That same afternoon, before we headed for Lake Danum, Lee instructed me to talk to the lodge owner and ask her if there was a way we could stay for one more night, since it was difficult to find an accommodation in the peak season. I asked the woman politely but she shouted at me and her face turned red. She was saying lots of nasty things using another language, not Filipino. Little did she know that the language she was using to berate me and Lee was my very native tongue. (I speak three languages. English is my third language.)

I reported this to Lee and he was furious and disappointed. Not wanting to magnetize negative energy on our holidays, I cheerfully asked him to drive around and find another accommodation. I also said something nasty about the lodge owner that made him giggle a manly giggle.

We drove around and we found a quiet lodge just a few meters from Homestay. The rooms were much bigger and each room had its own toilet and bath. The best thing was, we were allowed to cook inside the rooms. I felt sorry for the owner of the house because despite its beautiful quality and reasonable price, there were no guests. The lodge was blocked by the other houses and lodges. You would not see the lodge unless you go around and look left and right until you almost snap your neck. The owner agreed that we pay only 800 pesos per night.

Happily, we headed for Lake Danum. It was quite a long and chilly drive from Homestay Lodge area. We were just relying on Waze again. Again, we were in the middle of nowhere. I could see only forests and fields and some, which I presumed, were backpackers trekking the lonely county roads. It was getting late and it was drizzly again, and I was worried whether or not we could actually see the sunset in that drizzly, chilly weather.

There were no marks nor signs pointing to a lake. I guess this is what the local tourism industry in Sagada should work on. The roads should be tourist friendly. Just my two cents…

From the stereo came Jason Mraz’ emotional lines from his song Plane, and he was repeatedly, emotionally saying Damn, Damn, Damn… Yes, I said to myself. Damn you, Lake Danum. Where are you??

After more driving and more asking, we were finally there, standing before the famous Lake Danum. Sadly, it was cloudy and a little drizzly. We could not see the famous sunset over the lake. I felt sorry for the other tourists who came complete with cameras and tripods.

Lake Danum is not strikingly beautiful, but the serenity of the place makes someone recall and once more feel some deep-buried, gnawing emotions. It awakens long-forgotten feelings, whether those feelings are hatred or a long-lost love. The atmosphere of Lake Danum makes someone long for something that doesn’t exist. Its majesty lies in its simplicity.  It’s located in the middle of tall trees and some shrubs, and you can literally smell the bushes, the grass, and the ground.

I went around the lake, smelling and touching the surrounding shrubs. Finally, the sky cleared up a bit and we could see some yellows and pinks in the sky. That was the only glimpse of the sunset that we had.

GOING BACK TO THE ACCOMMODATION HOUSE

On the way to the accommodation house, Jason Mraz was spewing out another song which goes, “Please don’t tell her that I’ve been meaning to miss her…’cause I don’t.” I looked at Lee at the driver’s seat. He was silent. It was a lonely late afternoon drive back to the cottage.

A few minutes after we came back to the lodge, I knocked on Lee’s door. My nose was right. Slumped on the wooden floor, Lee was eating the Buldak Bokkeum-yeon that I smelled from my room. And oh— there was soju as well.

“May I have some Bulldak?”

“How did you know I am eating Buldak?”

“I have ge-kko.” (dog’s nose) And since you are not polite enough to offer me Buldak, I invited myself in to eat it with you.”

I ate the super spicy noodle to ward off the cold, but I did not drink soju. I don’t drink alcoholic beverages simply because they are not appealing to my palate.

That night, even though it was still super chilly, there was no “cloudstorm” and we built a bonfire again. We were joined by a good-looking guy from England whose girlfriend is a Mandaluyong-based Filipina nurse whom, interestingly, he wasn’t traveling with. Aside from Mr. England, we were also joined by an extended family- Grandpa, Grandma, Dad, Mom, two kids, and I think a nanny.

As usual, Lee ordered beer and I ordered hot tea. Prior, we had dinner at the restaurant again and I started worrying about our budget.

That night, before I slept, I sent Lee a text message.

“I am tired of the cold weather here in Sagada. I want to spend the rest of our vacation at a sunny beach. I want to head for Hundred Islands tomorrow, if it’s okay with you.”

Lee replied. “I think you’re right. Let’s to go Baguio tomorrow and go to Hundred Islands from there.”

Despite being tired, sleepy, and chilly, I immediately got up and started packing up.