OPERATION: Detour

For now, it's goodbye Pearl Farm and hello Underground River.

Our Davao trip will suddenly be set for a later time. Because while everything was all set - from the itinerary we prepared the night after booking to the hotel inquiries and reservations, etc. etc, our flight was not. We'd later know that the flight reservation (despite valid payment) was not confirmed. It was clearly a display of inefficiency in the system of both the airline's (Air Asia) online booking facility and the online payment provider (Dragonpay). And how annoying to let the customers carry the burden of having the booking redone! Topping it all was the fact that no seats are already available for Davao...We just have to make a detour.

So, it's destination - Puerto Princesa! Had we not booked this flight, which good thing was on the same date we made in the earlier booking: it would mean war.


REMINDER: For bookings with Air Asia, always confirm if payment was received by the airline. They (Dragonpay and AirAisa) were saying we should have called to confirm (no instruction was said about calling). It's additional work, but it's worth doing since the payment provider does manual validation.(I don't understand then how it is suppose to be called an automated system). I just now appreciate Cebu Pacific and Airphil Express' online booking system. Clear instructions. No hassle.

CARAMOAN Do-It-Yourself

Duration of Stay             :1.25 days

Travel time from MM     :8-10 hrs. by bus or app 30 mins. by plane

Budget Hotel                  :Sights and Sands (at the town proper)

Activities                         :Island hopping

Means of Transpo           :Van, ferry, tricycles

Budget                            :less than 2,000 (only because we didn’t have to spend more for the transpo)

Best Pasalubong             : Pili

ITINERARY for an OVERNIGHT STAY

Day 1
7:00-9:00 - Travel from Naga CBD terminal to Sabang port by van
9:30-10:00-Queuing time for the bancas
10:00-11:30-Travel from Sabang to Guijalo (Caramoan) port
11:30-11:45-Travel for port to town proper (inn) by tricycle
12:00-1:00-Lunch and preparation for island hopping
1:15-1:30-Travel from town proper to port (for the island hopping)
1:30-5:30-Island Hopping
5:30-6:15-Back to hotel
6:30-7:30-Dinner
7:30-8:30-Souvenir shopping and stroll at the town proper
Day 2
Departure
6:00-7:45-Back to Sabang
8:00-10:00-Back to Naga

If you're from Manila, it's best to drop by CamSur Watersports Complex (CWC). It's along the way to Naga. You can and enjoy the activities the rest of the afternoon. Anyway, if you're travelling by bus from/to Manila, night trips usually depart every after 15 or 30 minutes (depending on the bus company) which starts as early as 6pm and as late as 9pm.

CONTACTS                 
Hacienda Lahuy – 09205128887 (c/o Marco)
Tour Guide - 09179629977 (c/o Kuya Genaro)
Tricycle for Rent - 09466199492 (c/o Kuya Jun)

Check this link to know more about the islands and the province where it's located and a reference for CWC (for the more adventurous traveler):
www.camarinessur.gov.ph
www.camsurwatersportscomplex.com

CARAMOAN: Survivor

I take pride in sharing this not only because I'm a proud Bicolano but also because like its usual guests, we outwitted, outran,outlasted the challenges of this unplanned trip.

Caramoan peninsula is known to few until it became the favorite location of a popular reality TV show with various franchises all over the world. To date, Caramoan brags the fact that it has hosted 5 of the survivor franchises (and now the 25th season of Survivor US has confirmed shot in the islands). The numbers could only tell how rich and beautiful the islands must be for them to be coming back. 

When we left, it was certain that I am going back to see more of its islands and to witness yet another perfect view of the sunset while on the shores of the peninsula's Lahuy Island.

OUTWIT

How did we get there?

At Naga Central Terminal, we took a shuttle/ van which brought us direct to Sabang port. (200/pax)

 

Flo and I met at the terminal with nothing but guts and hopes that luck be ours and it did! It was really easier navigating in your own province. You speak with the local dialect (we tried since ours are different from the bicol spoken by naguenos), you see familiar sites which confirms you're on the right track (at least only until where i really knew since beyond the province's capital, Pili it is as if I've gone to another province) and most importantly, there's that assurance that in case anything go wrong...we could easily go home.

Travel to Sabang was about 1.5-2 hours. We didn't realize that. We could have saved time in the waiting and spent more in the island hopping had we met our agreed meeting time of 6am. Because our places are still an hour to two from Naga, I guess it was forgiving that we actually met at past 8 already. One thing learned on this -- leave earlier. Total travel time to Caramoan was almost half a day. Leave early. Anyway, boats are available as early as 6am.

An alternative was to take a bus or jeep which is way cheaper but we opted for convenience and for saving  time after all we only had a day (of course later you'd learn that we have to stay for the night).

From Sabang port, we took a ferry boat to Guijalo, Caramoan (150 per pax)

An hour and a half was spent for this travel. But because it was over the sea now, the views help kill time..but topping it all was the chitchats with our chinese friends. We had all four of them befriended. My "ni hao" worked in the introductions before we boarded the ferry. And although it most often requires patience to understand them and more patience to convey your thoughts and explain what you mean, the conversation was still fun to have.

 OUTPLAY

How did we go around Caramoan?

We rented a tricycle which we shared with our new-found Chinese friends to bring us to our hotel (P150 per trip)

We arrived in Caramoan at past 11am already. Touring around the town proper was easier in that we just walk, but for farther destinations tricycle rentals are the best options. Tricycle rental was at P150 for special trips from port to town proper where hotels/ inns are located. It could carry a maximum of 6 persons, so its basically 25per pax.

Where did we stayed for the night without any reservations?

We shared with the same group of backpackers and stayed at Sights and Sands Tourist Inn (room rates with twin sharing is 1.2k/ night)

It was already arranged with the group we had met at the terminal. I was pretty excited when we heard we are nearing our resort already. All the while, I was expecting for a beach front property where we could right there and then enjoy the waters of Caramoan. NO! It wasn't. The sights of greenery explains it. Where we stayed (and most other tourists) was an inn or hotel nearby the town proper. Except for the more expensive 

We will check CMC Villa and strongly consider Hacienda Lahuy next time

Our Chinese friends stayed at CMC. From what we have seen, they have quite a number of hotel rooms, which from the outside, looks pretty good. They have a pool but it is still under construction. Other than these, I have no idea on the hotel's rates more so, the service.

Hacienda Lahuy on the other hand, is the only resort I know, aside from the more expensive Gota Beach Resor, which is located in an island (not the usual resort in Caramoan's town proper). Rates, in a casual conversation with the son's owner/ manager is P1.8 per night which is good for two persons. Extra bed is P200. Not bad for a rate if as soon the moment you wake up and as you go your room, you'd be presented with pristine, cool waters you can enjoy without limit.

OUTLAST

What were our activities and how did we have it?

Island hopping. We shared the boat rental with a group of backpackers from Ligao (in Albay) (This, I cannot calculate since we just shared in their tour package. But in an interview with our boatman, current rental goes around 2.5 to 3 or 4 thousand depending on the size of the boat and how long will it be rented)

We arrived  at almost 12 already and was starting to worry what on earth could we do in only half a day left. We still went on with our island hop which was trimmed from a 5-island tour to just two.Yes we were able to visit only two islands, one of which is Lahuy where views of the sunset are always perfect. Maybe because aside from starting at around 2pm already, time was wasted in that trip to the famous Matukad island.

It was first in the list, second is where Gota beach is. But a few meters before we reach the islands we were cut short. Was informed by our boatman that the waving of a read flag only means one thing -- no one was allowed in the island other than the crew, staff and the contestants themselves. Oh I hated the survivor series that time.

 How did we make acquaintances?

Smile started handshakes and casual conversations.  It later introduced us to the group of backpackers we did our island hopping with and with whom we shared our hotel room. It also introduced us to our Chinese friends and to Hacienda Lahuy's owner. This trip has the most number of acquaintances I met in any other trip I made. And I think this has the most stories as well, so it brings back the smiles.

 

Cheap Airfare to Bora for Four

Got it for only P4,104. It is a two-way ticket for 4 persons (myself, mama, papa and my youngest brother) to Kalibo, Aklan. I can't contain my happiness in luckily crossing the website (www.airphilexpress.com) in the afternoon of June 7, 2012. The catch was: travel for P88 in selected local destination from Jan.15 to Feb 28, 2013. Adding the fuel charge and taxes, I got that pretty reasonable price I am already very happy about.

I could finally arrange a trip for us four. And how nice --- I'll be celebrating my 28th birthday in the island of Boracay, which again, was voted as one of the top beaches in world by a travel website. Whew! Excited to plan this trip. Saving for the finances too.


Most airline companies would have occasional sale and promos (a really good way to support the tourism industry in the country) so it helps to check on them once in a while or sign up for their email alerts. I have one for Cebu Pacific (www.cebupacificair.com). I wonder if Air Philippines also have the same feature...