Sometimes all you have to do is jump and enjoy as much as what you can at sea – 05.21-23.16
Skydive was the highlight for this trip but memorable extras would be spending a stormy night as lone guest in the resort and swimming in most number of fish so far in that shallow water.
I’ve been to many beaches but this was first when I am in no swimsuit. I’ve been to many bars but this was first I was tucked in a blanket -02.21-22.16
After braving the chill in YEHLIU GEOPARK, I again hopped on the tour bus on the way to another destination which is the kind of place I consider my sanctuary – the beach. It was different from most kinds I have been in though because it was on its off-peak season the only people I was with was two kite-flyers and small group of friends who waded in the water for a few minutes then left. After beach is beer again on that spot behind the Red House. It was the usual beer night except another first that I was in a blanket as comfort from the cold.
A day of firsts then followed by my last in the country. But before that was xiao long bao someplace in the city.
Where beauty, play and fragile meet – 02.06-08.16
Extra points I give to islands I can go around in n steps (others being Potipot and Mantigue) so it was a pleasant surprise when KALANGGAMAN turned out to be one even when what initially pulled me in is its promise of calm water and its interesting shape, hence its name.
Water turned out an interesting range of calm to with soft waves, not to mention amazingly clear against backdrop of skies with such play of colors during sunrise and sundown and starry black in between.
I find it cheesy to often use the word beautiful but this island is precisely that. What adds to its charm even is how it seems fragile as felt in how harsh the wind can be in that place at certain times of day. Apparently, there is so much more than its shape.
Continue reading [Palompon, Leyte] ~ 2,941 Steps around Kalanggaman Island
For I have been to many but none yet at home – 12.29-30.15
I have been to quite a number of beaches in 2015 but when I had the chance for one last “hirit” (Filipino slang which connotes ‘more wanting’), I spent time on a secluded one closer to home. It was an overnight trip but most of what I did were packed during the day – from lazy people-watching, moments of wading and what to me is this crazy loooong walk from almost end-to-end of this long strip of sand.
My only time to rest was during sunset until it was dark and cloudplay was over. After that, I slept for almost 12 hours (!) which equals to about 5 regular days. Then in all my groggy in the morning was a lovely goodbye surprise.
Where there is no getting lost in walking – 11.28.15
This trip over the long weekend kicked off with straight-from-airport visit to an island called MANTIGUE so small like Potipot I walked and counted my steps around it – 1,322 in total at pace from 1:19 in the afternoon until about 2 (and okay, I got lazy recording the actual end time). Seabed was grassy (some area even had sea urchins!) but amazingly clear that I still did wade. It was a brief day trip but managed to squeeze in about an hour of snorkeling from a spot not so far from shore, not without a guide, of course.
I wish I had more than a day – a night at least to camp there (which sadly is not allowed) but okay, still quite a day to remember.
Continue reading [Camiguin, Philippines] ~ 1,322 Steps around Mantigue Island
Its seclusion made it initially scary, but it’s exactly later on what made worth all the scare – 09.25-27.15
I decided going to this place two days be fore it happened but I am just glad that I did not choose wrong. That ship ride getting there a check in my to-do list this year, the initially scary quiet and odd rawness of the island despite its many resorts (apparently also with an interesting story behind its name), lazy day of reading and wading, an impulsive trip to a sandbar and taking an alternative rather brave-the-waves kind of ride on a boat shared with only two other passengers.
Continue reading [Marinduque, Philippines] ~ That Island Called Maniwaya
Sometimes, you just have to go for the impulsive ones – 08.31.15
It was my last day in the island and there was a floating plan in my head to visit the other known beach in El Nido called NACPAN. Not a solid plan as I thought I did not have enough time but thanks to the tricycle I flagged, its drivers convincing skills and that photo of the view of that beach and its twin, I went to see and well, it was worth it.
Continue reading [Palawan, Philippines]~Twin Beaches of Nacpan and Calitang
I had to rewrite an entire entry because something went wrong with WordPress that I didn’t realize I published a raw article which was up over the weekend.
Anyhoo, here are my notes and snapshots on my second day in El Nido.
Playing hide-and-seek on my second day – 08.30.15
Five-hour trip from Puerto Princesa got me to this small town where I spent my first day just the usual walking around and immediately falling in love with realization that dogs were everywhere. Caught the sunset at MARIMEGMEG BEACH over beer and new camera ‘test-drive’ on day. Full day the following day spent on Tour C which I chose for its promise of hop within hidden beaches called HELICOPTER ISLAND, (well) HIDDEN BEACH, that beach with name I did not catch but has the loveliest water and most beloved seclusion andSECRET BEACH which inspired Alex Garland’s The Beach. Last half day was this sudden detour to swim NACPAN’s gentle waves and see from a hill its twin CALITANG.
Let’s take you to that tour C, shall we?
Continue reading [Palawan, Philippines] ~ Seeking El Nido’s Hidden Beaches
Curiosity finally satisfied on this other town in Palawan
– 08.29.15
Five-hour trip from Puerto Princesa got me to this small town where I spent my first day just the usual walking around and immediately falling in love with realization that dogs were everywhere. Caught the sunset at MARIMEGMEG BEACH over beer and new camera ‘test-drive’. Full day the following day spent on Tour C which I chose for its promise of hop within hidden beaches called HELICOPTER ISLAND, (well) HIDDEN BEACH, that beach with name I did not catch but has the loveliest water and most beloved seclusion and SECRET BEACH which inspired Alex Garland’s The Beach. Last half day was this sudden detour to swim NACPAN’s gentle waves and see from a hill its twin CALITANG.
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![[Cebu] ~ Bantayan in Sky and Sea](https://iamnotravelplanner.files.wordpress.com/2017/08/36153467686_c60e167705_o.jpg?w=672&h=372&crop=1)
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![[Palompon, Leyte] ~ 2,941 Steps around Kalanggaman Island](https://iamnotravelplanner.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/30834234175_6955d43292_o-1.jpg?w=672&h=372&crop=1)
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![[Camiguin, Philippines] ~ 1,322 Steps around Mantigue Island](https://iamnotravelplanner.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/30202010714_04d03028e2_o.jpg?w=672&h=372&crop=1)
I am no travel planner. 