Here i am. I still shake, i still waver, but I've grown steady. I, myself, am astonished and awed by the unlikeness of it. So softly i whisper sometimes, "I made it through". As humanly as i know how. It turned out to be a good kind of maddening, as my chest swells, wading through the currents, keeping afloat through the tides. I learned soon enough that the pattern of my existence hardly ever goes as planned. and in the multitude of all my losses, wave after wave, i have proven myself to be unsinkable. // April 2017// Floating Cottage, San Roque, Guimaras Island

***

We came, we saw, we loved. 

And that was how  Anita Desai's (writer, a three time Booker prize awardee in Delhi) famous words reverberated in my head. She was right in saying  that wherever you go, becomes a part of you somehow. Punong Gary's Place was a lot like that. There was much poetry in leaving, a wondrous becoming for a wandering soul like mine. Perhaps it's just me, arriving, devoid of expectations and choosing to feel instead of see. I am partial to melancholic destinations. But Punong Gary certainly was not a joyless place but a haven of tranquility, a quiet, private oasis, unperturbed by the slaving routines of everyday life. It's a perfect idyllic pastoral respite, a soothing breathing space in the middle of a lush plant life adorned with  the owner's eclectic collection of art pieces scattered here and there. The fresh gust of gentle wind was therapeutic. I can imagine myself sleeping soundly in the sun loungers, in every hammock in fact, reading a book, writing, dipping in the pool at the break of dawn or going for a morning run, fancying a moment of recluse, satisfying my every senses and staying in their beautifully restored dwellings, savoring the rural lifestyle.

The trip proved to be a well spent time with family (and my bestfriend who i've known since the era of spice girls and backstreet boys. yes it's been that long so she is family as well). It did provide a different type of luxury: reconnecting with nature and in brief seconds of inactivity, an opportunity to wake the mind, soul, and spirit in peace. We intend to stay long in our  next visit, as lingering for lunch was not enough. There was too much gratification to leave too soon but looking forward to returning, as there's more to explore. 

How To Get There:

1. First, go to Punong Gary's social media sites to check schedules and availability of the place and send a text to secure a lunch or overnight reservation on your desired date through the numbers published on their sites. They have a  Strictly no walk-in policy.
                                                          Punong Gary's Place:  Facebook

2.  Road trips are our favorite. From Iloilo we took the Fastcat Ro-Ro to Bacolod. It's convenient to travel with a car when you're with the family. It's a less hassle transit when you plan to go to more than two itineraries. It's fast and fun! 

3. From Bacolod City , it will only take you less than 30 minutes to get to Punong Gary's address in Silay City.  And one that's not difficult to find. When in doubt, believe in the power of  Google Map.  

Location:

Punong Gary's Place

Hacienda Tinihaban

Barrio San Jose

Silay City. Negros Occidental

Philippines

4. Lunch Reservation is at 750 php per person. Its a 5 meal gastronomic course with distinct panache'. It's worth it!