ARS GRATIA ARTIS: October 2012

This is a little draw for side tripping in one of my flights. As I knew I will be having plenty of my time during my arrival, so I said to my self why not make the most out of my far far and away again.

It was only a 15 minutes boat ride anyway from the wharf going to Guimaras' Jordan Port (P13). Early on I am welcomed by the morning breeze as I took the plunge of a boat ride inter-island crossing Guimaras, so I started enjoying the trip from there. Come 8:45AM I was already trolling out the pumboat and waited by my tour guide near the tourism help desk.

And this is Guimaras :)

Guimaras is located in Panay Gulf, between the islands of Panay and Negros, Western Visayas region. To the northwest is the province of Iloilo and to the southeast is Negros Occidental. It is well-known for its agricultural crops, particularly mangoes, where some 50,000 of these trees are planted. The island is famous for producing the sweetest mangoes in the world, after Pakistan.

After a short while, Gerald come in appearance. Oh twas after some tricycle drivers negotiated the rides for me and I answer them with smile that I'm already waiting for Gerald my "sundo" and then they look for Gerald. This Gerald, is a little well known tourist guide/tricycle driver all-in-one in the world of travel blog sites. So upon some reads about him from multiple sites and getting good feedback I didn't wait for my second thoughts to come and eagerly phone him to arrange a trip before the day comes. So it was just day before my arrival and Gerald already compromise his service to another travelers. But he did not left me making it out my self, he recommended his brother instead to accompany me in the duration of my stay in Guimaras. So it's Charlie, his brother will be my official tour guide for the day plus tatay (pardon me, i forgot tatay's name) their father will be the one to drive for us.

We left Gerald at the port, he is expecting the other travelers to arrive soon.

In deed Charlie is already well verse in providing me historical and factual information about this island and the sites we had stopped. Gerald told me over the phone that this little Charlie is still getting a knock for a rookie tourist guide but he will surely not let me get lost of cultural interpretation. But certainly Charlie and tatay made a good tandem. Evidently it comes naturally from the bloodline. (Good job!).

First thing they do before we head off is asked me my cut off time of travel as they knew I was only side touring. Second, they introduced their itinerary. I'd already read a lot from Guimaras tourist destinations so I asked them if we could miss out some of those from their list as I am not fond of checking out plantations and fields. I already grew up in one :)

So head we start our day touring. Charlie and tatay didn't left me mumbling about the places. They always pinch in little facts before we head to each place after the other so i could already exclaim in excitement. I found my self felt more attached as they summarize what I need to know and understand about the culture, history and the passing of time in their home town. I love it, im happy with my decision on hiring a local to accompany my trip. As you know, I always end up travelling solo with only google to accommodate my need of informations. But this time, that has been the firs time I get one shot of a "feeling turista" and hired someone to be my tour guide and find it so rewarding that my trip turn out to be a one of a kind; informative-enjoyable-just so worth it of my leave from work ^_^

I might forgot to mention that Charlie also was my official photographer (c/o my xperia na nakabisado niya tlaga) the entire trip. And if I need a hand or his back to lift or support me on the rocky and high places I find him very initiative to do it. He even went to the top most of the lighthouse to capture a lot of photos in all angles as he could when I told them (charlie and the care taker) that Im not good in climbing down the heights. So Charlie volunteered to do the capturing. Well he's been holding my phone I guess the whole time as I entrust him my camphone to do the "kodakan" while I'm into mastering the poses subjected to his directives on where to stand and pose hahah I wanna take home this kid na.

Surely a very rewarding trip. I will definitely come back here with friends next time. I love wandering and getting lost and sometimes get lost of words because of language barriers but I enjoyed it at most. I love finding my self being one of them, and hearing my tone easily get much of their accent. But with the natives of Guimaras, they won't let you find your self different from them, they are so welcoming and kind and the word hospitable that was tagged in every filipino, well I find it in the people of Guimaras.