Tocino All The Way: From Roxas City to Boracay

And because ze internet is back... it's update time!

Mommy, daddy. AC, AD and family and I went to the province for Auntie T's golden wedding anniversary. In this day and age, very rare do we see marriages last so it is a big deal when two people celebrate 50 years married to one another.

TOUCHDOWN

It's a big family event. All of my dad's siblings from Canada and the US came home for that. Our parents flew to Capiz a day ahead of us. We flew in April 22, just in time for a lunch salu-salo. Lechon. Yum. It was fun catching up with uncles and aunties and cousins. You know what I love about vacations? The food. And literally, we were full to the brim from eating virtually every freaking moment we were there. The pictures would attest to that. Head and shoulders lang ang peg ko.

We were late for the wedding ceremony. At least, we're consistent. Haha. It was a nice ceremony although I feel the priest who officiated (my uncle!) could have made his homily more personal. I have been to weddings where the priest wasn't even related to the couple yet he was able to deliver a very personal homily.

It was a nice reception party as well. There were lots of dancing care of our senior citizens.

In fairness to our oldies, lahat itim pa ang buhok

It was fun watching them dance to Achy Breaky Heart. Very throwback Thursday. Hindi ko lang masyado feel ang line-up ng songs nila. Auntie T delivered  a nice message addressed to all the people who became part of their lives. My aunt did all the talking in behalf of her better half (su media naranja) because I think uncle isn't as sharp anymore. Na-special mention pa ako sa speech niya albeit anonymously- only persons privy to my past would know.

What a happy event for us all. I wish we will be celebrating more golden anniversaries. My parents' are only eight years away. I wish people who were in my aunt's wedding anniversary would all be at my parents' 50th.

By default, we stay in Auntie T's home but since all her children were home and they're busy preparing for the wedding, we stayed at San Antonio Resort in Roxas City. Nothing too fancy but it has TV (got to watch Star-Crossed!) and a nice bathroom WITH BIDET. The rooms were comfortable. Although service was okay, still not at par with hotel standards. Mabait naman sila pero siempre dapat professional pa rin. The best thing about San Antonio is its proximity to the beach. Baybay beach was walking distance so it was easy to take Cio to walks at the beach.

Our last day at Roxas City before we take off for Boracay, our cousins treated us to lunch at Anot's Galley Grill and Restaurant.

Reconstruction still  ongoing 

In fair to the local government of Roxas City, it wasn't obvious that the province was devastated by Typhoon Yolanda just five months ago. After lunch, we took a trip to the newly-opened mall, Robinson's, for merienda, then our cousin took us to this place on top of a hill and the view is amazing.

They're developing the city further and hopefully, the view from this place would remain like this. Sana hindi ma-clutter ng buildings, villages and malls. I find the view very calming. I wish I have this view from my bedroom.

Obligatory shot of my feet. I love the effect of the setting sun.

Just an appeal to Roxas City government officials- why can't you make you seafood a whole lotta cheaper than how much they're sold here in Manila? What's the use of claiming that you're the country's "Seafood Capital" when you can't pig out on seafood because they're still expensive?

We set off for Boracay on the 25th. A four-hour land trip to Caticlan. I read my Kindle the entire duration of the trip. It was hard toting all our bags with us and that is why I am not too fond of traveling. Thank God for kargadors who do the heavy-lifting. Hehe.

Our last trip to Boracay was last 2010. I am not a beach person but I still enjoyed going to these beaches because of the company. We were super tired from all the traveling so we were already too pooped to go swimming in the beach at three in the afternoon. AC and I stayed in bed until around five in the afternoon, then we went out to have fruit shake at Jonah's. Sarap! But I must say, very expensive. More expensive than a venti mocha frap, but still worth having once in a while.

Pampang byootis kami for the day- just walking along the beach until we reached Jonah's. I love love love taking pictures and thank God for phone cameras because they're so handy and today's camera phones already take very nice pictures.

Headed back to Hey Jude where we stayed for three days. Also comfortable but they don't have water heaters and no bidet. And this is Boracay. How could you claim you're world-class when you don't even have bidet?!?

Dinner at Thai Basil. AD and D's treat because it's their yaya's birthday. Siempre na-excite ako since I 'ship Thai food. We had tom yum goong, pad thai, pork and chicken curry and fresh spring rolls. Everything's delicious but their tom yum's a little watered-down (?)

Enjoyed the food but I think it was pretty expensive. Well everything costs more expensive in Boracay. Sabi nga ni AC, bawat kembot may bayad. After dinner, AC, AD and I had a massage at Palassa Spa. I opted for a Shiatsu ("pindot" masssage, hindi "himas" Har har), and it's so much relaxing when you are not sun burnt (like the last time I had a massage in Boracay).

We swam the next day but only for a wee bit. The sun was scorching hot and my dark patches are darkening further. I don't really mind kung iitim ako, it's just that I have these dry, dark patches at the sides of my mouth and nose and they can get really ugly. So to avoid further sun damage, I kept my beach swimming at a minimum and spent more time taking pictures.

Early morning beach stroll. Habang tulog pa ang
karamihan ng nightlife-loving Boracay peeps

pampang byootis once again. tried to do a cartwheel at the beach but
getting  a decent action shot was hard. when we finally got one, it got
erased due to system glitch. dammit.

CONGESTED.
The nightlife-loving peeps are all awake.

Our activity for the night was watching the Century Tuna Superbods and to make abang John Lloyd on stage. Haha. Pero FAIL. After waiting for almost two long hours, wala akong nakita. Frakking monopods.

Sunday was our last day at the beach. After having my fifth tocino breakfast, we went to church to hear mass. Sabi nung babae sa front desk, may mass daw ng 8:30 at 9:30 am. We arrived at the Church around 9 am and the mass is already halfway done. Feel ko lang ibig sabihin ni ate sa may front desk ay 8:30 to 9:30 ang mass. But it's the thought that counts, right?

I only noticed that this is a mosaic of Jesus Christ
when we were already back in Manila

Went straight to the beach and swam right after mass. Last dip before we leave. Lunch was sponsored by daddy and mommy- paluto. Super bochog. Since we already checked out, we waited at the front desk/ waiting area for our sundo to bring us to the port for our boat ride to Caticlan. At dahil super mega init, we decided to have ice cream for dessert.

craving for this right now

First time to try this soft-serve ice cream with cornflakes and diced fresh fruits at Halowich. Yummeh in my tummeh! Since getting my Halowich fix right now is impossible and improbable, I am actually thinking of making my own which is more probable because mommy just bought a soft-serve ice cream machine. Hmm... I think I am gonna do just that ☺

Kendall the Kindle's trip to the beach

The boat trip back to Caticlan port.
Buh-bye, Boracay!

Just exited the port.
Two more hours til we reach Kalibo Airport.

So we spent two more hours inside a van to reach Kalibo Airport. The entire time I was busy finishing my summer read, On The Island, which was actually a bad idea since I was about to board a plane (it was about a plane crash). We arrived Kalibo airport around 4:30 in the afternoon. Mommy and daddy left us as they were headed back to Roxas City. Our flight was at 7-something pm. Our flight was delayed. The waiting area was packed. Lahat ata ng nag-Boracay pauwi nung araw na yun.

We waited for HOURS! We boarded our plane at 10pm. We should consider ourselves lucky since we boarded our plane and left ahead the flight that was scheduled before us. But you know, I'd take a delayed flight any day than ride a plane with engine problems.

AT LAST!

AC and I were seated beside one of the Century Tuna Superbods contestants but we were actually super tired to care :P I just Googled it and I think this is him

{image source}

or him. I am not so sure.

Sayang. Haha. Sana chinika na namin ever at Filipino- Spanish siya. That could've been the perfect opportunity to put my Spanish-speaking chops to use. Sabi nga ni AD, after disembarkation, dapat daw tinanong ko kung nag-aaral pa siya tapos sabihin ko paaaralin ko siya. Haha. Ahjumma.

Home sweet home after six days! Who needs a hotel room when I have everything I need right here- heated shower and bidet! Har dee har har. Pero sabi nga ni AD, this is the vacation that didn't feel like a vacation. But still enjoyed hanging out with my sisters and parents. And Cio, of course.