the oldest known preservative.  So how you cook it is you just have to fry it- it's that simple.  For most Filipinos, we like to dip it in vinegar to tone down its saltiness and to give it a nice good kick.  I've heard that we're not allowed to bring this abroad since neighbors would complain of its pungent smell, which we Filipinos would gush about, and then, salivate. 

Going There

Going to Tabo-an Market was a bit confusing for a tourist like me.  But it won't really be that difficult just as long as you follow directions carefully.  Locals here are really friendly and are usually willing to extend help.  When me and my family went there it was raining profusely so it made it harder to go around town.   Now sometimes people would tell you different directions.  So you need to be doubly sure before heading on. Talk about getting lost while raining.  It was terrible.  But finally we found our way. We still ended up getting wet despite bringing two umbrellas with us.

If you want directions on how to navigate your way to the market, check Cille's blog for the specifics.

Inside the Market

Once you reach the market, you would see a varied array of bulad.  Now this what made Cebu famous for it.  You could actually see bulad anywhere in the Philippines but it would be limited to 3-4 types.  But here in Cebu, particularly in Tabo-an Market, a filipino like me would be surprise to know that there are actually other types of bulad which I haven't really seen or tried.

There are a lot of stores practically selling the same thing.  So we had to choose one and pick our bulad.  People usually buy from stores outside the market because not only it's accessible, it's safer too.  I've come to know that since while in search for a good store, we attempted to go deeper inside the market, but the tricycle drivers nearby warned us of thieves inside.  So we opted to buy in one of the stores outside. From that store we bought 3 types of bulad.  Those that we already tried and had grown fond of.  We got the sweet ones. Now these types are particularly hard to cook since they cook pretty fast, so if you try to cook it you need to keep your eyes on the frying pan at all times, if you don't want to eat something black, bitter and crispy for breakfast. Oh yes, bulad is usually serve in breakfast, more like scrambled eggs in the West. 

How much is it?

As far as I can remember they sell it by the kilo.  You usually end up buying 1/4 kilo per kind which was about P140 to P170, depending on the type of bulad.  Usually these are just packed using newspaper sheets, sealing it in between folds.  But since the demand has gone beyond Cebu.  Sellers now pack it by putting it inside transparent plastic sheets, vacuum out the air and seal it, ready for handcarry in airports/planes.

Taking Pictures?

I was tempted to take a good shot of this boy.  But I'm afraid that the parents were just close by and would not want anybody to take a picture of him. This one I took was just a stolen shot.  Not bad ey?

While I was taking pictures, I was really paranoid about the thieves lurking around us.  I knew that we were in the safer portion since thieves are way inside the market.  But I couldn't help but get suspicious of almost everyone.  I would take a picture immediately, and then put my camera inside my bag and zip it close, hugging my bag close to me.  Now this is one reason why I couldn't really explore much by myself.  I'm paranoid like that.

After finally buying our bulad we were just eager to get out of the market and go to the mall.  But before that, we needed to get our pictures taken.  Of course. :)

Smelly Situation

I've read in a blog that you need to change your clothes after coming out from the market. I actually I don't think that's necessary.  The only time you should change clothes is when you actually cooked the bulad and you're just nearby the vicinity during the cooking process.  The scent will stick to you like a leach!  But if you just bought some and took off, no need. That's what we did anyways.  We just put alcohol and sprayed a zit of cologne and viola! We were fresh again.

Scene outside the Market.

Good thing by the time we got out of the market, the rain had subsided.  We then got our jeepney going to the mall for lunch.

What is quite remarkable about Cebu is the presence of old residues of the first city of the Philippines.  The really ancient buildings, the tricycles and calesas.  And then next thing you see are skyscrapers, expensive cars.  It's an amazing how 2 worlds intertwine.  Yes you could witness that it Cebu.

Check our Cebu/Bohol Family Trip here:

3D/2N in Cebu and Bohol - Itinerary, and Expenses

Our Cebu and Bohol Family Trip : This is How We Roll - Travel Video

Bohol

Swimming with a School of Dolphins and a Dog carcass at Alona Beach

Dying in Bohol Butterfly Farm

Twilight Shots on Bohol National Highway

Free Taste at Bohol Bee Farm

Cebu

Food Trip in Cebu: IT (Park) is the Place to Be

Taboan Market, Cebu: Bulad Kayo Diyan 

Publisher: Shy - Sunday, May 27, 2012

Food Trip in Cebu: IT(Park) is the Place to Be

Food Trip in Cebu IT Park

My older sister specifically told me that she wanted to have a food trip in Cebu.  Being a food afficionado that she is, I wasn't surprised.  I came up with a list of places where we could get the best food in town, the sought-after, the unique, local, very Cebu food.  After coming up with a list, I discovered that a good number of restaurants are found in IT Park.  So I figured to go there and taste different kinds of dishes.   Jumping from one far location to another will not only cost us some money but will also eat up our time, which was something we didn't have on our side.

Casa Verde

First we went to Casa Verde, known to serve the best steak in town.  When we got there, we didn't order the steak.  Now realizing this, I'm wondering why.  And then I remembered that my siblings protested when I recommended it to them.  Reason was, they already knew what a steak tasted like.    So we went for meals that sounded quirky or unique.  We ordered watermelon salad, and another weird sounding dish.  My sister, brother and I started critiquing the food, like we're some food experts.  All of us were happy but not full, trying to save space for more food.  Before heading out, my brother ordered a huge burger.  He ordered it because it was huge, like pizza huge.



Casa Verde Menu

Publisher: Shy - Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Our Cebu and Bohol Family Trip: This is How We Roll!

Since this Cebu/Bohol trip was our first official family trip, I thought of making a video for it.  We'll be doing another one this year and I'm terribly psyched about the itinerary and the places we'll be going.

Let the GOOD TIMES ROLL! :)

Happy Travel Everyone!

Cebu/Bohol Family Trip from shy basoc on Vimeo.

Go check our Cebu/Bohol Family Trip here:

3D/2N in Cebu and Bohol - Itinerary, and Expenses

Our Cebu and Bohol Family Trip : This is How We Roll - Travel Video

Bohol

Swimming with a School of Dolphins and a Dog carcass at Alona Beach

Dying in Bohol Butterfly Farm

Twilight Shots on Bohol National Highway

Free Taste at Bohol Bee Farm

Cebu

Food Trip in Cebu: IT (Park) is the Place to Be

Taboan Market, Cebu: Bulad Kayo Diyan 

Publisher: Shy - Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Twilight shots on National Highway

Bohol National Highway - Mahogany Forest

The 20-kilometer Mahogany Forest is nothing short of amazing.  Yes you may have already seen it in pictures, but something really mystical takes place when you're in the actual forest.  There's some sort of energy that swallows you.  Makes you realize how small you are.  I think nature has that effect on you sometimes.

But yes, that was its effect on me.

In our case we did our first family jump shot.

Publisher: Shy - Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Dying in Bohol Butterfly Farm

Bohol Butterfly Farm

If being surrounded by butterflies not fun for you, I don't know what is.  There is just something about these small creatures that really wants me to just gather them all and embrace them.  If those wings of them aren't that delicate, I would have hugged them all at once.

Now being from Davao, I've been to a butterfly farm before in Malagos Garden.  One thing that's different here is that the cage is smaller, which gives you higher chances of contact with them.

The Dreaded Tarsier Mascott 

As soon as we got in the area, we were welcomed by a Tarsier mascott.  I knew it was a mascott, but since it wasn't moving I figured it was just a statue of some sort.  When it moved all of a sudden, everybody near it gushed with fright- including my younger brother.  It was a delightful sight.  [I know, pathetic adjective.  For the lack of better way to describe it, yes, it was delightful. It made us giggled. And yes it was fun. Fun. Another pathetic adjective.  Read on please. Spot for more pathetic adjectives  :P]

My mother, sister and younger brother, and of course, the mascott.

Publisher: Shy - Tuesday, May 15, 2012

3D/2N in Cebu and Bohol

DAY 1

8am - Arrival in Cebu Airport 

10am - Starcraft Ferry - P150 travel time is 45mins (Cebu to Tubigon)

Publisher: Shy - Friday, May 11, 2012

Swimming with Schools of Dolphins and a Dog's Carcass at Alona Beach

Dolphin Watching at Alona Beach 

In a beautiful morning in Panglao, Bohol, my family and I were trudging down a narrow street going to the world-renowned Alona beach.  Being described as such online, my expectations were soaring high.  As we were nearing the beach, my excitement was going down. I saw a short stretch of white sand, different as what I had seen online.  The sand was courser and a tad darker as opposed to the fine, whitish sand in Isla Reta, Davao.  Needless to say, I was disappointed.  There were a number of food stalls that was lined up opposite to the beach.  Nothing really special.  But since we were already there, we tried to make the most out of the vacation.  

Publisher: Shy - Thursday, April 26, 2012

We Missed our Flight!

Months of preparation and finally the day of the trip has arrived.  Coming from a break up I was too caught up with my feelings that I had put preparations on the back seat.  I packed up my clothes that same day.  It took me an hour to do that, which is considerably long to think that we'll just be staying there for 3 days.

Why did We Miss Our Flight?

Anyways, bags are packed, itinerary checked, but we forgot to do one vital thing: print the ticket.  So I had asked my brother to do that for me, within the day that we'll be leaving for Cebu.  He had to go to the office that day so I thought I'll just let him print it there.  So we're all ready to go, but we're just waiting for my brother to arrive home.  By the time he arrived it's already 4PM and our flight is 5:20PM.  Oh there's still 1 hour and 20mins..  So we took the time and rode a tricycle and waited a bit to get a taxi to bring us to the airport.  By the time we arrived it's already 4:45PM, the counter was closed and we were not allowed to check in.  After moments of pleading with the Cebu pacific staff, I left with no choice but to purchase another set of tickets for tomorrow morning's flight.  So much for piso fare! And 6K down the drain!

Fantabulous!

Anyways I took pictures of the whole process from start to finish. I had a feeling that I need to document everything.  Well I just documented the Epic Failure of the Year.  The funny part though was that we were all excited to finally travel together, but then we left the airport 15 minutes as soon as we arrived there.  My brother was feeling guilty, mama was sermoning us while hurriedly walking away, preaching about how the lack of preparations would bring us to hell (she's a traditional conservative baptist) and how I was clicking away, all smiles thinking wow, it's our first time to miss a flight, in our first travel together.

I bet this trip sure will give us more firsts!

Arriving the Airport

Leaving the Airport

Go check our Cebu/Bohol Family Trip here:

3D/2N in Cebu and Bohol - Itinerary, and Expenses

Our Cebu and Bohol Family Trip : This is How We Roll - Travel Video

Bohol

Swimming with a School of Dolphins and a Dog carcass at Alona Beach

Dying in Bohol Butterfly Farm

Twilight Shots on Bohol National Highway

Free Taste at Bohol Bee Farm

Cebu

Food Trip in Cebu: IT (Park) is the Place to Be

Taboan Market, Cebu: Bulad Kayo Diyan 

Publisher: Shy - Friday, December 02, 2011