The ABC and D of Adventure! (Part 3)

(continuation)

C - CHERRY SNAPPER, COLD LOGARITA SPRING with CUERVO & CREEPY BUT COMFY HOSTEL

When we arrived at the farm where Noralre was waiting, she immediately asked who among us has a birthmark on the buttocks which signals misfortune on virtually anything a person would do or be a part of according to Filipino superstitions. I was quick to say, "Not me!" while my eyes automatically scanned the area for the table where our food would be served. Noralre's father Melchor greeted and accommodated us well in the farm. With a warm reception like we had, I'm sure I wasn't the only one who felt every inch of a tourist. Shortly after we bid goodbye to Dewdew the good Samaritan in red, two plates full of grilled Tilapia (aka Cherry Snapper) caught our eyes. My stomach growled for the nth time and as soon as chairs were set up and the saucer with soy sauce, vinegar and chili were stationed on both ends of the table, we posed for a two-second pictorial then hastily began eating. And what best way to do it Filipino style? Eat with our bare hands (though spoon and fork were provided)! It was past noon time so one could imagine how we attacked the food with much gusto, even licking our fingers to savor the mixed taste of salt, vinegar, chili, soy sauce and the fish oil that the Tilapia was soaked into. The aromatic pink rice was an added bonus that heightened our olfactory senses and made our meal more delectable. One of us mentioned about carcinogens and all I could manage to respond was, "Screw carcinogens!" while I happily munched those black and crispy fish skin.

Our late lunch was well-received by our stomachs and after glasses of cold soda and some shots of rum on the rocks to emulsify the oils and everything we had eaten, we went to Logarita Spring to cool off after what seemed to have been a long morning for us. To say that the water in Logarita is cool is an understatement. It's actually ice cold that you have to keep on stretching all parts of your body to avoid stiffening of your muscles and bones. The place was packed with many locals and tourists because it was a Saturday and we even met some relatives who were also there to cool off and pass around a glass of their favorite liquor. We had tequila, which generated body heat and somehow countered the cold water we were swimming into. Our afternoon ended with a splash of cold shower and a marked excitement of going to the house of our next hosts, Von and Sam Maglente, for dinner.

If you are a nature lover, the Maglente property is the place to be in Bilar. When we arrived there, we were  ushered into their beautiful garden of flowers, trees, vegetables and bermuda grass. Tables with lit candles were prepared and the silhouette of the moon on a moderately cool and cloudy night coupled with occasional howls of domestic canines made a chillingly comfortable ambiance that we all longed to experience. More than the scrumptious dinner served to us was the hospitality of Von and Sam's parents. Our hats off to them and to the rest of the Bilarnons who never showed anything that would keep us from wanting to go back. After a long tequila-inspired chitchat, we had to retire for the night so we thanked the Maglente family and headed to our home away from home - the creepy yet comfy hostel, which reminded us of the horror movie of the same name. It wasn't really a scary place for me even if one of Noralre's sister mentioned about some supernatural phenomenon going on there. I've experienced worse in my college dormitory before so what could possibly be more scary?, I thought. I was just happy to have something to tell to my friends especially the most scaredy cat of all, Mayette, whose fears still tend to overcome her even in broad daylight. This is good.

When we entered the dark hallway of the first building going to the hostel, Mayette could barely keep her calm composure. Her visual field resembled that of a horse with blinders, which kept her from seeing whatever she thought she would see in her peripheral vision. When  I started to say something she expected to be scary, she attempted to retreat and shifted her pace towards the center of the pack. After we registered at the front desk, we went straight to our room Sunflower and Mayette conveniently chose to stay at the center of the bed where she felt guarded from all angles of the room. We were all tired so the thought of ghosts and anything supernatural hardly scratched our imagination. I don't know with Mayette, though. She insisted to leave the lights on. 

TO BE CONTINUED...