So the plan was to go to Balamban, drive straight to Asturias to shoot the rice fields and the big pond/lake, proceed to Tuburan and shoot Molobolo Spring, go back to Balamban, shoot around and have lunch, then drive straight home with big happy smiles on our faces.
Of course, these things didn’t happen. Do you want to know what happened? (More like, do you want to know what didn’t happen?) Read on.
By the way, all photographs in this entry are Mel’s. He takes nice photographs now. And thanks for letting me use them, Mel. 
So, everything was okay. I dropped by Mel’s house around 8 am. We were pretty excited so we didn’t eat anything. Hunger could definitely wait, we thought. The sun was out and there was no time to waste. So we both got on my bike, said a little prayer, and then sped away. We chatted about random things as he clicked and I drove. Everything was going really well, in short. Suddenly, the bike wiggled and I realized that the rear tire was dead. Dang! What a nice intro!
Flat tire! Bummer!
We stood in the shade for a couple of minutes to think about our next move. We couldn’t turn back, we both agreed. We asked around and we learned that there was a vulcanizing shop about 800 meters away. Luck was still on our side, apparently. We reached the shop around 30 minutes later. That was after I nearly vomited and fainted. Hahahaha. Maybe missing breakfast was such a bad idea. We were pushing a heavy bike up a slope with nothing in our tummies. Great!
When we reached the shop, the mechanic was fixing another motorbike. So, we had to wait for our turn.
Thank God for the PSP. Hahaha.
My bike finally getting ‘treated’.
The mechanic made us pay 30 pesos. But we were just so happy and thankful so we gave him 50. Then, we were on the road again. Take a look at this shot. Very nice, I must say.
On our way to Cantipla. Clean and green! Hehehe.
See that shat structure? That was where we stayed the last time we were there.
Approaching Balamban.
Boundary Limit. Welcome to Balamban!
Nice shot, Mel!
That area with lots of pine trees is a park similar to Island In the Sky.
Blue sky! Very nice.
Gaisano Mall u/c in Balamban! Cool!
Asturias na!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We saw these kids in green uniform. We thought that they were probably waiting for someone.
A few hundred meters away, we saw this other group. Probably a contest?
Quick stop to enjoy the view. Wow!
Our questions were answered when we saw this. It was the Suroy-Suroy!
Suddenly, the bike wiggled again. And when we stopped, yes, you got it. Flat tire!!! No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We asked around and we learned that the nearest shop was around a mile away. Noooooo! Fortunately, a tricycle driver offered to take us there. Mel got on the tricycle and I had to drive the bike with busted rear tire. No!!!!!! I had to lean forward and drive really slow to prevent any damage to the interior and the spokes.
Finally! The vulcanizing shop! This one is located in Tubigagmanok.
The mechanic and our bike.
Nope. That’s not our motorbike. Hehehe.
The mechanic told us to drive straight and we would reach Tuburan in no time. After thirty minutes, we were back on the road. Yipeeey!
When we reached Sta. Lucia, however, we saw two roads. We decided to take the ‘left’ road. As expected, it was the wrong choice because we ended up driving down this long and very winding road for thirty minutes. During our 30-minute drive, we didn’t see a single house. I was genuinely scared that we were lost because our tank was almost empty. It turned out that Mel was more worried than I was. Nyahahaha.
When we were almost about to cry, we suddenly saw the national highway and these signs. It’s like we were alive again! Hahahaha. Welcome to Tuburan! Thank God!
We pretended that these kids were celebrating our safe ’return’ to the national highway, so we waved at them. Hahaha.
Welcome Gov. Gwen Garcia and Party!
Bridge to Molobolo! Finally!
More waving kids!
That one kid had this sign which read: YOU’RE MY IDOL, GWEN!
Wave!
Before we reached the spring, however, we learned that it was closed to all visitors because of the Suroy-Suroy! Great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So, with heavy hearts, we proceeded to the Poblacion to shoot the town church, instead. Not a bad idea at all!
On our way to the town center, we saw the Suroy-Suroy caravan. Lucky people! Hehehe.
When we reached the town center, however, we realized that it was the town fiesta! So, the church was stuffed to the rafters and the major streets were closed to traffic. Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
On our way back, we stopped by the pond that Mel said he would shoot. Our spirits were so low by this time, however, that we only took one shot. LOL. I still say it’s a lake.
A new Petron in Asturias. Thank God!
We drove straight until we reached Balamban. It was 12:30 and we were very hungry. We looked for the Jollibee branch but we couldn’t find it. We only saw the Metaphil International, Inc. compound.
I was pretty sure that the Jollibee branch was sitting in the middle of a rice field. But we didn’t see any Jollibee. Hmmmm.
We just decided to keep driving hoping to see the famous smiling bee! But, after a few minutes of driving, we saw a sign welcoming us to Toledo City. Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We quickly made a U-turn and decided to have lunch in the city. Noooooooo!!!!!
On our way home, we saw the USJ-R Balamban campus. Nice!
Nice buildings.
Good job, USJ-R!
Acacia!
Landslide!
Some workers removing the big stones off the road.
We’re almost home!
We made a quick stop in Cantipla to buy some bananas. I needed to buy ‘presents’ to make my parents believe that the trip was awesome. Hahaha.
We finally had lunch at 3:30 in Lahug (Jollibee). Then, it rained really hard and we were stranded for an hour. When it stopped, we decided to hit the road. That was when it rained really hard again almost drenching our cameras.
When I dropped Mel off, we both decided that the trip was a huge failure. Truly, it was a Fail Trip. Hahahaha. But it was still fun, right?
Uh oh. Waiting for the update. Hope it wasn’t anything disastrous.
nakabawos ang imong motorbike bai!
hahaha…bet u forget to put petrol in it… good one Ley,
There’s always next time, but I still like the green grass & trees, your motorbike & your backview. Hahaha…
I could her the bike’s whisper ” you need some exercice, master”-there you go!
Basin og namarayeg sad ang imong bike bai Ley. .
looks like an interesting day
are you okay?
aist.. kafaet.. cge lang naa pa sunod.
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wre you driving through a lasang, basin “not like ours” were pranking on you as my olds believe. but the lamp post and roadsides show otherwise….playing “knight in distress” then? hehe just kidding.
it just wasn’t your day ley. can’t wait to hear the rest of the story.
what happened?
asa mn ka pingon bai???heheh!ok rna oi exercise….
Bwahihihi!
it wasn’t a failed trip…we saw a lot of nice pics…..it was a good one but could have been better…keep up the good work…..!!!
Oh no, tell me you’re kidding about the Gaisano Mall in Balamban. I think it brings more bad than good.
i think it’s already 40% complete, sir gammy (guesstimate. hehehe)
Thanks Mel @ Ley, they’re awesome pictures.
I don’t think so it was a failed trip, but i feel sorry when you get lost and have a late lunch. Kalooy pod.
it’s not might a failure road trip ley,
coz it was an really awesome trip
.
A job well done despite of the minor problem. The scenery is breathtaking! Beautiful looking bananas. Thanks, guys!
ok, ley with all the places mentioned…. how long was the trip? sounds like more than a day trip but back to lahug at 3:30, wow….. nice photogs! thanks
Trips that do not go as planned are not failures, but opportunities for new experiences.
Ever heard, “It’s not the destination? It’s the journey?”
I think you had an outstanding adventure.
im going to take back my words!!!i think it was a great adventures…and the others are charge to experience nlng!heheh!nice pics mel and ley especially the pic going to cantipla it was clean and green!
id still say it was a pond, Ley. it was just too small for a lake.
i hoped that we make a stop on that field though. that was what I brought the tripod for.
but anyway, there’s always a next time.
nice au doh….. nindot sad au ang langit tan awon… blue jud kaha..
how i wish igon ana sad diri… hehehehehe
i dont think it was a failure as you kept calling it. you took beautiful pictures and though there were glitches along the way i still think you provided us, your readers, a nice trip through that part of cebu.
Thank’s for all your pictures and comments, I did enjoy it
What eventful trip
RIP Michael Jackson…sad to see him go but shit happens…i still think that he was the best solo performer i have ever seen…BEAT IT!!!
Great road trip nevertheless Ley…
Came here to review again your entries re Bindoy… Some of my friends in Bacolod were buzzing about it and they are there now…
I am looking for worthwhile nooks and crannies there that might be worth visiting in the future…
what an adventure! this is what you call discovering cebu at its best!
bai kalimot ka ngano man 2x kang na flat tire
tungod gyud tingali to sa kabug-at ni mel. hahaha
you almost got a shot of our house near metaphil.. my cousin the manager of Jollibee arpili, balaman recommended to shot down the branch, bec. the location was bad. it could have been better if its in poblacion near gaisano, bet he said that the mayor didn’t allow that. =( But the pics was great Job done after all. ^.^