An Unexpected Surcharge and a Hungry Afternoon
June 14th. Finally, a rest day. After pedaling over 50 kilometers from San Carlos, I officially unlocked my self-imposed rule: treat yourself to a real hotel bed. Time to crash and actually be lazy for once.
But plot twist—there wasn't a single carinderia (local eatery) anywhere near the hotel. Starving and out of options, I caved and had mushroom soup and rice at the hotel restaurant. The damage? 230 pesos (about $4.00 USD). When you're used to local meals that cost well under 100 pesos (around $1.70 USD), that hurts. The soup had a comforting clam chowder vibe, but my stomach was definitely yelling, "I need more food!"
I spent midday wandering around for a kilometer in the blazing sun, trying to find a decent spot to eat. Nothing. Completely defeated, I dragged myself into a local sari-sari (convenience) store, ready to accept my fate and just eat a cup of instant noodles.
Heartwarming Encounters at the Sari-Sari Store
That's when the travel gods smiled at me. A local family chilling in front of the store waved me over and started handing me fresh pineapple, mangoes, and even some of their home-cooked food.
They didn't just give me hot water for my noodles; they took me in like an old friend. Getting hyped up by them with a hearty "Great job on the long ride!" was exactly what I needed. Suddenly, my stomach and my soul were completely full.
Night Breezes and the Ultimate Squid Feast
As it got dark, the neighborhood started buzzing with local fishermen getting their gear ready.
"We're heading out to catch some top-tier squid. Wait right here until 9 PM!" one of them yelled out.
So, I waited. And let me tell you, that freshly caught, late-night squid was straight-up incredible. Sitting there in the night breeze, stuffing my face with fresh seafood, and laughing with the locals... what started as a frustrating, hungry afternoon completely flipped into one of the best, most authentic days of this entire trip.