Mindless Travels

This is the first of a series of short stories of un-planned spur-of-the moment travels I did in my twenties. These are the “stories of my life” as we continue to travel mindlessly with my kids to today. Each is unique and makes a good story at any Happy Hour. We always laugh together as we recall these travels around the dinner table. I do not recommend these travels to anyone with a sound mind.


Sun, Sand, and Surf

February 1982


I’ve been living in Guam for quite sometime and have good memories about life next to the sea. Had it been a vacation, it would have been endless days of sun, sand, and surf. People watching were a sight I will never get tired of. And the sunsets were beautiful as ever. However, something was missing. I didn’t enjoy such lifestyle anymore. Life had become a bore; having recently broken up with my girlfriend made life more miserable. I needed a break so I quit a dream job and sold all of my belongings. I was determined not to go back to Guam.


I had been in Manila for two months and I still have to see the country. I have not really ventured out of metropolitan Manila other than occasional day trips to nearby provinces.


One lazy afternoon, Sofia and I were having a late lunch when she said, “You and I are going to Mindoro this weekend.” Startled, I said, “You and I are going to where?!” I started thinking I had been propositioned for a romantic weekend getaway. Why Mindoro? I haven’t been in Mindoro. All I know about Mindoro was what I learned in geography class in grade school. It is the land of the water buffalos. How romantic is that?!


“Yes, you and I are going to attend Elsa’s wedding.” Sofia answered.


“Elsa has a boyfriend?”


“Elsa and Joey have been together since college. They went to the same grade school in Calapan.”


“They are just like us then – childhood sweethearts.” I said with a smile.


Sofia didn’t think what I just said was funny.


Elsa is Sofia’s close friend in college. I’ve meet Elsa only once. I was told she wanted to meet Sofia’s new boyfriend. I was then a very charming but calculating guy. I stayed quiet as we had snack at McDonald’s on Morayta Street. I remember the place to be noisy as we were in the “University Belt”. I was surprised to learn that those ladies behind the counter were English speaking. I found out later that one has to have at least finished college to work at McDonald’s. There was no McDonald’s when I left the Philippines. I felt I was in a different world eating at McDonald’s in Manila.


A day later on a Friday, we took a bus to Batangas Port to catch the ferry to Calapan, Mindoro. Zeny and Tet were with us. I thought Sofia and I would have a romantic weekend alone in Calapan. We had two chaperons but to those who didn’t know, I was one lucky guy with three dates; not one but three lovely ladies. I couldn’t describe the looks on the hotel room boys faces as they peek into our room when they delivered a few extra towels. And to make it more interesting, the only room available was with a king bed!


The church was a walking distance from our hotel. Yet we arrived late. The wedding was over. The wedding party was on their way out of the church. And on we went to the reception.


We were total strangers at the reception; we were the only out of town guests. We have no choice but to entertain ourselves. When the bride and groom came to our table, we asked, “Where is a good place to visit while we are in Mindoro.” Everyone said, “Go to Puerto Galera. It is only two hours jeepney ride from here. It’s a resort and it has a beautiful beach. You will enjoy you visit.”


I started thinking, “Wow! Sun, sand, and surf!” I admit I was missing home and I can’t wait to get to the beach.


We went back to our hotel room in a hurry; put on some comfortable travel clothes; and took the jeepney to Puerto Galera as instructed. Puerto Galera was not really that far but it took two us hours to get to the cove. The jeepney traveled at crawl speed through narrow winding dirt road through the mountain. The road was too narrow that when two jeepneys meet one has to back up to a wider road for them to be able to pass each other. The jeepney was also packed to the roof. How those on the roof managed to hung on and get to our destination safe and sound is beyond me to today.


It was four in the afternoon when we arrived at the port to Puerto Galera. As we were dismounting, I asked the jeepney conductor, “When will the last trip back to Calapan?” The conductor politely said, “Sir, the last trip already left at two this afternoon.”


Upon hearing, we all asked ourselves, “What will we do now?” We planned to just go to Puerto Galera for a short sightseeing and maybe have an early dinner and then get back to our hotel in the city. We did not bring anything with us; only what we have on ourselves.


We started asking around where we could buy some clothes and sundries. Luckily it was market day so we pick some shorts, t-shirts, and sundries. We took a 15-minute motorized boat ride to Puerto Galera*. Upon landing we noticed some Nipa Huts. There were a few foreigners partying. We found out later as we started asking questions that Puerto Galera was really a hang-out for those who indulge in drugs. I said, “Let’s find a room for the night.”


The water was so inviting so we played our way towards the cabins. There were a few cabins tucked near the trees in clusters on the far side of the beach.


The water was crystal clear. We occupied ourselves wading on the clear cool water. We pick some shells on the beach. It was always a challenge as the wave will come to shore and as quickly as it came it washed what you were about to pick up back to the sea. I don’t think we ever took the shells we gathered back to Manila. The unexpected experience was worth much more than we had imagined.


We watched the sun go down before we ventured back to find a cabin for the night. We found a nipa hut with thatched roof nostalgic of what we used to sleep whenever my mother took us kids to our farm.


“Where can we find a restaurant for dinner?” I asked our hostess as we were hungry.


“Sir, we do not have restaurants in the cove.” she answered.


“But we are hungry. Where can we find something to eat?”


“Sir, just tell us what you want to eat and we will cook it for you.”


We had fresh fish, vegetables, and rice. The food was delicious but I couldn’t say that for sure because we were really hungry. We could have eaten a whole pig alive if that’s what’s on the dinner table.


After dinner, there is not much to do but to retreat tour cabin. I carried a playing card in my travel pack so we played poker under a dim gas lamp. I would have preferred playing strip poker but I have three lovely ladies with me. I was outvoted! Yet another romantic getaway fantasy ruined!


We played well past midnight. Our hostess had to wake us up for lunch. We barely caught the last trip back to our hotel. We got back in Calapan just in time for the last ferry ride back to Batangas.


We left the boys at the hotel wondering what a wonderful night we had! We could tell from their looks the moment we stepped in the lobby.


My reputation is kept intact; maybe a notch higher!


PBB/08-13-09


* Today, Puerto Galera is well developed for tourism. It is not what it was when we got stranded in that cove; the water was pristine.