Vacation at Samar 🌊🐠

_{I can't stop smiling while writing this blog. My heart is simply overjoyed. It was the third week of July when I asked my supervisor for permission to file a leave letter. I worked my tail off so that I could take a short (2-week) vacation from work with no lates or absences; I believe I deserve this break.}

_{Only in the second week of August was I asked if I still wanted to pursue it. Of course, I said yes. It's my most anticipated two weeks off from work, to rest, be free, escape, and breathe. Finally, my leave has been approved!}

_{The first thing I did was plan a trip out of town with my dear friend @explorewithsasha to her hometown, Guiuan Eastern Samar.}

I remember a few months ago when Sasha told me she was going home in August and asked if I wanted to go with her to see how their town looks, how peaceful and beautiful their place is. How many fresh fish they have. By the sound of it, I got pretty excited and thought, why not, go see the other side of Visayas?

Sasha booked a ferry ticket to Ormoc via Roble that cost 930 pesos per head ($16.60) for tourist, last Thursday, and we left Friday night at 10 p.m. from Cebu City Pier 3. My last ferry ride was when I was about 8 years old and went to Cagayan De Oro with my grandmother. That's why I was so eager to get back on a ferry.

The terminal was packed with passengers returning home because school begins on Monday in the Philippines. The majority of the passengers were children, and some had purchased school supplies in Cebu to bring back to their province for face-to-face schooling after two years of online learning.

We were the first to check into our respective beds at the tourists' cabin. We took our time checking our beds until the other passengers arrived.

I'm not sure if I was awake when the boat left Cebu, but I awoke early in the morning to use the restroom. After that, I decided to look around the boat's upper deck. It was pitch black outside, but I noticed lights in the distance, indicating that we were getting close to Ormoc City.

And at 6 a.m., we arrived in Ormoc. The sun greets us with a lovely sunrise..

We then proceeded to the Vhire terminal, which was bound for Tacloban City and paid 200 pesos per head ($3.57). We drove for three hours and arrived in town around 9 a.m. We ate breakfast just outside the terminal after a long ride and waited for Sasha's friend. When she arrived, we took a short break before continuing our journey at Bo's Cafe.

While we were on our way to the cafe, I took the opportunity to explore Tacloban City's streets. I can't stop comparing it to Cebu, which is vastly different. I was astounded by how wide and clean their roads were. It was also nice to meet Alyssa, Sasha's best friend, in person. I had a great time, though I was still dizzy from the long journey, but everything went smoothly.

That's it for now, I'll be back for a part 2 of my Guiuan Eastern Samar experience!

See you there ☺️🥰

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