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.

 

BOHOL Do-It-Yourself

Duration of Stay               :4 days

Travel time from MM       :app 2 hrs.

Budget Hotel                   :Dumaluan 2 Beach Resort in Panglao island, check http://dumaluanbeachresort.tripod.com/home.html, or www.dumaluanbeach.com

Activities                         :Countryside tour, Dolphin watching and Island hopping, E.A.T Danao

Means of Transpo           :Van for hire, tricycle, boat, jeep, habal-habal, bus

Budget                            :5,500 more or less (ours was just tipid, app 4k because we shared with some new-found friends)
Best Pasalubongs            : Peanut Kisses

ITINERARY for 4D3N Stay
Day 1
8:00-9:00-Arrival and preliminaries
9:00-5:30-City tour
                Baclayon Church
                Phyton
                Loboc river cruise
                Tarsier Sanctuary
                Butterfly garde
                Manmade Forest

                Chocolate Hills
                Hanging bridge
                Blood compact site
6:00-6:30-Check in at the resort (in Panglao)

Day 2
6:00-8:30-Dolphin Watching
8:30-9:30-To Balicasag
9:30-11:00-Snorkeling
11:00-1:00-Rest and Lunch on Balicasag island
1:30-2:00-To Virgin Island
2:00-3:30-Swimming on Virgin Island
3:30-4:30-Back to resort
I guess, there is still enough time for a panglao tour in the afternoon. But because we were already exhausted...we opted to just rest and bond inside our rooms. Stayed late for the night too. More chitchats with our travel buddies--the Baeck family.

Day 3
7:00-7:30-To town proper and Tagbilaran terminal
7:30-11:30-Travel to Danao by bus
11:30-11:45-To Danao Adventure Park by habal-habal
12:00-1:00-Lunch
1:00-3:00-Explore the park (We didn't really, because we limited ourselves to the area where the famous "Plunge" is. We stayed too long, observing the others, watching, thinking...could we do it? we'll never know if we don't try, so we did. And done in less than 20 mins)
3:00-6:30-Back to Tagbilaran
6:30-7:00-Quick stop at the mall
7:00-7:30-Back to the hotel

Day 4
Departure
9:00 - To airport with stopover at pasalubong shop
10:00 - Back to Manila

CONTACTS
Driver and city tour guide - Kuya Rab (see related post: Bohol: Bits and Pieces)
Boat rental for Dolphin watching and island hopping - Kuya Geging (see related post)

Related sites:www.eatdanao.com        
              

BOHOL: Bits and Pieces of a 4D3N Tour

Day 1 - Countryside Tour

There's just so much to do in the island province of Bohol. And day 1 was a hard proof. It was one heck of a schedule of places to go and sights to see. 

Plus, the best part in traveling...meeting people.This trip had loads of them. And the Backs (from Netherlands) were the ones so dear. They were awesome companions. We were with them for the duration of the 3-day trip (except for the last) and explored Bohol together. We've made not just acquaintances but real friends. I look forward to traveling with them again...and soon.

 For this countryside tour of Bohol, Kuya Rab would do a very good tour guide/ driver. His contact detail is (0908)9348063.

1. BACLAYON CHURCH

The oldest stone church in the Philippines, which has the image of Padre Pio mystically drawn on its aging walls.Tourists actually has the option to go to the museum, but we didn't. It was close to lunch already and we were also very eager then to have one in the famous floating restaurants of Loboc.

 
Cost: Free.

Tip: Dress appropriately. It's a tourist attraction but it is still a religious site.

 2. LARGEST PYTHON IN CAPTIVITY

Just being the python Prony is, makes him really scary and threatening, not to mention its size. But his stillness and sometimes slow and quiet movements seemed to erase the thought. Lia (below), one of the Backs, was good at that.

Aside from Prony of course, there are others of his kind...and some others of a different one. I had a choice to be taken a photo with this giant reptile, I just didn't have the courage. To those who aren't as brave as Lia, a replica of Prony's is available for that photograph.
 
Cost: app 10-20/head.

Tip: There are souvenirs sold here but I would recommend buying at the hanging bridge. It's cheaper.

3. LOBOC RIVER CRUISE

Nothing compares having lunch while on board the restaurants floating on the river of Loboc and being welcomed by it's naturally green waters and abundant greenery. Being audiences to the talent of Loboc's locals was a plus.

I just didn't particularly love the food of our floating restaurant, it was short than ordinary. I don't know...or was I just expecting too much that it seem to fail my taste. 
 
Cost: app 300-400/head for the cruise and lunch.

Tip: Bring extra for a small gratuity to the performers.

4. MAN-MADE FOREST 

Need I say more? Was man competing with nature in creating this? Nope. It was just man's help to make nature more beautiful than it already is.It was relaxing taking covers under those towering mahogany trees. It was also quiet and peaceful. We could only hear the sounds of ourselves laughing, our cameras clicking and the beeping of a car so rare we would almost forget we're actually on a national highway.

Cost: absolutely free.

Tip: Sometimes you'd get too engaged in the photo-ops...you forget that it's still a highway so careful of cars.

5. TARSIER SANCTUARY

Proved two things: they are the size of a closed fist and they sleep a lot (it's morning when we visited and they're nocturnal...that's why). 

We almost wanted to take them home only that, their population now equals their size. 
I hope Bohol's tarsier sanctuary would keep these cute little creatures for our generation to see.

Cost: Donation only.

Tip: Turn your camera's flash OFF.

6. BUTTERFLY GARDEN

Along the way to chocolate hills was this garden where a less-than-30mins-tour was more than enough to have an info-overload of its main inhabitants - butterflies.

It was a learning experience really but we must admit, aside from being refreshed of fatcs we already know, and being amazed of what we still don't know, we were entertained of how everything was delivered to us. Our guide's crazy and funny antics worked. He earned our praises. Bow to kuya "budderfly".  

Cost: app 50/head.

Tip: Don't forget to have yourself photographed in a butterfly's wings. An awesome trick.

7. CHOCOLATE HILLS

This is nature's handicraft at it's best. On the way, you would see pieces of nature's work, but it is in the summit of that over a hundred steps of journey to the top of the view deck, would you really marvel the work. 

We arrived at the viewing deck when the sun was high up. We were'nt prepared for the scorching heat. So if you'd be doing a tour, a handy umbrella would be great. But of course, everything boils down to the reward that awaits so...we couldn't be happier and thankful of the fine weather.
 

Cost: app 50/head.

Tip: Don't forget to have yourself photographed on a witch's broom. It produces a real nice effect.

8. HANGING BRIDGE

The twin bridges also provides a view of the Loboc River. It was fun crossing the bridge but more fun balancing the walk, especially if too many crosses. The challenge is to maintain that balance. Across, souvenir shops await. I was able to buy two shirts, one at 100, the other at 120. I guess it was a decent buy already plus the packs of peanut kisses and a number of key chains. Buko would also a perfect refreshment. We had one for a cheap P15 which we share among us four.

Cost: app 10-20/head.

Tip: Perfect for souvenir shopping.

9. BLOOD COMPACT SITE

The site reminds its visitors of the first Treaty of Friendship between two races - the whites and browns. Toast!

Cost: absolutely free

Tip: Can put this last in your itinerary so you'd enjoy the shade.
 

Day 2 - Dolphin watching, Balicasag and Virgin island Tour

I thought we already experienced Bohol at its best….the second day adventure we would know later was equally amazing. Waking up to meet the 6am call time of our boatman was pretty hard (almost an early morning exhaustion) after that the previous day’s tour. But as we stroll and walk by the shore and enjoying the color of the morning sun blending with the turquoise water and white, creamy sand – all the weariness faded away real fast.
 
Kuya joven - 09065077848 or Kuya geging - 09187103016 would be nice contacts for an island hoping tour and dolphin watching. Plus, you can bargain with them. And with the tour includes:

1. Dolphin Watching in Pamilacan

In almost an hour, we arrived at where the dolphins’ natural playground is. Our spotter was really good, often giving us the first glimpse of these creatures. There were almost twenty boats in that area but we are the luckiest... where we go, they just follow.  Two thumbs up to our guides!

Cost:boat rental - 4k

Tip: You should have a pretty good spotter. They know where just to follow these amazing creatures.

2. Snorkeling in Balicasag Island

There can't be a more sumptuous lunch than the one we had in Balicasag. The fish and sea food dishes were all freshly cooked - served the minute it it was taken from fire. And what could be a more perfect dessert than to savor the view of the waters and its many small, colorful inhabitants. Like Nemo's long lost relative here....

Cost:included in the day tour

Tip: Better if you really know how to swim...snorkeling would be all that easy!!!

3. Swimming in Virgin Island

I never thought something like this could be found in the Philippines until I saw it. And the moment I stepped on that shore - "I want to go back here". I can't even think how to leave. It was hard. And what's really fun? you get to shop at some points in that long circling stretch of white sand. Yes! Filipino meriendas made available for you.

Tip: Try to really catch the low tide!!! 

Day 3 - Extreme Adventure in Danao

Off the road almost the whole day for one thing - PLUNGE. It was frightening. Yes...at first and towards the end. The thought of being suspended on air and hanging above that vast space between the river below and the sky above...almost made me want to just enjoy seeing the others and how they seem to fall out of breath and scream moment after. But I can't permit myself to just watch and be left wondering how, just how it felt. And so the flight...one which you'd later wish to not land that soon.

Cost: Forgot the transpo costs but since we took public transports, it was well really cheap. Van rentals are available but we traveled in a group of four so rental will not be practical.

Tip: Do the head start. Check  www.eatdanao.com


After that extended time at the flight deck and arguing whether to really do the head start or not and constantly confirming my safety with all the staff who obviously were already ensuring that all those gears are tightly locked in place...it just went all too fast, I couldn't handle even my breathing and whatever sense I know I have but I think I totally lost it in that - droooooooooop.

It was less than ten seconds I guess when I later heard my screaming (or did I?) and my friends' cheering, when I then saw the blues and greens, when I felt the breezy air and when I smelled victory and relief -- I'm alive

They were right in saying that you're not paying for the ride but for the adventure. It's true! Because after doing the "Plunge" I think I could now do every little daredevils would do. I could claim right at that moment, hey give me anything and everything!

ILOILO-GUIMARAS: Religion, Culture and History at a Grasp

Iloilo presented a backdrop rich in religion, culture and history which was so willingly and generously presented to us in that two-day stay. Not far from Iloilo is the island of Guimaras, which  has its way too of giving us a taste of history, adding its natural wonders on the side.

Day 1-Iloilo

July 2011 via Airphil which we got on another discounted fare of P688. As did before, it was an unusual travel hour of 5AM on a Friday. And so it means we took a leave from work. I guess it was just fine since there was so much to work on to...and learn in the process in this Visayan province.

We visited churches; a botanical and wildlife garden, and on the way, saw houses of people from the past (and now).

House of Graciano Lopez Jaena

Jaro Cathedral

Molo Church

Tigbaun Church

Arevalo Church

Clements Church

Guimbal Church

Miagao Church

Biscocho House

Botanical Garden

Iloilo's Starbucks: Coffee Break

Tatoy's with Anne (third from right), your resident Ilongga

 Day 2-Guimaras

I know very little of this island province and visiting the place did all the help. Then, I didn’t knew that it has the same white sand beaches like the more popular tourist destinations in the country. Then, I didn’t knew that there, mangos grew like wild grass. Then, I never knew that it has more than beaches and mangos, it also has its own (hi)story intact.

Guisi Lighthouse

The ruins

SEAFDEC reminded me of waterworld

The surrounding islands of SEAFDEC

Not a destination

Rocks in Turtle Island

The classic jump

Turtle Island

Trappist Monastery gift shop

Camp Alfredo's

Flight

First: Zipline

Second: Hanging Bridge

Third: Rapel

Smallest Plaza

Ted's

My top 5 special interests:

1. Miagao Church (Iloilo) is no less than a UNESCO world heritage site. It really is world class – a defining structure. It left us all in awe watching its grace stand before us. It was a wonder how those intricate piece of art seem so perfectly seated on the church's facade. It was humbling to have witnessed its beauty.

2. Magdalena Jalandoni Mansion (Ilolio) was another beauty. I specially loved this former abode of a famous Ilonggo literary genius. It housed pieces of art – on its walls, the staircase, the doors, windows, etc. It could have been called a canvass concealed in a big mansion. 

3. Guisi Lighthouse and Ruins’ (Guimaras) could almost still reflect the past where it once was – resilient and standing strong in the hills of Guisi. Its old, rusty metal frame still remains a sight worth seeing aside from that perfect view that await after a careful climb on its slowly corroding stairs.

4. Smallville (Iloilo) is Iloilo’s Eastwood, I may say…a night life at its best. A Lifestyle hub and a hot spot to the young, the professionals and the adults. It has its party-feel all over and was almost like the more famous Metro Manila

 

5. Mangos (Guimaras) and Batchoy (Iloilo) are still best eaten in the province where they grow abundant or where they originate …and it won’t fail your taste buds. It didn’t failed mine. Thanks to Ted’s, I’m beginning to wonder: “does it really make any difference if batchoys are prepared in Manila because there, it was really heavenly”.

ILOILO-GUIMARAS Do-It-Yourself

Duration of Stay               :2 days

Travel time from MM       :app 1.5 hrs. by air (Airphil express)

Budget Hotel                   :Century 21 Hotel

Activities                         :Iloilo City tour, Island hopping in Guimaras

Means of Transpo           :Van for hire, tricycle, multicabs, ferry

Budget                            :4,000 more or less
Best Pasalubong             : Biscocho (Iloilo) and Dried Mangos (Guimaras)

ITINERARY for 3D2N

Day 1
6:30-7:00 - Arrival  and check-in at the hotel
7:00-8:00 - Breakfast in the city
8:00-5:00 - City Tour
5:30-6:30 - Back to the hotel and rest
7:00-8:00 - Dinner
8:00-10:00- Night life at Smallville

Day 2
6:30-7:00 -Breakfast
7:00-7:30 - To port
7:30-8:30 - Travel to Guimaras
9:00-10:00-Guisi Lighthouse
10:00:10:30-To resort
10:30-1:30-Island hopping
2:00-3:00-Late lunch and shower
3:00-4:00- Camp Alfredo Adventure Park
4:00-4:30-Pasalubong with stop over at Trappist Monastery and Smallest Plaza
4:30-5:30-Back to Iloilo
6:00-6:30-Hotel
6:30-8:00-Dinner at Ted's (the best la paz batchoy ever!!!)

Day 3
5:45 - Departure