Smells Like Team Spirit

There was this sound of rustling leaves last night, like there was someone outside our tent.  I felt like I was awake the whole time. Moreover, we were all sleeping over the ants’ kingdom uninvited. It was really uncomfortable. We were not able to choose a better campsite as it was already dark and we were all exhausted. We all got up early and hurriedly packed our stuff to get back on track. Two of my friends were way far ahead, and we had learned from them which way to follow. It was time to go.

The path calmed down a little but there were some places were the trail could not be easily traced. The tall grass covered most of it. I could have probably gotten lost if I attempted to follow my other two friends. It was like the spiral way was never ending and each turn we did exposed another mountain, it was a bit frustrating. We were all so eager to get to the end of the line, hoping to see some beach somewhere, hoping to see some light.

At last, there was a sign of civilization at the foot of the mountain. There are some locals living beside the river, what a relief! The locals told us about our two friends who passed here last night, and that they were waiting for us. And so we explained why we were not able to continue anymore. We found out that there is really no beach right here. Thankfully, the guy helped us out. He called a tricycle to take us all back to town. 

We were reunited in Nasugbu town, and this time we decided to go to one of the islands. So we took the boat and headed to this Twin Island. Having seen some of the nicest beaches in the Philippines, I couldn’t expect more out of Batangas beaches. There are a number of locals living by the shore. The surroundings are not that maintained and not that appealing.

Luckily it was a bright sunny day, and I feel like a newborn. We have reached this rocky piece of island with no trees for shade, it was hot as hell. We camped here for the day and swam to our hearts’ content.  We saw some signs of marine life, but it looks like it is on the verge of total depletion. Well, this place was good enough for me as I just needed to feel the ocean and just relax after all of yesterday’s hard work. Just drown all the madness away and take pleasure in the vivid landscape that surrounds me.

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The team spirit was redeemed in the end, and overall we had a great time together. United we swim, divided we drown. Into the woods and back in the ocean, we had tried and tested nature’s sheer power over us. The nature cannot be controlled. We just have to give our utmost respect on it, and the universe will conspire in our favor. Despite our limitations, we are not inferior to nature. We are part of it. 

How to get there and back:

(Pico de Loro to Twin Island, As of October 21, 2012)

- Bus from Baclaran (under the foot bridge) to Naic, Cavite – P66.00

- Tricycle going to Magnetic hill – P100 each

- Entrance fee of P20.00 in Basecamp 1

- Take the trail going to Brgy. Papaya from the summit

- Take a Tricycle going to Nasugbu Town – P125 each

- Rent a boat to Twin Island – P1800 (7 persons or more)

- Bus from Nasugbu town back to Manila - P155

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Island Escapades

My Spanish friend and I decided to visit Coron’s Malcapuya and Banana Island. We booked our tour with a different agency, and this is quite an expensive whole day activity. Nevertheless, I knew it’s going to be worth it. I know that a far and inaccessible place is usually the hidden paradise. I wanted to do this final activity as I’d be leaving Palawan the next day. And so we were sharing a boat with two Americans and their Filipina partners, a baby, and the same Chinese couple from our previous island-hopping tour. I know it’s quite strange to see a local and foreigner woman together, because it is not the usual case. The couples were seemed busy with each other, quite a boring group this time.

The islands are really far, but thankfully the weather was fine. We stopped in one of the islands. I'm impressed with the stunning beach, its fine white sand, crystal clear water and some rock formations around. The water is shallow and the corals can be easily seen from the surface. So we stopped here for a moment and did a little bit of snorkeling around.

We stopped in Banana Island for our lunch, and again we have loads of seafood, fruits and veggies.  I was planning to go swimming in the beach when it rained all of a sudden. I knew it’s going to happen as it was already cloudy when we arrived there. So we just cramped inside this small cottage while waiting for the rain to stop.

We arrived in Malcapuya Island a couple of minutes later. This is indeed a hidden a paradise, a picturesque beach with a long stretch of white sand. Snorkeling never gets old, and so off we went to explore the underwater world. However, the weather was quite unforgiving. It rained hard this time. The water was becoming choppy so we ran back to our boat. Because of the baby on board, we headed back to the town right away. I was quite sad, as Malcapuya is really a beautiful piece of heaven. I wanted to stay a little bit longer to savor the nature more. 

This was my final activity in Coron, and the next day it’s back to reality once again. As much as I wanted to remain, it was time to go home. Reflecting back on my past few days in Palawan, I've tried a lot of things I've never done before, visited many heavenly places and met a lot of interesting people. Overall, I’m very much satisfied of my whole adventure. I felt like I've gained experience points and a life level up. I’d be bringing back with me a mind full of long-lasting memories and images of nature’s beauty. 

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This Way to Paradise

Traveling is about seeing places and meeting people. To spice things up, I really don’t mind the latter, because for the longest time I haven’t been active in the cultural exchange scene. Oh how I miss the grumblings of a foreign traveler. I saw lots of foreign couples hanging around. This is quite understandable as El Nido’s romantic vibe makes this a perfect place for the honeymooners.  Aside from the Hongkong guy I met in the bus I also met some other interesting people. There was this young French girl and this Israeli guy I met after my rock climbing adventure. My experience with them was limited to a single night’s conversation. Since they were in El Nido, we were on the same level of agreement when it comes to nature. Their grumblings were just limited to  the country’s social problems, food and some little differences, the usual point-of-view I always get from the western people. Nevertheless, the French girl was nice enough. Forget about the Israeli guy since he seemed to have lots of things to whine about. I really didn't want to spoil the night and argue with some guy coming from a totally different world.

It was early morning in El Nido and I was getting ready for the island hopping trip. I was excited as I’m about to see what’s deep within. And to my surprise, my new friend from rock climbing was also my island hopping guide.

I was a little worried about the weather, it was a cloudy day. Fortunately it didn't rain that time. The trip consisted of stops in small, big and secret lagoons. You have to swim through the small lagoon to get in. It is really beautiful inside, the water is clear and deep, and the views around are marvelous. This is nature at its best, I found myself worshiping it.

I was having a good time with this nice local family I shared the boat with. The daughter told me about how she saved up for this trip so her mother and father could experience the beauty of our country.  And I found out that they were from Cagayan de Oro, another one in my list.

El Nido was holding me in a state of trance, I was reflecting on the beauty of nature and the goodness of life. A dip into the emerald waters, a walk on the vast stretch of white sand and a breath of fresh air -  this is what it is to be happy. The amazing scenery makes me forget about the material world we’re living in. Life will end any minute from now, and I believe that we should visit this part of the country before it’s too late. This is my God, the nature. It’s real, it’s visible and it’s powerful.

After the visit to the lagoons we stopped in an island for some lunch. The tour includes a buffet, with seafood, vegetables and fruits. I guess the price of the tour is worth it. And so we relaxed for a while, enjoyed a good conversation and ate a hearty meal. The left-over food will be fed to the fish, and that would be our next activity. Unlimited cuteness up next!

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Sweet Revelations - Unwrapping El Nido

The unresolved dilemma was still weighing me down, but this time I was full of hope.  The most pleasurable moment for me is waking up in a strange town. So there I was, in an unfamiliar bed in a strange town. I stood up and walked towards the unfamiliar door. I followed the light. There I was, standing outside, completely stunned. There’s a world outside my doorstep. I can’t describe the feeling at that moment. I’m amazed with the heavenly landscape, it was really magical.

This is El Nido, uncovering itself right before my eyes. And for a moment, I had forgotten about my grumblings and issues. I didn't realize that the guesthouse is just beside the beach as I haven’t noticed this when I came here last night. Totally unexpected, life is indeed full of sweet surprises.

I was in a trance until the guesthouse staff reminded me of the island-hopping tour I could take for the day. I should get back to reality. I have to get to the only bank in town and find out if I can withdraw some cash from the ATM. And for the moment of truth, the ATM does not accept any other banks. I had to think of another solution. I was really worried. And to my relief, the helpful locals told me that there is a gas station nearby that can cash out some money from credit cards, with some charge of course. That was good enough, I thought. I’m seeing some light now and I’m overjoyed. Things were working out smoothly this time, so I hurried back to the guesthouse to catch the island hopping tour. However it was too late, all the boats had already left. So I have no choice but to reschedule this activity the next day.

And so for the day I decided that I’d go kayaking with this cool dude from Rickson’s bar as my guide. This was my first time so I was really excited. My arms were really aching as I paddled, but I managed to do my part up to this island across Bacuit Bay. Mind you, it was not that near. 

My Kayak guide is a Jamaican-looking guy with lots of stories to tell. It is not every day that I get a chance to meet a local guy who is interesting. He’s an artist living a nomadic lifestyle, outside the limits of the society. I guess this is him living my dream.

I’m thankful that the weather was fine. We arrived in this island with a long stretch of fine sand, the water is clear and the views around are amazing. And for the first time, I was able to do a little bit of snorkeling around. Sadly I've noticed some garbage claimed to have just washed up on the shore, obviously no one cared.

I was really exhausted when we paddled back to the main beach. Kayaking was really a tiring activity but it was a fun experience. I hope next time I’d be able to Kayak on my own.

I want to try anything whenever there’s a chance because I always think that I might never come back again. I’m glad things worked out just fine here, and as they say, there’s always light at the end of the tunnel.  

Well this was just the first part of my El Nido experience, and I’m up for some more action.

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First Taste of Palawan's Beach - Sabang

After days of sleep deprivation, I slept and woke up really early. This time I felt really well-rested. A pleasant Sunday morning to begin with, it was nice and peaceful in my guesthouse. While outside, people were up early doing their thing. I packed my stuff, ready to go. I was enjoying the early morning sunshine as I headed out for my next destination - the underground river.

I took a short ride to San Jose Terminal. I got there early to catch the bus going to Sabang. Voila! My attempt to get the first trip failed, and so I waited for a long time to get the bus full. Having been traveled around the Philippines, this was no longer new to me. I’m tested for having no patience in waiting, and in my mind I was secretly throwing tantrums. 

A sweet ordinary bus ride gave me plenty of time to contemplate. The amazing scenery along the way took away all the frustrations I created. When will I ever learn, I and I alone, how far I can go. Recalling my history of tantrums and drama in my past travels, and the poor people who have to suffer and deal with it. When I’m alone, I tend to talk myself. Perhaps this is the alter ego as we know it. But this is not a psycho thing, I just have to constantly watch myself, awareness that is.

To my disappointment, the underground river trip has to wait until the next day. I didn’t know about the permit that I have to obtain first. Another option to get there is to stay in a guesthouse so the owner or the manager of it could arrange the permit for me. It looked like there was no room for camping around here. The place is a tourist trap. I found the cheapest accommodation around. I had the whole Tribal guesthouse for P500. Well it was because I’m the only guest that time, while everyone else was in some fancy hotels along Sabang beach. I had a simple room (with my own toilet) with a window overlooking the beach, not bad for its price. The guesthouse owner was really nice and helpful, and he really did help me in arranging my trip to the underground river.

So for the day, I took advantage of the nice weather to take a dip in the clear and wavy waters of the beach. This pretty much reminded me of Boracay, touristy and pricey.  But the beach is really amazing, with a long stretch of fine white sand and mountains as backdrop, so why should I complain. Oh well, this was my first taste of beach in Palawan. And once again the beach bum was on the loose.

Along the picturesque seashore, I met again a familiar friend – the bearcat, and a new friend – a snake, definitely not a cobra. To overcome my fear of it (which I think I didn’t), I had a picture taken with this new found friend. For me it was not an easy thing to do, and I had to caress the snake repeatedly to get used to the slimy feeling of it. I hope I’m not adding to its stress.  I’m crossing this off from my bucketlist now.

Wherever you go, locals will always tell you that there’s a waterfall you have to see, and it does not matter if it’s big or small. Just a kilometer away from the main beach, there’s a waterfall you can visit. The route is composed of rocks and stones of varying sizes, and that’s what made it challenging to go there. When I finally got there, it was just a mini waterfall, nothing really special. It is just some alternative place to go to to kill time or just for the sake of having something to explore in Sabang.

Alas it rained. The real challenge was going back. I fell down many times due to the slippery stones, and it was getting late. I definitely didn't want to be trekking there alone in the dark.  Back in the beach, I felt like there was no place to hang out while raining. So I stayed in my guesthouse and fell asleep to the sound of rain. I slept really early and had forgotten about the owner's invitation to have dinner and some drinks with him and his crew. Wow I was really getting a lot of rest in my trip, my system was  probably making up for the lack of sleep due to last week’s uninterrupted work.

I guess sleeping in an unfamiliar bed in a strange place is the cure . . .

How to get there and back:

- Take a multicab from Puerto Princesa City to San Jose Terminal - P13.00
- Bus from San Jose to Sabang (3 hours) - P125.00

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The Other Side of Mindoro - Introducing Pandan Island

 

“I hope the rain would stop”, that was my one desperate wish as me and my swimming buddies prepared for our most-awaited travel – Apo Reef. I don’t quite travel with a group so this trip better be good. My fellow beach junkies wanted to make this trip happen, rain or shine! Though there was a totally unexpected detour or should I say a sudden change of plan which eventually turned out to be good anyway. Due to the unforgiving weather, we stayed in Pandan Island, where we were supposedly be taking the boat ride from and where all the hopeful travelers to Apo reef meet. So my dreams of seeing the reef sharks would probably have to wait ‘till next summer.

Mindoro Occidental is less traveled and less developed than its neighbor to the east (Mindoro Oriental). And that’s what attracts me to explore this side of Mindoro. During the bus ride from Abra de Ilog to Sablayan, the first thing that popped in my mind was, wow it’s really green everywhere! The lush forests, the endangered Tamaraws (native buffalos) and the endless mountains along the way amaze me. When we reached the shores of Sablayan, the sea was like divided into two and the heavy rain seemingly turned half of it into brown, how fascinating!

The town of Sablayan has nature to offer as well - from waterfalls, rain forest to lake, but unfortunately we didn't have much time. Obviously there was a typhoon, that’s how unlucky we were. Coast guards wouldn't allow boat trips to Apo reef, so we agreed to spend two days in Pandan Island, which was not all that bad after all.

However rainy, you’ll still notice the beauty of this picturesque privately-owned island. It has a long curving white sand beach, perfect when you want to spend some time alone walking along the shore. A low-key tropical paradise unknown to many, home of the seven green turtles – the island’s main attraction, which my swimming coach was lucky enough to spot one. Oh great, no camping allowed. We were all prepared for the Apo reef, so there was a budget issue to be resolved here. There were only deluxe cottages and some comfortable bungalows around the resort, which were too pricey for us lowly travelers. Our decision-making skills were put to test, so we ended up negotiating with the caretaker guy. We’ve got two budget rooms for the four of us plus unlimited food for dinner. We wanted to get what we paid for so we settled in and enjoyed whatever this island has to offer.

I’m not so into private resorts, but well this one is pretty laidback. Surprisingly no videoke singing around, which is a popular night activity in other beach resorts. We didn't let the bad weather spoil the fun, so we all plunged into the cold water. We did snorkeling and spotted some colorful fishes and bizarre-looking corals around. During low tide, the kingdom down there becomes amazingly visible. No need to put on your snorkeling gears this time. Just be careful in stepping on the corals though.

Our most-awaited buffet for dinner was served. The table was filled with fresh and tasty feasts, complete with seafood, veggies and fresh fruits. We made sure we got what we paid for, but unfortunately my eyes are bigger than my stomach. As much as I want to make the most out of this expensive buffet (by our standards that time) I couldn't devour that much food compared to my fellas. Nevertheless, I was satisfied with what I ate and ended up with a happy stomach. The night was filled with good food, fun and laughter. We enjoyed some card games and the company of new found friends.

On the third day, we rode the boat back to Sablayan, and the heavy downpour got to us before we had reached the shore. Despite the weather and all, we managed to have fun and see the beauty in everything. Overall, our Pandan Island trip was awesome and our experiences were truly memorable.

How to get there and back:

- Catch a ferry ride to Abra de Ilog, P260 for two-and-a-half hours. Prepare P30 for the terminal fee.

- Hop on to a RORO bus or the Dimple Star bus from Abra de ilog, P220 for another three hour bus ride.

- The 15 minute boat ride to Pandan Island can be arranged from the town of Sabalyan, P500 for 5 persons. Boat ride can also be arranged from the resort in Pandan Island to go back to Sablayan.

- If you’re running out of time and you want to skip the transfers, pay a little bit higher and catch the RORO bus back to Manila from the town of Sablayan (P800 - all in).

Photos by Ibra Isla and Lindsy Juarbal

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Good Times in Puerto Galera

This part of Mindoro never gets old, just 3 hours away from Manila and you get to experience Puerto Galera’s crystal clear beach surrounded by lush mountains. This popular destination for the weekend warriors is still a good option for those who do not have much money and time for Boracay. I’m open to almost anything when it comes to travel. I would definitely want to balance my beach addiction by experiencing the best of both worlds, whether it’s an isolated piece of island or a party beach like Puerto Galera.

The crowd flocks in White beach as this is where the energy is. Some foreign tourists come here not only for scuba diving but also for partying. This is a popular choice for corporate team buildings and an alternative weekend hang out of the yuppies and couples during the hot summer months. And no wonder I bumped into some previous co-worker, of all places! Day or night, Puerto Galera is fully alive.

One can enjoy the typical activities the resort offers - from scuba diving, sailing, surfing, island hopping to snorkeling, or just simply take a plunge in the clear waters of the beach. Touristy it is, yet I only care about the evergreen nature that always fascinates me - the corals, the islets, the waterfall and the underwater cave. You’ll never run out of things to do here. And if you want to take a break from the waters, just have some relaxing massage or get a new look by having your hair braided before you go back to Manila.

Boat guys will never get tired of following you, offering some island hopping tours. If you play hard to get, you’ll probably get a cheaper price for the package. I’m kind of guilty of this as I am probably the haggle queen from Manila. As a poor traveler, I’m always paranoid of being overcharged. If money is not an issue then please don’t try to be a communist traveler anymore. These boat guys are not big corporations or shopping malls where most people spend a big chunk of their money for. They have kids to send to school and most of them have big families to support, so overcharge or not, who gives? Money might be much needed by someone else than you.

Rows and rows of souvenir shops block the view of the sandy white beach. While another kind of adventure happens at night, there are unlimited food and booze everywhere. The night life scene is compose of the usual party animals from Manila and the drunkards’ deafening videoke singing, but only the dancing lady boys made this place look like a typical party beach in Thailand. But whatever, I’m up for Puerto Galera’s night of fun! Oh well for the alcoholics, there’s the famous Mindoro Sling. Proven and tested to puke your brains out, and you might even supply enough fish feed for the next day’s snorkeling.

There will always be touts ambushing you as you get off the boat, offering some accommodations. It’s even pricier during summer, unless you scout the small towns for some small rooms for as low as P500 a night (yes that’s low here). And if I plan to go back here alone, I might just do my usual house-crashing.

Foreigners whine about getting ripped off here and there. Without painstaking research done on their side, I just feel sorry for them. Payback time for the locals who can’t afford to travel in the rich countries of the whites, it’s unfair I know, but that’s the reality in all tourist traps of the third world. So just suck it all in or whine all you want, be smart or be a victim, stay or get out - your choice

How to get there and back:

- To get to Puerto Galera one must go to Batangas port first. There are bus terminals in Gil Puyat (Buendia Taft), Manila. Take the bus going to Batangas, you won’t miss the port as many people disembark here. Fare is less than P200 for a travel time of 2 hours.

- Go straight to the boat terminal and ignore the touts who claim to be helping you find your way. Scams are widespread here so watch out. Find the ticket booth, if you are going to White beach then find the ferry that will go directly to it. One-way boat ticket costs around P250 (1 hour). Boats leave as early as 7:00 am and last trip from Batangas is until 4:00 pm.

- Last boats back to Batangas leave from Puerto Galera around 3:30 pm. Schedules might change so be sure to ask the locals around once you get to Puerto Galera.

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See it to believe it - The Famous Boracay

Everyone’s going to Boracay. Locals boast this as one of the world’s famous beaches. It made me more curious when I heard my friends talk about their experiences or even plans of coming back there. I dare not to ask what to see there, I got to see it myself. All I know is that it’s just another touristy and party beach. I decided to give it a chance. I felt like that being from Philippines, I really got to see it. Well just for the sake of being able to say “I've been there” and I’m a Filipino now.

I don’t really have high expectations of Boracay, I know that it would be just like any other beautiful beaches I’ve seen. Not until I got there, the moment I removed my flip flops and stepped on the sand, that’s when the “aha” kicked in. It’s like the long stretch of powdery white sand and emerald waters yelling at me, “I told you!” Ok that moment I knew, it exceeded my expectations. That time I realized, that’s why it’s touristy, that’s why everyone’s coming here. I can’t explain its beauty in mere words you got to see it to believe it.

Boracay is a small island 2km off the northwest tip of Panay in the Visayas. The whole energy and action take place in white beach. I felt like a tourist in my own country, with all the Japanese and Korean families walking around, or having their famous jump shots along the shore. And of course, you won’t miss all the sexy girls lying around sunbathing that you could actually walk above them. Boracay pretty much reminds me of Patong beach in Phuket, Thailand minus the prostitutes, or are there any?

Both for the beach bums and party-goers, Boracay is like a mini city with everything you need. From adventure, water sports, night life, food to shopping. I’ve been to remote islands, camped and all, but in Boracay it’s time to relax. There’s so much food around. You can enjoy the popular buffet at the beach front at night. It’s so relaxing to eat while looking at the shore with the wind blowing in your face. Drink, dance and party, or just chill out and enjoy some reggae music.

There’s always a price to pay for all of these, you got to watch out for your budget though. Being a cheapskate traveler who got used to camping and crashing houses, I can still think of ways to minimize the costs without sacrificing fun. I got here via Batangas-Mindoro-Caticlan route, hitchhiked from Puerto Galera to Roxas. It was a long tedious journey, but it was all worth it. There’s always the good ‘ol hitchhiking (From Oriental Mindoro) to be able to get here, you just got to pay for the 10 minute boat ride from Caticlan port to Boracay P25 and P100 both for the environmental and Terminal fee. There are now ferries by this 2Go company from Batangas Port that goes to Caticlan directly, around P800 for the ride. Or travel by plane, the fast and most convenient way.  Just be on constant look out for cheap airline promos to Caticlan or Kalibo. I got out of Boracay by plane from Kalibo, Aklan. I didn't have to book earlier for the ticket, but that time Airphil Express was cheap enough for a one way return ticket.

I heard from a friend that she crashed the house of the locals located at the small town at the back of the beach front. She politely asked them to let her stay in their place for P200, which is the price for the folding bed. She even hitchhiked a boat I think. If you don’t have the guts to do this, then you can still find guesthouses starting at P500 a night especially during off-peak season.

You can splurge on buffet, or you can scout the local town for some small “carinderias” or eateries.  And for the booze, some bars have their popular “happy hour”, you can score some cocktails at discounted prices. Forget about shopping, if you are on a budget. Remind yourself that this is a tourist trap.

I've swum in the nice beach, walked in its powdery white sand, partied all night, ate good food and now I can say I've experienced Boracay in all its glory. Should I go back? I don’t think so. I really don’t go back to the same place I traveled to. It’s time to move on!

Posted by MissForlorn, Photos by Peregrine

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