BUKLOD - Mini Batanes of Miagao
Location: P5GG+3G Ungyod Boundary, Toog, Miagao, Iloilo, Philippines
It was a very busy weekend in the city of Iloilo. The locals were going about their business – entertaining people because of their yearly fiesta (Festival) called, ‘Dinagyang Festival’.
That was the reason why we were in Iloilo in the first place – to experience my first fiesta in the Philippines.
But tell me why we’re stuck in the middle of nowhere, somewhere in the mountains with the nearest town… I don’t know how far away.
Thankfully, there’s one local kuya (Big Brother) came out of the woods and saw us struggling with the motorbike.
We went on a little side quest, that turned into a huge disaster.
We wanted to see the popular Little Batanes and well, we got lost and our motorbike broke down. It got overheated.
I guess mountainous roads is highly unlikely for this vehicle – despite the assurance from the owner.
We wanted to go home. We’ve been riding around for almost 2 hours from the main city, coming here and then getting lost. We’re really tired.
But the kuyas convinced us that we’re almost there just 15 minutes away by habal-habal. So we took it.
I guess it was all worth it in the end?
The place was amazing.
The view of the mountains and hills, rice terraces. It just looks unreal.
Living in a city filled with high rise HDB flats, this was a treasure to me. I love being around nature and seeing the natural beauty. No more concrete jungle.
You can see locals doing picnics or chilling with their foldable chairs.
There’s even a horse that you can ride – for a price of course.
It was really quiet. Very peaceful. I love it up here. Especially with a really good weather – not too hot and its very windy.
We spent less than an hour up here. The journey to come here was way longer. Lol. But then again, it was still worth it.
The 2nd part of the disaster struck us soon after.
When we got back to our motorbike, it finally cooled down and we managed to drive off for the next 15 – 20 minutes… until it broke down again. sigh
It was already in the middle of the afternoon and soon, the sun will set. We can’t be out here in the middle of no where.
We were desperate – I was desperate. I wanna go home!
I flagged down every single motorbike that came by and some of them didn’t stop and just stared at me funnily.
Until 2 other kuyas from habal-habal finally came by and helped us.
That bloody motorbike is a curse. I’m telling ya!
We’re exhausted and frustrated. I’m not a rider but it really seems like there’s something wrong with the engine of that bike. You can hear it even when we’re riding around the main city.
Anyway, we left it behind for the owner to pick it up, and went back to the city by Jeep.
What a disastrous day BUT it was an adventure.
This kind of days really reflects your survival instincts. How far you’ll go to help yourself. I’ve been traveling around for awhile now and this had never happened before.
I guess there’s always a first for everything.
