Agoo – San Juan - 50 km
In the morning, I biked to the tiny village of San Juan. San Juan was known for
its waves, making it a perfect spot to take a surfing lesson. Regrettably, I
couldn’t locate any dirt-cheap ones. Ultimately, I opted for a rather pricy abode
(known as a surfing hangout and a place where one could get surfing lessons).
Surprisingly, the area was slightly dreary (maybe it was the “cool surf” attitude
- looking bored and disinterested).
In the morning, I moved to a cheaper and friendlier-looking place and bumped
into Lionel (from Coron). A pleasant surprise to see a familiar and friendly face
amongst all the other emotionless ones.
The grand plan was to take a bus into the mountains to see the rice terraces
and the famous hanging coffins. I packed up, arranged to leave my bicycle and
bags at the inn, and moseyed over to the bus stop with only a small backpack.
Sadly, the bus never arrived. Irritated, I returned to the guesthouse (I’ve no
patience).
I woke with a sore throat, blocked nose, bucketing rain, and howling wind and
stayed put. My idea of cycling north to Laoag (on the north coast) to fly from
there to Taiwan didn’t seem such a good choice after all, as all flights went via
Manila, making the flight even more costly. Unfortunately, no ferries operated
between the Philippines and Taiwan, leaving me no option but to fly.
San Juan – Urdaneta City - 100 km
Bored, I swallowed a few flu tablets and pointed the bike toward Manila along a
slightly different route. The day was marked by slow-moving traffic, roadworks,
and dust which made it a frustrating ride. Finally, reaching Urdaneta City, I was
ready to find a room and spent the rest of the night watching TV, something
I’ve not done in ages.