So we are camping in a village called Balabag. It’s kind of like a suburb of Granada, which is outside of Bacolod. We’ve realized that if people aren’t from Granada, they are not going to have any idea where Balabag is. To get here from Bacolod you ride a Jeepney. It’s like a truck with an extended bed where you can tightly squeeze 18 people into it. (There is no personal space on the race.) This Jeepney will take you to Granada, and then you find a trike to ride the rest of the way. The trike comfortably fits four people, but we like to save money and get the best bang for our buck. It is a moto with a side car like thing. To go to Balabag from Bacolod is about a 45 minute excursion with some walking spread out in between.
The terrain is very hilly, bumpy, unpaved, and filled with pot holes. Basically it’s all off roading. One night some of us wanted to head home a little earlier than the rest. A local person from the church helped us get a trike to Granada at a decent price, and all six of us took off. The wheel on the moto was kind of shaking and we were all piled onto this trike. There are a few small hills and we would all lean forward and the driver would floor it to get to the top. Once we accomplished the hill we would all cheer and laugh! We would also send up little prayers on our way up the hill…
At Granada we ate dinner at 7/11 and then headed onward. The trike drivers were all hanging around and after getting turned down a few times someone agreed to take us. The ride is somewhat steep and a some people couldn’t take us because their motor is too small. Again, we piled on and headed onward. This time we had a large crowd watching us all trying to get arranged and fit on this trike. They were also encouraging us with their cheers and acclimations. This time, the wheel on the moto was hardcore struggling. The drivers hands were trying to stabilize it and go straight, but it wasn’t quite working. We would go straight for a bit, and then end up on top of the curb and had to get out so he could recenter his trike. Sometimes, we would end up walking a for a few minutes and meet him at the very top of the hill. Note that this part was all on concrete.
The last half of the ride is on a dirt path. There are pot holes like no other, and indents where other moto’s and trikes have made their own grooves. The beginning of this excursion is quite steep and after the driver gave us a look, we would all get out and start walking.
I started dying laughing. I can’t contain how hilarious this situation is. All six of us Americans are piled on a trike that can’t even go straight because we’re too heavy and we’re walking up this hill because the trike can’t get up it with us on. We’re cheering on the driver as we are leaning forward trying to get up the tiny hills and waiting for the look to get out and walk.
A few times the trike couldn’t be controlled and we ran completely off the path and into the weeds or sugar cane field and we all yell “BAAAILLL!” as we are grabbing our day packs and hurrying to get off of it. Then every once in a while the people sitting in the back would get on before the people on the front did and it would almost completely flip the trike. We all jumped to stop it from flipping while we were trying to believe this is actually happening.
I was lost in laughter again. I couldn’t hold it in.
Every pot hole and mini hill we accomplished was followed with acclimations and cheers for the driver. It was the first actual day of ministry here in the Philippines and it was just grand.
We finally made it to our village and right when the engine on the moto stopped, the driver went to buy a cigarette. The poor dude was so stressed out! But hey, we made it!
So far it was one of the funniest moments on the trip and I still crack up when I try and picture all six of us Americans squeeze into a not so big trike for 45 minutes!
Also, if you haven’t realized, Americans are quite a bit larger than Asians so it’s even funnier.
Have a grand day everyone! I hope you embrace all of the hilarious moments!!!
