Travel and Leisure: Boracay Island

Travel and Leisure: Boracay Island: After that heart-throbbing and fast-click booking, "Bora vacay!" The competition is getting tough as local airline companies are bringing u...

Boracay Island

After that heart-throbbing and fast-click booking, "Bora vacay!" The competition is getting tough as local airline companies are bringing us middle class people to destinations visited by the elite group of society. 

Boracay, most traveled by Filipinos these days seems very accessible. For an archipelagic country, this paradise can be reached via air and sea. And who would be interested to travel by sea these days anyway? 

Well, you gotta be opening your browsers, and this link http://www.cebupacificair.com/Pages/default.aspx or  http://www.flyzest.com/ or http://www.airphilexpress.com/ going to Caticlan. Second option is via Ilo-ilo and take 6-hour van ride going to Boracay. So saved with your flight and pray for a sun-drenched day on your schedule. Once in Jetty port which is the easiest access (10 minutes from the port), you just need to pay less than 200.00 pesos to step on the sands of Boracay.

For budget conscious like me, intensive research first for promos has to be considered to ensure a frolic yet budget-friendly vacay in Boracay. 

This is Grand Prix Hotel situated at the back of Yellow Cab Pizza in Station 1. We availed their suite room on their rainy-season promo two months ahead. PHP 1,990.00/head for 3D and 2N with breakfast. By the way,this is actually my second time in Grand Prix. The place is simply awesome.

Relished ourselves on the enticing charm of the paradise, we got the whole time clicking our cameras in all angles of the island. We arrived at 12:00 noon and just forgot to take lunch as my newbie friends wanted to stroll the place.

Pricey lunch? Well, you can still enjoy and savour food as fast foods in the city are mushrooming in the island. To name some, there is McDonalds which was opened months ago, Mang Inasal, Andoks and many more! But if you have saved enough, why not try those lavish and classy restaurants.

I was with my two floaties (just in case of emergency, they could be of great help) and a friend whom we gratefully admired for being such a great photographer! Wading through the waters is more fun for us swimmers! Sand rubbing was extremely fun too. We never got tired of playing the waters of the paradise. It's less polluted as you go ashore for a couple minutes, you would not feel stickiness to your skin!

Fire dancers add lit to the festive mood at night. Spinning the fire balls and fire poi is an attraction as it creates light-shapes. Tourists take advantage of capturing the captivating panorama.

These girls hit up the nightlife while I was in deep slumber. 

You would probably wish to stop the click from ticking. Gone are the frisky days. Time for Cebu bound as we're booked in Ilo-ilo. Boracay is such a lovely paradise. The pictures in the web is truly as vivid as you reach the place. The grandiose island brings your dreams into reality. Full-packed of activities and surprises. A must place to recommend!

Travel and Leisure: Canigao Island

Travel and Leisure: Canigao Island: Leyte, an economic-dormant island lies on the east side of the Philippine archipelago. Known for its abundance in natural resources, the is...

Travel and Leisure: Davao Trip

Travel and Leisure: Davao Trip: Considered as the largest city in the Philippines in terms of land area, Davao boasts its grandeur from nature to its citizens. This amazin...

Canigao Island

Leyte, an economic-dormant island lies on the east side of the Philippine archipelago. Known for its abundance in natural resources, the island has etched the name in Philippine history through "The Leyte Gulf War" and the infamous first-mass controversy. With all of these tags, Leyte still is not famous as a historical- heritage site for tourists but surprisingly famous for its eco-tourism and a center for natural research since it  shoot a line to its diverse habitat. These are the information normally popping up when I heard about the island.

But, do you know that there is one island in Southern Leyte famous for its crystalline waters? This made me curious years back and that I kept inviting my friends to visit the place but it turned out that everything was just merely "a plan". Ignored and went to Boracay and to many places in the country.

I am not a swimmer but ironically I call myself a "beach bummer". I defy the thought that only swimmers enjoy the vast area of the sea. With this, my desire to visit the island has all been set. Itinerary was narrowed down hoping that we could visit all those places in 3 days only.

Our trip fell on a significant holiday of 2012, Black Saturday for Christians to be specific, where transportation via land, air and sea is hard. But the nothing has ever stopped the journey. 

We took a trip at 8:00PM going to Bato, Leyte. We were three then and the thrill was apparent to our faces and gestures. After 6 hours of unnoticed travel, we reached Bato. Sunday, Palm Sunday that we decided to attend a mass but unfortunately, it was held at the bus terminal that we have had just passed by. We stayed at the church dawn until sunrise. We waited for a friend to fetch us and take us to our destination but the first stop was not realized. We were halfway in reaching the falls but we took the long way that could take us two more hours. Our legs then complained as the place was rocky and no signs of inhabitants. 

Second stop, Canigao Island. From Matalom market to the island itself took us 15 minutes through a tricycle. Then ticket was worth PHP75.00 rtt via pump boat. The island is just 10 minutes from the terminal. The white-sand beach and the crystal-clear water glistened as we viewed it from the boat. 

As we stepped on the sands, cameras were set to do its task. But, we have to first get our tent for an overnight use. The rental was pretty inexpensive (PHP400.00) as locals got crowded on the island.

I just can't wait to stroll around the islet. I was so amazed of the place since our area was located near the fish sanctuary. The sun was up and the rays were pricking underneath the layers of the skin. But we did not mind the weather instead, we drowned ourselves in the waters of Canigao. 

Basking under the heat of the sun is the best way to achieving a perfect summer vacay. Of course, you go back to your place with your sun-kissed skin and people would notice the change of your color. 

Truly, this island is a perfect escape from your stressful urban life. You just have to bring all your food good for the days you intended to stay as the island is selling way too expensive food. No corkage but the burden of carrying is the price you pay. Water, canned goods, alcohol, toilet papers and of course your beach wear has to be in your bags.

Twilight time and we're up to preparing our dinner. It was quite special because a friend offered to bring us food in the island. She just lived near the there. Surprisingly, her family went with her that the three of us felt so embarrassed!

Night time and the electricity was only until 12:00 MN. Our neighborhood had bonfire while we were lying on the sand. Since the sky was clear, we did star gazing. 

After the deep slumber with nature. We packed up for our next destination, Hilongos. As we bade farewell to the island. Good memories were stored in our minds and literally saved in our microSD's. At least, the short vacay gave us a break from our hectic schedules.

We took a tricycle ride from Matalom port to Bato Terminal. We paid PHP 15.00 peso each. Then another ride to Hilongos to where my brother lives. We took a heavy breakfast as our legs will take us to the port for Cebu bound.

We safely arrived home from our trip at exactly 3:00PM. The exhilarating trip was a memorable experience. Canigao Island is a place to de-stress and to refresh your body and mind.

Davao Trip

Considered as the largest city in the Philippines in terms of land area, Davao boasts its grandeur from nature to its citizens. This amazing tag forced me to visit the place months ago. Who would not be captivated to visit a place where nature and urban meet? Well, take a short trip through my pictures and that for those who desire to travel in the magnificent place, you might get some details which you need for your next trip.

Funny how everything has started. I was apologetic to a friend who went with me on that travel as we headed immediately to Abreeza Mall to meet a friend and buy a Starbucks tumbler (as this is my collection).

Our accommodation is located in C.M Recto, Davao City as referred to a friend. Royale House, a cheap yet luxurious-looking hotel. PHP1,900 per head for 3 days and 2 nights with free breakfast of your own choice of menu. 

(photo courtesy from www.pusangkalye.net)

June 30, 2012, our first day was more of a city tour. Abreeza was our first stop and SM (the old one) was the next. Just the thought of visiting in SM was not really amazing as SM Cebu is incomparable to theirs. Ridiculously, it took us 3 hours trip going back to our hotel as we were jazzling around the place. Of course, with the help of the friendly people who got us back to our destination. Took a nap and in a few hours, at 9:00PM a friend flicked a message to us. Without any thoughts, we hurriedly met her and took us to some famous places in Davao. Chillin' at Coffeecat, we met a famous artist whom we chit-chatted for a few minutes, YES a few minutes. Not to mention his name but he is absolutely hot!

It was still 10:00PM when the streets of Davao turned to a haunted street. I admire their self-discipline as the city imposed strictly their curfew. When the clock strikes at 1:00AM, party animals are unhurriedly invisible to party places. Valerie, a local from Cebu but now settled in Davao is a friend of Sarah, my Dora sissy. She gave us some tips on the places to travel for our second day. Everything was jotted down. 

Familiar? Yes, this is Eden Nature Park in Davao. Just with the help of our map and the hotel staff in Royale House, we arrived here safely. OMG! Davao is literally big! It took us 2 hours! From C.M. Recto, we took a jeepney ride going to Toril then habal-habal ride going to Eden. Whew! 10 in the morning and it was indeed exhausting but if you are a devotee to Mother Nature then you would not feel that long-and-tiring travel.

We are both introvert upon dealing with people, and that's a fact. A fact only applicable to people whose  mother tongue is not Bisaya. Sounds absurd but most of the tourists there were from Manila and they were in groups! I was pretty challenging as we twisted our tongue to communicate with them.

So, who's gonna take pictures? Of course, our tour guide.LOL She took our pictures in perfect angles! Cheers to that! 

Completed my Biology degree and took units in MS Environmental Science, I am a proud product of our environment. Eden Nature Park is a must place to visit. 

Eden's Bird Sanctuary is a place you should not miss. You would see different species of birds. With their flamboyant colors, you enjoy every moment looking at them. Their existence in our nature is something that we need to value and appreciate. Their chirp is a cry for us humans not to abuse their habitat. 

Ooops! I am not the result of the metamorphosis but their butterfly sanctuary offers essential information on the life cycle of a butterfly.

So much with green tableau and majestic creations, we hurriedly called our driver as the clouds were touching down the place. Without vehement eagerness, we headed to Crocodile Park. 

This ginormous crocodile sprung us up to surprise! I wonder then Lolong's length. It was such a close encounter! Well anyway, this place would amuse mostly to kids.

However, we really did not stay long since we still had a lot of things to catch up. We went back to our accommodation at 4:00PM. Then at dusk, our intestines were loosely looking for food.

I totally forgot the name of this barbecue house but it's just 5-minute away from our hotel. The ambiance was so cool. Dinner was delectable and mosquitoes enjoyed sipping blood from our flesh. After this short dinner, we headed to Abreeza Mall to buy pasalubong.

As a whole, Davao offers great features to tourists. Though, the place is astoundingly boring but if you are into nature tripping, this place is just perfect for you. We planned not to visit Pearl Farm as locals were telling us that Mactan is better. Davao is also famous for its sea foods so try their delish local foods. If you wish to visit this place, three days is not enough.