Bantayan: Brilliant Blue Beach

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Travel, Photography, Asia
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Bantayan Island is a relatively large island located north of Cebu mainland. It's a good getaway place for Cebu-City dwellers because it's just a four-hour bus and boat ride away from this southern capital. We came here on a really small budget. Thanks in part to Cebu Pacific's 450-peso roundtrip Manila to Cebu fares, we were only set back 5,000 pesos all-in. Good, no?


While in the island, we stayed at Kota Beach. It is one of the resorts found in the southern part of the island. The beach is pretty decent. Admittedly, it isn't really the best beach I have ever been in. But I am sure that you will still find this beach serving you well on a hot summer day.


The waters are extremely inviting. From the beach to the horizon, you will be able to see different shades of tropical blue-green hues, something this archipelago of a country is known for. The view from there is vast. It is so vast that we were able to see rain clouds coming from afar. The rain poured for just about an hour, though. So everything was still good.


By the way, Kota Beach and it's adjacent resort share a sandbar. When the tide is high, water will come into the middle of the beach and form some sort of a kiddle pool, leaving a strip of sand beside the water. Because of its stillness and the heat of the sun, this pool can get relatively warm. So it'll be nice to try the water here, too.


If you're staying at this beach, take note that the sand is better past the hut with stone columns and balusters. From the resort, facing the beach, you will find this hut on the left. Past that hut, the sand is finer. Plus, only a few people bathe there. So you'll have a huge area all to yourself.


One final thing. This beach faces south-southeast. Thus, there will be no sunset here. You will see the sun setting on the far side of the island, not on the horizon. Fortunately, there is a sunrise. So sun-worshippers need to get up early to catch Bantayan's beautiful sun.



For other Bantayan-island entries, please see:
Bantayan: The Spanish-Era Town Plaza
Bantayan: Blooms in May
Bantayan: The Historical Kota Park
Cebu: From the City to the Island

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Cebu: From the City to the Island

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WALK FLY PINOY:
Travel, Photography, Asia
www.walkflypinoy.com

Before the summer ended (well, it technically already ended), I knew I had one more trip to do. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I did not know much about our destination--Bantayan Island in Cebu province. I was not the organizer, too. So me getting there would not be possible without my travel companions.


We woke up early that Saturday in Cebu City and took a taxi to the North Terminal where we would ride the bus that would take us to Hagnaya Port. Even at 5 in the morning, expect the bus terminal to be bustling with barkers. They will badger you, ask you about your destination, point you--even push you--to their buses. It was wise that we already knew to get on the Ceres bus to get to the port.


The bus ride was grueling. Ceres buses were ordinary city buses. No airconditioning. But that's worth it, I think. The bus ride was scenic enough. From Cebu City, we drove along the coast, climbed up some mountainous areas, got on provincial backroads, and saw rural Cebu. After about three hours, we finally arrived at Hagnaya Port in Northern Cebu.


The port easily fills up with people so better buy a ticket and grab a bench for yourself and/or for your bags. We took the Island Express and bought "first-class" tickets. First-class for Island Express means staying at the air-conditioned passenger space with an in-"ship" movie. The best part about it is that only a few get first-class tickets. So there'll be a lot of empty seats. I comfortably slept in one for the better part of the ship ride.


We arrived at Bantayan Island after about one hour and a half. The turquoise waters greeted us as we got off the ship. It was unbelievable how brilliant the color of the water was. And we were at the island's port area! I guess the port was in Santa Fe town, the town where we will be staying in while in the island.


Be prepared to be "harrassed" by local padyak and motorcycle taxi drivers. They will get on your face, block your way and basically push you towards their rides. We settled on a motorcycle taxi (more like a Thai tuk-tuk) to take us to our home for that weekend--Kota Beach.


We checked in, dropped our bags and immediately went out to have lunch. We went to a place recommended by a co-worker of one of my travel companions. The place is called Balikbayan Restaurant, located along Balikbayan Street, the same street where the two chuches in that commercial area in Santa Fe can be found. Food is good enough, especially if you consider their relatively high prices. Make sure to try their fresh-fruits halo-halo, one of the best things to have on the island.


It was quite a walk from Kota Beach to Balikbayan and back. The sun was scorching and I did not like walking. I changed my mind when I saw some of the houses in that area. Having been born and raised in some of the more residential parts of Manila, I do not get to see these kinds of houses. I know that they once existed in Manila, but sadly only a few are left. They're mostly found in downtown old Manila, too.


I found some beautifully preserved old wooden houses and one derelict broken-down house with an empty children's playground outside. They were quite beautiful and eerie at the same time. I liked them a lot.



For other Bantayan-island entries, please see:
Bantayan: The Spanish-Era Town Plaza
Bantayan: Blooms in May
Bantayan: The Historical Kota Park
Bantayan: Brilliant Blue Beach

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Travel Log: Gearing up for Cebu

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WALK FLY PINOY:
Travel, Photography, Asia
www.walkflypinoy.com

I haven't posted any pictures for a while. I know. But that's because it has been a while since I went on a "photo assignment" (I shall call them that, yes).

That should change in a couple of days. I am going on a photo assignment to Cebu tomorrow. Our flight arrives around 8 p.m. at Cebu City. We will be spending the night there before we head up north to Bantayan Island, where we will be spending the weekend. After that, on Monday, we head back to Cebu City for some city exploring.

I have been to Cebu once but that was just in transit to Bohol. So I just got a glimpse of it. I am hoping to see more of old Cebu when I get there. Maybe some Spanish churches, forts and, of course, Magellan's Cross. Touristy, but it has to be done.

With Bantayan island, I don't know what to expect. I only learned about the place after we booked the flight to Cebu. It is known for its wide white beaches, I guess. Hopefully, I'll see more of this big island, not just its beaches.

One more thing. I recently bought myself a DSLR--a Nikon D60. Nikon's latest very user-friendly beginner camera. All the pictures I have taken so far, those that was published on this blog, were taken using a friend's camera, which I really really appreciate. :)

Now, I am baptizing my camera in this trip. Santorini, it's name. Santi, it's nickname. I guess that's all. Bon voyage to us!

Image Sources:
White Sands Beach Villa
Akihabara News

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Coron: Sights and Sunsets at Kayangan

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Travel, Photography, Asia
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One of the last places we visited in Coron, Palawan is Kayangan Lake. Said to be one of the cleanest lakes in the Philippines, Kayangan, as with most lakes in the area, is actually part salt water and part fresh water. The fresh water, we were told, comes from the hills and the tall limestone cliffs that enclose the lakes.


The lake is on the other side of a steep mountain. So, to get to the actual lake, you had to climb up this mountain. They have built a staircase there, so it's very accessible. The downside is, it's very accessible. This means a whole lot of tourists. I do think, however, that the lake is spacious enough for many people. So the swim there is still very much enjoyable.


I have to be honest. None of the pictures here are of Kayangan Lake itself. The pictures here are actually of the views you see going to and from the lake. There were these huts you see as you approach the staircase. The contrast in the colors of these huts and the crystalline turquoise water was to me very bizarre, interesting and at the same time, amazing.


There are other lakes and lagoons in these parts worth mentioning. One of them is Barracuda Lake. Not many people can access it because to get there you have to climb up and down very sharp rock boulders. No staircases. Very dangerous. I was even advised to not bring my camera with me, which was fine. But when we got there, I felt like we discovered a hidden gem. We were the only ones in that vast blue-green water. I even went cliff jumping there. Amazing. It was truly an outstanding experience.


After touring Coron island, it was time to get back to Coron town. At this time, the sun was already setting. We were already on the boat by then, cruising our way through the water. This was fortunate, because we got to see one pretty unforgettable sunset Coron had to offer. That was our last day there. And the sunset was the perfect ending to our wonderful trip.



For other Coron-related posts and photos, please see:
Coron: Boulders at Banol
Coron: Waddling around CYC Beach
Coron: Lusong at Sangat
Coron: Exploring the Town

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Coron: Boulders at Banol Beach

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Travel, Photography, Asia
www.walkflypinoy.com

On our third day in Coron, Palawan, we visited an amazing white-sand beach. On our way there, I asked our local guide/slash/tour arranger/slash/lunch provider if it was a private beach. He answered yes. Bummer. He then continued that it was owned by indigenous Mangyan tribes. I was relieved.


We arrived at Banol Beach (that's its name) just in time for lunch. We settled on a hut and had our hearty lunch there. We were lucky we had arrived before a number of other boats and tourists got there. We were able to have the beach to ourselves for at least an hour.


The place had these huge rock boulders sprawled around. The beach is not that vast, really. The place, in fact, is in a cove, bordered by huge rock mountains. It didn't stop the local Mangyans, though, from calling it home. I guess the huts and the tables are theirs. When we got there, some of them were also preparing their lunch. I even overheard some chatting with tourists, teaching them some local words and expressions.


It's really obvious what charms the place has: powdery white sand and crystal-clear turquoise water. There's plenty of that in Coron, I noticed. The places are the kind you see in travel magazines. the kind you look at and say, I want to go there.


After lunch, we explored the beach more. On the other side are more huts, which by the time we discovered them, were already occupied by tourists. It didn't matter really, because on this side of the island are these flower-bearing trees. I am not really sure what kind were they, but obviously they are a beautiful compliment to the gorgeous beach.



For other Coron-related posts, please see:
Coron: Sights and Sunsets at Kayangan
Coron: Waddling around CYC Beach
Coron: Lusong at Sangat
Coron: Exploring the Town

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Coron: Waddling at CYC Beach

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WALK FLY PINOY:
Travel, Photography, Asia
www.walkflypinoy.com

The Coron Youth Club (CYC) beach can be found in a very small islet, still a part of the larger Coron Island. We went here on our second day in Coron. It was our first stop and it did not disappoint.


As we approached the island, it surprised me that there was this woman already far from the beach, and yet, the water reached only up to her waist. I realized, as we got nearer, that most of the beach is actually under shallow water. Which was amazing.


The water is so shallow that our boat, in fact, could not get near the island. The area was not deep enough for it. So, they dropped us off a few meters a way and we just waddled our way to the beach.


We were fortunate enough that only one small group of tourists was there when we arrived. And the place is large enough to contain us all. We had a one side of the island all to ourselves.


There is quite a number of trees on the island, some of which lay dead on the shallow beach. They are quite beautiful fixtures to the place. Plus, they make for good photos.



For other Coron-related posts and photos, please see:
Coron: Sights and Sunsets at Kayangan
Coron: Boulders at Banol
Coron: Lusong at Sangat
Coron: Exploring the Town

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Baguio: The Secret Garden

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WALK FLY PINOY:
Travel, Photography, Asia
www.walkflypinoy.com

It was only the second time I went to Baguio. The first time I went I was still in high school. Literally, my high school sent me to Baguio to participate in some inter-school event. No, we were not able to explore much that first time. We did explore but as expected, we followed the tourist trail. This time was different. We had a local among us.


One of the places she took us to was the Secret Garden. It's a small garden adjacent to the Bell Amphitheater, just behind the Bell House, in Camp John Hay. Two trails on either side of the house will lead you to the garden. The entrace to the trails are hidden and nondescript enough that on a good day, you'll have the garden all to yourself, like we did.


The garden is on top of a hill, hidden from the rest of the world by pine trees. It's very quiet there. Even though Camp John Hay is littered with tourists, somehow, the garden is isolated from all of it. It was so quiet there that some of us took a nap on the soft garden ground.


In the middle of the garden is this beautiful gazebo. It's the centerpiece of the garden, I guess. I really liked the whole place, mostly because it's really quiet and peaceful there. Plus, you have Baguio's cool climate. It's just perfect. I think it'll be a stop I'll drop by to every single time I visit the city.


 

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