Conquering Zambales, and not quite - really (Part 1: Random thoughts and Iba)

It was almost about a year ago when I stumbled upon this "Conquer Zambales" thing while surfing channels. I quickly looked for the two things I need: a buddy, and a car (which was a requirement). I just sold my car then and I was fantasizing about the idea that my Dad would actually let me use his. I had another person to come along with me in mind, but when my Dad learned about my plan, he wanted in. That would be cool, I thought: me, my dad, a pseudo Amazing Race kind of a deal… but then I think the race required that the participants had no heart condition? (Or maybe, me and my brother nonchalantly conspired to come up with that)

So I took my brother along. This was going to be fun, we thought. Dad came with us still, though. He was not about to let his two boys have all the fun! And it became a father-son-son road trip of sorts immediately, going through NLEX in the late hours of the day, trying to catch up to the specified assembly time at Iba, Zambales.We took the SCTEX after traversing NLEX. The travel lasted for about four hours. Quite fast, really, if you compare it to normal day travel or a bus ride that takes about two to three stops before finally getting to your destination.

Our trusty “UBK”-plated (get it? “UBK”? My Mom insists it’s short for “U B OKAY”) Mazda 323 was to be tested, at least for long drives, as we were informed. Getting a hand on the map which the Sidetrip Magazine people gave us, we immediately realize that this was going to consume gas – and lots of it. We didn’t have a considerable amount of money. The mechanics said we just needed “some extra cash”, and upon double-checking, the organizers gave us a more tangible ballpark figure: our cash just might hold up.

(PART 2: THE RACE on the next update)