To be an "accidental tourist" is something one needs to a experience in his or her lifetime at least once.
This morning Peter and I left the Hotel Camila early this morning - 7:30 a.m. to be exact. Most establishments were still closed. The only ones open were the bakeries that sell hot pandesal. We wanted to look for a new place for us to eat instead of going to the downstairs restuarant. We walked east. Following whatever road we feel like checking. We found ourselves in the city market then to the Dipolog Boulevard which is like the one in Dumaguete - a boardwalk type near the ocean. This morning the ocean waves were roiling. Harder than what we've seen yesterday. The salt water pushed and formed this incredible waves that splashed into the boardwalk. I was lucky to capture this one particular wave on my digicam and set it for video. It splashed high above the boardwalk and almost drenched Peter if not for his quick reflex of running backward.
After walking the entire length of the boardwalk we decided to go a different route. We next found ourselves in one of the main streets that led to the Dipolog Bus Terminal. We learned that this was the place for us to catch a bus to Dapitan. So we went, got on the next bus to Dapitan just on a whim.
The drive to Dapitan was beautiful and short. We saw rolling green hills and quaint homes. After about a half hour of travel we reached the end of the route which was the Rizal Shrine - where the Philippine National Hero, Jose Rizal, was exiled for four years. We walked the entire area - which we also learned Rizal acquired for himself during those years. He had a clinic, a classroom, a thinking rock where he would spend time in deep thought, a beautiful ampitheater and of course, the replica of the house he lived in. It was raining that time we were at the shrine but the canopy of trees protected us from being drenched with rain. After circling the property we took a pedicab into the plaza where we saw Rizal's monument at the center of town, the relief map of Mindanao which Rizal made out of dirt and grass. We had lunch at Jana's place for a late breakfast and early lunch.
Around 11 a.m. we took the bus to Pantalan where the Ocean Jet docks. Nathan and family plus cousin Bootsie were arriving in 45 minutes. We wanted to wait for them but there wasn't any place for us to wait. So we took the pedicab back to the crossing and took the next ride back to Dipolog.
It was serendipitous that we got back at that time because my cousin, Josephine and her youngest son, came to visit us at the hotel. We spend some time talking just before Nate and company checked into their rooms and we were taken to Gulayon for lunch with Joyce's family.
The next few hours were spent talking story with them and going back to Rizal Shrine with them, this time in a hired van. We also went to Gloria De Dapitan, a nice commercial place with food, rides and entertainment. Dinner at Gulayon followed next.
The entire day was just fun and exciting for us. To simply go where your feet take you is a great way to discover new things. I highly recommend that you try it the next time you travel.
Till next... (Tomorrow's the wedding so it might not be until Sunday for the next post.)
This morning Peter and I left the Hotel Camila early this morning - 7:30 a.m. to be exact. Most establishments were still closed. The only ones open were the bakeries that sell hot pandesal. We wanted to look for a new place for us to eat instead of going to the downstairs restuarant. We walked east. Following whatever road we feel like checking. We found ourselves in the city market then to the Dipolog Boulevard which is like the one in Dumaguete - a boardwalk type near the ocean. This morning the ocean waves were roiling. Harder than what we've seen yesterday. The salt water pushed and formed this incredible waves that splashed into the boardwalk. I was lucky to capture this one particular wave on my digicam and set it for video. It splashed high above the boardwalk and almost drenched Peter if not for his quick reflex of running backward.
After walking the entire length of the boardwalk we decided to go a different route. We next found ourselves in one of the main streets that led to the Dipolog Bus Terminal. We learned that this was the place for us to catch a bus to Dapitan. So we went, got on the next bus to Dapitan just on a whim.
The drive to Dapitan was beautiful and short. We saw rolling green hills and quaint homes. After about a half hour of travel we reached the end of the route which was the Rizal Shrine - where the Philippine National Hero, Jose Rizal, was exiled for four years. We walked the entire area - which we also learned Rizal acquired for himself during those years. He had a clinic, a classroom, a thinking rock where he would spend time in deep thought, a beautiful ampitheater and of course, the replica of the house he lived in. It was raining that time we were at the shrine but the canopy of trees protected us from being drenched with rain. After circling the property we took a pedicab into the plaza where we saw Rizal's monument at the center of town, the relief map of Mindanao which Rizal made out of dirt and grass. We had lunch at Jana's place for a late breakfast and early lunch.
Around 11 a.m. we took the bus to Pantalan where the Ocean Jet docks. Nathan and family plus cousin Bootsie were arriving in 45 minutes. We wanted to wait for them but there wasn't any place for us to wait. So we took the pedicab back to the crossing and took the next ride back to Dipolog.
It was serendipitous that we got back at that time because my cousin, Josephine and her youngest son, came to visit us at the hotel. We spend some time talking just before Nate and company checked into their rooms and we were taken to Gulayon for lunch with Joyce's family.
The next few hours were spent talking story with them and going back to Rizal Shrine with them, this time in a hired van. We also went to Gloria De Dapitan, a nice commercial place with food, rides and entertainment. Dinner at Gulayon followed next.
The entire day was just fun and exciting for us. To simply go where your feet take you is a great way to discover new things. I highly recommend that you try it the next time you travel.
Till next... (Tomorrow's the wedding so it might not be until Sunday for the next post.)
posted by Mimi | 3:07 AM
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