Kung Hei Fat Choi, everyone! I'm currently at my dad's childhood home in Malabon for a family gathering for February celebrators in the Cruz side of the family, and I'm taking a short break from stuffing my face with food by giving y'all a quick tour around Babatnin where my friends and I went to yesterday.
Babatnin is a picturesque and charming small town located in an island off Malolos, Bulacan. We were invited by my dear friend/ old officemate Ruther whose family lives there. To get there, we rode a van from SM North to Malolos, a tricycle to Atlag, and finally, a 20-minute boat ride across a river and many fishponds.
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| There's just something so serene and comforting in watching the sun rise, and that feeling is magnified greatly when you do it surrounded with nature. |
As Daria said, "There's nothing like watching the sun rise, except watching the sun set in reverse." When we got to Ruther's house, a feast was waiting for us.
We ate fresh seafoods, veggies, and pancit palabok the whole day while looking out at this scenery:
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| Endless expanse of greens and clouds. |
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| Marsha, Asther, Michelle and the girl who doesn't know how to look at the camera - me. |
After eating, Ruther showed us around.
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| With our host Ruther I realized just now that I lived with all the people in this photo when I was still working in HSBC. Ruther and Asther were my housemates, then I lived with Marsha in her house for a while, and also became Mich's family's neighbor when I lived alone. |
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| Robin and Mich |
We were there for less than 12 hours, but it actually felt longer. In between eating, talking, laughing a lot, and walking around the island, we took a lot of naps, so it felt like we were there for days and not just a few hours. It was like going through a portal to another dimension where time crawled slower. I'm not complaining though, as it was great to bond with them again after not seeing them for almost six months!
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| We left at around 6 PM. |
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| Just as I found comfort and serenity in watching the sun rise, there's also a certain peace to be had in watching the sun say goodbye to the day and retire for the night. Sunsets are one of my favorite magical things in the world ♥ |
I got home really tired but I didn't care. I could always sleep my exhaustion away, but special weekends like this are rare. Thank God for laughter shared between great friends and sunsets.
Comments
I suddenly remember one of my students who said "Ang tulog nababawi, ang grades hindi." I think that applies to spending time with friends as well. I think I'm the same. I'd give up some sleep in order to spend time with loved ones. :)