Bantayan Island, Cebu

I have been to Cebu for a couple of times now, but this is my first time to explore one of its beautiful islands, the Bantayan Island. It is far from the city of Cebu but I am telling you, it's all worth the long journey.

Getting There:

At around 5:30 in the morning we were in the terminal to catch the early trips going to Hagnaya Port at the town of San Remigio. We travelled almost 3 hours by land to get there. We reached the port at around 830 am and we waited for the public ferry going to Bantayan Island. At 930 am we were boarding the ferry. It was a 2-hour ferry-ride.

At past 11:00 we reached the port at Sta. Fe. We rode a pedicab going to Budyong Resort. 

That will be our home for 2 days and 1 night. :)

Below are the picturesque views at the resort. 

From our room, going to the beach...

Enjoying the different shades of blue...

View from the beach....

Good morning sunshine!

Sunset...

And oh... Starry starry night! 

The place is so quiet and peaceful. A lot of foreigners roam around. They also have bars and restaurants here for socials if you want, that offers great foods and drinks at a fair price. But the good thing is that they are all located outside the resorts, thus, preserving the serene ambiance at the beach front.

How can I ever forget this lovely place?

Hello There, BALER!

I've been in Baler, Aurora for a number of times and I would be glad to come again and again and again. So long as time and budget permits.. :) I don't know why, but this is just one place that captured my heart. Not because I learned how to surf here, but maybe because places and views here are just so relaxing to look at. It will simply blow all your blues away! And for adventurer-seekers, take note of all other things you can do here if you're not into surfing.

Here are some of the things you can do when in Baler. :)

1. The Millenium Tree. As soon as you reached the town Maria Aurora, you can drop by to see this 600 plus old Balete tree and is claimed to be the biggest of its kind in Asia, before going to Baler Town proper which is still a few kilometers away. Stop and see how really big this tree has become that fifty people with arms stretched are needed in order to encompass its circumference!To see is to believe! Dare?

2. Ditumabo Falls. This Falls is just one of the attractions in Baler which is located in the town of San Luis, Aurora, few kilometers away from the town proper. Vehicles are required to park at the Tourist Assistance Center and visitors must hire a tricycle to bring them to the drop-off point where they will begin to walk roughly 45 min to reach the falls. Caution: It is going to be a bumpy ride!

Prepare to get wet because there are times that you have to cross the river. Be careful when stepping on huge stones, they are quite slippery, and you might end up getting bruises or wounds. As you come closer, it becomes cooler as trees cover the trail. Butterflies flutter around, birds are humming in the air, and the smell of the grasses and ferns are all over the place. At the side of the trail, crystal clear water flows continuously by the streams. It is quite a long walk, but with a scenic sight, how can one get tired?

At the end of the trail, the Mother Falls is waiting to reveal its beauty! Soak your body to the ice cold waters as you gaze at her and be amazed at this another wonder of creation. Take as many pictures as you can. Catch as many smiles as possible. Enjoy your moment with Mother Falls.

3. Diguisit Beach. This is a beach with a rock formation privately owned by Dela Torre Beach Resort. It's a great view from the Nipa Huts and the resort's lodging places, though the beach is not recommended for swimming. We usually stay in this resort because it is more peaceful here than in Sabang beach (the beach for surfing) and prices for an overnight stay here are more affordable, especially for backpackers like us.

What I like most in this resort is that the sound of the waves that will kiss you goodnight is the same sound that will greet you in the morning! Plus their staff and owners that are all accommodating and honest. Honest, because one time they returned the wallet my friend left in one of their rooms. :)

4. Dicasalarin Cove. This place is also privately owned, but they allow visitors as long as you are willing to pay 300.00 per head upon entrance. But I can say that it's worth it.

It's a white-sand beach great for swimming, and you can also climb the top of a hill where there is a white tower.

The view at the top is really spectacular!

5. Surf at Sabang Beach. This is the most commercialized part of Baler. This is where the top hotels and restaurants are located.

Surfing Board rentals and trainors are almost at every corner. The waves here are great for surfing both for beginners and professionals and trainors are really cool!

At only 350.00 you can use a surf board for an hour and you will be trained and accompanied by your trainor, he'll also be your personal LIFE GUARD! :D

You can also visit their museum, hanging bridge, and the Ermita Hill if you have more time to spare.
Don't forget to buy pasalubong! Their suman is also a must-try! :)

Hi Tanay! A Day at 10 Cents To Heaven

I just remember one of my funny experience with Zip Lines. During our second year anniversary, my boyfriend and i went to Ten Cents to Heaven in Tanay to celebrate there. 

We went there just riding a motorcycle and that added thrill to the experience. It was an hour of ride but I did not mind it. I enjoyed the view along the way. The weather in Tanay is colder compared to Manila that it feels like you are in Tagaytay.

Ten Cents To Heaven is actually a campsite/resort ideal for group or corporate outings. They have amenities for outdoor activities and team building. You can also cross the hanging bridge or do wall climbing here.

What we find exciting here is the 1.1 Km zipline making it the longest zipline in Luzon!

As soon as we had our snacks and some rest, we immediately geared up for our second zip line experience and the longest so far! 

My heart was pounding as the staff pushed me and I saw the cliff below me where my body could possibly fall should there be something wrong! Haha! But everything goes well and along the way I was able to conquer my fear and enjoy the ride. It was almost over, around 3 meters away from the other end of the zip line when i suddenly stopped! Maybe because my weight was not that heavy! Haha! I was nervous at first because I was left hanging several meters high! The staff decided to get a long bamboo, for them to pull me. 

And while waiting for them to rescue me I striked some poses at the camera! Another fun experience for me! :)

My Underground River Experience in Palawan!

Second day of our Palawan Tour was for exploring one of the 7 Wonders of Nature, which is the Underground River. This time, I availed a tour package because there's no way to go there unless through accredited travel agencies in Puerto Princesa. We rode in a van, together with a family of 10 members. It was quite a long ride but we enjoyed it. 

Once you reached the port, the tour guide will register your name to the local tourism desk, then you will wait for your turn to board a motorized boat that will take you to the shores of the Underground River. 

After alighting the boat, and taking some pictures with the rock formations on your background, you can start walking under the trees, to reach the river that will lead you to the caves. Be cautious with your things as wild monkeys roam around the area. They might snatch anything from you, thinking they are something to eat. They do not recommend feeding the monkeys here.

Small boats that can carry 8 people piled up in the riverbed. The person who will be seated at the front of the boat will be asked to hold the lamp that will serve as your light inside the dark cave. Since it was a protected area, motorized boats are not allowed, therefore, the bangkero will just paddle for the eight of you all throughout the one kilometer navigable area of the subterranean river. 

Honestly, I didn't like the idea. I am not comfortable with the dark, with caves, and with deep waters as I do not know how to swim. But I should see for myself what's inside this world-famous underwater river so I just sat quietly and made sure I have worn my life vest for safety. We entered the cave and as we go further, the lights from outside started to vanish, leaving us with only one lamp for light. OH NOOOOOOHHH! I could barely breath, really! All I could do was enjoy the sights, the bats, the different rock formations, and laugh at the bangkero's funny jokes.My heart was pounding all the way as I imagine the scene of Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore inside a dark cave. As I look at the waters in the dark, I thought of corpses and snakes coming in our boat! What a creative mind! LOL! I was so relieved when I see other boats inside the cave, that at-least-we-are-not-alone-thought! Haha!

I was amazed, though so nervous with the things I saw inside. The rock formations, the bats, though they really stink, the highest ceiling inside the cave, and everything that makes it one of the seven wonders of nature. It is 8 km wide, but they only allow tourists to navigate 1 km of it. Professional divers can reach the 4th kilometre but they have to secure special permits from the local tourism office. There are also several species of animals that can only live there.
This adventure really took my breath away. And that's what made it unforgettable.

Puerto Princesa Palawan City Tour & Firefly Watch

It’s been my long-time dream to travel to Palawan, one of the top tourist destinations here in the Philippines, both for Filipinos and foreigners. And last 2013, this dream came true. I was in-charge of planning the itinerary, and arranging for the lodging and tours, and my boyfriend was in-charge of the expenses. Fair enough, right? LOL!

We arrived at Puerto Princesa City before lunch, so we were able to unpack our things in the hotel where we stayed for 3 days and two nights. Puerto Pension served as our home in the city. 

After several minutes of rest, we boarded a tricycle that we rented for the city tour.

It was lunch time, so after visiting the cathedral, we headed to Ka Lui, the famous native restaurant where you have to take your slippers off upon entering their premises. We ordered the 'Special Catch of the Day Set'. It was a complete meal for two. Fish steak, prawns, sauteed veggies, and spicy squid. Plus slices of fruits in a freshly opened young coconut to top it off! This is just one thing we love when travelling: Food Trip!

After lunch, we proceeded to our city tour. We visited the crocodile farm. Here in Palawan they're serving crocodile meats as one of the exotic dishes, but please don't ask me how it tastes because I can't even imagine chewing a piece of meat of those deadly creatures! They culture young crocs in this farm for their meat. We also went to butterfly garden to have a closer look of these pretty insects. Then we visited Mitra's ranch where there is an overlooking view of the Palawan shores. We also went to Baker's Hill, a park where you can have your pictures taken and buy some 'hopia' for pasalubong.

The last spot for our Day 1 Itinerary was the Iwahig Firefly Watch. And this was my favorite! At first it seemed so creepy and I really felt nervous. It was so dark, only the two of us, plus the bangkero in a small boat, paddling across the silent river covered with mangroves. When the bangkero saw a tree full of fireflies, he will flash some red light to them so they will make their lights blink and shine even brighter! We approached the trees being lighted by hundreds of fireflies, the nature's very own all-season Christmas lights , OHHHHHH! It was really amazing! I can't even put into words how I was delighted by the sight. Awesome and magical! Too bad we cannot capture how beautiful it was because we only have smart phones that time and the surroundings were so dim. We spotted around 4 to 6 'blinking mangroves' during our one-hour boat ride. As we approached the dock, the moon slowly began to rise into the clouds. 

Boat ride in a river, full moon, fireflies all over the trees, silence, with the one you love. Awwwwww.... Could there be any more romantic scene than this? :)