It was 3:30 in the morning, and all I could hear was the wind blowing in my ears. The air was getting cooler as my cousin, who was driving the motorbike, picked up speed. The warmth of the coffee we had at McDo Tagbilaran didn’t last long; I was having chills even though I was on the back, with him as a human shield.
The Long Dark Ride
The buildings and houses vanished from our sight in the span of one hour. Five hours before that, my cousin picked me up from the hotel where I was staying. Then, we had beers with other cousins at one of the famous Bohol tourist spots in the Philippines at night.
Right now, it was only the two of us in the middle of the darkness in Bohol, chasing the Sea of Clouds in Danao. I think we were in Balilihan or Catigbian town. It was only the moon, the stars, and the headlights that lit our way, and we were surrounded by giant trees that made the air much cooler. I lifted my head up to see if they were moving and speaking like the ones from Lord of the Rings. Thank God, they were not.
It’s a fearful yet sublime feeling—to be there at that moment, and it was happening. Never will I experience this again in 2019, traversing a dark road, sleepless for 23 hours, in pursuit of seeing the Sea of Clouds in Danao. I was sleepless because my flight got canceled, turning my 3D2N trip into 2D1N. What is sleep?
Don’t Mind Those Who Bark but the Destination
Houses started to sprout on our sides, and so did the dogs, who were the kings of the road. There was one who was brave enough to chase us. As we went on, I knew we were getting nearer when the hills towered over us, and fog blurred our vision. It was already 5:20 when we reached this other Bohol tourist spot. We parked the motorbike at the entrance, peed, and bought water for the climb we were about to do.
The Climb
There was a family of Manilenyos who had started their trek, and we caught up with them at the foot of the hill since the guide was joining them. As we reached the summit of the first hill, a faint light of pink painted the world. From here, the view was already breathtaking.
While we were going to the second slope, there’s a view like the ones in Banaue Rice Terraces which we opted to strike a pose.
The grasses were burned and the hill had a steeper climb going to the last spot. The carved stairs helped us to reach the summit easier. From there, we can see some Chocolate Hills view and of course a much wider perspective of the sea of clouds.
Want to explore other parts of Visayas? Cebu is just one ferry away and try the canyoneering adventure in Badian, Cebu and Osmeña Peak for hiking.
A Reason for Everything
As this occurrence is a natural phenomenon, going here is merely a stroke of luck. The lady at the entrance, where we paid P25 per head, told us that the clouds were much thicker that day than the day before. Maybe that’s the reason my flight was canceled and not because of a bomb joke. As I felt like I was closer to heaven, maybe God made a way for me to be satisfied with what I was about to see. Sometimes, the disappointments of today can lead us to something better tomorrow.
Time Passes by Quickly
The pink skies that turned from orange to blue were a reminder of how quickly time passed by. My cousin and I sat on a wooden bench, and the breeze of the wind and the warmth of the sun kissed our faces. With my cousin, whom I rarely get to bond with because we grew up and grew apart, here I was spending every minute of it with him — from laughing to reflecting on the lives we love and hate. Damn, I was glad I didn’t exchange this moment for sleep. “Natutuwa akong hindi ko pinagpalit ang sandaling ito para sa isang tulog.” Then suddenly, I got a text message from my mom, who reminded me that we were chasing time — we needed to go to another town to meet the relatives on her side. What the fork, how I wish I could stop the damn clock for precious moments like this.
Address: Buenavista – Carmen – Danao – Jetafe Rd, Danao, Bohol
Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post.
