Cagayan Chronicles: Getting There

As I glanced at the beautiful vista outside our cottage at Avalon Beach Club, I could not help but wonder why many Filipinos opt to fulfill their dream trips overseas first. I marvel why they spend thousands of dollars to explore the grandeur at the other side of the globe when they are missing a lot here in our own land. Not that I downgrade being an intercontinental traveler at times as I, too, enjoy going abroad to retire temporarily from the pains of office work ─ I just want to emphasize how blessed our country is, and missing to visit all the must-sees means missing the place of solace you can ever be proud of as a Filipino.

Beautiful seaside view taken from our cottage named Sting Ray

The journey from Manila to Cagayan Valley is in itself a penitential activity ─ you decide to endure the pain of seating for no less than twelve hours as the only way to reward yourself with comfort when you reach the place. On board Florida Bus (which I loved for its girly color! Hahaha), a male friend and I started our journey bound to Sta. Ana, Cagayan. We bought some good bites that will keep us from untimely starving until we get to the first stopover, which to my guess was already at Sta. Fe, Nueva Vizcaya, some six hours away from Manila. Just imagine how famished we could be had we disregarded bringing snacks on board? It was nighttime anyway so all we could do then was to eat, chat, and then sleep again − oh, not to forget the challenge of controlling your pee before reaching stopovers.

Regular air-con bus fare for Manila to Sta. Ana trip is PHP 750.00 per head.

Mao and I took naps in shift because we’re anxious that the bus driver would miss dropping us off to the exact place. As clearly advised by our travel mentor, we were to get off right in front of the resort. Much to our dilemma, the conductors and even the drivers themselves took shifts too that every time we woke up, a different face was maneuvering the bus! Past five in the morning, we were very sure it’s getting near because the bus has gone half-empty. I could barely recognize the people whom we went on board with back in Manila. Mao dragged me at the seat right behind the driver to stop our agony. We were very reluctant to start a conversation because both of us are Visayans and neither has any idea how to speak Ilocano. We’re grateful enough that the driver knew how to speak Tagalog, but nearly lost hope when told that he didn’t know where Avalon was. Urgh!!!

Fresh from the twelve-hour drive; getting energy from the sea!

Our travel mentor, who just came from Singapore the day before our arrival, phoned me and instructed us to get off in front of Jai Alai arena situated just across the resort. I regained that hope upon seeing the driver’s vibrant facial expression. Finally, we’re on the same page! In a matter of minutes after our talk, we saw the orange roofs and the greenery at the other side of the road ─ upon hearing the waves of the sea, we were very certain that we have at long last reached our destination.

Hello Avalon Beach Club! Hello Cagayan! #more

Posted in: itchy feet,key to sanity,Luzon,making sense of life