How we HANG OUT at NIGHT in the Province -( A countryside's NIGHT-OUT)

Partying, cheering, dancing, drinking beers, and loud music 🎶 dug dug dug dug dug dug! Nightlife! These are but just an imagination of nightlife in the province. 😁

Unlike in the city where there are nightclubs, parties, pubs, live bands, and entertainment, in the province or the countryside, we only have the sounds of the Cicada, the light ball shining brightly-the moon, the barks of the dogs, the laughter of the children playing and the noise of the vehicles that pass by.

Oops. We unwind and hang out (too) especially when we are bored, fed up, tired, and stressed at work. We have night-outs too! We do night-outs! But unlike in the city, we don't party and drink(except on occasions and celebrations). We hang out at night but not with these flashing lights, loud party music, the crowd cheering, and so on. (shrugs and smiles)
So how do people in my place hang out at night? What's our night out?

A bunch of young people having a good time with friends. I'm curious what are they watching.

As we all know, nightclubs, pubs, disco lounges, coffee shops, and the like don't exist in some places in the province. Well, my place is part of the list!. So you might wonder where we go at times we want to hang out at night!
In this blog, let me take you to places where we spend our free time, relax, and have a good time at night.🌃😎

1. "Istambay" on the Street or sidewalk.
"Istambay or tambay is a Filipino Slang for stand by".

This group of oldies surely have a good time chatting.

This is the most common hangout when people in my province want to mingle with friends at night. In the province, Filipinos love to stay and gather on the sidewalk be it under the lamp post, in front of the store, or the waiting sheds just to spend time with friends exchanging unlimited talks, jokes, and experiences. Some groups of friends bring a guitar with them and sing out loud together. In my experience, If I stand by on the street, I chit-chat with my friends, talk about how our day is, and exchange viewpoints and ideas about what is happening in society. It's a relief to spend the evening with a healthy and happy conversation with friends.

On this kind of night out, people or neighborhoods usually end the night at 9:00-10:00 pm. Sometimes we enjoyed talking so much and forget the time, especially during a full moon when everything is so bright not to add that children during the full moon come out and play on the street. ! Fun is all over the night.

A group of children playing on the street. They are safe as the road is closed because of the on-going road construction.

2. Sitting and chitchatting with the 'Balot Vendor'
Balot is a fertilized duck egg boiled and eaten in the shell while still warm.

Kuya Balot Vendor is a little shy on cam. But in reality , he talks nonstop.,😅

Another province's hang out at night is eating Balot and having a good conversation with the Balot vendor. Yes, the balot vendor in the province is very entertaining! (to the point, that you won't notice that you have eaten 5 ballots already, ) What a marketing strategy!

Riding on their bikes, they make a stop and sell balot to the sidewalk where there is a crowd. So if you are craving balot and want to unwind, the best thing you do is go outside and wait for the ballot vendor on the street. This is very enjoyable because not only that your stomach full, you gotta enjoy free entertainment from the Balot Vendor. Nyam Nyam. Burp!

3. "Mobile" Tempura

Kuya Tambok , the Tempura Vendor

In my place, we have Mobile Tempura Vendor that comes and sells tempura in the evening only. When evening comes, tempura lovers excitedly wait for "Kuya Tambok", the vendor, for his Tempura and squid balls. Kuya Tambok has 3 types of sauce, the sweet, the spicy, and the spicy overload. Waaaaahhh!!! Thinking of the sauce alone keeps me drooling. There is no doubt his tempura is the best in town!

Yeaayy, the spicy sauce*

4. Watching Barangayan League.

The inter-barangay Basketball League.

Even Seniors love to watch and enjoy this Sport's fest

A group of youth want to watch the game too!

Barangay League or the Barangays' Sports Festival is a colorful and joyful sports fest where youth and sports enthusiasts gather and compete. This could be either, a basketball, a volleyball, table tennis and more! What makes this sports fest a hangout is that people love to spend their time watching this activity even though this is held at night. I remember just 2 months ago, my family and I went out to watch Barangayan Leauge in the town next to us. We brought some snacks with us so we could eat while watching! We watched and cheer until 11:00 pm. We were so happy and almost voiceless heading back home because we shouted and cheered like there was no tomorrow! It was a little tiring but it was full of fun. A worthwhile hang out!

5. Joy ride at night

One of my favorite nights out is a joyride in the countryside. If you are like me who wants to feel the urgency of fresh air with a little touch of adrenaline rush then I suggest a joyride at night is a good hangout for you. It is adventurous yet calming to see vast stars at night from any mountain tops that are accessible with a motorbike. Just bring a "banig" or mat with you, and it's perfect!
It is one of the best ways to spend the night and have a good-good time while feeling the bustling cold wind, contemplating life, and listening to the sound that nature gives.

Life is so simple and slow in the province. Though are hangouts are far way too simple compared to what's in the city, we enjoyed the simplicity of it. No traffic, less crime, less pollution, no hustle, and bustle, just slow and simple, secure and relaxed. And this humbling life in the province teaches us to be grateful and mindful of all the little things in life. No stress, just at peace.

As I end this blog let me share with you this quote from Susan Orlean,
**" Living in a rural setting exposes you to so many marvelous things- the natural world and the particular texture of small-town life . . ."
**

Tara na sa bukid!.😊