Ormoc City countryside
Ormoc - on the way 

Ormoc City Philippines countryside

   Today I wanted to tell you about our mountain expeditions. Beautiful scenery, great people, sunny weather and wildness of nature. Living in Ormoc - Leyte, we went to Jhing's family, living up high in the mountains. A small village named Masumbang. It was a perfect time to visit the place for the celebration of fiesta. Probably you will ask what is a "fiesta". I'll try to explain it to you. Fiesta is the most common celebration in every island and province here in the Philippines. They are celebrating the Saint or patron of the church in every village, celebrating its day name, and whole village is very busy preparing to celebrate the fiesta. It all starts from the Mass in the church, and then in every home there is plenty of food. Tradition here is that we all go from house to house to fill up and to fill up :) Rich people kill a pig and roast it on a spit, and some cook rice and vegetables. In each house are wide open doors and everyone is welcome. At the entrance to the apartment is distributed plates and cutlery, inviting you to help yourself. Then, more often owner of the house propose something stronger to drink :) visiting several of these houses... there is no chance to walk on own legs :) So enough about fiesta :)

Ormoc City Philippines countryside
In the mountains with Jhing

We started our trip early in the morning. To the village  Masumbang we travelled by bus, and nearly of the mountain, we asked the motor drivers called Habal Habal I do not know how you describe this journey. Drivers of high school, narrow road sometimes almost vertically upwards, the road or rather path, blurred by the rain, and the bewildering speed. The only association I had only watched it on the TV competition motorcross. When we got there, there was nothing else to do then congratulate the incredible efficiency in running motor. Immediately in the place Jhing's cousin greeted us, invited us to a great feast. Delicious grub, excellent coffee, a lot of questions about everything. Uncle started playing on handmade guitar, singing, the atmosphere had become excellent. After a while we moved on to the next apartment, where we waited for our food and drinks. This time it was the house of the local mayor (here called - Captain). After graduating from pressing on the power of food, we decided to buy a bottle of rum, and we went to Jhing's cousin, where we stayed over night. 

Ormoc City Philippines countryside
Wild parrot in the mountains

The road  for me was amazing. Spectacular views, nature at your hand, wild parrots, beautiful green, strange screeching :). One thing that was very striking, is the mass of fallen trees, many of palms without branches. Destroyed homes, fallen logs, even those big metal structures and cables where less than three months ago was sent high voltage lay on the ground. The power of nature is amazing. When we got there, we were invited to another meal, this time it was a freshly plucked coconut, very refreshing. And what happened next? is already in the next post.