More travels

We did more traveling last week. On Tuesday and Wednesday we were in the far-flung towns of La Libertad and Mabinay, respectively. We got back to Dumaguete on Tuesday when it was already dark, after dropping by the town of Bindoy. We ate at Connie's grill (?), hungry and exhausted from the long travel. Most draining was the travel we took the next morning. Mabinay town is situated about north west of Oriental Negros. The route towards it is mountanous. The roads stretched up and around the mountains like snakes. The experience easily made us nauseous. But the place is beautiful. From the bus we had a good view of a part of Negros -- the shore line, the farms and fields, and Cebu island across. Mabinay itself is nice. The town is clean and the people are friendly.

We got back to Dumaguete at noon and took our lunch at Qyosko. The fun was not over yet for we again had to take another bus for Bayawan!

We literally traveled for 10-11 hours! Ours butts ached from the constant sitting.

Excessive travel sucks the life out of you.

On Thursday I stayed in the city while Pangga went back to Sta. Catalina. I spent the afternon reading The Case For Faith and the first 12 chapters of the gospel of John in the Bible. Later I visited the city public library.

The city library is very small. Here in Cebu the public library is about three times bigger. All the same, the books in both libraries are very old and outdated. They're also not well taken cared of. It's very sad that our local governments do not prioritize our public libraries, when books improve the mind and help build an empowered citizenry.

Still speaking about libraries, I wish I had access to the library in Silliman. I've heard it has the country's largest collection of titles.

That evening we took a slow boat bound for Cebu. For we were cash-strapped, we spent only 30 pesos for our dinner! We learned it's possible to subsist in that meager budget. We recalled the time when we were so lavish that we spent 700 bucks (!) for lunch in Cafe Adriatico here not too long ago.

We reached Cebu at dawn Friday. My mother met us at the pier. Pangga left for Bohol that same morning. The amazing (read: extremely tiring) life that Pangga lives! I understand why she wants to give that job up. It's not worth it. Considering the risks and the expenses. I told her jokingly, although half-seriously too, before that it seems she's working not to earn money but to incur debts. Since she started that job she's been "earning" nothing but debts left and right. I try to consle her by saying we'd find a job that's more tolerable here in Cebu. The culture of the job, too, contributes to the pressure. Her workmates she finds not very professional. There's gossip here and there, politics, etc.

We all need or deserve a job that will make us happy, wherein we will find personal fulfillment and where there's ample space for personal growth. If a job does not provide those then what's the point in staying? I must admit though that times are hard and it's extremely difficult to find a job that is ideal for you.