While it is Memorial Day in America, its was a holi-weekened for our team. So, we decided to create memories for that holi-weekend and traveled to Caramoan Island, Camarines Sur and we had a blast! It was so worth it.I am with ate corie, The two of us were the only peeps who were able to go in our group, but we managed make some new friends with my office mates on the floor. So just to share the experience,i wrote this.
TRAVEL
We had a day travel.We left philtranco pasay terminal at about 730am.(This might sound negative. Imagine the airconditioning system trying to compensate with the scorching heat outside the vehicle.But yes, it adds to the experience ) Supposedly, the travel time should only last for 10 hours but due to some unexpected delays caused by the bus wreckage, it took us another 2 hours. Although we were very dismayed by this event, we were equally thankful that no accident occurred on that trip. Good thing though the bus was fixed and we were able to continue our journey. We arrived at naga station at around 930pm.
NAGA
We stayed in a traveller’s inn named jomckayl.they also have a restaurant which has the same name. The rooms are small but i think there is enough space to rest there. (If you want to travel and you have a tight budget, i suggest that you find a place where there is a neat bed, clean bathroom and with good security locks)I like the color of their bed covers.It is so artsy. I wished i brought it home. i think what they lack there is that they have to provide tissue paper, maybe 2 sachet of shampoos. It’s a comfy place to stay.we ate at a nearby restaurant,triboo grille,which i think is famous.the place is nice and the whole concept is really cool.you can eat in a treehouse or below it.(i do not have a picture of that)we were 18 so we had to find a space enough for our seafood-island like entrée.
It is very ideal to spare a day for the whole day so that you can have a restful sleep at night and an energized body for the next day adventure.
SABANG PORT
The next morning(that was sunday),we left the inn at 530.the van’s driver was so fast that we were able to reach sabang port just in time the dark and the light exchange in the wide calm sky.
The shore has brown sand.Seeing a stretch of sand makes me more excited.it is like the beach invites me.BUT,I guess the locals here should focus on maintaining the cleanliness of this stretch of land.it was awful to see clutter and dog poop everywhere saying good morning to you. Ugh!my excitement turned to disgust. I mean,come on, it is a beautiful place.it is a tourist destination.please local officials dwell on this matter.
So enough about that.One interesting invention there that i really really find cool is there “manual elevator”.. That’s what they call it. It does not elevate you.Men will push this thing manually against the water to bridge you from the shore up to the boat.for their effort you have to pay 10php per head. their boat is quite huge that it can carry 92 passengers. Too bad they dont have a door and the only way you cab get it is to squeeze yourself through the windows. It is fun.but i do not recommend this to people who have back or skeletal problem or to those who are maarte.
The boat ride took us almost 2 hours to reach caramoan feeder port.
From there,we rode a tricycle as we go to our accomodation in caramoan which is included in our package we availed from seascrapers.
PACKAGE TOUR
I really recommend this place and their package tour. Our contact person is kuya mike,though i was not able to meet him personally.They said he was nice.Their tour guide,kuya joseph,is also good. Out room is so spacious. We have 2 queen-sized beds and 1 sofa bed.They have wifi and tv.the place is clean.One thing i also like is that they are right in front of their municipal hall.
it is also near the souvenir shops.
FOOD
i also like the food they served for lunch which we ate in one of the islands. i do not eat laing but they made me eat laing because it is so masarap. They also served as adobo and tuna and pili nut candies. Oh so yummy. For dinner, they served this big steamed fish “maya maya”.They said you can buy that directly from the fisherman. they also served adobong pusit,chicken curry.
they do not have ice though.The town experiences rotational brownouts at day. the next morning, we were served with longganisa m.egg and
tinapa.so so yummy!
ISLAND HOPPING
(most exciting part)
We were fortunate enough to find this package tour from Caramoan Seascapers Travel and Tours . It costs 2200 per person.they have their own sample tour itinerary but you can modify it depending on your time and interests.So here is what happened to ours.
We arrived at Guijalo (Caramoan Feeder Port) at about 9 am;rode a trike up to our Accommodation.We ate breakfast at “lutong bahay sa tawog” then rode a trike again to Barangay Bikal where our private boats were waiting for us.
We arrived on the first destination,the lahos Island.according to kuya joseph,it is named that way because it connects the waters of catanduanes and caramoan.it is really cool to know that you can easily enjoy two places at the same time.Moreover, i was really amazed by its warm clear water and pristine beach.i fell in love with limestone formations.
Of course,first thing to do is to taake as much pictures.selfies and groupies everywhere. The view is really breathtaking.
The other island is called matukaD.This provided me the best adventure because we didnt know we had to rock climb a part of that island. It is more of buwis buhay for me. i do not want to have my legs get wounded but we cared less if we were not wearing leggings because we are suckers for adventure. Our fright in our heart did not vanished as we try to climb wirhout any harness or gears.when we reach the top, we saw the amazing view of the island and the green lagoon.That time i could realky say i never regretted anything. i thanked God for the beautiful creation.i was left with so much awe that i wish everyone can appreciate this beauty.
I am so delighted that i really had to take a lot of pictures. After we had safely went down from that certain peak, we got hungry and we ate the meal they served.
We also went to other islands.i forgot their names but they said our tour covers these:Matukad Island, Lahos Island, Tayak Beach, Cagbalinad Beach, Bosdak Island and Minalahos Island.
At 4 pm,our tour ended.
There is one island where we can snorkel. I was not able to do that because i do not have my goggles with me and i am wearing my contact lenses.
Another island we visited has gray but powdered sand. It has good beach but i think i loved the previous island beaches.My friend was also stung by a jellyfish here. good thing nothing really serious happened. she said it was painful as if she was slapped by a lasso.she also got reddish macular rashes though.Even with such inevitable terrible event, we were not hindered from our pursuit to enjoy that moment. We swam, laughed,as in laughed hard, shared stories and swam our way to each others ticklish funny spots in our soul. I can say that i definitely enjoyed the company even if it is the first time i spent time with these people.
We rode trike back to our accommodation, took a bath, ate dinner and bought souvenirs near the area. as much as i wanted to sing videoke with them, i could not because the bed is dragging me to stay with it.
Day 2:At 6:30 ,Breakfast was already served . Everyone took their turn in the bathroom. We visited the 17th century old church of St. Michael de Archangel Parish.
we went back to Guijalo to catch a ferry going toSabang Port.
CAMSUR/ALBAY/MAYON
The whole time we were in the van,road trippin. I just love how we traversed the sides of the mountain.
There are all beautiful views of water and islands but later on i could not help but doze off.hahaha.I could not forget how perfect the sides of the Mayon. I used to see it in my elementary books but now i felt like it is smiling at me however timid because it is hiding behind some clouds.
we also went to cagsawa ruins. It was really that “dyahe” hot but i could not resist posing while my friend, ate corie, taking pictures with mayon and bell tower as the background.Of course, we turn tables.hahaha.I am so happy we went to that place. the place also has many souvenir shops,that us where i have tasted the “sili” ice cream:strawberry and mango flavor. it tastes like The same strawberry and mango ice cream but with a biting twist in your tongue. It feels a little itchy, and it has that chili spice after taste. I do not know if you will agree with me but that’s how i appreciate it.hahaha.
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Thank goodness though we were able to find a good spot where we can see it unhidden.Of course,we took pictures,,yeyyyy!!
We bought pasalubong in the central bus station.Of course, pili nuts goodies and sili everywhere. That same day we went back home to manila.We rode a super comfy and cold bus with lazyboy seats.Thanks DLTB.Now,we are so Back to reality.Although the travel did not change anything about us;although it took a lot of cash out of our pockets, at least those were exchanged with laughters, stories which we can share to others and above all, the appreciation of beauty of God’s creation.
.I wish you can see it too.
thanks for reading,guys.
thanks to the tropang entry and the organizers, eds and ms.Tin(Thank God,you are okay after the jellyfish had stung you)
If you wish to know more about the inclusions of the package., reach them through these details.
09274213922 (Globe).
09399047960 (Smart).
Lourdes Borebor/ Mike Borebor
Owner/Tour Operator
Caramoan Seascapers Travel and Tours
www.caramoan.seascapers.com
76 Real Street, Tawog, Caramoan
Camarines Sur
This their facebook page: www.facebook.com/caramoan.seascapers