2015 Travels

I can never thank enough my job that brings me to places.  It may not be internationally but at least within Northern Mindanao. I am good at multi-tasking, FYI, and that includes juggling my monotonous work life while having fun such as photography. Of course, your companions add more colors to it and for the ones you don't like, feels like hell. Haha. 

Last February 26 was my 2015 kickstart out-of-town travel related to work. I have been to Misamis Occidental before around 2011 when I and a bunch of my workmates from my previous company went to Dakak Resort and stayed there for three days. 

The only difference now in visiting Misamis Occidental was going to some far-flung areas and meet people there to conduct an orientation on programs and services. Before, i focused on a summer where white beaches lay and now focused instead on serving government programs. Ugh. Such a turned of events. 

But i just wanted to enlist here my first times:

My first time 7-hour public bus ride to Misamis Occidental, (Last 2011, we used a private car from my friend for travelling.) feels like back-packing literally and glad brought the DSLR for a more high definition photos.

Promise, the ride was exhausting. We started boarding the bus from Cagayan de Oro Westbound Terminal (Bulua) around 6AM so we can reach Iligan City Terminal around 7-8AM. Seriously, we only had donuts and hot choco to pump up for the morning not to mention a lot of stuff to bring in hand. That was fine though since the bus weren't fully occupied. Not until of course we reached Iligan City's two terminals and i nearly vomited 'cause of headache coupled with scorching heat and noisy children screaming behind us, Ugh. The airconditioned bus from CDO slowly feels like just a regular public ride. 

FYI, some parts of Southern Mindanao as of that travel already experienced all-out-offensive war against the Philippine terrorist groups and perhaps the reason why we always get to bump along the way to Mukas passing through areas of Lanao del Norte bunch of militaries or police visibilities for that reason. Even as we got off the bus, there were K9 dogs hovering the inside to check for any suspicious things.

Overall, Lanao del Norte still remains at peace contrary to all the issues that Mindanao has been chaotic.

Arriving Iligan, we rode another 2-3hours, i guess, for Mukas Port so we can hop in the barge to bring us across Ozamis City.

The barge ride feels so good and i felt relaxed as i got off from the bus and picked the 2nd floor spot of the ship so i can intensely gaze the sea and the summer breeze. That was my second ride since 2011 though. Everything still feels the same just like the ticket outlets and the people, i assume. 

Will post on another entry my arrival in Calamba, Misamis Occidental.