MysTerry Travels: April 2014

2014 Valentines in Cagayan valley, aka Scammed Trip

I’ll let you in to a little secret, last Valentines I had a date with the mountains and the seas. Yeah, that was a lame joke but I tell you, I had such a wonderful time even though that same trip was also scammed. Don’t take it seriously though, we did not really lose our wallets or valuables but we were tricked into believing something that is not.

We had our itinerary lined up and the first target was Callao Cave right after we landed at Tugegarao Airport, but first we had to try that Pansit Batil Patong at Kuya Jeffs’ we read online. It was at around 14:00 (Wednesday, Feb 12, 2014) when we arrived at the panciteria and had our late lunch so we asked what the menu is and of course the waitress said that they have this pancit where you can choose on having a regular order with or without the meat or the large one. One order was for 60PHP for the regular order with meat, we got a bit curious at how expensive for a pancit it was so we asked if it was only good for one person to which she answered yes. Don’t you ever believe that, it is good for two persons, or maybe it depends on your appetite but even the men with us found it hard to finish their plate so take a look at the actual dish by ordering only one first before you decide on how many you are going to take. That was the first scam.

After a discussion and a little disagreement with the man we met at the panciteria and the tricycle drivers who took us there as to who will take us to Callao Cave we chose the van for safety and ease. We hired the van to take us to Callao Cave and then straight to Sta. Ana. We left at around 14:20 and arrived at the cave at around 15:15. Entrance was for 10PHP and a donation to the guide. The cave was well a cave, I mean it is the usual cave, the only thing that makes it interesting is this is where they found that ancient Tabon skulls but there is no actual skull either. There is a chapel inside the cave and if you have watched the movie Mistress with John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo this was were that wedding they attended was set. Personally I would not want my wedding in there, not my ideal place, no offense to those who held their wedding in that cave, this is my personal opinion. Nevertheless, it was fun because the company I was with is fun, that’s a factor in your overall experience, plus our guide made these lame jokes (lamer than mine) that makes you laugh because it was lame (I have to say this is a positive comment).

After about 1 ½ hour we were done with the tour and decided to eat snacks back at the entrance, everyone ordered Halo-Halo but I didn't want to because I wasn't really craving for one. When I saw how there was a huge lump of that violet thing however, I was enticed, I love Ube Jam and I can’t believe how generous they were at having so much in a 20PHP Halo-Halo so I ordered too and I even told the lady to put more ube jam in mine and guess what? It was a scam. She did not even told me that it wasn't ube jam, it was sticky rice and those who have already ordered from the group did not bother to cut my excitement as well, so I told myself that this is going online, she will not get away with disturbing my taste buds ready to savor ube jam only to be given some violet sticky rice. From that moment on the word scam is synonymous with the trip, and there goes my rant.

So at around 17:00 we left Tugegarao and arrived at Sta. Ana at around 19:00, it was a long trip because as per the driver we cant go through the short cut when it was already dark. We had burgers for our dinner (we are hardcore backpackers like that) because it was in front of Costales Lodging House, where we are checking in.

Thursday morning we had a late start and left for Cape Engano at 10:00 and visited Siwangag Cove along the way. We had our lunch at Cape Engano and were back at the San Vicente Pier at at 15:00, we loaded the food the guys bought and the rest of our things before we headed to Punta Verde to camp for the night. We had a stop over at Crocodile Island first before heading to Punta Verde, and I must say visit this Island if you want to witness some kind of sorcery, the Island is made of what I think is Marble Stone that makes you wonder who and how it was put in there. Anyway, Punta Verde and Cape Engano is on the same isalnd – Palaui, on opposite sides, basically there is a trail from Punta Verde to Cape Engano. You can save up by taking a boat only to Punta Verde because it is nearer to the Pier and hike up to Cape Engano (approximately two hours back and forth). In Punta Verde, they have a specific area for you to camp, sadly it’s far from the beach.

The next day we were headed to Anguib Beach, and here’s the catch, it is on the tip of the main Island of Cagayan Valley so the boat can leave you there and you can ride a trike back to San Vicente but you have to have a contact back there because they have to fetch you (this is a special trip as there are no public transpo going to Anguib or Nangaramoan).

Anguib is just another beach, I mean if you have been to different beaches, you would know when a beach is just another beach but of course it’s still a beach and beaches are always fun. That day, two girls from our group had to go home because they booked an earlier flight back so we sent them back to San Vicente but because it was high tide and our boat was small we had to go through the mangrove area where the view was magnificent. I’d say, if you’d go to either Anguib or Nangaramoan from San Vicente port ask the boat man to take you through the mangrove area, there is s much to see on this route and you should never miss it, specially when you travel there around sunset, its beautiful!

For Saturday, another three from our group will be going back to San Vicente so the boatman had to bring us to Nangaramoan Beach before they go back to San Vicente with the rest of the guys for good. To my surprise Nangaramoan is just a 20-30 minute walk form Anguib. We had to go against big waves which eventually throw us to the shore almost hitting a stone when could have actually just walked. Fortunately, the view on this other side is so much better bt why wouldn't the boatman tell us that? I felt scammed again because that trip to Nangaramoan was part of the payment for the boat and no one gave us the option to walk (or we should have asked). :)

At Nangaramoan there are guest houses at affordable prices. We got ours at Costales (sister guest house of the one we stayed in San Vicente), for 1500PHP with two twin beds and they can cook for you at affordable prices as well. We realized we actually saved the best for last, Sitting on a front porch, feeling the breeze touching our face, walking on the beach only to go back and be served with sumptuous seafood dishes. There were only three of us who were able to experience that however, and I guess the rest have to go back (I don't mind going back either).

I just have to add that the last kilometer marker is no longer 642 in San Vicente but 651 in Nangaramoan. There is also and alternative place to stay in San Vicente, the Casino where you can rent Villas, we got here on Saturday, our first day in Nangaramoan because we needed cash and had to withdraw, we were lucky the owners lent us use their car as they are also running some errands back in San Vicente. We had a sneak peak of the Casino and it seemed to be a really nice place to stay.

Below is our actual itinerary and my suggested itinerary.

Costales Contact Number: 09155161584, look for Nanay Lina
Day 1
10:45 – Flight to Tugegarao
12:00 – arrived at Tugegarao
13:15 – ride trike to Kuya Jeff’s Panceteria
13:45 – Arive at Kuya Jeff’s, order eat
14:20 – Left Panceteria for Callao Cave
15:15 – arrive at the cave.
17:00 – left the cave for Sta. Ana (San Vicente is the Barrangay)

Day 2:
7:00 – Wake up call
7:30 – market for foods
8:30 – breakfast, pack up
9:30 – ride trike to San Vicente port; you can actually walk, I walked to the pier early that morning when everyone was still asleep, its about a 20 minute walk, but because we had heavy loads (food, water, etc.) we decided to take the trike (10PHP each)
9:45 – left our things at the tourist center
10:00 – left for Cape Engano and Siwangag Cove
11:00 – Arrive at Cape Engano shore, started hiking up to the lighthouse
11:30 – arrived at the lighthouse, take pictures
12:00 – lunch
12:30 – hike back to the shore
13:00 – left Cape Engano for Siwangag
13:30 – Arrived at Siwangag cove, take pictures, swim
14:15 – Boat Ride back to San Vicente
15:00 – arrived at San Vicente, load all our things to the boat; we were not allowed to take heavey stuff to Cape Engano because our boat might not make it through the big waves
15:15 – left for Crocodile Island
16:30 – arrived at Crocodile Island
17:00 – left Crocodile Island for Punta Verde
17:45 - arrived at Punta Verde, dinner, lights out,

Day 3
6:00 – wake up call, preapre breakfast
7:00 – break fast and end camp
8:00 – left for Anguib beach
9:00 – arrived at Anguib beach - stayed at the beach for the whole day;
Day 4
9:00 – left for Nangaramoan Cove;
8:30 arrived at Nangaramoan

Here is my suggested itinerary that is shortened to 3 days:
Day 1
10:45 – Flight to Tugegarao
12:00 – arrive at Tugegarao
13:15 – ride trike to Kuya Jeff’s Panceteria
13:45 – Arive at Kuya Jeff’s, order eat
14:20 – Left Panceteria for Callao Cave
15:15 – arrive at the cave.
17:00 – left the cave for Sta. Ana (San Vicente is the Barrangay)

Day 2:
6:00 – Wake up call
6:30 – market for foods
7:30 – breakfast, pack up
8:30 – ride trike to San Vicente port; you can actually walk, I walked to the pier early that morning when everyone was still asleep, its about a 20 minute walk, but because we had heavy loads (food, water, etc.) we decided to take the trike (10PHP each)
9:00 – boat ride to Cape Engano
10:00 - Arrive at Cape Engano shore
10:15 – hike up to the lighthouse
10:45 – arrive at the lighthouse
11:30 – lunch
12:00 – trek back to shore
12:45 – ride boat to Siwangag Cove
13:30 – arrive at Siwangag Cove
14:30 – ride boat back to San Vicente
15:15 – arrive at San Vicente
15:30 – ride boat to Nangaramoan
15:45 – stop over at Crocodile Island
16:15 – ride boat to Nangaramoan
17:00 – arrive at Nangaramoan

Day 3
Stay at Nangaramoan

more photos here:
https://www.facebook.com/timelessterry