it's that time of the year again... nope, not Christmas, but summer time, when we are able to go to our province of Bohol, in that quaint little fourth-class municipality of simple, laid-back Lila which is about 28 kilometers from the provincial capital of Tagbilaran City. Lila is where my dad hails from, and ever since i can remember, it's where my brothers and i have spent our summers.
when we want to spend our vacations there, one week is simply not enough. first, we want to make the most of our transportation fare, which is no joke especially during the summer season where the province welcomes a LOT of tourists and a LOT of balikbayans because of the numerous fiestas during the merry month of May. second, and most importantly, bohol gives us our ultimate vacation high - a fantastic escape from the hustle and bustle of Manila.
but even though we try to go to Bohol annually (except when I'm on official business or when relatives from abroad bring my husband and me along to play their personal tourist guide), we can still never get enough of it - sun, sand, sea, everything!! my husband (half-Ilocano and half-Pampangueno by blood but raised to be pure Ilocano) has also adopted this province as his own, too!
so why do i love being in Bohol? let me count the ways.....
when we want to spend our vacations there, one week is simply not enough. first, we want to make the most of our transportation fare, which is no joke especially during the summer season where the province welcomes a LOT of tourists and a LOT of balikbayans because of the numerous fiestas during the merry month of May. second, and most importantly, bohol gives us our ultimate vacation high - a fantastic escape from the hustle and bustle of Manila.
but even though we try to go to Bohol annually (except when I'm on official business or when relatives from abroad bring my husband and me along to play their personal tourist guide), we can still never get enough of it - sun, sand, sea, everything!! my husband (half-Ilocano and half-Pampangueno by blood but raised to be pure Ilocano) has also adopted this province as his own, too!
so why do i love being in Bohol? let me count the ways.....
why i love being in bohol, and what i will miss:
the awesome sight of the starry starry night, reminding us of how tiny we are in the universe
the sound of leaves rustling in the breeze, and crickets greeting the silence of the streets at 8 PM (!!!! too early!!!)
the sight and sound of waves crashing on the shore
the opportunity to swim and snorkel in the sea (free of charge) that is clear enough underwater to provide good visibility for several meters
marveling at the sight of different fishes swimming past you, and the joy of watching real life Nemos (clown fish) weaving in and out of the gently swaying anemone
the feel of the wind ruffling your hair and whistling through your ears making the heat a lot more bearable while you ride in the overloaded jeepney that's zooming to cover more than 28 kilometers in about 30-40 minutes, and the ability to cover that distance because there's no traffic
jumping on and off tricycles and habal-habal to get to your (short-distance) destination, and catching the "last trip " to get to your (long-distance) destination, making your travel a (sort of) adventure
eating fresh fish and seaweed and preparing food with veggies picked fresh from the garden
..... and the list goes on and on!
when it's "back in manila" and what i WON'T miss nor look forward to:
the glow of the stars will be overshadowed by lit up billboards and towering high-rise buildings
the sound of rustling leaves and crashing waves will be replaced by the honking horns of traffic and shouts of tambays even past midnight
the clear waters of the sea will be replaced by black waters filled with floating trash, or else be prepared to travel quite some distance or shell out some cash to enjoy the sea or the sight of different fish in life-sized aquariums
the experience of riding in overloaded jeepneys and catching the "last trip" will be replaced by riding in commuter trains, buses or FX available for more hours of the day
commuting to the office or the nearest mall will take forever because of traffic
the option to escape the heat during the commute is by riding a taxi instead, driven by hoodlums who will try to short-change you with the fare
veggies will be sourced from the market or from the nearest suking grocery store, unless you have a big enough garden in your background
..... and the list goes on and on. :-(
...... so i really wonder, why does everyone want to be in congested, noisy, polluted manila?
i guess it's fine for people who want to be part of the busy life and the blinking lights. and there are apparently more job opportunities here.
the reasons why i love going to bohol ain't unique. they are echoed in many parts of the archipelago. but really, i'm just happy and thankful that a city girl like me can really have a place like lila, bohol to go to, not as a tourist, but where I can enjoy a stress-free,laid-back life from time to time, a place where I can feel at, and call, home.
(Note: This post was originally posted as a "Note" in my Facebook page.)
(Note: This post was originally posted as a "Note" in my Facebook page.)
