MysTerry Travels: calaguas Budget Travel

Sunday, February 23, 2014

Riding Siargao's Waves

Siargao, the surfing capital of the Philippines and my first impression was, how lonely can this place get? I mean sure there were hundreds of people at the port who boarded with me on the fast jet (ferry), but when I arrived at cloud nine (where everyone surfs) I can count the people I see with the fingers in my hands and the air was just oh so lonely, you know the feeling of homesickness because I’m at a province but of course it’s not my province and my being alone is slapped in my face. Well, that was until I was riding my perfect waves.

This was after my trip to Tinuy-an falls and Hinatuan river last October 12, right after my visit to tinuy-an I went back to Butuan only to ride another van to get me to Surigao city so I can get a ferry to Siargao the next morning(Sunday). At Surigao City I was able to get a decent enough room at 350PHP with a bathroom but I am not recommending it because I don’t feel that the place is safe, I locked myself in right after I paid and vowed to never open the door unless I’m all packed and ready to go. The only reason I took it was I was already tired and needed sleep.

Early the next morning (around 6:00) I hired a tricycle to get me to the port but the earliest boat had already left and the next ferry is scheduled to leave at 11:30 at a different port, which is the official one, if you want to ride the earliest boat you have to be at that other pier at 5:00 – this is what the locals usually ride, just ask around and I’m sure they’ll tell you where it is or just ride a tricycle. I decided to buy a ticket first to make sure, and then went on to have my breakfast, and you won’t guess where it was, at Jollibee. Yes, I was trying something different and then went on to Gaizano and made my way back just in time for boarding.

I slept on the fast jet (for three hours) and I envy the ones riding the cargo ship enjoying the open air, I made sure to take that one for my return trip. At the port drivers were asking me where I was headed so I said I’m okay and when everyone seemed to calm down I asked one driver to take me to Cloud Nine. I asked if he knew a safe but not costly place to stay and he said no, so I said okay, we’ll go on an asking adventure, I told him to just take me to where surfer’s meet and I’ll ask around.

I found Patrick’s on Cloud Nine with only 400PHP per night, so I left my things and headed to the beach. The huge waves looked really powerful that when an instructor asked me if I would want to surf I asked if I could only ride the smaller waves. I agreed to have my one hour surfing lesson for 500PHP which comes with a shoes for safety because the shore had sharp reefs.

I was surfing until sundown (I think I had more than an hour, *grin*) and looking at the sunset was like God telling me I answered your prayers. I was praying even long before this trip because I am going alone and all I can say is God made it perfect. Riding the waves while looking at the sunset felt so romantic it feels like Jesus was asking for my heart. After surfing the instructor told me “Perfect yung waves mo maam (you had perfect waves)”, then I realized that I never missed a wave, primarily because we had enough distance from the shore that I always find my balance before I loose the wave (yeah, that was cool).

While talking to my instructor however he told me that most of the tourist are at the town proper, General Luna. I knew I had to go there or the quiet stillness in my room will not let me sleep, I asked the caretaker and she was okay with it, I said I am going to stay at their another beach hut Patrick’s on the Beach at General Luna and I was very glad I made that decision, it was like bits of puzzles falling into places.

General Luna was indeed were sea people (people who loved the beach) gathered. Thankfully Patrick’s is not near the place where they had KTV’s, so I had serenity and at the same time felt safe because I know there are people around. I ordered dinner and befriended the caretakers and even had a picture playing with their cute dog.

I enjoyed the place just siting at the beach front listening to my good old music the next morning while enjoying my breakfast - picture that! And I have to tell you that their Nipa Hut is also something to look forward to specially for couples, it has the laid-back feel of privacy that can really be romantic (I just love the term romantic because I am a hopeless romantic so cut me some slack). It costs me 800PHP (this is good for two persons) for a non-aircon room (it has an aircon it's just a matter of not turning it on, who would? it was cold) with a bathroom and you have a front porch, how awesome is that?

I packed up my things at 11:00 (Tuesday) so I can leave at twelve as I need to catch the Cargo ship leaving at 13:00, bid the caretakers farewell and rode another motorbike. Motorbikes should only cost you 50PHP but there has to be 3 of you – if you are alone and don’t want to ride with other passengers it will cost you 150PHP. There are still more places to visit at Siargao (there's an island there with glowing jelly fish) but I came here primarily for surfing and it would cost me more if I did Island hopping on my own so I’m hoping to go back with friends some other time.

Of course you have to check on my pictures below.

Scenery at Cloud Nine's view deck, and there's me because I had to be there.. :)

I wish I could surf those gigantic waves, but maybe next time.

With the cute doggie..

General Luna Beach,..

Yes, I enjoyed my breakfast.

I loved this, and that's why I have to have two photos.

Monday, May 6, 2013

Finally Meeting Calaguas

Calaguas is one gorgeous Island - can be an understatement. I was planning to visit this place way back the last quarter of 2012 but wasn’t able to. Finally, last Holy Week – March 28-31, I along with my three mountaineer friends finally had the chance to greet this charming Island.

First thing’s first - how to get there? Simple, if you are going by bus – which we did, ride a bus going to Daet, as far as I know buses leaving for Daet have terminals in Pasay and Alabang. When you reach Daet, you’d know because the Conductor will wake you up (and I’m assuming you’d be asleep like I was J), from there, depending on the time you arrive you can ride another bus going to Paracale but if you arrive before 7am you need to ride a tricycle to take you to the bus station of Paracale bound buses . You will be dropped near the port if you tell the conductor of course. If you already have your contact you just have to meet with them and buy your food at the market and off you go to an almost 2-hour boat ride. If you are going by plane however, I have no idea how you can get there, sorry. J

As I have said the Island is gorgeous, except that they are now putting in some bar or I don’t know because we didn’t go near the place where we heard the disco music is coming from. If they are going to turn this place into something like Boracay, this place’s fame will end before its starts. No offense, I know some people like to party in a beach but most of the time people get away from the city to experience the serenity of these beautiful remote areas. I mean if you want to party, why not in the city? We have already turned Boracay and Galera into some Disco Islands, can’t we spare this one? I hope the Government people running this Island will come to realize the importance of keeping the Island in its original state and form (which is solid and liquid :D). Okay, what I’m trying to say is they should keep it the way God created it - serene and beautiful where the only music you’d hear is of nature. And if I could I would suggest they build huts not buildings to keep its laid back ambiance and provide comfort at the same time for those people who can’t stand tents (specially those who have kids – I know its hard :P).

I particularly like that they have something like a common kitchen where you can grill and cook but you have to bring your own cooking paraphernalia. Calaguas also has some pretty neighbors and I am not sure if they currently offered Island Hopping - it wasn’t offered to us and I didn’t bother to ask because the boat fare taking as to and from the island is enough for our pockets already, but I think it is something really worth discovering. Looking at those Islands we pass by I can only dream of owning one and turning it into a private resort – if you might as well dream, dream big right? Anyway, they should also cultivate a snorkeling area so visitors can do more (I can remember rexona’s summer advert – Do More ad maybe they should pay me for it) :D.

Since I’ve already said too much I want to make one more recommendation, Bagasbas will make a really good side trip specially for those folks into surfing. From Paracale’s port you can ride a tricycle or you can actually just walk to the Van Station (a station for Vans – not sure if this word is already on the dictionary), for a Van that will take you to Daet. Just ask around and trust me the station is really near so if you think you can walk with all your luggage just walk don’t listen to tricycle drivers asking you to ride. You will not be dropped off the beach immediately and you will need to ride a tricycle to take you to the beach. There are a lot of mini-hotels where you can bargain for your price – 375 per head is the cheapest we got due to the peak season as Ate Ada would say – I’ll give you her contact below.

We live in a country called the Pearl of the Orient, blessed with fascinating Islands. I hope and pray that we learn to take care of it and become good stewards of what God has given us.

Please see below for a sample Itinerary (the first time that I’m doing this) and the pictures to peek into the what Calaguas and Bagasbas has to offer:

Day 0 (March 28) 20:30 – Ride the bus bound to Daet (479 PHP/pax)

Day 1 (March 29) 4:30 – arrive at Daet and Breakfast (at ate Fe’s carenderia near the bus station)

5:30 – ride bus to Paracale (30 PHP/pax)

6:30 – Arrived at Paracale and bought foods

7:30 – Boat Ride to Calaguas (we have no contact – we hired the boat there 2500 PHP)

9:30 – arrived at Calaguas port

We settled our things (pitch tent etc.) and cooked our food, had our lunch and enjoyed the Island. You can basically fill in your own itinerary from this point onwards. We left Calaguas the next day (March 30) at around 15:30, please see the next day’s itinerary below:

Day2 (March 30) 15:30 – Boat Ride back to Paracale (2500 PHP covers back and forth transpo)

17:00 – arrived at paracale

17:30 – Van ride to Bagasbas (60 PHP)

18:30 – arrived at Bagasbas – and dinner at HOTPOT

19:30 – Trike ride to Bagasbas beach (20 PHP/pax)

20:00 - arrived at Bagasbas beach and settled at White Wave Resort

You can contact Ate Ana (for White Beach Resort) at this number : 0921-744-8427. They have pretty decent rooms and you can bargain if its not the peak season (quoting her). The next day on March 31 we did surfing in the morning and in the afternoon (and that includes breakfast and lunch so to speak) and left for Bagasbas beach at around 16:00.

16:30 – dinner at KSarap

17:30 – Headed to the bus station for Alabang (490 PHP)

Enjoy the pictures below taken by Jonah Ong.


the three ladies- Seia, Terry (me) and Jen (L-R) walking along the beach... the black crow spotted by Jonah and the ever beautiful sunset at calaguas :)