The Chronicles of Coron - Day 4

So here I am again finishing up the Coron write-up. Again, apologies for the busy week that I've been too lazy updating my blog. Last week's full of parties here and there and this weekend is just a reliever.

So here we go. On our last day in Coron, I woke up early around 6am. Have agreed with Abby that we are going to the market to get dried goods for pasalubong.

So off we walked to the market and grabbed danggit and pusit. I also got a shirt. Yeah, the usual pasalubong we can get from Coron. Ate vendor gave us a discount so it was cool. We also had a quick breakfast near where we bought the dried fish.

After that we head back to Coron Pension House to get ourselves ready.

Before heading to the airport, we then went back to the market as some of us are still wanting to get some pasalubong. Then after than we went to the shop to get some nice souvenir of coron.

The ride back to Manila was fine. No more misadventures for us. We've had enough haha.

From the airport, I didn't know we can get a shuttle to the MRT station so this a good information if you'd like to avoid paying too much on the taxi or having to bother going up the departure area.

It was a fun-filled trip, I will not forget. Like any other CS trip, this is a blast and wishing to have the next one soon! Cheers!

The Chronicles of Coron - Day 2 and 3

I know, the day 2 blog took 1 week to be written. I would have to apologise. Works been busy so I had to move the blogging habit to the weekends. So it's very much likely that the 4th installement will have to be finished at least before the year ends...hopefully! :)

I just got back from a great reunion with my X-SST and SST friends. And after a good sleep I'm now back up and running well, I guess. Five tequila shots was enough to knock me out to a good slumber last night. Hahaha!

So off we go to the next part of my Coron adventure...

If the first day of the trip has been of misadventures and challenges...day two is no different.

After a night of sleep, and good sleep at that since we are tired and sore from all the walking up to the Mt. Tapyas...we awoke with Rand's voice. Yeah, we thought Jester still encountered problems with the flight but to our surprise it has something to do with our accommodation in Sea Breeze. I'll probably not go further, but yes, it's the first challenge of the day...been settled with exchange of insights, but all's well that ends well.

So in the morning, we grabbed breakfast first, rented our snorkeling gear at Sanho Diving Shop. This diving shop was advised to us my MJ - Angela's good friend and long lost friend of Charlie who of course is also a couch surfer.

We went back to our rooms to wait for Jester arriving that day, while some of us went to the market to shop for our lunch. We have arranged with our tour guide that we'd buy the food and they will just cook it for us.

And finally, Jester came! Yeay! We're finally complete...Off we go to the port and get on the boat and start on our journey around the islets of Coron! haha

Our first stop - Kayangan Lake

If you are so into nature tripping, I'm sure Coron should be included in your list. The ocean breeze is so relaxing I want to sleep again on the way but I can't keep myself from looking at the beauty around me. Rock formations of the islands abound. It's just amazing too see that Philippines has such great and amazing sights. I look at them with gratefulness that we have been lucky to be blessed this kind of opportunity to marvel at these wonders.

Kayangan Lake is just indescribable. But before we actually get to the lake, a hike up and down is required. It's all worth it though. Plus a good swim at the lake is just delightful. We had an hour to spare before we decided to go back and finally take our lunch.

It is when we were going to the lake that we encountered again the two guys from Holland that were couch surfing with Angela. They wanted to join us on the island hopping and an overnight at the Banana Island.

So after the fulfilling lunch, we head to Banana Island to finally get settled and enjoy an overnight of fun.

We swam for a while until dinner. Dinner was of sinigang which is my favourite.

The night passed by with lots of stories that I had good sleep once more. I woke up with the sound of the wind and waves which I actually felt it was a strong storm but it wasn't.

I looked outside and found how peaceful the island feeling is. A sweet and silent morning at Banana Island. I went to see who else is already awake and had a bit of photo op again.

Breakfast is nice and we were ready to go and head to the island hopping for the day.

We dropped by the island near banana island which I forgot the name.

Then on our way our boatman told us we got problems with our propeller. Awwww! We had almost around two hours waiting for it to get sorted. We were near Malcapuya island all that time. We got off the boat to swim while waiting.

When that was fixed, we stopped over to see Banol Beach then to Shipwreck site. We took lunch first then headed on to swimming and check out the shipwreck underwaters.

I was able to see it and thought it's interesting to see a shipwreck the first time. Amazing what you can really find underwaters.

After that we head to other islands one by one as time permits.

CYC Beach

Twin Lagoon - but due to our jellyfish scare we decided to skip it

Siete Pecados, the seven islets where we had a good time snorkeling

Then we head back to the mainland to rest and find another place to sleep. We thought to move to a different accommodation. And we chose Coron Reef Pension house which gave us a room for a good deal.

After having dinner and walk around town, we had a bit of time to spare at Coron Divers and then hang out with some tourist we met next door.

We went to bed at around past 12. I can't believe we are leaviing Coron the next day...It just happened so fast...

The Chronicles of Coron - Day 1

I can't keep myself from thinking so much about how fun and exciting the trip was. So as much as I want to reminisce the memories by looking at the photos, here's the blog of the wonderful trip with my closest CS friends.

By invitation from Cath, we all embarked in this journey of a thousand miles! This by far would be the most adventurous and undeniably most fun trip of the year 2010. You'll know why if you read along.

Day 1 - Expect the Unexpected

The night before the trip, of course, I made sure I have packed all my stuff in. From toiletries to clothes to swim wear, yep I got all of them. It was past 1am when I finished or probably I was just too excited to sleep early.

I woke up at around 5:30am and left the house at a quarter before 7. I wanted to have enough time for me to catch a cab to the airport and besides, it's Friday, it can still be rush hour early in the morning.

Luckily, I was able to hail a cab immediately and by a few mins past 8am I was already at NAIA Terminal 3. Our flight is at 10:30am via Air Philippines, so this means I'm not late.

Since I'm still early, I walked up the second floor of T3. I've never been up there before. So it was good to see some newly opened shops and cafes to grab something. Since I wasn't really hungry I just got myself some Mentos candy and a pre-paid card and sat somewhere to wait for the rest of the guys travelling with me.

Cath has replied to me that she is already on her way.

T3 is also equipped with a wifi so I'm glad I have the time to still check up on my facebook while waiting.

In a few minutes, Cath came with Abby, followed by Joyce, who we already met at the check-in counter. We checked in our bags. Went up again and sat somewhere near 7 eleven.

By this time, we just waited for Charlie, Rand and Jester. A few minutes of waiting passed by and I received a call from Rand. Quite a bad news, that there's no more seats left for Jester on our plane. We rushed to them to find out why and what we can do about it.

And there goes the first adventure of the day...we had to talk to 'Nike' boy who left us clueless about our situation. Good thing Cath proved to be in a very powerful position being her the birthday celebrant. ;) She did a great job following it up with the kind gentleman from Airphil who made sure Jester gets a seat in the next flight. We waited until it was time to board to confirm that Jester gets his seat.

But we had to leave him behind as we already need to board the plane. The gentleman from Airphil promised he'll do his best to get him in the next plane to Busuanga at 3pm.

First lesson of the day - if there's any other way you could avoid a flight with Airphil, then avoid it as much as possible. This is my first flight with Air Philippines and I'm just not very happy. I know they did what they can but I'm sure they could have done better. I can't imagine our flight being moved to the 12:30 flight with no apparent reason. And most of all having one of us not getting a seat in our flight. I have not encountered this before so hopefully that was the first and last.

So got up to the gate just in time to board our plane. Of course, it's sad that we are leaving Jester behind, but the excitement has just rolled into me. I'm finally going to Coron! Another new destination added to my list!

The Air Philippines plane is quite small compared to Ceb Pac. It's also a little old from what I can tell with the seats and the air conditioning seems not very satisfactory as well. But I'm fine with that, what I'm worried is that my stomach is already growling out of hunger. It's past twelve and we haven't eaten lunch.

A few minutes up in the air, they served us food for free. We choose between Jollibee burger steak or 1 pc chicken joy. I got the chicken joy but since we are getting off the plane soon I decided I'll just eat it at the van on our way.

Well, they earned a point for serving us lunch coz I'm just sleepy and hungry.

After less than hour, we landed in Busuanga airport. We immediately got all or bags and head to the van that takes us to Coron Town and finally to our accommodation at Sea Breeze.

So we got to Sea Breeze and just after fixing up our things and meeting up with our CS contact there, Angela, we walked around the town to find some place we can hang out to get Wifi connection. So we head to Coron Village Lodge for a quick drink.

Next we head to the Cashew nut store - there were packs that they sell for 50 pesos and 100 pesos. I thought it was still pricey so I settled only for the free taste. haha

Next we climb up the Mt. Tapyas's 700 steps. It wasn't all too easy actually. There was a point our muscles are already tired, Rand even had a song for it. It was just all in the mind so we sang "Hindi, hindi, hindi nanginginig". But finally we all successfully completed the more that 700 steps. Up the top we had a great time taking photos and enjoying the relaxing view of the green mountains and overlooking the island. It's beautiful indeed.

Later on we decided to go back down since it's getting dark. We plan to head to the Maquinit hot springs to soothe our tired bodies.

We went back to the lodge and then had an adventurous trip going to and at Maquinit Hotsprings. We took a tricycle to go up to the hotsprings. In the middle of our trek, the tricycle stopped three times due to lack of gasoline? Not sure. But we are lucky that on the third time, a police car managed to help us and took us back to the main entrance and helped us get another tricycle. Glad that on the second tricycle we were able to reach the hotsprings.

Just in time to enjoy the relaxing dip, we wowed upon seeing the hotsprings and then poof! Lights went off or rather the generator shuts down. We were just all too surprised these mishaps keep on happening on our first day! Anyway, these didn't stop us. We still continued our plans and enjoyed the night swimming in the hotsprings.

By past 9 we went back to town to fix up ourselves and get dinner. Our dinner is taken cared of by the Binalot eatery just some walking distance from Sea Breeze. Walking at night around town should be fine.

After dinner, we then called it a night. It was a long day full of misadventures and what nots. The following day should be better, we are expecting Jester to arrive and we head on to some island hopping and an overnight stay in Banana Island. Woohoo!

Photo Credits: Cath, Charlie and Joyce

The Itchy Feet Strikes Again

I know, I know...I'm off again to another adventure! haha Ako na ang Dora the lakwatsera...

Thank you Lord, my weekend getaway has been a little worry-free...

I'm off to Coron and so excited to be traveling again with great friends from CS Manila :)

Hayyy, I should be sleeping now...well, then, wait for my next blog about the place...and of course the photos!

See ya soon! :)

Winter in a Tropical Country

This year, my vacation destinations have been mostly of beaches...Boracay, Bohol and this November in Coron.

Philippines being a tropical country is obviously rich in these beaches. And beautiful as they all are, I wanted to try something different, something 'cooler'. But how in the world can I experience the winter-like feeling without going too far.

I have been intrigued once...

Ang Ganda super!

I read in some random blog that winter-like temperature happens in Batanes. Right then and there I made a decision that one day, I will go to Batanes to savour the 'Winter' in my own tropical country.

I have searched more pictures of Batanes and it's definitely nothing I've ever seen before. The green landscapes looked so beautiful and peaceful. I'm sure it's a perfect getaway I will surely enjoy.

And finally, with another Blog contest from SEAIR I'm taking another chance to fly to this terrific destination for free.

So why should they choose me to win? I have five reasons.

One, I joined the Boracay blog contest and wasn't too lucky. I think this time I'm luckier and they will choose me. Hehe

Two, I haven't traveled with SEAIR on any of my trips. So I'd love to experience their service.

Three, of course I wanted to experience winter in my own country. There wouldn't be snow though, but hey, what is 7 degrees of cool weather!

Fourth, I'd love to travel with a few other bloggers as we altogether document our happy Batanes getaway!

Fifth, simply because I want to win! :)

Thank you SEAIR! http://flyseair.com/ for this!

More details about the SEAIR Blogging Contest at http://www.facebook.com/flyseair

Woohoo, I just got a feeling this is it! I'll see you in January 2011, Batanes Winter! haha

Photo Credits (Thanks!): Sherjo - Maganda ang Pilipinas

Will I visit Batanes next year for free?

SEAIR is launching another blog contest. This time it aims to bring the winners to Batanes...I plan to join but this time I want to write something that is better that what I did for the Boracay contest. I just love joining! haha So for those aspiring Batanes travelers like me...here's the site. I'm sharing it of course!

Click here and you're off to a your dream Batanes Getaway taken cared of by SEAIR

So my taks this weekend...make the best blog for my entry to SEAIR's contest! Woohoo! Wish me luck!

Bohol Trip Post-Accounting

I know, this trip has gone a little too over especially with our food trip and pasalubong. But since it doesn't happen too often anyway, I'm still happy that I've been to Bohol at last and shared that experience with my sister.

So for those interested to know how much you can shell out with a 3D/2N Trip, then check it out.

Bohol Getaway
18 - 20 September 2010
Sat - Friday
	1 pax
Flight
PAL thru Mabuhay Miles Great Miles Getaway	913
Tours
Day Tour + 2 nights Accommodation in Dumaluan Beach Resort	5,982
Dolphin Watching + Island Tour	1,300
Pre-Departure to Tagbilaran
Taxi to Airport	163
Terminal Fee	200
Entrance Fees	150
Pre-Departure to Manila
Terminal Fees	20
Taxi back home	150
Food
Day 1
Breakfast	Free
Lunch - Loboc River Cruise	400
Dinner	250
Day 2
Breakfast	Free
Lunch	300
Dinner	375
Day 3
Breakfast	Free
Lunch	250
Flight, Tour, Food	10,453
Pasalubong
Peanut Kisses	125
Star Peanut	125
Star Fingers	125
Keychains	300
T-Shirt	100
Island Souvenir shirts	1,100
Pasalubong Total	1,875
TOTAL	12,328