The Best Adventure: Coron, Palawan, Philippines - Day 3

This is the fourth and final installment of our coron adventure!


As we end Day 2, we had to look for something to bring home. Pasalubong hunt. Unluckily we were not able to find some items we can bring back to Manila. So we just walk around and eat at Lolo's carinderia. Since it was night and I am a super LOMI lover, its a must for me to try coron's local lomi. I ordered adobo, rice and I can't even remember and of course, LOMI. It's just fine and OK. Dinner is done and we need to sleep early for our Early Calauit Island Tour. Our call time is 4:00 AM. 


Some facts in our group, Gerald is the alarm clock. He never fails to wake us all up. True enough! I ask him to set his alarm 2:30 AM so that everyone can take a bath before leaving. It was 2:30. Taking turn for the shower and we are ready for 4:00 departure. We were not told to check our Van in the gate so we just wait for big knock-on-the-door.


It's 4:30 and still no one is knocking. I already send an SMS to our tour coordinator Ate Brenda that our van hasn't arrived yet. I decided to check outside, I realized I should always follow my instinct. Kuya driver is waiting outside! The gate was closed so he just waited outside.


2 Hour Drive


It's still dark, usually I always stay beside the driver. On the passenger's seat, I can see the beauty of night time. Moon, stars and creepy shadows. My guys are sleeping so I just listen to my mp3 and just enjoy the dark highway. Once in a while, I am having some chit-chat with the driver. (sorry, I already forgot the name).  For about an hour of rough drive, AG suddenly talks. "Kuya, wala ba tayong madadaanang pedeng mag-CR?" he asked. Kuya says that about an hour we will be on our destination for our breakfast. After 10 minutes, AG exclaimed, "kuya, wala ba talaga?, di ko na kaya eh." It's dark and we were like in the middle of nowhere. Kuya then stops and find the best Spot! KM35! Paul and Bajoy being Girlscouts, have wet wipes and alcohol. AG doesn't have a choice! He needs to let it GO! AT KM 35! With all the bushes, trees and creeps of night time. Too much for that stomach troubles, let's fast forward...


That's AG!

It's almost 6AM, we were about to arrived our Breakfast drop-off.


DAYON KAMO LODGE and KAREANAN


And were here,

The breakfast was normal! Hotsilog! We also have coffee and pandesal. Honestly, the pandesal is unbelievable! It was yummy. This is the kind of pandesal I'm longing to taste.


After the breakfast, Nene the Dog is playing with us. She is the sweetest dog I've ever seen.

I'm gonna see you on lunch Nene, we're now going to our Calauit Island Tour!


More rough rides, malubak, maputik, maiksi... It's really a hard drive and an unbelievable road!

Since I was on the passengers seat. I had a lot of talks with kuya driver. I learned about the history of Calauit Island and how it was put-up.

It was during the Marcos Regime, when President Ferdinand Marcos volunteered the country to be the home of the Kenya Animals like giraffe, gazelle, zebra and elands. As per our driver, only President Marcos raised hands when president of Kenya ask a favor to transfer some of their wildlife to ensure continuity of wildlife due to the diminishing animal population. Learn more about Calauit Island.

Calaiut Island is now a sanctuary for Wildlife. Local animals together with the transported animals from Kenya are local Palawan wildlife. Among the Palawan local wildlife were Mouse Deer, Peacock Pheasant, Palawan Deer, Palawan Bearcat, Wild Boar, Crocodiles, Alamid Cat, Monkeys, Eagle, Porcupine and Turtles. 

By the way we finally reach our destination, we will be transferring to the Calauit Island Proper using a motorboat. The boat cost PHP 400 back and forth.

Calauit Island


We reached Calauit Island. Entrance fee is Php200 per head and PHP1000 for the truck/rover. We waited for the firs group to finish since we arrived a little later. As a usual thing, we took pictures around and we had some pack snacks so we make used to the time to chill and talk.

As we are posing and playing on the swing and seesaw, we were introduce to our guide Kuya Ruben/Robin. 

While waiting on the hut, our driver bring in the Ice cream of the giraffes. Leaves of a locally grown tree in Calauit. I can't remember the name but the leaves is like minty in smell and it looks like leaves of balete. haha, I'm not even sure with my description.


Suddenly, the giraffes are coming nearer to the hut. They might have smell the leaves brought by our driver.


And so...

3 Giraffes came into the hut. It was enough for us, but of course we do want to see the herd. Kuya Robin was saying there were about 27 new island born/breed of giraffe from the original 11 from Kenya. 


We then boarded to the rover to check out the zebra, deer, gazelles and other animal.


Zebra

Giraffe

Crocodile

Monkey

More Giraffe

Gazelle

When we are in the middle of our tour, Joseph feels the same feeling he feels yesterday! Yes! The forest this time. He says baboons were looking while he is doing the did! hahaha


Alamid Cat

That was like 2 hours of roaming on the wild and we had enough. It was indeed a memorable experience.


That's the final leg of the trip. We are now going back to Coron. But before that, we will still have lunch at Karaenan, Dayon Kamo Lodge. It's the same way back, rough road!




Lunch Time


Lunch is almost ready when we reached Busuanga. 

Earlier that morning, we were ask what do we like for lunch. As they claim that seafood is fresh in their place, so we go for seafood. I ask for shrimp and fish for everyones benefit. I was not actually a seafood lover but due to my guys, I have to think of what they like. (the kindness in me. lol)


Lunch is ready and were ready to dig in.

Sinigang na Hipon and pinaputok na isda (not tilapia). Isn't that lovely? This time I was able to enjoy seafood! The shrimp has this sweet taste, one character of a fresh seafood! I really enjoy the lunch. After we got so full from that beautiful lunch, we had some spare time to spent and the owner Ate Violy gave us their calling card. She also tour us around their lodge and have a good chat to us. 


Ate Violy is a Manila girl. She is a midwife at her time, she was assigned for Busuanga for 2-3 months. She admit, she fell-in love to the place and of course to the love of her life. They have 3 kids. I remember her youngest is now 28 if I recall it correctly. Her eldest is now a police woman, the second (32y/o) is the manager of the restaurant and lodge (saw him in breakfast, meztiso at pogi) and her youngest is in abroad. It's a long and a really good story! If you will plan to go to Calauit, make sure to drop-by this place. Learn more about Dayon Kamo by visiting their Facebook account. 

We enjoy everything. Ate Violy really knows how to entertain. See you soon!


After the good talk, we were now on our way to Conception falls. We will just drop-off to see the place. 

Did I say we will just see the place? hahaha, Yes, we did. Hit the water! How can you resist the clear, cold and refreshing water? We don't actually bring some extra baggage so for me I had to hit the water in my briefs. lol. Don't worry, I don't keep pictures and you will not see any! hahaha


It was over, the mesmerizing water shortly relieves us. Back on the road.


At about 4:00 in the afternoon we reach Amphibiko.


Since I ask them to visit the church, we immediately took the shower and go for dinner. About to get dark, we go to their church and say a little prayer. Thank you Lord for this very wonderful experience.


In our group, I am Mr. Congeniality so I was able to had a good talk with tricycle drivers, guides and some locals. AG and I asked our Trike driver on Day 1 what's the best place to have a night out. So we go to Kawayanan Grill Station.

The food was fine. So we decided to have to end the night with a drink. We had red horse and sanmig Lights. It was all fun. and ohh BTW, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our dearest BAJOY!

We got to sleep early since our flight back to Manila is 9:00 AM. We still need to do some pasalubong shopping.

That is the end of our Coron Adventure! All-in-all I spent Less than PHP 8500 (including seat sale, pasalubong and everything).

For those planning to go for a Coron Adventure, don't hesitate. For me it is "The Adventure". Enjoy!

The Best Adventure: Coron, Palawan, Philippines - Day 2 - Part 2

The Best Adventure: Coron, Palawan, Philippines
An adventure in the majestic places of the Philippine Islands


Lets continue...


Still at Kayangan Lake, Oh I forgot to tell you there is another group who joined our tour. Since we are 7 in the group and theirs is 4. They just merge our groups for the island hopping. Lucille, Margarita, Avi and Joan our new friends. They are taking photos of us and us taking photos of them.


Here's a picture of them with Paul.

Since we don't have underwater camera, they are taking photos of us when we're in the water. Thanks a lot to our new friends.

Too much for Kayangan's beauty. I'm getting hungry! Next stop Sampaloc to have our lunch.


Sampaloc


Sampaloc beach is named from a fruit bearing tree planted/grows in the island. It was beautiful, white sand, crystal clear water, breezy air... everything was perfect! Perfect to have lunch! Speaking of lunch....


Too much of the beauty! Lunch is ready!

Hayyyy!!! Ansarap! Thank you Lord for all the beautiful things. Lunch was really good. I enjoy the fresh taste of the fish, shrimp and more... Since the sun is beautiful, we just can't wait to hit the water again...

Don't you just love the water? And sorry for the big chunk there, he forgot to take his excess baggage. hahaha.


And since Joseph is a frustrated diva! of course, its a must have! PICTORIAL!

 As the taong putik... Nice angle huh! hahahaha. 


It was a good lunch... We are now heading to our next destination. Barracuda Lake.


Barracuda Lake


Yes! It is a lake a again. Now, the water is deeper and a whole lot wider space. This time we do the dives, jumps and...

We did every jumps and it was fun. Suddenly, Joseph is saying his stomach is aching. Yes! He needs to do it. Oh no no no no! Walang CR and he really can't take the load. Its gonna explode. hahaha. He head back to our Boat, but there are also other tourist going to the lake, so he can't do it there. He go to the watcher's shed and ask the watchers to of course, be a look out. We stayed there for long as the water is lovely and the place is really terrific! Ok, we still have places to go. Going back to our boat, Joseph ask the watchers, "kuya, nadispatsa no na?" Yes!
When were getting ready, he noticed the pink plastic! You know what it is!

Yes, he leave a marked! 


Twin Lagoon


Its real! Beauty is everywhere! Twin lagoon was another unbelievable work of nature. 


I just enjoy snorkeling around and see natures beauty! A lot of words to describe the place and I am sure I will be out of words describing.


After an hour of snorkeling, were now heading to the lat stop. The Shipwreck!


Shipwreck


Almost there, we saw a Palawan Monitor Lizard in the shore, there are monkeys too. Were already exhausted but due to excitement about the shipwreck, we immediately hit the water. to the exact post, we see the shipwreck. It was creepy but hey look at those fishes... That's a lot. We still have the buns we bought that morning, so we fish-feed again. This time the fish are bigger and a lot more colorful. You can actually see the fish when your in the boat. About 10-15 minutes in the water, I suddenly feel this stingy sensation, there are jellyfish too. I went up the boat and just watch them all enjoying the water. It's getting dark then rain pours.


I can't believe how long that day was. All the beauty we seen will be stored in our brains and jpeg files will be shared over and over. Coron is amazing!

The Best Adventure: Coron, Palawan, Philippines - Day 2 - Part 1

The Best Adventure: Coron, Palawan, Philippines
An adventure in the majestic places of the Philippine Islands


We're supposed to be out by 8AM expecting the boat we will use for the island hopping/tour is in our lodge pier.


Breakfast


Our Tour package includes Breakfast and Lunch for Day 2. Breakfast will be taken in the hotel from 6:00 AM to 8:30 AM. Beyond time, Breakfast is forfeited. Breakfast is just fine. 1 Plain Rice, 1 pc sunny-side up egg, 1 pc regular size hotdog and 1 cup coffee. Yes, "bitin" short for big tummies. if you want more, order for your own. They run this Japanese Restaurant, I am not sure about the menu. I heard they have like sushi and something else. We finish our breakfast 15 minutes before 8. We head back to our room to wait for our tour guide. Ate Brenda told me the day before to wait for either Bernard or Dexter. She say, they are the best guide for the island hopping.


We're so ready to hit the beach, we were just waiting for our guide. Ohh, prepare your cash. Every drop has entrance fee.


Finally! A knock on the door. His name is Bernard (You will learn everything about our guide). I thought the boat is on our lodge pier. Bernard had us a walk 1 Kilometer to the town pier. When were getting near. He said. "Sir, ok lang ba sa inyo maglakad?" asking if its OK for us to walk. To my knowledge and the way i'm seeing things, we're just a few steps away from the pier and the boat to be exact.


Siete Pecados


Bernard ask if we bring bread for the fish feeding, of course NO. Dexter(the other guide) immediately grab a tricycle and buy 100-peso worth of bun. Enough for all.


Finally, I hear the motor of the boat started. For about 15-20 minutes we reach our first destination. Life-Vest ON, goggles checked and we are ready to hit the water.

Entrance fee is PHP 100. I am so excited to hit the water, of course I jump in the water first. I can see different kinds of fishes. The water is beautiful. We stayed for about an hour just feeding fishes. It was amazing. That's our first stop and there's a lot of word to describe it. Coron is beautiful.




Kayangan Lake


The moment they say we are going to a lake, a lot of thoughts is jumping of my mind. How in the world there's a lake in the ocean? Fascinating right? We passed-by a really-small-Islet (redundant coz it's really just a small pice of boulder floating in the water) called Calachuchi. 

There is a calachuchi tree at the top of the boulder. The way to Kayangan lake is a beauty. I was amazed and loving every work of nature I am seeing. It was really majestic!

And there you go, We are docking at the entrance of Kayangan. There are native people's in there, making their own "bangka" (small boat). Entrance fee to the lake is PHP 200.

Dexter and Bernard are now telling tales about the place. Kayangan Lake is one of the place where Dyesebel (Marian Rivera) was shoot.


It will be a long trek according to Bernard. We logged our name, paid the entrance and ready to see another beauty!

  
Hooo!!! Very tiring! It was a hard trek way up. But wait there's more, there is a trek going down too! We took whole lotta picture before going down.


And finally,

The trek was well paid! It was really another beauty! We immediately hit the water. Its fresh, cool, mesmerizing, what more can I say? By the way, Bernard and Dexter took our camera's. Dexter says' "Just enjoy the water, we will take care of you photos". 

oooppsss, my battery is getting discharge. I will just recharge and happy reading on my next post!

The Best Adventure: Coron, Palawan, Philippines - Day 1

The Best Adventure: Coron, Palawan, Philippines

An adventure in the majestic places of the Philippine Islands

It was Bajoy and Rivo’s idea of going to a vacation. The date is set 11/09/2011 – 11/12/2011 and place is Coron, Palawan. Since it was plan the longest time, I volunteered to make the arrangement and call travel agencies. Luckily, the first Agency I message replied immediately – Coron Travel Tours / Coron Royale Tours. You Everything was set! 4 days / 3 nights accomodation and travel arrangement and plus plus.

Tour Package cost USD  105 (Php 4500)

Day 1

Departure from Manila 8:30

On the first flight was Me, Gerald, Jojo, Paul and my TL AG via Air Phil. Bajoy and Rivo have the reservation for Zest Air at a later time. As the usual scene, we will be waiting for AG (he got home 4am due to the demanding client). Jojo and I were rehearsing “LIPTON Icetea” commercial once AG arrive.

“define kanina, Kanina damo pa yan, ngayon puno na. Kanina naka crew cut pa ko, ngayon pang shampoo commercial na. at higit sa lahat bata pa ko kanina.”

And AG arrived, and the line (after the spiel – jojo was laughing the whole time)… …ano yun? My poor TL don’t know the commercial.  The flight only takes about 45 minutes.  

Terminal Fee USD 5 (PHP200)

Arrival to Busuangga

Our reservation is Amphibiko Lodge. It is nothing fancy but it suits the basic needs. Bed wasn’t great since they have the old type (bulgy, spring not aligned and not soft at all), they’ve got AC, TV and DVD, Hot water on the shower, bidet and a lil’ spaceous CR. The best thing I like is the lawanit inspired room and the friendly staffs. Forgot to mention, there are hogs right behind our room and some construction taking place in front.


Lolo Nonoy's Eatery


We couldn't wait for Bajoy and Makoy, we were really starving as we're Just-In-Time for the flight waiting for AG and we don't have the time to take a bite. So we decided to hit the town and look for some foodie goodie. Inah the Lodge Manager, says some restaurant and finally say the budget friendly Lutong-Bahay food house - Lolo Nonoy's Eatery. The food was just K, OK for me. It was good but not really that sumptuous for me. What could i expect from a Php 120.00 Meal? We had back to our resort and planned to take some sleep, specially for AG as he only have 2 hours sleep yet.


Climbing Mt. Tapyas 


Bajoy and Rivo arrived, I told them to eat in Lolo Nonoy's since we're already stuffed. So, we then took some rest. I was planning to tour around near vicinity at 4PM so I asked Gerald to alarm 3PM. At 2PM it was brown-out, no generator so we just stayed at the outside veranda (outside entrance). ohhh btw, i was waiting for Ate Brenda our official tour coordinator. At 2:30 while we Jojo was doing the posing and and all stuffs (AG as the photographer), Kuya Bong (Ate Brenda's brother) come over and talk to us. Since the whole day is our free time, Bong advice to take Mt. Tapyas and Hotspring afterwards. The group get ready for Mt. Tapyas since we don't have electric power yet.

That was one high stairs! ahhh... very tiring. Successfully, we were able to climb Mt. Tapyas. To my amusement, someone is working his way up to the tip with his bike (can't remember if i ask the name), about mid to late 20's, from average to rich, and cute fair to dark guy. We had some small talk and he is really generous to answer my questions. He will be riding his bike (big Mountain Bike) going down on the other side of the mountain. He say, he does it every other week. I really admire  his dedication and the fact that he is really brave.  

It was really tiring! On our way down, Bajoy is counting the stairs, nearly the last 50 steps, Bajoy saw a Rottweiler and just say "MAMA" and climb up. Paul suddenly interrupt and ask were is she on her count. Then all she say was "SH*T, di ko maalala". We were just laughing till we're down.


Maquinit Hot Spring


We ride a Tricycle going to Maquinit Hot Spring for PHP300, that's back and forth. Entrance to Maquinit is PHP 150. Since the climbing to Mt. Tapyas exhaust us all. We decided to take the dinner at Maquinit. Thanks to Bong for the advice. Along the way to Maquinit, you can buy lechon manok and rice. (you can bring food in Maquinit, except drinks). We eat first before we hit the steamy hot water. I was last to hit the water as I didn't bring board shorts with me and  i just cant jump in just wearing boxers so i waited till darkness covers the place. And there you go, i go near my groups area. The water is really hot but the smell (for me) is really not good. The Water smells like a dressed chicken.


Some of my guys like it, but for me NO. I don't really like the dressed chicken smell.


Tired but can still do something else, Me, AG, Gerald, Makoy and Jojo went out for some walks and food too.


We sleep early for Day 2 is jam pack of activities. We will have the island tour 8:30AM. :) Gotta sleep now. :)