Kwentong Bacolod

I am finally able to squeeze a few minutes of blogging after a hectic week. I feel like I am just beginning to recover from the trip and from the packing, unpacking, laundry, cooking and a baking business on the side. It's challenging without a helper, but I'm okay.

Our friends' (Tony and Tess) eldest son, Al, attended summer camp in Bacolod for the very first time -- and he's a virgin in many ways too! It's just too bad that I can't seem to find our photos which I know I already uploaded a couple of days ago! Pahabol na lang later.

His mom came along too, and this is nothing new to us. Part of the fun of serving in youth camps is traveling with friends and meeting a lot of new people. We've been to many camps together and we already know how it's like to share a room (my husband, me and Tess), so we have no worries in that area. But for her son Al, everything was brand new.

It was Al's first time to ride a plane (not the tool used for shaving wood) and he ended up at the last row, right before the toilet. Hmmm... not a very aromatice experience! He didn't mind it at all, especially since we also met a former youth camp staff in the same place, and a flight attendant at that. She recognized us but I hardly recognized her because she had her hair up and she was fully made up. She was thrilled to see us, I'm sure, because she immediately gave us drinking water even befor the plane took off!

After some stories with her, she proceeded to do her duty of demonstrating the flight safety rules, complete with facial expression and cool gestures of the hands. Tess was so absorbed in her demo (which she hardly ever is) that we thought she had plans of being a Lola Flight Attendant! "Announcing the launching of Lola Airlines! The airline for geriatrics, complete with wheel chairs, canes, and spare false teeth. Enjoy our special massage with White Flower for that amoy lola experience."

Anyway, back to Al. Because we knew the flight attendant, we were able to request for photos taken in the cockpit and with the rest of the crew. As Al would say, "astig!!!!" He needed those photos to prove to his friends that he really rode a plane. And why not? We also took photos of him and ourselves crossing the tube, by the plane, walking through the airport, and going to other places we used to ignore. We got to experience traveling in a new light. Aaargh! I really wish I could find those photos!!!

Al enjoyed his Bacolod camp experience despite the fact that everyone spoke to him in Hiligaynon. He would just give them a bewildered look which, I guess, they took as confirmation. He got along with his camp "brothers" and ate as much rice as they did. As my hubby would say, "gabundok ang kanin."

But the icing on Al's cake was winning the Best Bed Award (it was neat and tidy for the first time in his entire 15-year life) and the Mr. Congeniality Award. Friendly!!! He was the perfect gentlemen and danced with every single female camper on the dance floor. No wonder the girls voted him Mr. Congeniality! He did his mother proud!

Go ask Al to tell you more of his stories. I'm sure he'll be happy to oblige. As for the three of us adults, we enjoyed our "ago-go" (known as ice candy in our world) courtesy of Nonong, the good food served by the CICM staff and their friendly smiles, the airconditioning from 12:30 PM - 2 PM and 8 PM - 6 AM (tipid), and the friendship of Terence and family and Boyet and Rizza. We all gained a few pounds from being fed soo generously and we will now try to lose those pounds here -- mahal na ang bigas.

As for our stay at the Business Inn, that's another long story. Go ask Tess or Al about it.