During this pandemic, people are losing their minds doing everything and nothing at the same time. Being stuck at home while continuing with the daily grind can drive anybody crazy.
Even introverts like me, it turns out. To be honest, I was more efficient and effective at doing my duties when everything was done at home. I have control over my time, I am in a familiar place where I can still play with my baby daughter, and, most importantly, I do not get tired of having to interact with people so much (as all introverts would attest to). But, eventually, all of us will reach a point when we need a change of scenery. We need to get out and see, hear, feel, smell, and taste the world.
And a change of scenery it is! I decided to take a drive to Laguna by traversing the long and winding roads to the east of Rizal.
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| My car, Bichibi, having a well-deserved rest by the bamboo shoots. |
I used to live along a portion of Marcos Highway (back when I was a kid; it was a long and quite sad story which I hope I can mention here someday). This highway is called by many names. The formal name, I think, is the most boring: Marikina-Infanta Highway, which is just the starting and endpoint. It is also called the MARILAQUE Highway from the amalgamation of MArikina, RIzal, LAguna, QUEzon, the places it connects. And the common name Marcos Highway is a remnant of the dictatorial era, when the dictator named the roads he ordered to be made for himself and his family members (incidentally, the other winding road that leads to Baguio is also called Marcos Highway).
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| The entire stretch of the MARILAQUE Highway (in dark blue), cutting through the east-west portion of Luzon. Even at this scale, the sinuosity of the road is very much apparent. Snapshot from Google Maps. |
While people prefer to go to Laguna through the expressways (which, to me, is still a hassle, since I still need to cut through the urban jungle of Metro Manila to get to the entrypoints), I have always wanted to travel this eastward corridor by car. Not only is the sinuosity quite exciting (yup, I like to drive under these conditions), but, more importantly, it keeps other drivers out, ensuring clear lanes throughout. There is no toll, less pollution, and a quiet ride good for recharging an introvert's mind.
And, of course, the vistas.
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| Views from a modern restaurant in the middle of the farmlands in Tanay. |
The urban landscape of Marikina and Antipolo slowly fades as you enter the farmlands of Baras and Morong. Tanay has an eclectic mix of the rural and the urban, and many people trek here for restaurants and coffee. Cardona is a quaint town by the Laguna de Bay, and they designed the traffic flow in such a way that the inner, older sections of the town will be traversed by the giddy traveler. And, of course, Pililia, with its windmills and mountain views, provide a welcome relief and fresh air (literally and figuratively).
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| A view of the Laguna Lake from the mountains of Pililia, Rizal. |
And then, after treacherous mountainside curves, the scenery gradually starts to show specks or urbanization (and traffic jams) again, as you move through the municipalities and cities of Laguna. This is where the road takes you away from Marcos Highway into the provincial roads that follow the geography of the lake. The province is known for its rich cultural heritage, and you can feel that charm as you pass by Paete or Pagsanjan or San Pablo.
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| Lake Sampaloc in San Pablo City, Laguna. |
Yes, even introverts need a break from being stuck at home due to the pandemic. My hands and feet are tired (I am driving a manual transmission car), but my heart is full and my mind is refreshed. ■
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