Almost... There...- Travel To The Place Where Friendship Blooms Pt 2

Summer of year 2016:

After a hasty preparations, We The English Department Teachers themselve from in the humble place of Tondo,  with our former Dept head, friends and some members of our families went on a three day vacation in our Co teacher's hometown, Anda Pangasinan. It was a long overdued vacation. Through the years we planned and planned and planned some more, but going no where. And then after a few short years, aproximately 9 years ( not that long huh?) Drumroll.... We succeed!!!

4 am Rotonda otw to Bluementrit was our meeting place and time. After the driver arranged our seatplan that we thought were well made ( duh!)  We began our loooooong as in uber loooooong drive to Pangasinan.

First Stop: Near Nlex something or somewhere. (Not really sure since I was asleep during the drive) 

We stopped to grab breakfast at one of the most popular fast foods in the country "Jollibee" courtesy of Ate Vivian. She treat us to coffee, hot chocolate and burgers. After checking out the convenience store adjacent to the fast food we resume our travel.

The trip was uneventful except for the stories that my friends made and totally scared themselveswhen we were on the way to the hotel.

Travel to the Place were Friendship Blooms Part 1

Yeah so this is it! The looooong awaited post of the English department Pangasinan Trip. Actually it took me nine years to accept Ate Devine Masanque's invitation to visit her hometown "Anda Pangasinan" so sit back and enjoy our "adventure". Why the hell is this video taking so long to upload!!!

The Yard: Party in the Night

Yesterday was the last testing day of our school. We, my friends and I were in the first and second shifts so we went home way earlier than  usual ( well me atleast). So we decided to eat out. Clauds really wanted to go to the Yard at Xavierville ( actually it was already in our planners). So without even knowing our way we rode a jeep from Balut in Tondo to Bluementrit. After that we rode another jeep bound to Recto Lrt station where we took the train bound to Katipunan. Upon getting to Kalayaan we decided to took the taxi so we can search the area for our destination, not knowing that it was just a few blocks from where we took a taxi. We got to our destination and was awed with the people eating, looking for seats and laughing and chatting with friends. We looked for place to seat (  actually took us atleast almost one hour). Thank God for the rain, actually just a drizzle that we were able to grab seats. We decided to buy different foods so that we can share and taste more. I ordered some fish chips from Chippery. I love their tartar dip,  actually their bestseller. Shaira bought some fries from Fry Day, Clauds got some galbi from a Korean food stall at the second floor while Lourme bought some tempura. Clauds also bought a big jar of raspberry Ice tea and a passion fruit flavored craft beer. The place was packed with people and more people and more people! Store after store lined the sides. Bright lights and music in full blast and humidity hangs in the air. I would say that The Yard is a ver cool hangout for friends but not a place for family dinner or if you want to spend a quiet night. 

Oh My Mother!!!! Dimutabo "Mother Falls" Trek

So ok! This whole Baler trip really fuels my desire to go and have more of these kind of adventure. As you can see I am a bit on the heavy side. So my one of my friends won't take me trekking with her. Though I know her concerns I still want to go. So when my family went to Baler for a three days vacay, and good thing my cousin Rc is one sporty girl, after surfing and such we went to Dimutabo falls, Also known as Mother Falls ( I don't have any idea why it is called that and I totally forgot to asked). So armed with my sling bag, totally unnecessary sling bag! Next time I will leave unnecessary things in the car! And my pair of very trusty water shoes and mt torque cellphone with it's 18 megapixel camera and a bottle of gatorade we trek from the foot of the mountain to the falls itself. It was great! It is a bit tiring for it was my first time. But it was totallt worth it. I move faster there than in Manila!!! I always told my self that if I fall... It will be goodbye kneecaps! And I discovered that if I stop I will feel more tired. So I just keep going leaving the other's behind while my cousin Rc went ahead of us. We got to the falls atleast 15-20 mins earlier than the rest. I went to the water to cool down for I have hypertension and I did not take my med that day. Tha water was so cold! As in cold with capital C! I got cramps! And the currents are strong! The place is so full of nature. When we decided to go down Rc was ahead again and one of my aunts slipped. I went ahead with my cousin Martin behind me. We refill our bottles with cold natural spring water from the drinking station ( it is free btw). And went ahead. We found Rc waiting at some food shacks with hopes that my uncle, her father will buy something to eat. Well he did. When they arrived a bit later they bought some snacks. I usually don't have appetite out in nature so I did not bought food rather I bought more drinks. It was a success for my part. Trekking and conquering it for the first time. I hope there will be next time. 

Tabi Tabi po..... Balete Eco Park, 600 years of Mystery Escapade

Tabi tabi po.... According to our ancestors those are the words that we must say when we go to places unknown to us or where big trees and mostly nature are. 

My Nanay (lola/grandmother) told me stories that one of my aunt had an encounter with mysterious and  powerful beings.

And because of that certain event that I will not dwell right now, and my nanay devoted my aunt to Antipolo Church. So every year on her birthday our family will go on an outing in Antipolo and so that my aunt can attend the mass in the province church.

According to traditional belief they said that balete trees are homes for the engkantos, tikbalang, spirits and basically everything supernaturals. So just imagine my surprise and hesitation when we went to Baler Quezon my uncle took us to visit The Balete Eco Park, to see the 600 year old Balete tree. The tree was so wide, vast and mysterious. I was a bit skeptical with this whole Balete tree adventure. But don't be mistaken! I was skeptical not because of engkantos,  or spirits or whatever! But because of more logical and practical reason! You know those scaly yucky things that crawl with hissing sound? Yep that's right! Snakes!!! The first ting I asked our guide when he led us inside the tree? " kuya meron bang mga ahas dito??" " kuya are there snakes here?" well I did not saw any which is good! And what I saw is an obstacle course! Obstacle course of crisscrossing braches and roots and people who climbed them expertly. I almost did not get out! And imagine the embarrasement if you turn back because you won't fit! Thanks to my voluptious body! Yeah right! So I handed my aunt my sling bag and got out in a different path! I almost crawl to get out! And yesss!!! I did got out!
It was a good nayure experince. I enjoyed the park. Beside the tree there is also a pavillion that sells exotic foods to souvenirs. it was a great experince that fueled my fure of adventure. I hope I will embark on my adventures like this.

Sisteretes Dewang and Marketplace Food Adventure

One fateful friday of June, when the classes were cut because of pumigation churva, we were required to attend a seminar about dengue and mosquitoes. I was  feeling very low and sad about something when my sisters from the beautiful world of English Department decided to eat out. So after the seminar we hailed a taxi ( a van actually).  And went to Daewang an eat you can Korean resto located at Kalayaan Avenue. It was a  very looong drive from Tondo to Kalayaan, but it was still an experience! We watch a movie on board, passed by the Big Brother's House and that castle likehotel. The resto was just like what I usually saw on Korean dramas and movies, even their glasses and pitchers! ( Iam a huge fan of korean dramas). The samgyupsal and side dishes were unlimited!!! I sooo love the meat wrapped in lettuce, garnished with kimchi, pickled radish and soy bean paste that really goes with together. I was actually living my dream! I lovr korean food! There were pancakes, kimbob, seaweed soup, different kinds of side dishes and even anchovies! And I totally love all of them! We spent a few hours eating and chatting and my sadness went down the drain. We also ordered two bottles of soju ( 180 per bottle). The bufftet cost 300 pesos which is very reasonable and totally worth it. After Daewang we went to walk along Malingap Avenue and went to a small but very cool outside food hall. The Malingap Marketplace. It was another food haven! I totally love the ambiance, the tables and chairs, the whole farm like theme. There were different food stalls of food gloriously food. We decided ti have our dessert. I ordered an Ice tea in a jar in raspberry flavor that was good enough for all of us. It cist around 80 pesos. Shara bought some nachos that is amazing ly cheezy with some herbs. I am not really sure how much but you can get it for 60 pesos when you bought an Ice in a jar. And Lourme bout some panna cotta in original and cocoa flovors. Chet orderedsome kind of chocolate banana smootie while Clauds ordered a Dew dew cake aka raindrop cake that is very simple yet unique. We shared everything. The ice tea was sweet and tangy with strong raspberry flavor that will definitely pucker your face. The panna cotta has very light flavor and a bit cold like ice cream. The smootie is sweet and tasted like banana more than anything else. And the highlight is ofcourse the unique raindrop cake that is like clear unflavored gelatin served with some kind of powder and black honey.before going home qe need to buy something to bribe. I bought my mom some kebab wrapped while I bought myself some hummus with pita. The night turned out great! Itwas one of my best experince. Going out with friends and eating delicious foods.