Both feet off Mindanao

I am going to Leyte! I will be with my family group here in Surigao. And this is my first travel outside of Mindanao.

So the whole trip is over. We got back last night at around 7:00 pm. It's now 1:07 am on the 2nd of December. I was already writing this blog as the trip was on but I didn't really had enough time to finish because it's really not easy writing during trips and afterwards I'd be so exhausted the only thing I wanted to do was sleep.

One downside is that the province of Leyte shouldn't be travelled in just 2-3 days like we did. We got home feeling drained. Plus we passed roads that are tricky. Especially the one in San Ricardo.

But that was one awesome trip!

Day 1 (November 28, 2015)

2:00
I got off from work early to catch the 2:00 pm ferry to San Ricardo, Leyte. They left me behind actually. But the 2:00 pm ferry left earlier so we were stuck there until the next one at 6:00.

8:45 pm
On the road braving the storm in Pintuyan, Southern Leyte. Lightning, heavy winds, huge drops of rain, you name it. We can barely see the road in front of us.

I took a video just before we left the port in Surigao City. The weather took a sudden turn and went a little crazy.

11:44 pm
In San Jose, Sogod, Southern Leyte (I know cause I asked my good friend, Google: "where am I?"). It's about an hour and half from San Ricardo port (much less if you're familiar with the road and the rain isn't trying to eat you). We ate at a barbecue stand. The power went out at least three times during meal. It was crazy. Must be the weather. We stayed at something called manor. I slept like a baby. Long day ahead tomorrow.

Day 2 (November 29, 2015)

Woke up at 4:00. Left Sogod at exactly 6:00 am. Had breakfast in Baybay City. This photo is on a bridge just before we reached Baybay. It's foggy, alright.

9:35 am - Ormoc City

Kinda lost track of pretty much everything from here. It's probably the winding road or my being in the middle at the backseat.
And then around 12 noon, we reached Leyte and this happened. We met Douglas MacArthur at his landing park.

We didn't include this park in our itinerary but the moment we recognized where we were, we lost our mind. I completely forgot this was in Tacloban. Yeah, idiot.

Then we ate lechon baboy huddled around a makeshift table the owner of the place had to provide for us to eat on. It wasn't even a place to eat. But yeah, you gotta eat when you gotta eat and wherever. Eating in places during this travel probably gave me the best experience of all. And I will not forget those slices of pineapple. The best pineapple I've eaten in my life!

There was a man walking by selling slippers and as I forgot to bring mine, I bought a pair. It's the only thing I bought from this travel. 

After asking for directions - which we did a lot all throughout the trip - we headed to the San Juanico Bridge. I've never been so in awe in my life! It's so breathtaking.

Next is Maasin City. We got there at around 4:00 pm, checked in, then had an early dinner at a place called 'Kinamot', (although only if you want to). It's placed beside the sea, where you can easily look at the boats in the port nearby. They also have quite an interesting facade. It looks like an old house turned into a restaurant. They got Christmas lanterns and stuffs. Yay.

Day 3 (November 30, 2015)

7:00 am

Breakfast. The woman at the eatery tried to shoo us towards the next one because she thought we wouldn't like her place. Cutest thing. 

And then we started looking for the Lady of Assumption Shrine by once again, our favorite, asking the locals. It's said to be 300 steps to the top but it felt like there were more. When you're there, it would all be worth it. I recorded a video during my ascend and I was panting like an old person. Have to say, I was not nearly ready for it. I'm surprised the climb doesn't give me cramps now.

For these, who am I to complain?