29 April 2010
I have been roaming around since the day I got to Bolinao, and again, they suggested this day for us to rest. Seemed the universe really wanted me to explore, because around 9AM, electricity was cut off and all of us just became bored an hour later.
Cousin Dang's boyfriend was out that day, and when she made a phone call, we just couldn't help not to tease her. She asked if he already had something to eat, and when the phone call ended, I asked why won't she deliver his lunch instead? She answered me with a question and in no time we just found ourselves preparing for a late morning walk to the forests of the island.
Her boyfriend earns a living by making coals from tree trunks. Getting to where he was at was a very difficult walk trip as not only was the sun too strong, the land was hard and brittle, and there were too many dried grasses, too.
With the help of the phone calls they made, we were able to locate the boyfriend, and since there was no area in the forest for us to stay at, we walked further away 'til we reached the island shore. There was an empty hut which quickly became our shelter for the day, and all of us were thankful there were huts near the shore for people to stay at. Of course, the huts are owned by someone, but everyone is welcome to use it if they want to. My guess was that, these huts were built to provide temporary shelter to the people making coals.
It rained that time, but not for long... thank heavens! While the rains were pouring, we ate our lunch, exchanged stories, and laughed our hearts out. Sometime after, a family dropped by, which shared the hut with us.
Tummies full and rains gone, we went out to enjoy the view. The family started fishing and collecting clams near the shore, and soon after my cousin, her boyfriend and niece Grace started digging near the shore to get some clams, too. Me? I walked around and took pictures. :)
Tummies full and rains gone, we went out to enjoy the view. The family started fishing and collecting clams near the shore, and soon after my cousin, her boyfriend and niece Grace started digging near the shore to get some clams, too. Me? I walked around and took pictures. :)
With bags filled with clams, the boyfriend suggested we start walking back home because the rain might pour again. We took a different route... the boyfriend wanted us to see a different side of the island, and I was thankful about it.
On a different side of the island, we saw an old woman collecting clams, too. Here in Bolinao, food is not a problem really for the sea is gifted with so much gifts. Dig shallow and you can see clams. On rocky island shores, you can get oysters and other shellfishes for free.
Cousin Dang wanted to get more clams, but the sun was shining brightly on that side of the island, so the boyfriend guided us to go to the other side, and we hiked to cross the island. Very tiring, but like what I told them whenever they asked if I am okay, "This is the kind of pain that I wanted - very fulfilling."
The end of our hike took us to Aunt Ligaya's house where we stayed to have some refreshments. We heard of a story of a woman being struck by lightning (such a sad and awful story), and walking back home we just feared we might get hit by lightning, too, as there were still lightning decorating the sky. We got home safe, and we were just thankful for this very awesome adventure.
Legs were hurting and we were really, really tired, but looking at the bright side... it did help us sleep easy.
*** Jenn ***
*** Jenn ***
