31 July 2011 (SUNDAY)

Sunday…

ETD: 0500

ETA: 0900

Finding the best beach joint in the south. Well there are a lot of options, but most of them are too remote, and too hard to get to. 

The plan was to take the boat to ISLA RETA another beach resort located in Talicud island. (Talicud = back in Cebuano Term). Since we wanted to head out early and get to the resort early we tried taking the Sta. Dock but the boat would still leave at 0900 for the first trip and it would be a waste of precious time for us since we were already awake at 5am in the morning. ( Travel Time here would usually be 45mins to an hour just to get to Isla Reta, Except if you rented out the whole boat for a special trip) 

STA. ANA DOCK : BY KIM CASTILLO

So we had Plan B right on the spot, we headed out to the other Dock located at the Northern part area of the city which is SASA wharf which is the international Port of Region XI, by the time we got there it was already 0700 the boat ride would just be around ( 5mins to 10mins ) waiting time is a bit long since you have to wait for the Ferry Boat to be filled with cars and trucks but its all in the timing.

 This is at the other Dock SASA WHARF, Lady Selling Shades and Hats. 

     Friends waiting for the damn Ferry Boat to be filled with CARS & TRUCKS                                                  

By the time we got to the Island it was already 0730am in the morning. This time the challenge was to take an HH (Habal-Habal is a motorcycle modified to seat more than two persons.  It is in use in provinces in the Philippines where jeepneys and tricycles cannot stand the rough, steep terrain and narrow roads). It was a big challenge for us since we were composed of halfies… Price might go up. We were 3 in the Group so the cost would usually be around Php50 to 200. But this HH driver wanted us to pay 300 to 450pesos just to take us to the other area of the Island. But we managed to haggle down the price to Php200 for the 3 of us. (Php67.00 pesos each).

Anyway HH will take you to Kaputian it is another port, dock, or transport in which you could cross to Talicud Island. The HH ride from Babak area to Kaputian would take you a good 15 to 40mins or so, you will know when you reach the right area when you’ve reach the famous Samal Art Legacy Shop: LAND MARK BELOW

                 Rick entering the Samal Art Legacy photo by: Kim Castillo

  things you see inside S.A.L.

Not a bad place at all                          

 «< humans souvenir Photo.

                                 the boat to TALICUD Kaputian Dock

                                          Just ask the Islanders

Read More

The journey to the ***Wild Dolphin*** Sanctuary.

Like all my other adventures this was not planned. We practically decided that it was the right time to head to this so called Sanctuary. 

The deal was to leave at exactly 02:30am in the morning, so everyone of us, decided to head home early to pack our shit and stuff, Luckily I already bought an underwater disposable camera. “this is a by land trip” when all shit was packed, I was good and ready to go! But UNFORTUNATELY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! some shit do really happen to some people. At exactly 12:30am, something funny was going on. AH yes!!! it’s what we call  LOOSE BOWEL MOVEMENT a.k.a LBM! It was the perfect timing to have such illness!

Like all other LBM stories we thought it was just a phase, but it isn’t!!! So I was determined to cancel the trip with my travel buddies. But if you have crazy travel buddies you are in for the ride!

02:00am Me: I sent an SMS saying: “can’t make it, stupid LBM”

02:15am MiMi: ha!? NO!

02:30am Rex: “Let it ALL OUT!” We will bring you medicine and some GATORADE. 

02:45 - 03:00am Me: WTF! shit is turning GREEN! 

03:30 - 05:00am Rex: good! just drink water! Medication is on it’s way.

05:30 Rex & Mimi: We are here na! Lets Go!!! 

06:00am We were on the ROAD TO TUDELA! But with minor changes. We decided to rest up in CGY for awhile since we all lack sleep, and I was recovering from the damn LBM. And since we would still be picking up MiMi’s daughter “Camilita”.

Read More

        Sagashite! Mitsukete! Massatsu shite!=Seek! Locate! Exterminate!

How to get there from Baguio:

Take the Lizardo Bus Line Transit (OLD DANGWA STATION). To get there one gets off at Center Mall on Magsaysay Road. Just take a Taxi, Meter is at Php25.00, if you are coming from Baguio. From Manila you could take MANILA to BANAUE travel time 9hours, then you take the Jeep going up to Sagada (take note this is the fastest route). Unfortunately we took the Baguio way due to Panagbenga. (travel time 5 to 6hours)

Take note! You cannot pre-purchase your Bus tickets for the Lizardo Bus Line. Php220.00 to Php250.00 for one way fare.

*** BE SURE TO HAVE ENOUGH CASH WHEN GOING TO SAGADA THERE ARE NO ATM’S OR ANY MEANS OF WIRE TRANSFERS THERE***

Bus Schedule:

Bus Schedule:

                              *** do take the early trips ***

                           since you still have to look for your stay.

They don’t have Street lights in Sagada. So better arrive early rather than looking for your stay in the dark. 

We ended up staying in: 

Good place to stay if you are a big group. BEDS! FTW!!! THE BEDS are NOT ASIAN SIZE!!! Finally a bed that I could fit in haha Anyway the place has a common room which people of all races and sizes or whatever stays. Fire Place, it is a two story Rest house. Php200/ a night depends on how many you are, we were 6 in the group. Must warn you No Free Breakfast. But you can actually use their kitchen to cook you own food and borrow utensils. Or you can scavenge outside your Inn or Transient house for food and try the local food ( BE WARE they DO eat DOG MEAT in MT. Province). Anyway Refer to Photo above. O yeah if you dont’ have a laptop you can actually use their computer at the common room near the fireplace it’s for free and anyone can use it.

Anyway there are still a lot of good places to stay in Sagada, you can ask the Tourist Information office, They all know which places are still vacant and which places are full.

                 ***If you hate walking  Sagada isn’t the place for you***

first stop on the way to Sagada…

Read More

Haven’t written a blog for the longest time. But anyway here I go. I am going to be rusty at this.

GRAND STREET PARADE USUALLY FALLS ON THE 26TH OR 27TH DAY OF FEBRUARY.

I shall start with my Panagbenga 2011, since this was my first trip for the year 2011. Got an invite from Rex Apilado my co photographer.

First of all “The trip to Panagbenga” was never planned. 

It was a spur of the moment thing. Purchased tickets going to Manila was 3weeks before the actual festival. (that was for REX & the others) I purchased my ticket a week before the trip. 

I was assigned to make the Travel Itinerary for the group. Just for their guide. 

Read More