Saturday trip to Zamboanguita and Frankie’s Firsts
I guess you could say that starting Friday, the weekend was full of surprises and adventure. Not only did Frankie get to have his first trip to the Child Minding Center, but last Saturday, he also got his first “long ride” and first trip out of the city, oh, and his first night away from our bedroom. LOL
We were not planning on going with the rest of D’s family to Zamboanguita to celebrate his birthday together with his cousin’s birthday. However, we changed our minds and went after them. It was quite easy to catch up with them since D knows his aunt’s location in Zamboanguita. I know it would have been a killjoy of me if I did not go, but then I realized that I had no “other” things to do at home aside from my usual sitting in front of the computer. So we thought it was best to let the computers rest and stay away from the Internet even for one night. Besides, we were wondering how Frankie would fare on longer ride compared to the ones he is used to, especially outside of the city, and in another house for that matter. No questions asked about Sophie because she already left with the group as she was excited at the prospect of travelling already.
Suffice it to say that I sorely missed travelling. It has been YEARS since I have gone out of Dumaguete and the trip to Zamboanguita was a bit of fresh air – literally – to my computer-filled life. Okay, so yeah, I did bring Emily along, but that was only upon the request of D that we bring it because he was scared that since nobody was left at home, somebody might steal the computers (we locked away John (the PC) inside our room and padlocked it). I guess my friends’ predictions about me lugging a laptop wherever I go is indeed the truth. LOL
Anyway, on the Jeepney, Frankie was all smiles and very very excited. While on the road, he kept yelling “bakaaaaaaa!!” (cow) and pointing at the cows that were grazing. He kept asking D and myself to look this way and that as he pointed at the numerous things that we passed by.
When, when we got to where the rest were staying, Frankie simply let go of D’s hand and went in, shouting Sophie’s name. He quickly climbed up the stairs and started playing with the kids, so I had nothing else to do but relax. Since the house was a two storey building, we had to keep an eye on Frankie who was running around the rooms often attempting to venture out to the stairs. The stairs had no safety gate for kids because D’s cousins are already young adults, and there is no need for the safety gate. Still, I think Frankie knew better than to go down the stairs, but I feared that he would follow Sophie who was going up and down the stairs.
We were set to sleep on the second-floor terrace where the wind was extra cool – and because there were only two rooms, and one was occupied, while the other room was really hot. A “banig” or mat was spread on the wooden floor and we just had pillows and blankets – more like a camp on the second-storey if there ever was a thing. But hey, there were a lot of us because my mother in law was there, D’s other aunt was also there with her husband and kids, and D’s grandmother and grandfather were also there, camping with us on the terrace.
The night started with card games, movie watching (good thing I brought Emily since there was no cable TV and nothing else to do), drinks, and just good old chatting. By 11 pm, I lay down on the mat, while the others were still having fun. That was until the lights went out. LOL Yeahp, even in Zamboanguita, blackouts happen frequently. So some of the group decided to turn in, while the rest remained to watch movies. I was half awake, but do you know who else was wide awake and alert? Yeahp, both my kids were up and about… still running this way and that.
Then, of all our luck, rain began to pour – HEAVILY! So we had to transfer inside – where it was dark and hot without any electricity. If it had not been for the strong wind and downpour of rain, I am sure the kids would have gone insane from the heat. Frankie was sweating a lot, while Sophie fell asleep out of exahaustion. Yes, Frankie was still awake at 12 am.
By and by Emily’s battery died and surprisingly, the rain died down as well. Good thing was that the mats were not wet because it was rescued from the rain, so after setting things up at the terrace, we went back out to sleep (oh, did I mention that there was a roof?). Anyway, this time, almost everybody was trying to sleep in a much cooler after rain environment.
Unfortunately, Frankie was still wide awake. I guess it was a suprise for him that everybody slept in the same location that night, so he went from person to person trying to sleep next to them. If somebody made a creepy sound or something, he would punch that person and run back to me. LOL. After roaming around the terrace and hitting people, Frankie finally went to sleep at around 2 am or so.
And then it happened. The rain came back and it woke me up when a piece of wood hit the floor just right between Frankie and Sophie. I do not know how I did it, but I managed to shield both of them just in the nick of time – when I was asleep before that. Hmmm.. Anyway, the wind and rain was stronger this time around, but we decided not to go back inside. So we moved the mat higher up to the door with our feet facing the terrace railings. That way, we were out of rain’s reach, while still enjoying the cold weather. We just had to laugh since Frankie woke up and grabbed my blanket and covered his head with it. We snuggled closer and finally dozed back to sleep at around 5 am.
We woke up to a bright and shiny morning at around 7:45 am when D’s aunts woke us up for breakfast. We were heading home early Sunday since D’s cousin was headed back to Makati that afternoon. We had a breakfast of leftovers, eggs, bread, coffee, and a lot of laughs over the night’s episode.
Once we got back home, Frankie made his way upstairs to our bedroom and banged on the door. He wanted to get on his “duyan” or cot(?) immediately. Within 5 minutes after I put him in his duyan, he was fast asleep. LOL I crawled into bed after D came up and Frankie was asleep and slept as well. Last time check I remembered was that I closed my eyes at around 9 am, and Frankie and I both woke up a quarter before 2 pm.
Obviously that was one heck of an adventure for us. I had a blast and I am feeling much relaxed and wonderful already. D reckons we should do it often, and I agree. I wonder where we will go next. 
Here are some pictures of the trip. The rest is uploaded HERE.
The kids playing the day after.
Practicing my photography.
Farm Town!! 
Try my tropical jungle hideaway…
hehehe when you come home.. can we?
I think its about time for you to get away from the blue screen. OK?
hehe I have moved away from the blue screen tita! :p
teeheehee funny and a bit scary adventure
good that you are back in one piece 
LOL thanks mam. It was fun. teehee