But this time, this particular trip to Calbayog, another beautiful town in Samar, was truly a solo travel feat. For the first time I ventured alone, without any companions although I met some strangers or locals. I didn’t even  have an itinerary, at all! HAHA! I mean I didn’t even read blogs on what I would see in Calbayog, except on Facebook where I saw pictures of waterfalls and  ziplines, my top priorities. I just wanted to be astonished with myself,  if I was really capable of doing this solo madness. I wanted to embrace the unknown and let my ventures surprise me.  I just had to rely on my spontaneity and luck on what I would be going to experience on this whirlwind of activities.

EXPLORING THE TOWN OF CALBAYOG

RIDING A POT POT

BUYING TINAPA AS SOUVENIR

One way to make this tinapa more appetizing is to fry it, partnered with tomatoes and onions, then dip it in soy sauce and vinegar. I tell you, this will surely bring out your appetite and you’ll probably request for another cup of rice. Goodbye diet… Haha! 

EXPERIENCING THE CALBAYOG ZIPLINE

SIGHTSEEING MALOPALO MARBLE PARK

Because I had limited time, I wasn’t able to explore this place but I was able to capture the spot where the boats docked. These boats will transport passengers to the Malopalo Marble Park. I asked the driver of my trike what was worth seeing in Malopalo Marble Park. He said that it’s a place of stunning marble rock formations and verdant forests that surround Malajog River. One can roam around, explore and go swimming in Malajog River and if you are brave enough, go spelunking since a great cave is also located in this place.

CHASING WATERFALLS

WHERE TO STAY

THE VLOG

So before I end this blog, I’d like you to know that I made a vlog about my exploration around the town of Calbayog. I apologize in advance for my awkwardness, but believe me I tried.  I’m not good in speaking too, so please bear with me. HEHE 🙂 .If you do like my video don’t forget to subscribe my YouTube channel  CHASING POTATOES Thank you so much. 🙂 ♥

I miscalculated my time. It was already 4 pm when I arrived at the van terminal to get a ride in going to the Calbayog Pier where I would board a ship in going back to Cebu. When I got there, there were no more vans
heading to the port. And that was a misfortune for I couldn’t catch my trip back home. I was petrified. I was scared of being stranded because I had limited moneeeeeey already. Oh, God…😳

Then a guy approached me, telling me that he was a tricycle driver and negotiated with me. He would take me to the port with a higher fare.  I eventually agreed because I felt I had no more choice. 

So I sat back, relaxed and the trip went on.  I even enjoyed the sights along the road. And then the sun started to descend and darkness enveloped the earth. That was when I started to get panicky. Like shit… 😱

It had been a loooonng time and we were still jaunting and the destination was yet so faaaaar. The road was kind of dark, the streetlights were sort of dim and so distant from each other and I seldom saw people, car, houses, etc. and the network signal was limited or nowhere to be found. 

I feared that I made a wrong decision. I was scared! What if this was a scam.  What if this was a modus, that he would rob me, kidnap me or worse kill me. And if that happens, God forbid, nobody will ever know. I was terrified of the horrible thoughts running in my head.  I maybe exaggerating but seriously I was freaking out. It was so so so far!!! And when I tried to converse with the driver he only answered my questions and that’;s all. My questions were mostly, are we near there? Aren’t we there yet…. Are we almost there ????…(Shrek, I feel you, haha far far far away 🤢!!!!) 

Then I saw tinges of warm lights, and as we got nearer and nearer, I could see the face of the port,  I could hear the honk of the ship and the smell of the sea breeze. At lassssst, I was freeeeeee from my blood-cuddling and spine-chilling thoughts! When I arrived, I even gave the driver a tip for the
safe journey despite my hallucinations and silent and erroneous judgment of him. Hahaha! 

What went wrong was that I thought wildly and judged people wrongly although I was trusting at the start. What I learned from this adventure was that, it’s OK to have fear because it somehow protected me but I must not think too much.  I created a problem that wasn’t even there in the first place. I should have just trusted the process and enjoyed the ride. Lastly, I have to read blogs and articles before the trip for it can really, as in really, help me to plan ahead and manage my trip. Hahahahha… So maybe next time, if I would try solo travelling again I’d do some research na!! 😜

After a few minutes I boarded the ship, and looked for my deck. Then the ship suddenly departed and sailed away to Cebu. So long Calbayog, thank you for the memories and for the learnings. 😍