Konnichiwa, O genki desu ka? Back at it again with another blog.
How has your weekend been going so far? How do you usually spend it? I know that everyone eagerly anticipates how they will spend their weekends, whether with family, friends or on their own.
I typically don't make plans for my weekends, as I often just spend it at home. However, this week we received an invitation from my aunt, as they would like us to come over to their place to spend time together.
They reside in Cebu City, but they make it a point to visit their house in our province every week to spend their weekends there. Their place is about a 30-minute walk from our house, situated away from the highway.
Be prepared for a long walk to get there, and you will also come across a bumpy and narrow road along the way. As usual, I go along with my sisters, and this time our grandmother is joining us as well.
We have prepared the hiking must-haves, with water being a top priority. Staying hydrated is crucial, especially in the summer heat. We began our morning stroll, yet the sun's heat was quite intense.
As we continued, we came across a public cemetery. It was eerie, but we swiftly passed by since it was still daylight. A short distance from the public cemetery, you can find the Little Batanes of Caduawan. From there, we have quite a distance to cover on foot. Hiking isn't my thing, but strangely enough, I am finding it enjoyable despite feeling tired and having sore legs. The experience and the views are absolutely priceless.
While on our walk, we encountered various types of land animals. We observed a cow, a carabao, and chickens, which are among the most frequently seen creatures on a farm. Following the lengthy walk, we eventually reached my Aunt's residence.
Upon our arrival, we witnessed the harvesting of the peanuts that my Aunt had planted. This was my first time witnessing this scenario, so I asked if I could join in and have the experience myself. It was easier than I had imagined, all you have to do is to separate the peanuts from their roots. It was enjoyable, and I also had the opportunity to socialize with other farmers who assisted my Aunt during the harvest.
One of our younger cousins has asked us to join him in trying to catch freshwater crab. As we near the river we are taken aback to find that there is no water left due to the high heat conditions. However, we persisted in our search, and to our surprise, we discovered not one but two small crabs. We chuckled facing each other, realizing that two crabs wouldn't suffice for a meal. So, we decided to return them to their natural habitat.
Later, we returned to my Aunt's house and planned to get fresh coconuts to refresh ourselves by drinking the fresh juice, Fortunately, we still had some unopened coconuts and, we proceeded to prepare "Lamaw" a delightful blend of fresh coconut meat and its juice sweetened with condensed milk, and mixed with any plain crackers. It was truly a refreshing treat.
While enjoying our "Lamaw", we engaged in a bit of small talk about life, a common occurrence since we frequently see each other. It is a wonderful feeling to cherish these moments when you have the time to connect with relatives whom you often encounter.
We were so engrossed in our conversation and enjoyment that we failed to realize it was already late in the afternoon, and we had to embark on the long trek back home once again. Before we went, my Aunt presented us with a packet of peanuts and a portion of leftover "Lamaw" as their gift to us. The people in rural areas are among the most generous individuals in the world.
We began our journey back home, and the tricky part was that we carried things from my Aunt's. We managed to carry everything back home, arriving in the evening as the sun was setting. I was quite exhausted from all the walking. However, the experience was wonderful, and I learned new things that I hadn't discovered before.
Though my weekend was exhausting, it created memories that I treasure and will never forget. Nature astounds you in countless ways. During my adventure, I discovered the deepest bond between nature and people. It can serve as a way to reconnect with those you have been apart for a while.
Interested in hearing about how your weekend went? Feel free to share your experiences by commenting on this blog. 🤗
Kono burogu o o yomi itadaki arigatōgozaimasu.
Sayōnara!😎
Up to my next blog! Until then, Take care!😍