The Great Zambales Trip (Part Two)
Ahem. Soo part two...
I left off right after lunch..
I forgot to mention, the most interesting thing about it was the fact that it was lahar. We really saw the soil and it was cool because, well, there was stuff growing out of it XP When that soil is not supposed to be good for crops, but since they make compost and everything, it's possible ^_^
Anyhow...
================================
Activity Three: Herbs
================================
Not planting herbs, but we were brought around the place and were made to identify herbs and medicinal plants ^^ And I got fed a couple of leaves @__@ It was fun, minus the fact that every time someone got a plant right, they were asking for an early dismissal again ~_~
=========================================
Activity Four: Field Work
=========================================
^_^ Since the sun wasn't so bearing yet, we were able to go out into the field! ^_^
Part A: On the way out to the fields
Well, Ritchie and I happened to be right behind the guy that was leading us, and everyone else was lagging behind, because they were lazy bums (yes, by this time, I really despised most of our companions). Their loss, because while we were walking out and passing by each.. rectangle of plants, we'd be pointing and asking, "Kuya, kuya~! Ano 'to?" and he'd answer, "Ah~ Malunggay yan!" or he'd point out himself to us and say, "Ito, kamote kahoy." or I asked at a point, "Kuya, mais 'to diba?" and he laughed and said, "Oo, sweet corn yan. Dito naman sa kabila, malagkit."
XD~ whee then we got to the important place: the palay fields ^_^
Part B: Harvesting Rice
Apparently, the guy brought five scythes o_o XD So we got to take turns hacking at the rice plants. And I almost cut my fingers off about three times because I was going fast. And I watched the guy and apparently, all you have to do is grab the stalks and pull down, and they come off easily (the scythe is serrated, this is important XP). So I tried doing it at first and mucked up, until I watched the guy did it again.
Then the girls did it, and I watched in... stunned shock as they started attempting to slice at the stalks like they were sawing through them @__@ I just... went to the side and... stared blankly. We got to take pictures. Then I got to have another go.... And while I was working (and doing much better) ... The camera flashed... Again. @_o
Part C: KALABAW!!
There was a carabao there, and everyone got a turn getting on it... Ross was really good at getting on. I sucked at it ~_~ I needed help. I was on it and kinda cursing every five seconds because every time it moved, it felt as if I was going to slide off @___@ its spine moves under you and all that, and it's TALL, so... yeah @___@
Part D: Fertilizer
While we were heading back, Ross and I were chanting, "We're going to fertilize the tomatos~!" in this... tone... @___x If you say it in the same tone, it's like it's hentai...
*cough* Anyhow, I sat down because my low blood was acting up. I got to watch everyone else do their duty, so I don't have much to rant about here XP
================================
The Lodging
================================
The moment of truth. While I was at dinner, I couldn't take it, and I was muttering (a little loudly)to myself about immaturity and the future of the country.
Then we moved to our place of sleeping by trike XP it was much fun again! Until we got there.
The place had dorm room type places... you know those "resorts" that just have houses/rooms that are a little shabby, but quite decent anyway? That's what it was ^^ and I was perfectly fine with it! ... Until I realized I was going to be staying with the girls..........
(And apparently they don't like me either because I heard them repeating my words inside, and... well my only comment is, that they are very intelligent *nod nod* yes indeed, their intelligence never ceases to amaze me)
Pia and I were able to make arrangements with Sir Conrad, and we got to stay in another room... by ourselves XD with a bed and its own electric fan. WOOHOO! Who cares if the dorms had airconditioning! I can live with electric fans! But we were worried because it was some distance away from the rest of the group, and then Jojo arrived and kinda whispered to us that there were men outside under the tree, drinking @___@
We tried to see if we can squeeze in at the guys' room instead. Ritch and Ross said, "Okay... But you have to be aware of this first..." and then they reached for the mini-fridge and opened it to reveal... the bottles.
@_@ Well I was uncomfortable with that too! ... In the end, we were able to bring the guys to OUR place XD we took the entire house, they guys stayed in one room, we girls stayed in the other. We had to pay extra cash, but if I get my sanity (part of it) in exchange then that's okay with me!!
We woke up at 5... And fell asleep again. And woke up again at 6 because Jojo knocked on our window ~_~ Well, we got to play volleyball XD because there was a net, and we were able to borrow the ball from the owner of the place. I'm soooo out of practice XP Then we were able to head back to the farm.
================================
Activity Five: Planting
================================
This was... nothing. ~_~ I wasn't very impressed. It was boring.
================================
Activity Six: Rice Pounding
================================
The last big thing that we did. We pounded the rice to separate the skins/shells from the actual rice inside. ^__^ It was funky, especially when the cook lady arrived and took the entire mound, and separated the shells and rice by tossing them XD And my nerd mode turned on because I UNDERSTOOD why it worked @_@
We were the group that stayed there the longest, because the others just did their work (flimsily) and when we were there, we asked questions again ^_^ Like if this or that was all right, and how it worked when you actually used a machine, rather than that... log XP
================================
Activity Seven: Posters
================================
Yeah, we had to make posters, to support advocacy for nature. Guess who was designated as the official artist @_@ But because of that, it looked great, even if it was just pencils and crayons XD Jojo came up with the idea, and the others were watching in shock, because whenever he suggested something, I understood and drew XP Ross stared, "Ang galing! Nagkakaintindihan kayo?!" and of course, I just laughed. And he added his own artistic touch, which made it look nicer ^_^
================================
Going Home
================================
I was sad to leave ^^ Because for one thing, I still think that we didn't get enough work. But we had to go, especially if we wanted to be back in Manila at a good time.
We commuted back of course XP which wasn't as fun as the trip there because the bus was full this time. We took the exact same route back: trike+jeep+bus. And when we arrived at Monumento, Ross and I took the LRT back to La Salle. It disagreed with us @__x It was full the entire trip, people kept getting on and never got off @__x
We were happy to get back to La Salle though, and I commented, "So we're back here... To the dirty, unhealthy city lifestyle." To which he laughed, and I continued, "The air sucks. I should have taken deep breaths while we were there to clean my lungs."
Anyway, that's the entirety of it ^^ Minus a lot of details. Ask if you want to know more!
I left off right after lunch..
I forgot to mention, the most interesting thing about it was the fact that it was lahar. We really saw the soil and it was cool because, well, there was stuff growing out of it XP When that soil is not supposed to be good for crops, but since they make compost and everything, it's possible ^_^
Anyhow...
================================
Activity Three: Herbs
================================
Not planting herbs, but we were brought around the place and were made to identify herbs and medicinal plants ^^ And I got fed a couple of leaves @__@ It was fun, minus the fact that every time someone got a plant right, they were asking for an early dismissal again ~_~
=========================================
Activity Four: Field Work
=========================================
^_^ Since the sun wasn't so bearing yet, we were able to go out into the field! ^_^
Part A: On the way out to the fields
Well, Ritchie and I happened to be right behind the guy that was leading us, and everyone else was lagging behind, because they were lazy bums (yes, by this time, I really despised most of our companions). Their loss, because while we were walking out and passing by each.. rectangle of plants, we'd be pointing and asking, "Kuya, kuya~! Ano 'to?" and he'd answer, "Ah~ Malunggay yan!" or he'd point out himself to us and say, "Ito, kamote kahoy." or I asked at a point, "Kuya, mais 'to diba?" and he laughed and said, "Oo, sweet corn yan. Dito naman sa kabila, malagkit."
XD~ whee then we got to the important place: the palay fields ^_^
Part B: Harvesting Rice
Apparently, the guy brought five scythes o_o XD So we got to take turns hacking at the rice plants. And I almost cut my fingers off about three times because I was going fast. And I watched the guy and apparently, all you have to do is grab the stalks and pull down, and they come off easily (the scythe is serrated, this is important XP). So I tried doing it at first and mucked up, until I watched the guy did it again.
Then the girls did it, and I watched in... stunned shock as they started attempting to slice at the stalks like they were sawing through them @__@ I just... went to the side and... stared blankly. We got to take pictures. Then I got to have another go.... And while I was working (and doing much better) ... The camera flashed... Again. @_o
Part C: KALABAW!!
There was a carabao there, and everyone got a turn getting on it... Ross was really good at getting on. I sucked at it ~_~ I needed help. I was on it and kinda cursing every five seconds because every time it moved, it felt as if I was going to slide off @___@ its spine moves under you and all that, and it's TALL, so... yeah @___@
Part D: Fertilizer
While we were heading back, Ross and I were chanting, "We're going to fertilize the tomatos~!" in this... tone... @___x If you say it in the same tone, it's like it's hentai...
*cough* Anyhow, I sat down because my low blood was acting up. I got to watch everyone else do their duty, so I don't have much to rant about here XP
================================
The Lodging
================================
The moment of truth. While I was at dinner, I couldn't take it, and I was muttering (a little loudly)to myself about immaturity and the future of the country.
Then we moved to our place of sleeping by trike XP it was much fun again! Until we got there.
The place had dorm room type places... you know those "resorts" that just have houses/rooms that are a little shabby, but quite decent anyway? That's what it was ^^ and I was perfectly fine with it! ... Until I realized I was going to be staying with the girls..........
(And apparently they don't like me either because I heard them repeating my words inside, and... well my only comment is, that they are very intelligent *nod nod* yes indeed, their intelligence never ceases to amaze me)
Pia and I were able to make arrangements with Sir Conrad, and we got to stay in another room... by ourselves XD with a bed and its own electric fan. WOOHOO! Who cares if the dorms had airconditioning! I can live with electric fans! But we were worried because it was some distance away from the rest of the group, and then Jojo arrived and kinda whispered to us that there were men outside under the tree, drinking @___@
We tried to see if we can squeeze in at the guys' room instead. Ritch and Ross said, "Okay... But you have to be aware of this first..." and then they reached for the mini-fridge and opened it to reveal... the bottles.
@_@ Well I was uncomfortable with that too! ... In the end, we were able to bring the guys to OUR place XD we took the entire house, they guys stayed in one room, we girls stayed in the other. We had to pay extra cash, but if I get my sanity (part of it) in exchange then that's okay with me!!
We woke up at 5... And fell asleep again. And woke up again at 6 because Jojo knocked on our window ~_~ Well, we got to play volleyball XD because there was a net, and we were able to borrow the ball from the owner of the place. I'm soooo out of practice XP Then we were able to head back to the farm.
================================
Activity Five: Planting
================================
This was... nothing. ~_~ I wasn't very impressed. It was boring.
================================
Activity Six: Rice Pounding
================================
The last big thing that we did. We pounded the rice to separate the skins/shells from the actual rice inside. ^__^ It was funky, especially when the cook lady arrived and took the entire mound, and separated the shells and rice by tossing them XD And my nerd mode turned on because I UNDERSTOOD why it worked @_@
We were the group that stayed there the longest, because the others just did their work (flimsily) and when we were there, we asked questions again ^_^ Like if this or that was all right, and how it worked when you actually used a machine, rather than that... log XP
================================
Activity Seven: Posters
================================
Yeah, we had to make posters, to support advocacy for nature. Guess who was designated as the official artist @_@ But because of that, it looked great, even if it was just pencils and crayons XD Jojo came up with the idea, and the others were watching in shock, because whenever he suggested something, I understood and drew XP Ross stared, "Ang galing! Nagkakaintindihan kayo?!" and of course, I just laughed. And he added his own artistic touch, which made it look nicer ^_^
================================
Going Home
================================
I was sad to leave ^^ Because for one thing, I still think that we didn't get enough work. But we had to go, especially if we wanted to be back in Manila at a good time.
We commuted back of course XP which wasn't as fun as the trip there because the bus was full this time. We took the exact same route back: trike+jeep+bus. And when we arrived at Monumento, Ross and I took the LRT back to La Salle. It disagreed with us @__x It was full the entire trip, people kept getting on and never got off @__x
We were happy to get back to La Salle though, and I commented, "So we're back here... To the dirty, unhealthy city lifestyle." To which he laughed, and I continued, "The air sucks. I should have taken deep breaths while we were there to clean my lungs."
Anyway, that's the entirety of it ^^ Minus a lot of details. Ask if you want to know more!