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| Bahi, Garchitorena Port |
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| t10 |
Bahi, Garchitorena is the hometown of one of my best friends, Christine (I call her Tin or t10). T10 and I have been friends since 2nd year high school. Among our group of friends, she is usually the one I watch movies with, share stories about the anime we are currently watching, eat fries and coke float at McDonald, stroll around downtown Naga just for the heck of it. And she's been inviting me to got to Bahi to spend a summer vacation or experience fiesta since high school, only I was not permitted to go (sad face). My mama would say its dangerous to go there because of NPAs (rebels, not No Permanent Addresses people) on the way to Garchitorena. So it was a common joke between us whenever she invites me that I may go there if an airport actually exists there.
After 11 years or so, both of us already finished college. Me currently in Manila doing stuff, heheeh. t10 is already a nurse (super proud!!). She asked me again, her words were: "Gusto mo ba sumama sa Bahi? Sabi ka na ngayon habang andito pa ako, baka next year o sa future hindi na pwede kasi busy na". Of course I said yes! I thought, I'm __ years old already, I have a job and independent enough that my mom will finally grant me the permission to go to Bahi. After a few discussion, and maybe because kuya is coming with me, we were finally permitted to go. Yey!
The initial plan was me and Tiny going to Bahi, but turned out to be me and my brother that ended up going(he's so excited he skipped work! haha). Spending even for only two days was enough to compensate the 11 years of curiosity about the place (because t10 never showed me a picture of Bahi, hmm... wonder why?). t10 texted me two or three days prior that she is going to Bahi ahead of us and will just wait for us there. I replied two days after saying waaaaaaaaaa I don't know how to get there!. Suddenly remembering, cellphone signal is really hard in Bahi (at least my signal na, sabi ni t10). So I sent her text messages asking for directions, etc. and called to make sure she gets my messages.
Bahi Barangay Fiesta is from August 7-8. Incidentally, August 6 is day of "pamamanhikan" of my brother (click here for details). A busy day, starting at 9am when I arrived home after 12 hours travel from manila the previous night. Did a lot of sleeping until 2pm. 4pm, we are on our way to Ate Romerlyn's house when I called t10 again to send me details on how to get to Bahi. Her text message was: "Doon ka na matulog sa Karangahan, andun si Manay Kai, tapos sakay ka ng van sa Queborac terminal ung byaheng 4am. Then sakay ka lantsa papuntang Bahi, hintayin kita sa port."
4am??? WTH?? I was like "Wala na bang ibang oras ng byahe?!!". I received no response. So I had no choice, Kuya and I decided to have a sleep-over at Ate Romerlyn's house, though my mama insisted that we'll just wake up early and travel early to the terminal. It was 10pm (Saturday) already and we have to catch the 4am van to Tamban or else. Since its fairly impossible to make the 4am van if we sleep at home (bus/Jeep trip from our place starts at around 5 am), we decided to stick to the plan.
The preparation was a mess. After a whopping 1 minute to pack, we went back to Ate Romerlyn's house and went to sleep at 12am to wake up at 2am. While waiting for a tricycle that will take us to Queborac Terminal at 3am, my brother asked "Ano mangyayari kapag di natin naabutan ung 4am na byahe ng van?". My answer was, "Uhmm.. we go home?" I had no idea what to do, so I was hoping against hope we make the 4am van. After a quick stop to a 24-hour convenience store (bought water and biscuit), we arrived at the terminal at exactly 4am (yey! we made it!) only to see a van going out of the terminal. Kuya asked a guy, "Manong pa-Tamban po ung van na kakaalis lang?" Manong said yes. We are dead. But manong said "Pa-Tamban kayo? Ayon ung sunod na byahe o" pointing to another van waiting in line. Hoooorrray!!! We immediately sat at the front seat, relaxed and ate the chiffon cake Ate Romerlyn prepared for us. Kuya asked again Manong (who is incidentally the driver of the van we are in, the dispatcher and kondoktor all-in-one) "Anong oras po alis nito? Derecho na po ba to sa Tamban port? May aabutan pa po ba tayong lantsa papuntang Bahi sa Tamban?" Manong replied with: "Pagnapuno alis na to, oo sa Tamban port na baba nyo at oo meron marami naman byahe dun". Clinging on Manong's words, we waited. At 4:30am we left the terminal to start the 1 and a half hour journey to Tamban port.
We reached Tamban Port at 6:30 am. Van fare was 100php each, got confused cause i thought it was 100php for two. We bought plastics for our cellphones and wallet (in case of emergency, better dry than wet). Then asked around what lantsa (big boat) is going to Bahi. After finding one, we hop on the boat and settled in (me inside the passenger deck, kuya at the roof top enjoying the view).
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| Tamban Port |
I overheard from someone that the boat will leave at 8:30am. WHAT??!! To maintain the positive mood, i took a nap and woke up when its time to go. I thought travel time was 30 mins to 1 hour max, turned out to be two hours. If you are inside the passenger deck, two hours is equals a day. No air (soooo hot!) and nothing to do. But outside is the best, relaxing view, fresh air, ahhh heaven. Since I'm stuck in the passenger deck I had no choice but to endure and make the most of the two hour ride; by taking pictures of the passengers (without their permission) hehe.
At last! After an an adventure ride from the boat to the port (we had to transfer to a smaller boat to reach the port, surprisingly the less than 5 min ride to the port had more thrill than the 2 hour boat ride!
WE REACHED BAHI!!! YEY!!!!!
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| Welcome "mini" arc sa gilid ng daan. Cute. |
Barangay Bahi, is a typical barangay in Camarines Sur. Even though there's no Internet connection and cellphone signal is weak, I immediately felt at home. Bahi is just like Ragay, my mama's hometown. It brought me memories of my childhood vacation, spending summer with my cousins, nothing but nature nature and nature. I also get to experience perya and auditorium (sayawan, don't ask me why it's called such because i hav no idea) again!
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| perya |
Day 1: Spent the first half of day eating An-it (humongous crab), finished 2 and ate for two hours. Watched the parade at 4pm all the way to the Barangay's mini plaza. Took a lot of pictures, chilled with iskrambol (the original), watched Ms Bahi 2011 then went home to prepare for the dance.
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| An-it, my favorite! |
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| Pretty majorettes |
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| Little drummer boy |
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| Kuya and T10 |
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| me and t10 |
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| Lost little drummer boy |
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| Feeling turista |
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| classic |
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| Ang cute cute nila! |
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| Little Majorettes |
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| Kuya naghahanap ng signal |
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| Barangay Chapel |
DAY TWO: Got wasted the previous night so the three of us woke up at 1pm. haha. Ate lunch, went to t10's bukirin to look for santol, ended up with none (did not bring my camera again. pathetic). Spent the afternoon eating suman, arroyo and coke (c/o Pam) under the santol tree na walang bunga. Of course, wouldn't miss the beach. :) Rode a very short boat ride (less than 1 min) to a nearby islet (?) to swim. Had to ride a bangka because me and kuya can't swim (lol). Walked on the way home in the dark and crossed a river (luckily its just knee-deep) coz there's no boat to get us back. Got to mention that we crossed path with two gents who are actually on their way to another barangay to visit a lady. Sweeett... Totoo pala ung sinasabi na, tumatawid pa ng ilog makaakyat lang ng ligaw. :)
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| beach view |
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| Kuya, t10 and Pam |
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| Home-made suman and arroyo |
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| yup, ganyan lang kalapit nagbangka pa kami para tumawid. haha |
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| beach! |
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| pink! |
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| just another ordinary day |
Initial plan was to hitch a ride with t10's relatives at 2am on our way back to Tamban Port so we decided to just wait until dawn, means no sleeping. Spent the night drinking and talking until we fell asleep under the santol tree and woke up at 4:30am. Geezzz.. Turns out the 2am trip did not push through. So we rushed preparing ourselves and our things and ran to the port to catch the 5am boat. We made it to the boat on time, this time all of us opt to stay on the roof top to enjoy the view.
Two versions of Bahi's Magnificent Sunrise
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| Around 5am |
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| Around 6am |
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| Lovin' the cold morning breeze |
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| An-it Take out |
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| View sa bubong ng lantsa |
After a hearty breakfast in a local karenderya, we took a van bound to Naga and slept the whole duration of the ride. Spent some time in SM Naga to buy stuff, then headed home to prepare for my trip back to Manila.
This trip not only fulfilled the 11 year old plan we had back in high school. It was among others, the first trip with I had with my brother. =)
My deepest gratitude to t10's parents (especially her mom) for the Ani-it we brought home and for making sure we are comfortable during our stay. She always make sure that I have all-i-can-eat An-it whenever I visit them and one or more to take home. To t10's friend, Pam, thanks for the laugh, drinks and being our tour guide. I missed Manay Kai though (sad face). Of course I won't forget t10, I know we haven't been in touch lately, both of us busy with our chosen path but I'm really glad your my friend. I love you ganda, thank you for the experience. :) <drama mode>
Whew! There goes my first blog! Hope you had fun! :)
Foot Notes:
Ate Romerlyn is Kuya's fiancée.
Karangahan is a subdivision where t10's house is located in Calauag, Naga City
Manay Kai is t10's older sister.
Conversions in Tagalog are actually conversions in Bicol dialect, just translated them for the viewing public who are not familiar with our local dialect.
