eo

everything just brightens up for me every time he squeals or giggles with delight when i play with him or talk to him.

Accidental buys

It was not at all my intention to buy anything today. Or for several weeks actually, because I've been robbed by Sagada and enrollment (of which I am happily allowing myself to be.) But I could not help it. That blouse just called out to me. You see, I'm a sucker for peasant blouses and retro embroidered ones. There were several displays at the Noodle Shop in the basement of Greenbelt 1. Though I had no budget, my heart yearned for one of the displays that I allowed myself to indulge.

I do feel a little down since there were so many designs available which meant that it was a fad already. Darn! My whole college days, I kept looking for those types of shirt and I couldn't find anything of decent price. Now, anyone can just get them. Darn! Good thing people I am with know that is my style.

Another accidental buy I did was the "American Gods" novel by Neil Gaiman. I saw the book last year at National Bookstore but it was still in hard bound edition. Today, the paperback is already available with a 20% discount. Without thinking but some hesitation, I bought the book.

I just had to console myself with the fact that both were worthy expenses. The blouse fits well and I love the design and Neil Gaiman is one of the writers that actually captures the types of stories I like reading.
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Part 2 of Sagada Adventure is still percolating in my brain.

SAGADA ADVENTURE Part 1

Adette and I planned to go to Sagada around three months ago. We decided to make it a batch 19 gimmick but firm on the resolve that we push through with it even if it would only be the two of us. Ray and Tatit were the first ones to be informed about the whole thing. After three months, Tatit and I were the only ones from Batch 19. But I was still excited about it, nonetheless.

The Line-Up
Me, Tatit, Eiza, Mayette and Gigi from JVP. Plus Celeste and Yvonne. All girls!

The Dangwa Challenge

June 7, 2002. We were to take the 1030 PM Autobus to Banaue but when we got there by 8 PM, the buses were full. Not to be dissuaded, we tried the Dangwa Bus. Gedemit! It was also full. Fortunately (or unfortunately), the lady ticket seller had an interesting proposal for us – we were to travel for ten hours to Sagada seated on green monobloc chairs to be placed in the middle of the aisle.

Men! When you are desperate, you are willing to try anything. Being uncomfortable will not stop us from fulfilling a three-month plan! We bought out tickets and hauled our butts up to the bus to be seated on green monobloc chairs.

It wasn’t so bad after all. Not good but not bad either.

The Batad Challenge

June 8, 2002, 7 AM. Out of the ten hours trip, it seemed that only four of those were of decent sleep. But we arrive safe and sound in Banaue and stay at the People’s Inn. Very cozy place with a good view of the terraces. My first encounter of Banaue and I was in awe at the quaintness of the whole thing. I was actually in one of the most culturally maintained provinces of the Philippines.

With the many times that Gigi has been to Sagada, she was never able to go to Batad because for one reason or another, it was always closed to tourists. We must be her lucky charm since it was open to all that day. I discovered that it was actually the Batad Rice Terraces that is considered the Eighth Wonder of the World and the UNESCO Heritage Site and not the Banaue Rice Terraces.

We rented a jeep to bring us to the junction to Batad. The trip to Batad was already spectacular in itself. Forests, locals and carvings were along the road, so there was much to see. To give us a tour of Batad was Delfin. I was wondering why tour guide rates for Batad were a little expensive. I was to find out why afterwards.

Jeeps were only allowed up to a certain point. From where Bobot, our driver, dropped us it was still a good two hours walk for lame, unfit people like us. Add to that 30 minutes of picture-taking… Man, Batad was definitely a long way off! But our spirits were still soaring from the fact that we were in Banaue. We were still naïve so we were ready for anything.

After two hours of steady walking (the others were already complaining, though), we got to Batad. You got to give it to our ancestors. They really knew how to make something beautiful yet functional. There was also a wedding down at the village in the middle of the terraces.

Most tourists end their journey there, but as I said, we were ready for anything. There was supposed to be a falls behind the mountain across the terraces. Since we were there, we decided to make the most out of our trip and go to the falls. The stairs were really steep. We have not been climbing down for five minutes, already our knees were wobbling. But we were lucky enough to sample some of the tapuy (rice wine) when some of the men attending the wedding offered us a tagay.

Delfin tells us that it was still an hour away. After an hour we ended up in a little shack where other tourists were resting. So where was the damned falls? Another hour away! Man. But as always since we were already there, my attitude was “might as well.” So we continued on to Tappiyah Falls. My knees were already shaking from so much walking and having to go down steep stairs and 60 degree muddied inclines. When we got to the falls, it was not as spectacular as I thought. My mind raced with my heart, “I walked all the way for this?” But hell, I was there might as well take a dip.

The way to the Falls was relatively fine but going back to the junction was another story. It took us five hours to get to Batad and the falls, it would probably take at least three more to get back. I was losing hope. My whole body ached from all the walking it had to do but we had no choice. Up and down, up and down… my knees and the rest of my body took a lot of beating that way.

Seven to eight hours of walking through rice terraces, forests, mud, rain and heat. We started 9:30 AM and ended up going home 6:30 PM. Our bodies were in so much pain from the effort. At the end of it all, we were all happy with the decision to take a look at the Falls and the Terraces for ourselves. Maybe I am a masochist but I feel I could still do it over. In my heart, though, I know I won’t.
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Part 2 to follow

Just taking a break. Man! VP Reports are so draining to write even if it is just three to four paragaraphs each.

I'll steal some tests from solace. Too lazy to think up of a real entry. Then afterwards, will read my books. Talk about excited!

Which Kiss Are You?

am i boring or what!?

Find your emotion!

yup, that is what i feel right now.

How Gay Are YOU? [?]

am still thinking if i am. hehehe!

	Good Luck Bear Lucky you! You are one lucky person. You are not one to worry much about anything, trusting that everything will turn out great on its own. You also realize that you must risk things in life to gain happiness. However, your implusiveness gets you into trouble once in awhile. You spread your good luck to others with encouraging words that help others believe in themselves.
Take the Which Care Bear Are You? Quiz!

my favorite when i was a kid was cheer bear.

Finally, a legitimate vacation. I arrived yesterday from Sagada. Soooo beautiful. Am just to lazy to write about it. But I really, really, really love the place. I do plan to write about it once I get my systems back in place. My mind is still on vacation mode on anything.

But, I enrolled this morning. It's great to have textbooks again. :)