quick quezon vacation recap (those things not previously tweeted)

my mom said i looked "dark" although i'm thinking i'd get a bit lighter by monday night. what i mostly have is sunburn (despite the sunblock and because we ended up walking under the sun before i managed to apply sunblock). the first night in quezon was spent in lucena, in a cheap-ass lodge that redefined how low i'd go for cheap-ass accomodation. i am not proud of myself for suggesting that place, but it was the first lodge i saw and my bag was heavy. we managed to find film for the camera, even if most stores were closed. and then i discovered the FM10's light meter was not working because of empty batteries (mentally hit myself for not testing the camera before we left manila sooner); but there was a photo printing/supply shop that was miraculously open and had the batteries i needed. brunch on the second day was at buddy's -- it's a well-known chain of restaurants in quezon (there is also one in lucban). i ordered pancit lucban with pesto and seafood, which anniel initially was hesitant to try. i told him, it was his first time in lucena, he might as well be adventurous and try a new dish. it was weird, at first, but the dish kinda grows on you. i also ordered lumpiang ubod, which alver and i thought was really good (even though anniel wouldn't touch the thing). after spending a night in a beach resort, anniel and i went to the sariaya town proper to immerse in local culture (at least that was my excuse). we stayed in another cheap-ass (but all-in-all better) hotel near a monastery. i left anniel asleep in the room while i explored the town, taking photos of old houses. when i had to reload the nikon, i realized that i did not load the film in properly, so we were shooting photos on nothing. there goes the beach photos we took the day before, as well as the photos of anniel getting a mohawk. it's been ages since i last used the FM10 and i think i ought to reread the manual. there was a small bakery in one of the inner streets i passed that sold pastries. they certainly looked better than the rubbish hawked by street peddlers to tourists (alver said the name was of a well known chain of bakeries). i got me a couple of backs of pastries for the family and co-workers, as well as coconut vinegar and local sausages. i'd buy the local coconut spirit (called lambanog) but couldn't find a store that might be selling good quality drink. we planned to spend the last night in quezon drinking in lucena, in a bar alver knew; but alver said the bar was closed. so we were back early in manila, with our heavier bags, fresh tans and sunburn.