It was certainly interesting to observe the peculiar looks I got from friends & associates when I told them I had decided to quit my job and take a 5-month (or maybe longer??) sabbatical. Most of them thought that I am in a stage of my life where I should be building up on my career and wealth (to follow the Sillypore dream). Perhaps I am THE crazy nut who decided to rank happiness more than anything else by radically distance myself further and further away from the rat race. But still, sheer courage did not come easily as I got cold feet (imagining myself having no income till I find the next mundane job) suddenly during the final weekend which I still technically employed. Support came in the form of a spiritual advice and I decided to go ahead with what I was going to do.
My plans for this enforced break did not came within a blink of an eye but they slowly fall into place. I was to fufill my 10-year old dream (since my university days) of backpacking in Laos (the blog will come later) followed by a 1-month monkhood in Thailand. Perhaps it was all fated when there was an opportunity to visit a good friend who was working in Jimenez (Mindanao, Southern Philippines). Even the airticket from Cebu Pacific Air was amazingly cheap. So what was I waiting for?
Getting to Ozamiz (the nearest airport to my destination) does not require rocket science but as there were no direct flights from Singapore, I had fly overnight and transit in Cebu. Just 4 days before my departure date, my flight got cancelled (without any explanation) and I was put on next flight which resulted in an additional 7-hour transit in Mactan-Cebu International Airport. Incidentally, my flight to Manila (in my only other trip to Philippines) was cancelled as well. :|
After spending 7 hours doing people-watching in the airport (many people were on their way to Manila), I boarded a ATR 72-500 which will bring me to Ozamiz in 50mins. Upon reaching the airport (it was no larger than a school), instead of saying hi to my friend (was feeling damn groggy), I asked her where the baggage belt was (look at the 7th photograph on this page for the answer)! |
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Writing my travel journal when my plane was flying to Cebu from Singapore.
Everybody were sound asleep but my iPod does its usual job of sending calmness to my mind through the wonderful vocals on Joni Mitchell's Hejira.
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It was rather cloudy when I got into the Mactan-Cebu International Aiport. I saw alot of tourists in their surfing wear; perhaps they were destined for the white sandy beaches in Cebu or Bohol. |
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While wondering around the vicinity of the airport, I saw a shop selling Lechón (or roast pig). Bought a kilogram of it at P500 (or S$15.15) for my hosts.
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This bag caught my attention as I was waiting for my flight to Ozamiz. I hope the forgetful owner knows that he/she had lost his/her bag.
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It's been a long while since I had taken a propeller plane. Perhaps the last time was during a business trip in 2006 where I flew from Denver to Cedar Rapids in USA.
The ATR72-500 looks really small as compared to the A-320s and I felt really like a small (and groggy) sardine.
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Although the flight time was only 50mins, there was some time for fun as the cabin crew conducted a short quiz with the passengers. Anyone who answered the question correctly will get a small toiletries bag.
p.s.: I was too sleepy to put up my hands. |
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So HERE is the baggage "belt"!
As I
walked into the terminal from the plane, I was trying to look for the baggage belt as I had checked-in my backpack. No baggage belt was found (the lack of sleep did not help) and I think I looked really silly.
Then out of nowhere, the baggage "belt" came in the form of a giant trolley pulled from the plane. I found myself (like everybody else) running to the giant trolley, grabbed my stuff and left the airport.
- Impressions of the Ozamiz Airport, Ozamiz, Misamis Occidental, Philippines |
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My hosts welcomed me with lots of smiles and freshly fried Turons (bananas wrapped in rice paper) dipped in a sweet syrup. Lovely! :)
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Children enjoying carefree dives into the Iligan Bay at the Jimenez port.
P.s.: I had a sudden urge to join in as well but was stopped by my friend. |
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Thought that this was one of the best photographs taken during the trip and it usually happens without any prior warning or preparation. It was just pure pleasure to be able to capture this moment of sheer happiness and innocence when the children decided to pose in front of me!
BTW, I am not a pedophile.
- Impressions of Jimenez port, Jimenez, Misamis Occidental, Philippines |
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