Road trip to Neo

We all visited Neo last weekend, except Nanay, Tatay and Jun-Jun. Nanay and Tatay wanted to come but we didn't think Tatay is up for an 8-hour drive (2-way) yet. He was brought to the ER a week before we went to Neo because of pneumonia and is still a bit weak. And Jun-Jun, well, he’s a different story.

Frankly I was so excited to see Neo again, though I was also nervous that he might not know us anymore. The moment we reached their place, I picked him up from his mother and he started to cry. Of course he did not recognize us, it’s been more than 3 months since he last saw us. But he did warmed up to us eventually, at least before we had to say goodbye again.

Neo, though had been in a hospital, had measles and allergies, is still a bright and happy baby. He was always moving about and playing. He crawl fast and always wanted to be in a sitting position or walking (held, of course). I missed him already. Maybe because I know it’ll be a long time before I get to see him again.

I wish Jun-Jun would realize how lucky he is to have Neo.

Anyway, since we’re already up north, we passed by Clark for some duty free shopping. I bought sweatpants for jogging (which I’ll write about next time) and of course chocolates and pistachios. It was a fun day, not only because we get to see Neo again, but because road trip with my siblings are always fun.

-chebong

hot air balloon fest

Last weekend, Buboy and I went to see lots of things that fly at the 14th hot air balloon festival at Clarkfield, Pampanga. It was a fun and different way to celebrate Valentine’s Day. True enough, we saw a lot of flying things such as small airplanes (2-seater), sky gliders, sky divers, helicopters, loads of kites, and of course hot air balloons in different shapes, sizes, and colors.

Some of the events that we didn’t miss (hey, we need to catch up on some sleep a few hours there in the park) are the hot air balloon flight, aerobatic flight display, Philippine Navy and PNP skydiving show, skydiving exhibition, light airplane balloon busting competition, kite flying, and the hot air balloon night glow. There were also photo exhibits with amazing pictures that makes me want to take up photography too.

The airfield was covered with people of all ages. We saw a lot of baby carriages and granny wheelchairs too. It was good judgment on buboy’s part that we brought a banig as we position ourselves in the middle of the crowds with tents and mats. Being Valentine’s Day, there were two really sweet proposals via sky gliders that day. But it doesn’t change the fact that it was a true family affair. I’m glad buboy took me there.

-chebong

Sagada... again

Buboy and I went to Sagada for the second time in 2008, this time with my sister Weng. We were mesmerized and truly captured by the beauty of Sagada and its people when we reached it at the tail of our January 2008 Northern exposure trip that we made a promise to ourselves to go back, and we did! This time our trip there was in the middle of a very long Christmas holiday vacation, thus the place was beaming with tourist, local and otherwise. Even the president (GMA) visited Sagada while we're there.

We went caving again, though instead of the big cave exploration (Sumaging Cave) we opted to try the cave connection. It’s a bit more exciting (not to mention exhausting) as we entered the burial cave and came out of Sumaging cave. It was a 4-hour tour inside the cave but it tested my endurance and patience and I found out I still have enough stamina so it was well worth it. The next day we hiked to the big falls. It was an hour-long hike down a rice terraces. The falls is so majestic and its crystal clear cool water refreshes us after a long hike under the sun. But the hike back up almost crashed all the energy I had left.

The thing that makes us want to go back there over and over again is not only the refreshingly cold mountain air and the striking landscape with all the adventures it brings, but also the Sagadan people who have shown us nothing but warmth and hospitality. Truly Sagada may be considered the last frontier of Luzon.

-chebong

Family outing '08

First weekend of April, my family and I went to Ilocos. It was a return for Buboy and me since it was one of the places we visited during our two-week tour of northern Philippines early this year. Pagudpud was one of the highlights of our trip then and since it is summer, we decided to go back and bring my family along. Pagudpud is also a great venue for the pre-nuptial pictorial of Juvie and Benny so we brought Gene, the photographer, to the trip too. Of course the Higop Gang won’t be complete without Mox so she left her precious little bubbles (her dog) to the care of someone else during our 3-day trip.

Buboy was the only driver of the trip and I’m his ever efficient co-pilot. I swear I have improved my map reading skills since our January escapade (of which I’ll write about too… soon). Pagudpud is roughly an eleven hour drive from Manila, that’s exclusive of stop-over for some stretching. We left Pasig around 10pm on Thursday and arrived at Laoag in time for breakfast and some last minute grocery purchase the following day. Pagudpud greeted us with its midday sun. The place is wonderful! It’s definitely a breather because you can see more beach than people unlike Galera and Boracay on summer. The rest of what remains of the day was spent for the pre-nup pictorial at the beach and the windmills.

Saturday was beach day! Even though Buboy was dead-tired the previous day, we actually woke up early to enjoy the beach with the rest of the gang. Even Nanay and Tatay had fun waddling on the sand and sea.

Sunday is again a hectic day for everyone as we prepared early to leave Pagudpud and visit other parts of Ilocos. My parents are big Marcos fans so we just had to bring them to Batac to see the Marcos Museum.

We also went to see the majestic Paoay Church.

And of course Vigan. Nanay and Tatay actually celebrated the mass at the Vigan Cathedral… in Ilocano. I don’t think they understood anything. Then we strolled down the historic cobbled street of Calle Crisologo and did some shopping.

It was after dinner already when we started out for Manila. We arrived in Pasig almost 6:00am. Naturally, we were all tired and sleepy by then, especially Buboy and me who had to stay awake during the long drive back.


It was a fun trip. I was especially happy to see that my parents were able to endure the long drive and actually had fun. For me, the hero of the trip is Buboy. He made the trip enjoyable. He was awake more than 24 hours of our first day and more than 24 hours again of our last day. He never complained and he never frowned. He kept his cool and had fun with the rest of us. Now that defines a vacation hero in my dictionary! Thanks so much love. Iloveyousomuch!

-chebong