To Begin With (Day 1 in Iloilo)

To begin with, the group didn't have the chance to meet up for a pre-climb (a meeting before each trip to discuss the itinerary that will be followed; usually one - Elsadai for that matter - is tasked to research on everything such as beautiful spots, transportation details, etc.). Kuya Bong, the group's unofficial leader was out of the country. This perhaps was one of the early signs that the trip would take on a different path. We didn't communicate at all before our departure in Manila. I remember it was only me and Ron messaging each other about what terminal we would take. It was as if the guys, or perhaps the First Generation guys, were just used to traveling without knowing much about the place. They just pack and go. Ready to let memories play down its tune.

Mark, our American travel buddy whom we met in Macau last year, was the first one to arrive at NAIA. I got there next after having three u-turns with Jeff. I remember I texted Kuya Bong, "Andito na kaso U-turn muna. Ayaw ko ma-nosebleed kay Mark". I admit that I also get to experience that 'nosebleed' thing. Minsan kasi ang sarap lang mag-Tagalog.

One of my FEW good photos during the trip

The other guys arrived quickly except for Ate Van and Kuya Dex. It was unusual for Ate Van to be late but for Kuya Dex, it was a given. He is the LATE Dexter Navarro, anyway.

We were all in a rush to board the plane, thinking that we might be late. After all the passengers boarded, we realized that we had been waiting for fifteen minutes. Fifteen became almost an hour. Another sign, I guess. As a tradition, we opened our snack bag (this time it was Jeff's comfort food bag for me) even before the plane took off. Masyado lang talaga kaming PG, hindi makapaghintay.

We were just laughing on the plane despite the delay. As soon as the plane left Manila, I borrowed Mark's Lonely Planet Guidebook about the wonders of the Philippines. I was already on a major Viajeros trip and yet I was thinking of another prospective destination for us. I just got so addicted to the idea of having regular travels with them. It is only during a Viajeros trip that I can be out of my comfort zone. Ang sarap ng pakiramdam. I think I've proven enough that I am not always the maarte sister of Tien.

Forced Ron to take this photo

As we landed in Iloilo around 2:15pm, we didn't waste any minute. We quickly headed to the exit after getting our luggage. I knew it would be the start of yet another adventure. ROUGH ADVENTURE.

Right at the moment we stepped out of the new airport in Iloilo City, people working for shuttle and taxi service greeted us. It was time for Becksie (the negotiator) to use her powers - beauty and aggression combined. We decided to go to Isla Gigantes first before Guimaras. From the airport to Estancia, the land travel is about 3 hours if you hire shuttle vans. If you take the ordinary bus, it will be longer.

Arriving at Iloilo International Airport

Time to negotiate

To go to the town called Estancia, where the port going to Carles (Iloilo's last town and where Isla Gigantes is ) can be found, one needs to either take a cab from the airport to the bus terminal or hire an air-conditioned shuttle straight to Estancia for P2,500. It was originally P2,900 but Becksie haggled pretty well. But P2,500 was STILL quite expensive to us. So, as agreed by everyone, we took the shuttle to the bus terminal in Tagbak for P500. From Tagbak we could take the ordinary bus. It was pretty much like what we did in Cebu City to reach Maya port going to Malapascua. I was dreading it, actually. I knew I would smell poop again. But I SHOULD NOT COMPLAIN.

Arriving at the terminal in Tagbak, I was indeed reminded of the Northern Bus Terminal in Cebu City. I saw Ceres ordinary buses again. It was exactly the same scene as the one in Cebu. A scene wherein a fussy girl would say, Oh-em-gee, amoy poo-poo shet!!!

Reminiscent of Northern Bus Terminal in Cebu City

The first thing we did before eating lunch was to ask how much the bus fare going to Estancia was. We were all surprised to hear the that it was P180++. Computing everything, we knew that it would have been better if we had just taken the shuttle to Estancia at the airport. To cut the story short, we hired another shuttle van for P1800. Talo talaga ang aming unang pagtitipid.

It was a 2 1/2-hour travel inside the van. It wasn't even air-conditioned unlike the first one. The van needed to surrender soon. We couldn't help but linger from time to time about our wrong decision to go to Tagbak, but then again we decided to just let it go. Some of us took a nap while some chose to talk to his/her seatmate during the whole drive. We just had one quickie stop-over to pee. Thanks to Manong's driving skills, we reached the pension house before becoming starvation central.

Time to retire

According to Ron, this was a Kimmy Dora shot.

We checked in at this pension house called "Endielina's". Manong said that local celebrities stay in that place. Napaisip tuloy ako kung sinong artista ang pupunta sa pinaka-dulo ng Iloilo. We immediately left our bags in our room and headed to the restaurant area. Perhaps one of the jologs moments we had during the trip was when we killed time waiting for our food by guessing the TV commercials we saw on TV. It was really embarrassing. The guys went all-out! But then again we find happiness embarrassing ourselves when we're outside our profession. We become another person when we're traveling together. The maarte becomes rough. The Martha becomes tough. The jologs becomes sosyal.

Lawyer, Doctors, Manager...playing a crazy game

After that awful dinner (Kuya Dexter didn't like it so it must be really that bad), the girls just had a quick touch-up then off we went to our first stop - PERYA or in sosyal English - FERRY.

My island look about to come out

Sto. Nino everywhere

The game of chance

Hit and Miss

Kikay kit and the open-mouth moment

The 'Ferry' experience

Mark's first 'ferry' time

"Viajeros goes bariotic." This was the start of the series of unexpected events in Iloilo. Smile now Viajeros. The next day would be different. It would be the beginning of THE CLIMB.