Trip to the Pilgrim's Paradise

This year's trip to Simala was a long overdue thanksgiving event for me, BF and the family. This was our 2nd visit to date. We decided to go on the 16th of September (dahil kakasahud lang) and just commute from our city. We live in Sibulan a small town 15 minutes away from Dumaguete. We're blessed to have the fastcraft located in our town so we can reach the lands of Cebu, it's far south lands to be exact. Rides usually take less than 20 minutes and would cost you approximately 62-64 pesos. After the short ride we had to ride a bus which would take us to Sibunga, a 100+ km from where the fast craft ends (Lilo-an). 

Photo taken by BF at the Ceres Liner bus... cherish my smiles as this would go away 20 mins into the road trip.

During our trip, a series of unfortunate events happened. So let me just enumerate them.
1. The driver's assistant locally known as "kundoktor" charged us for a trip directly to Cebu which costed us an extra 50-60 pesos each. We didn't notice until we got to Simala. (insert epic face slap here)
Now, 50-60 might not be that huge for some but we were paying for a total of 5 people! That's 250-300 all in all.
2. A beloved umbrella was left in the bus because we forgot. (insert face slap again).
3. I was hurling the whole entire trip. (this isn't really my day)

But amid everything, we were all happy to be in a place of solitude, love and worship for our Mother Mary.

The beauty that is Simala, Sibunga

The place isn't what I remembered 2 years ago. Everything was huge and long. Stairs that seemed to float towards the high and mighty castle...

These are pilgrims who wish to kiss and see the Virgin Mary. The line was just too much for us...

We attended the Holy Mass which happens at 12:00noon and soon after lit our candles and prayed our own intentions.

Then, we had to leave. Before taking the bus ride home my sister was so eager to eat a late lunch and so we all did. I was there for moral support. lol. I didn't want to eat too much all though I was really hungry myself because I didn't want to hurl all the way home. (BTW, I did.)

Our view while waiting for our bus...

It was such a wonderful day for the family to spend some time together. Even if I wasn't in the best condition I still enjoyed it.