Calaguas Island, Camarines Norte

Calaguas Island, Camarines Norte

Wanna a get away from the hustle and bustle of the city? Wanna bar receiving messages and fast from your Smartphone for a day?

Beach junkie or not, Calaguas Island is very worth your every while. From the turquoise water, to thunderous waves, to fine white sands and picture perfect panorama, this is just a treat. 

And I mean treat because the side trip happened just days before our birthdays. So Donna (travel buddy) and I agreed to have our leaves after our business by hook or by crook. Ehem. And swear they weren’t planned sick leaves but vacation leaves. Hoho!

Man delivering freshly cut and cleaned nipa leaves.

The Journey

Calaguas  Island is more or less a 2–hour ride from Daet depending on the waves.  Boats are available for P2000 per tour but we had it for P150 each as ‘chance passengers’. A local referred us to a friend who had a group tour.

The beginning of the journey was already an eye festival. Starting from lush green nipa leaves that stand as aisle of the emerald green waters leading you to the real deal as the pristine blue waters welcome you a couple of minutes after. Be prepared of getting drenched when the waves feel like bitching. No one escapes.

Calaguas Island, Camarines Norte.

What to Prepare

Budget wise, Calaguas Island is one of the destinations that is supple in experience at less expense. The overnight stay costed me less than P1500 (See expenses below). For travelers who imprinted B (Budget) on their foreheads, you might spend lesser. If you have a tent and some food from home, you will surely save some bucks. Moreover, there is no problem if you have none as there is accommodation around.  There are cottages or you can rent a tent for P300 and dine with basic traveling foods at less than a hundred.

Our lunch for example were newly cooked rice and boiled eggs. We had opened a can of tuna and voila, happy tummy is in the air. Worry not if you got no cooking gears and utensils with you. The sari-sari stores around offering the goods are much willing to cook it for you and even serve it to your tent with plate, spoon, and fork.

Home by the Beach. Calaguas, Island, Camarines Norte

The Experience

The boat ride to the island was long and exhilarating.  My tummy was turning upside down every time huge waves rock the boat wiping the sunblock all over my body and leaving my eyes soaked in seawater. Like aww!

 I thought it was just my imagination over-exaggerating the waves but it dawned unto me it was real when the boatmen had difficulty in putting the ladder for disembarkation as we docked. In the end, they opted for us to jump from the boat because every of wave surge took the ladder away. It was there that I practiced timing and precision. As a waves pass, you have to hurry getting down and get on the shore before a new one will rip you off.

Donna and I had no itinerary for this trip. Our main goal was just reaching the island and will take it from there. Soon as we stepped foot on the island, we realized we had nowhere to go.  A group tour organizer was willing to adopt us for P3000 each including a place to stay and meals overnight but we think it was a bit pricey. She even scared us that we won’t be able to find a place to stay and food was scarce in the area leaving us to almost say yes… Just almost though.

There is no phone signal in the area so we had no friends to ask for help on what to do. Not to mention we were wet and hungry. We then headed to the nearest sari-sari store for possible meals and tent. We were so lucky to have been referred to Kuya Aron who set-up the tent for us at the most strategic location. His wife Ate Ruth, cooked our meal of boiled eggs and rice that we bought from their sari-sari store. 

Sea Salut! Calaguas Island, Camarines Norte

Now we have food and a home. Yeehey! Now time to explore the island. Had I mentioned it was very clean? And there is no need for human massage? Just stay near the water and let the waves do it for you.

There are a lot of things you can do in this virgin island. You can go sunbathing, snorkeling, hiking, or island hopping. Kuya Aron had referred us to a guide friend, Kuya King, who was having a group tour as well. He was willing to take us to the island and back to Daet (because getting back to the mainland had been our dilemma).

Generator is the only source of energy in the area hence light is scarce but is not a problem. If you are lucky like us, you could see the serene beauty of Calaguas as the moonlight bathes the island. The waves sing you to sleep and the sweet chirps of birds will wake up you the next day.

The Expenses (This is good for 2 pax already)

Tuna, Bread, Chips                      -P200

Boat Fare to Calaguas Island        -P300

Tent                                          -P300

Lunch                                        -P  65

Dinner                                       -P200            (We had dinner with Kuya Aron’s family)

Island Tour &

Boat Fare to Daet                       -P800

Total Expense:                          -P1,865

Bus Fare from Manila to Daet                   -P550

Jeep Fare from Daet to Vinzons               -P  15

(Photo credits to Donna Marie Legaspi)

You might also like:
Climbing Mt. Pulag -DIY
24-Hour Life in Dalaguete, Cebu
The Taste of Iloilo
Mt. Marami Day Hike
Ideas for Batangas Overnight
Road Trip To Ilocos
Benefits of Travelling Solo
Holiday Getaway at Sagada, Mt. Province
Birthday Beauty Rest at Puerto Galera, Orienta Mindoro

Road Trip To Ilocos

Ilocos is crossed off my list of places to check out after I got to run an errand to Nueva Vizcaya, Tarlac, Pangasinan, and finally Vigan. Three days of travel had kinda bored me but the sights along the journey had been very kind for a treat. 

Carangalan, Nueva Ecija (ooh, if I  am not too sleepy to remember)

Banaoang Bridge, Ilocos Sur

Family on Vigan stroll.

A welcoming sight to San Fernando, La Union.

Bell Tower 1951, Ilocos.

Ilocos' infamous empanada.

Night at Calle Crisologo.

My Top 10 Travel Essentials

Travelling light and easy.

A hand-carry bag, a backpack, and a pouch—you could see me balancing all the baggage whenever I travel even just overnight. I have this disease of bringing my entire wardrobe for a two-day affair or drag a stroller if it takes three days or a week. Traveling light is an art and for me it took time to learn. Now, whenever I pack, I ask the basic question, “Do I really need this?” For a week of travel, I am now proud to say I can survive with putting all my stuff in a middle sized backpack. Here are my top 10 travel essentials.

1.    Backpack. A comfortable and durable one with a laptop compartment. My Swiss backpack has served me well for years. I choose one with a laptop compartment as it is convenient and safe for me. It spares me the hassle of hanging my laptop bag separately.

2.   Flexible pair of shoes. I choose a pair of leather booties when I travel for trainings and any others. It is always ready to go and can carry different looks. Pair it with a long sleeve and jeans and you’ll have a semi formal look. Pair it with shorts and  sleeveless and you are ready to go for an afternoon stroll.

3.   Wardrobe essentials.  Clothes made from light materials like cotton are preferable as they are fold-able to the minimum size without the dire need for pressing. Jeans, jogging pants, shorts, t-shirt, a dress, one nighties, and lots of undies.

4.   Toiletries.  In a mini handbag, I see to it that all of my basic stuff like toothbrush, toothpaste, bath soap, shampoo, mouthwash, lotions, etc., are all in. I keep a mini size of all those to save space.

5.   Water. This has not been on top of my list until lately. Unexpected things might happen along the way and water is the safest stuff you could take to keep you alive.

6.   Headset. As a music fanatic, a headset is not a want but a need. Duhh, imagine a 24-hour bus ride or a delayed flight without anything that is preferable to you playing.

7.   Book. Sure, there are ebooks ubiquitously available with the invention of Android phones or you can read them straight from the desktop. But I am an orthodox lass who likes to flip pages once in a while and who is obsessed of book scent.

8.   Scarf. It is always multi-purpose. Scarves can serve as your blanket or towel, if needed. It is also a great way to travel in style without bringing too much.

9.   Good sunnies. The heat of the sun and wind might irritate your eyes. With neuralgia striking once in a while which makes me abhor glares, I could say sunglasses are functional fashion.

10. Slippers. I have a pair tucked on the side pocket of my backpack just in case I need them.


You might also like:
Benefits of Travelling Solo
10 Things You Hate About School
Flat Talk
Here Is Why You Should Not Quit

Ideas for Batangas Overnight

Batangas boasts of sure adventure and fun through its beaches, pools,
and gastronomic foods.

You need wait neither summer nor long holidays to take a break. Just go get your backpack and throw in your trainers, a few clothes, and you are good to go.

Destination? Batangas. Just an overnight though.

Batangas is just an hour and a half  drive from Metro Manila (if you are lucky not to catch the holy traffic hour). In just a nap (if you are not driving), the next time you open your eyes, you are already somewhere near the infamous Mt. Taal nestling amidst the majestic lake. Considered as a first class province in the Philippines, Batangas boasts a wide array of hotels, inns and other accommodations that perfectly fit an excursionist’s budget. Club Balai Isabel is one of the top five options for their quite a number of pools and panoramic view. You could rent a single room or if you are in a group, taking a villa good for 7-14 people is a wise option.

Heck, why do I sound like a PR personnel here? Get up! Time to kick ass in Batangas! Well not really, here are just few ideas on how you could spend a short stay in such beautiful place like I did. Do not worry this is not an itinerary (I personally hate it myself.)

Arriving at around 6 in the evening is just perfect for dinner after settling your stuff. Swear, the food is heaven especially the salad.  Oh, I’ll bet one finger if you won’t like their vinaigrette. The resto fronts the lake gently comb by the wind.  Hey, that’s more than an appetizer! For the eyes.

Once tummy is filled, hmmm, it might then be cool to stroll. Bring a shawl if you get cold easily though. You might get brain freeze. Or if not really up to it, then head back to your room and prepare for swimming. For security reasons, pool accommodation is just until 10pm so better exhaust earlier.

Frozen, eh? Go sip bourbon or whiskey at the nearby bar and party-party! Or if you are not up to it, go play poker with your friends. If you got a car with you, it would be easy to glide up to Tagaytay (just 30 mins away) and check a bowl of steaming soup or boiling black coffee but be sure to be back early and rise before the ball of fire will. You do not want to miss the sun peeks from the lake’s horizon, do you?

But before you do that, you might consider jogging first. The very reason I asked you to throw a pair running shoes, eh?  On the latter part of the day, you could play billiard, basketball, volleyball, dart, or even check out a boat that could take you to the island near Mt. Taal. It is fun also to watch fisher folks catching freshwater creatures or simply bathe under the sun with your sunnies of course.


You might also like:
Calaguas Island, Camarines Norte
How to Spend Leisure Hours Productively
Must Checks in Dipolog, Zamboanga Del Norte
Benefits of Travelling Solo
Random Things You Hate

What I Miss About Tagaytay

Tagaytay is fairly cold from Nov-Feb and I had just the privilege to visit last Jan. Boy, it was the quickest getaway from the polluted metro. It is just approximately two hours away from Pasay via public transportation. Boredom brought me here to sip a can of beer while smoking the world away. Famished? Dare not go home without checking out a bowl of hell hot bulalo! But what I really miss about this place is my phone. Lost it in there so watch out of yours!

You might also like:
Benefits of Travelling Solo
Holiday Getaway at Sagada, Mt. Province

Mt. Marami, Mt. Nagpatong, Mt. Buntis. and Pico De Loro

A quadrology day hike turned trilogy day hike with AMCI. Such a friendly bunch of people. Never underestimate boredom if it takes you to trekking and mountain climbing. This affair made me ask for a leave the next day due to extreme muscle pain.

You might also like:
24-Hour Life in Dalaguete
Ideas for Batangas Overnight
Sunset by the Beach, Nasugbu Batangas
Random Things You Hate
Brewing Boredom

Marinduque, The Heart of the Philippines

A one-night stand with Marinduque's amiable people, virgin white islands, mouthwatering dishes, and rich Spanish architecture.

The Taste of Iloilo

Iloilo is known for its grand churches but this time food tripping is my mantra. (L-R) Juicy native lechon manok from Mang Tatoy's. The said sea food restaurant is well-known both to the locals and visitors. It is situated quite a distance from the  town proper but the journey is all worth it. They offer a wide array of sumptuous dishes like grilled hito, native chicken curry, chopsuey, cheesy baked tahong, fried crabs and ohh, my mouth waters.  Pork stew with jack fruit. I have tried eating jack fruit cooked in coconut milk but never stewed it was fairly delicious though. Sinigang na baboy. I am never a fan of sour stews but this is a sure hit in my taste. In lieu for  tamarind or calamansi, Ilonggos used batuan for souring.  Batuan or Garcinia binucao is a greenish, yellowish fruit that has firm outer covering that contains acidic pulp and seeds. It made the sourness of the stew just mild while the kadios beans balanced it all. Grilled tangigi. Thumbs up to this splendid bad boy. Fresh from catch. Fresh from grill. That explains the sweet smoky taste of the meat. Molo soup. Noodles from Molo (a place in Iloilo City) bathe in water and chicken flakes. La Paz batchoy is also popular in Iloilo most especially of course at La Paz. Bisocho. Meaning biscuits in Spanish, this baked bread topped with butter and sugar is Iloilo's number pasalubong. Hot spots are hard to find here but in case you need one, I recommend Coffee Break. As a coffeeholic, I could say their coffee is excellent at affordable prices (Like Php80 and up) . You just need a minimum Php100 purchase to avail their wifi.

You might also like:
10 Things You Hate About Food
Holiday Getaway at Sagada, Mt. Province
Top 10 Travel Essentials
Here Is Why You Should Not Quit

Experiencing Samal Summer Quickie

You can ride a boat directly to the resort of your option to easily get there.
Fare is only Php15 gainst RoRo's Php10.

Better late than never. The adage is effin’ shibboleth but the last week of May is indeed not too late to catch-up dating the splendid sea, sun, and sand! Besides, what are you gonna do to spare yourself from boredom while waiting for your flight?

My business trip to Tagum, Davao del Norte allowed me more or less 19 hours to visit and savour the pristine and crystal clear waters of Samal Island.

Right after our training my workmate, college friend, and I had a working snack at around 2 pm. It took us more than an hour to decide if we were to stay at Villa Amparo, Bluejaz, Bluewaters, Paradise Island, or Isla Reta. We were looking for a decent place without harassing our pockets. Our first choice was Isla Reta but given the time and budget we opted for Paradise Island.

Transportation

Tagum to Panacan Port – approx. 1.5 hours-  Bus fare Php90

Panacan to Samal Island –approx. 10 mins- RoRo fare Php10

Samal Port –Paradise Island – 3-5 min – Motorcycle fare Php30

Panacan Port I guess is just 10-15minutes away from the Airport.

Standard room accommodation.

Honestly, I preferred sleeping somewhere under the nipa hut with just a foam on together with fellow travelistas (fun way of meeting people) but we have our gadgets and   bathroom concerns to consider. What we got was the only standard room in the vicinity. In fact it is not even mentioned to be available. Deluxe and premiers range from Php3, 500- Php3, 900 with air conditioner and television of which I think were not essentials in our case.

Accommodation

Standard Room – overnight stay is Php2, 500 (good for two but you could get additional)

Food – dishes ranges from Php150-Php 300

We finally settled at around 5 pm. We agreed to visit the Bat Cave and Hagimit Falls but the three of us were quite drained from the morning activities so we slept for about 30 minutes instead. Our starving tummies dragged us to the restau hall and before we knew it we have devoured curry, ramyeon and gulped smoothies.

There were live acoustic band and fire dancing which I thought to be cool enough. We wished we still had energies to invade the nearby infinity pool (Bluejaz is just a few steps away). I and my friend tripped to the bar for a drink or two while my workmate chose to succumb in slumber.

Morning came and everyone seemed to be oblivious of the white sand outside because the bed wasjust too tempting to let go. If there are schools conducive for learning, this place must be conducive for sleeping. Nevertheless, I got up to catch the sunrise (crossed fingers because it was already 7 am) while both were at the dream land.

After a sumptuous breakfast (their buko juice fresh from the shell is heavenly thirst quenching), the clock began to tick. Oops! We barely had an hour and a half left to wander lust. Kayaking erased. Snorkeling too and all in the list! Time to dive and let our skin taste the salt water.

Lost in water.

I am a bit picky when it comes to beaches. The last time I had a plunged was four years ago. I hate the waves banging my body. More to the sea grasses and shrewd corals that hurt my feet. Thanks to the universe that the beach at that time had less of it. The water was as calm as the pool nestled in ivory ash. It was absolutely a spur of the moment idea. We came just for business and yet despite the limited time we still manage to escape. Never underestimate where boredom leads you!

Fort Santiago, Manila

Fort Santiago, Sta. Clara St., Intramuros Manila (L-R) A welcoming nationalistic sight, Two guardia sibils, Mang Tonio and his stallion Dodong, yours truly having a good time with free mangoes  from a caretaker, a facsimile of the Noli Me Tangere, and the gateway to Fort Santiago's rich history.

One of my officemates arranged an educational tour to the Manila's infamous Walled City with the whole department and I cannot help but to feel excited for it. Hey, I've been staying in the metro formore than two years now and I only have been to Luneta Park.  It had been relayed to me that we will meet at 7:45 am and provided the Filipino time culture, I assumed it was 8 am. I was at our rendezvous earlier but an hour and a half later, I had not a seen a single familiar soul. I did not message them either. Out of boredom, I mixed with a throng of people going from site to site so I won't get lost.

A couple of minutespassed and I found myself walking to strange streets that feels like I am out of the country. No deafening honking, no irritating litters--the paradox of the city. The place had really preserved its Spanish architecture. I feel like strolling the sidewalks of Europe for a cup of coffee. Bars, restos, boutiques, and offices are housed in such rich remnants of the past. A romantic place for dates and many other social events too.


Fort Santiago is one of the best attractions of the Walled City. It showcased the Philippine National Hero Jose Rizal's memorabilia like his suits, operating tools, works of art and some of his family's fine chinas and furniture. You might be interested to peek the dungeons and prison cells.