Philippine Travel Notes

This was not really in my itinerary, although somewhere in the recesses of my brain was saying, I'd love to drop by, even for just a while. And it happened... Opportunity! Let's start from the very beginning... From the previous story , I hopped on a van at Gamay with Oras as my destination. It went well, with just one little caveat , that I would give up my Seats 1 & 2 at Arteche. Arteche Arrival Van stopped at the side of Arteche Covered Court ( Multi-Purpose Building ), to let off some of its Arteche-bound passengers. Here. This was the last pic in my earlier story . I learned, not all Arteche-bound passengers have-to or need-to alight here, although I saw people get-off or wait-for their rides here. The 3 ladies with 5 'big suitcases' did! Those of us not getting off, sat tight waiting (due to offloading of bags and boxes). Tricycles strategically wait for passengers also at this corner (babaan at sakayan nga naman ng vans & buses) , alth...

Exit time! Time to leave the Pacific towns of Northern Samar. I wish I had more days. In fact, I even wish I could live in this place, at least for a few months, years, or kahit forever! Anyway, leave I must ! Now, this was a trip full of learnings - I dedicate to you, fellow commuting roamers! Planned itinerary for this day was: 1] walk to the highway in Potong (~100 meters) ; 2] hop on a vacant 'anything' going to Lapinig town proper (~3kms) ; 3] roam around Lapinig town proper; 4] take a bus or van going to Oras (~65kms) ; 5] stay overnight. There were other alternatives I considered - like going via Catarman, then Calbayog, down to Catbalogan and finally Tacloban. But I remembered: avoid the ' holy roads '! Flying out of Catarman, Calbayog or even Borongan were also options, but I already had a ticket out of Tacloban. So, reversing how I came was the best option this time. However... (eto nanaman ako) things do change. What actually happen...

This was it pusit! My roam of Gamay's central area - with no itinerary! I like doing this kind of walk, where I don't know which way to go, what to see, what to expect. Come what may or where my feet lead me to . Here I said: "which way now" ! Natawa ako sa sarili ko, as if I was asking St. Michael for directions! Eh on that shot I was standing at the church door , facing outside. That, is where I came from earlier. That big building is their municipal gym (or whatever it's called nowadays). I started my walk there going leftwards as I earlier saw a row of big houses both old and new. Ancestral Houses I was certain some would still be made of wood and old-era-style. Like this one: Still big and beautiful, right? But as we said in many past stories, they are difficult to maintain, mainly because wood is expensive and even by-and-by already prohibited. I went closer. Oh, the big doors are still made of wood, but the walls are 'corrugated galvanized...

Time to stroll around Gamay's town center. But first this, at 6:36AM still at Mika's: Already much different from my ' morning has broken ' views more than an hour ago! I didn't know I was riding that van at left, c/o Sonny (the resort's manager), because yesterday, his son gave me a ride to town (to buy lunch) on board their own scooter. Free rides but nakisabay lang . They were really going to town anyway! Is it far? Is 'downtown' far from Mika's Gapo Beach Resort or Marcela's Resort Hotel ? I guess it is more than 2 kilometers, the first 2 of which, is on a highway along empty fields! Why not walk? Empty vast fields nga on both sides of the highway. It's lonely and might even be... Well, there's the New Gamay Terminal, and after some distance, the Gamay Doctor's Hospital, but they're both "in the middle of nowhere". Civilization is at Gamay Bridge! Yeah, alive moving things only start at Gamay River,...

Done at Mapanas, it was time to head to my final destination of the day - the Sun! Do you know where that is? That is Araw Beach , Brgy. San Antonio, Gamay Northern Samar! Its in Gamay, but feels nearer to Mapanas. Maybe it's midway between them. Yep, it is named Araw Beach, that's why I jokingly refer to it as "the sun"! And don't get eggzoiteeed ! That photo was my first click, upon arrival this afternoon. There will (aw there shall ) be more of that later! For now, be informed, that is one of the best 'still fresh and unadulterated' among white-sand beaches on Samar Island! Note, I said " one of the best". Playing safe tayo dyan, kasi baka meron pa tayo hindi nakikita in these pacific-facing towns! Samar is big, hidden gems may still be hidin ' ! But as I always do, let's start from the very beginning... I was in Mapanas, and then? My Ride (Mapanas to Araw) And then Buyungaw offered to drive me from Mapanas to Araw at n...