Palaui Island

A Very Sunnnnnny (and cloud-less) Beach

Because I am ending my hiatus from not-traveling, I invited my friends to go to Palaui and avoid the traffic of Valentine's Day (plus it's also Milcah and Espee's birthday) hehe

There are several blogs regarding how to get to Palaui, so we just basically followed them. But here are some lessons and comments on our trip.

1. Transportation:

It may be cheaper to book two-way airline tickets. I have 4 friends who were able to get CebuPac roundtrip tickets to Tuguegarao for PhP 2120, then they took the van going to Sta. Ana (PhP 180). Unfortunately, my schedule will not allow me to take the airplane, so we took the bus going there, and had the airplane going back (PhP 1500). I've read that our bus tickets cost PhP 850 from Sampaloc, Manila straight to Sta. Ana, Tuguegarao for the 3PM departure.

Another unfortunate event was... well, we booked up to Tuguegarao only (miscommunication). So when I returned the next day to upgrade our ticket straight to Sta. Ana, the person behind the counter told me to just pay the additional fee when we're in the bus.

When we were in the bus, we told the conductor that we will go straight to Sta. Ana, so can we just pay the additional so we won't be bothered anymore when we get to Tuguegarao at 3 AM? The conductor told us, that he can only issue the ticket up to Tuguegarao, and from Tuguegarao, we have to get another ticket at PhP 220. (So yes, we were awakened at 3 AM just to get another ticket... Why can't just the conductor issue us a straight ticket to Sta. Ana is beyond me... This is my first time to experience such a thing. But I don't want to dwell on that anymore. Lesson learned: when you buy tickets, make sure I read the final destination.)

My Transportation Expense: PhP 2670
Manila-Tuguegarao by bus - 700
Tuguegarao-Sta Ana by bus - 220 (more expensive than if booked straight to Sta. Ana)
Sta Ana-Tuguegarao by van - 180
Tuguegarao-Manila by plane - 1500


2. Accommodations:
We stayed in Casa Empyreal, which by SMS was PhP 1000 per room, good for 4 people. (But my friend said that it looks very small, can only fit 2 people)

When my friends went there, they upgraded our accommodations to PhP 3500 for 2 nights for a villa with CR, dining room, patio outside with swing, and our room was a cozy, airconditioned, attic-style (meaning sleeping in mattresses in the floor) to fit all 6 of us. The room itself wasn't much of a problem (or maybe the aircon was too cold? Anyway, our fault hehe). Though it needs some cleaning and maybe finish the furnishings?

Left house behind us is the villa. Right house is the main house, where rooms for 2-4 people are priced at 1,000 per night

Sounds cheap enough right? Unfortunately, they had a problem with the water at the time, and we had to get water from a pump (we climb mountains so we are not actually that picky, but... if you compare our accommodations with the others in the area which was water and better furnished, it's not worth it; If I was there, I would have gone for the EF Costales Lodge, which was near the port). And... no hot water for me because they were asleep before I could ask help in boiling water from the stove.

Advantages:
it's beachfront so we can do night swimming or even bonfire at night
use their kitchen for free
we had the place to ourselves, there was a patio, a swing, and a dining area outside

(Actually, we weren't able to go to the main house, but they said it's nice there.)

Expense: PhP 3500 for 6 people for 2 nights


3. Tour

We just asked the owner of the accommodations because their neighbor owns a boat, and could tour us for the same rate that they are asking in the tourist center (which is in the port, a good 10-minute tricycle ride for PhP15 per head). We got the day tour PhP 3500 to tour us to Cape Engano, Anguib Beach, and Crocodile Island (we didn't bother going to Punta Verde anymore and opted to spend more time in Anguib Beach). So we just got that for the convenience of it all.

We left our beach at around 7 to 7:30 AM, arrived on Cape Engano around 8 to 8:30 AM.
Even though it's just a 20-minute walk up the stairs, they still charged us PhP 600 for a guide fee for 6 of us. Published rate is actually PhP 300 per guide up to 4 people (with trails coming from Punta Verde and Sumaguin cave, as PUBLISHED). Since we were 6, we needed two guides. It's the same rate if we will be hiking from Punta Verde, which is 3 hours of hiking time times two-way. We asked for a discount because it's just a 20-minute walk, and the poster did say that the trek will be from Punta Verde and Sumaguin, and yet they still charged us the same.

I just took a deep breath, and told myself, it's like paying PhP 100 for an entrance fee to the light house. Let it go.

Anyway, the view was beautiful, and we were the first group to arrive so we still had the place to ourselves for some photo shoot hehe In fairness, the place was clean. They told us that they collect guide fees to guard the area against vandalism etc to preserve the place. (I agree that this could have been done in Batanes, and other places in the Philippines.)

Cape Engano Field

View of the beach while trekking

The Light House

Feeling Batanes lang

Isa pang feeling nasa Batanes hehe

View of the ruins from the light tower

We left around 10:30 AM and went straight to Anguib beach where we spend our time eating lunch, lounging around, and swimming. It was beautiful and sunny, and there were hardly any other people, so it was a good beach hehe We paid PhP 100 as entrance fee. Cottages were also offered at PhP 500 for the whole day, but we have our own sarongs anyway, and there were trees, so we just opted for the free picnic table.

Anguib Beach

Our Shady Little Nest

Panaroma view of the beach and our shady place in this island

Though it was noontime, the water wasn't that warm. It was actually cold after getting up from the beach (we think that maybe it's because of the cool wind). The water was also very clear, and the water was fine and white (though may no reach the powdery sand of Boracay or Dimaculangan beach in Bohol).

We left at around 3:30 PM. We dropped by quickly at the Crocodile Island for some quick photo op before resuming our trip back to our place.

Crocodile Island (we are in the eye of Lacoste)

And that's when the problem started. Apparently, our boat wasn't legitimate, and one of the other boatmen called up the tourist center. So instead of going home, the police met us halfway and escorted us to the tourist center.

I'm going to admit, I was stressed though I know we didn't really do anything wrong. Apparently, we didn't pay the day pass because we didn't go through the tourist center though they know that it's not our fault. They reprimanded the boat, Casa Empyreal, and called up the Kagawad to clear things up. Anyway... still, it was stressful.

The tourist center told us that their boat is secure with life vests, proper seating, and a proper roof. We only had the life vests, but yeah, I was wondering why we don't have proper seats and a roof on our boat (I used my malong as a cover instead.)

Here is the official price list:


I also asked if there are any land transportation available going to Anguib Beach, they told us it could be reached by tricycle, of about 20-30 minutes. Since we are 6, they estimated that we need two tricycles, with one trike costs PhP 300.

If I had known that, maybe we should have just took the boat to Cape Engano, had lunch back at our place, then took the land trip to Anguib Beach. It would have cost cheaper, right?

Or even if we took the boat, we could have just gone to Cape Engano and Anguib Beach for PhP 3,000. We didn't really think the Crocodile Island was worth stopping for. Though... that trip is only good for 6 hours.

Anyway, so I'm posting this information to let anyone who might be interested.
Simply get the boat from the Tourist Center, and not from your accommodations.

Expenses: PhP 848.33
Boat - 3500/grp or 583.33
Guide fee (Cape Engano) - 600/grp or 100/pax
Anguib beach entrance fee - 100
Day pass - 50
Trike from port to Casa Empyreal - 15

4. Food
Well, I let my friends took over and just buy food from the market.
Our common fund indicates around PhP 350 per head.


So there!
It was one heck of a misadventure after another (I didn't even include that we almost missed our bus going to Sta. Ana, because I forgot the bus tickets haha), but it's actually these experiences and misadventures that actually make a trip worthwhile.

The people of Sta. Ana are nice and friendly, and I don't think there are much tourist traps in the area (hopefully), but because of the miscommunication and the problems that we encountered, we didn't tip anymore. But at least we didn't haggle the price, especially for the boat and for the accommodations (I didn't know if my friends knew that there was a problem with the water when they agreed?)

Negros Adventure: Part 2: Dumaguete (Day 6)

Day 6:

This is a Wednesday, we planned to go to Apo Island to swim with the Pawikans! Yehey!

We woke up around 6:30 am, prodded by Victor to get up regardless of the very long night. Realizing that there was free breakfast consisting of toast and coffee or tea, we grabbed the free breakfast. There was someone that was supposed to stay in our room, so we were forced to move to a smaller room, which also costs cheaper, PhP 800 + 350 for the extra double bed. It didn’t have a balcony or ref anymore, but it still has the TV and the private shower. So, we moved our things and were able to leave at around 8 am.

I forgot my camera at Dauin Marine Sanctuary, so we passed that way first before going to Apo Island. Yes, thank you so much to those um, matured lovely couple owning the sanctuary who kept my camera, knowing that I will return to get it! Such a nice couple indeed J

Afterwards, we boarded a jeep going to Zamboangita. It was a really big jeep, as in wide, only costs PhP 12. It was a Wednesday so we were able to witness market day. We brought some snacks, bread if we’re going to feed the fish, etc.

Usually the boat costs PhP 2000 for 4 people, and the big boat costs PhP 3000 to fit 6 people. There was a foreigner there who was waiting for passengers, and we were able to get a boatman to agree to take the 5 of us to Apo Reef for PhP 2000.

Grabe, ang init na naman at tanghaling tapat! Aside from that, the beach was rocky and hard, full of corals. There was an entrance fee of PhP 100 then we could rent a life vest for PhP 100. Since it was lunch time, we had lunch in the Apo Resort Restaurant where I had chopseuy after many days of eating meat. (Yes, I know we should have just went to a local, ask to cook something for us, or whatever, right? According to Shee, one of the locals asked.) I was interested in scuba diving, intro dive costs a little less than PhP 3,000 for 2-3 hours. But unfortunately, we have to leave around 3 to 4 pm, so there wasn’t much time. Sayang! (Actually, it was a good deal according to Victor, because the PhP 1,900 intro dive that he knows of consists of 1 hour only. That plus it was really hot and the sun was so high really made me interested in scuba! Hehe)

Then, we swam with the turtles! They were so cool and so big upclose. I could touch them, but we weren’t supposed to! Hehe After about an hour or so, we got up and had some photo ops with the rocks. (I almost had a wardrobe malfunction!) We weren’t able to do the trek to the light tower anymore, because of the lack of time. Sad…

Shee swimming with the turtles

An example of something we weren't supposed to do: Touch the Pawikan

Rocky, pebbly, coral-ly beach of Apo Island

Anyway, we went back to Dauin. We rode another bus bound for Dumaguete, caught another tricycle to Harold’s where we washed ourselves. For tonight, since there were only 4 of us, we took the bicycle and rode around the city, replenishing money, and had dinner at KRI, which was blogged to be the number 1 restaurant in the area.

KRI was really good or we were hungry and it was already 9pm. We ordered the top 4 specialties of the restaurant: Tuna wrapped in something, Tenderloin tips, Pork ribs, and Sashimi something, I think. Anyway, mine was yummy, which was the Tuna! Hehe Afterwards, we went to Haus of Sansrival to try the other cakes. (Sabi sa inyo, nasubukan na namin almost lahat doon.) Anyway, we went back to Harold’s to get some sleep.

At KRI with their marshmallow shake and chocolate shake

Expenses:

Tricycle to Ceres – PhP 10

Ceres Bus to Dauin – PhP 20

Jeep from Dauin to Zamboangita – PhP 12

Market – PhP 40

Apo Island Boat – PhP 2000/5 people

Apo Island Resort Lunch – PhP 90

Apo Island Entrance and Snorkline – PhP 100

Life Vest Rental – PhP 100

Zamboangita to Dumaguete – PhP 20

Tricycle to Harold’s Inn – PhP 10

KRI dinner – PhP 140

Hous of Sansrival – PhP 100 (group meal)

Ditse's Birthday Surf

I wasn't supposed to be going to the beach anytime soon. As I previously said to myself after being burned and browned from our Calaguas Beach outing, but no, I impromptly went to the beach with my sisters and friends! It was Mariel's birthday weekend, and she really wanted to go to the beach. She supposed to go with Deo and the other BU people, but Deo cancelled because he went to Hong Kong abruptly. So two days before the weekend, after arriving from Cavite from work, I planned a surfing outing for my sister.

We were thinking between Zambales (a three-hour drive) or San Juan, La Union (5-hour drive), and basically decided against Baler (um, a 12-hour drive, I think?). I made a page on Facebook, and people went! Haha More than the number of people who confirmed for Deo's planned surfing weekend Haha

Anyway, we weren't in a hurry so we met late morning on September 22, 2012 in Trinoma, had some last-minute shopping done, and go! We arrive in Zambales area around 2 pm, where we had lunch in a small panciteria that only cost less than PhP 50 for a pansin palabok or pansit malabon (or in Shee's case, pala-bon because we had the malabon but added palabok sauce for free).

We arrived in Crysal Beach Resort around 4 pm, perfect time to go swimming. But not for surfing, since the waves were soooo calm. There was a group of mountaineers' night as well, so the resort was fully booked. We were able to stay in its neighboring resort at Kakay Beach House, where it was cheaper and better because we had the resorts all to ourselves!

Sorry, poor picture of the inside of the room hehe

Can you see the contact number of Kakay's Cottage?

 We stayed in a fan room (duh, it's the beach! it's supposed to be windy and yes, it was cold sometime in the early morning where some of us were awakened). There was a room with two sets of double-sized bunk beds and a room with 1 set of double-sized bunk bed, hence good for 12 people. And how much was it? It was originally PhP 2500, but they gave it to us for only PhP 2,000! Yey! They also offered to rent surf boards good for half day with instructor (PhP 800) or without instructor (PhP 400), and whole day. Unfortunately, they only have two sets of board. And these boards were for professionals! Haha! Yes, makapal ang mukha namin porked naka pag surfing na once haha


Anyway, it was late afternoon, so it was time for a costume change, and walk around the beach area if not to swim.We had some photo-ops. Buti nalng si Shee din may dress, very girly tuloy kami haha Some local guys were skim boarding, and we watched them for a while. It was almost sunset, so more pictures.

Borrowed the Skim Boards from the Local Boys

Group Shot

Then we went to Crystal Beach Resort for dinner. Overpriced for me (actually around 3 USD but the place was ordinary and the food was usual), but hey they were the only restaurant in the area so there really is not much other choice. But there was free wifi hehe

After dinner, since it was a mountaineer's night, they had some band where we could actually watch. But no, we'd rather be left to our own devices. Some star gazed and enjoyed the beach breeze, while some of us had some fun night swimming (aka moi). After about an hour of bouncing around in the water, we decided to get up, take a bath, and start the "socials." Since it was Mariel's birthday, and she did offer to pay for the drinks, it was on her! Haha


The next morning, we woke up, praying for higher waves. We rented the two surf boards and tried surfing, sharing the boards amongst ourselves. The others (Macy, Matel, and Shee) who was late taking their time in waking up, rented boards via surf school in Crystal Beach for PhP 400/hr with trainer especially since it was their first time. It was actually worth it for them because they even had matching rash guards, and some stickers and gift vouchers from Rox.

Calm waves...

Stoked

Surfing School with Matching Uniforms

Photo Op nalang kasi wala masyadong waves e

Eventually, we were all done around noon. No one ate breakfast because we were going surfing, and we would rather have lunch somewhere on the way. We were thinking if we're having lunch in Subic, but decided it's too far, so we settled for Chic-Boy instead. We had a stop-over in Nathaniel's in San Fernando, Pampanga for some pasalubong and some merienda. We arrived in Manila a little before 6 pm, barely made it to the mass in UP hehe

Expense:
Transportation (gas, toll, and driver) - PhP 300
Accomodations (PhP 2000/8) - PhP 250 + 10 (for the 5-gal water)
Dinner (group meal for 5: PhP 650, I think) - around PhP 130
Surfing (PhP 400 x 2 boards/5) - PhP 160
Drinks and junk food - c/o Mariel

Total: PhP 850 (plus personal KKB food)

Cool! Two days only to plan and yet our expense was less than 1k! Not bad... Plus we were 8 considering that we only had 2 days haha It could have been more kaso short notice. I really thought I was going to Tagaytay with my parents this weekend, instead of celebrating Mariel's birthday at the beach. Next time, we'll research also on the swell and wave which really SHOULD be included in planning for a surfing trip. Siargao, anyone?

Mt. Daguldol Climb/Laiya Beach

Another fun weekend spend with the Backpackers United :)

Backpackers United at the foot of Mt. Daguldol - Photo by Victor Ayson

At first I was again hesitant because I have no friends again (Ha!)... I meant, I have no old friends. Anyway, Ralph and Deo convinced me to come nevertheless because at least I knew some of the climbers already due to the previous climbs. The funny thing was, I invited some "old" friends Yani, Milcah and Patrick. None of them came, but a friend of Yani, Emman, came! Haha Proxy... I don't even know who he is, and I'm supposed to entertain him? Naku, shy pa naman ako! Hindi ako sigurado sa powers ko! Hehe I also saw from the list that there were previous climbers who I climbed with last year... Back when I was really really super shy and quiet (even my sister remarked on it! Now I'm just shy :P). I guess I can redeem myself hehe

Anyway, so on with the climb. We were to meet at 3:30 AM in McDo Buendia-Taft, but well, I got there around 4:20 AM. I was the one who drove so, basically it was a 20-minute travel time from our home. Apparently, I was just on time because the taxi in front of us was dropping Deo off haha (I just love it when things just fall into place!)

At around 5 am, we went to the bus terminal at JAM liner bound for Lipa City, Batangas. (I thought it was JAC liner because it was the liner that was beside McDo! I was calling Deo in his Sun number, which apparently wasn't working. And he was calling me in my Globe, which I didn't bring!) From Lipa, we rented a jeepney bound for San Juan, Laiya, Batangas... The place where I got electrocuted and my heart stopped! (FYI, I'm almost three years old, post-electrocution.)

So, we changed costumes, fixed our things and we left most of our things at the area. We just brought what we need for our dayhike in Mt. Daguldol. Maybe I'm getting fitter or I've just been through a harder mountain, but I didn't think Mt. Daguldol was that hard... Okay, or maybe our pace was slow so it wasn't that hard hehe

Photo by Victor Ayson

Photo by Victor Ayson

There was about a 30-minute walk in the beach to get to the jump-off point, after which there is an average of 3-hour hike to the summit. But we didn't get to the summit first. About an hour from the jump off point, we went to the waterfalls. 

Photo by Victor Ayson

There wasn't much area to swim or bathe. But it has many rocks, so we did a bit of rock climbing haha. (Rock climbing na pala iyon? Actually, I think that's what they call "scrambling" but I'm not sure.) I read somewhere that this has the SWEETEST water... They're right. It's the sweetest, based from the colonies of big red ants in the area. You just have to stand in a rock, and ants would crawl up your legs (or your socks, such as in my case).


After a series of photo shoots, we went ahead to continue our trek to the summit. There were originally two series of halo-halo stops and a buko-juice stop. We stopped on the first halo-halo and had our packed lunch there.

Halo Halo Stop 1 -  Photo by Victor Ayson

(Original) Halo Halo Stop 2 (but it was on break so there was no halo-halo at this time) -  Photo by Victor Ayson

Then you will pass by "Pride Rock" (which I named after Lion King because of the protruding rock).

Photo by Victor Ayson

Seaside view from the Pride Rock - Photo by May Moya

And you're almost there! Near the summit! The summit was composed of 2-3 trees and a sloping hill. In terms of view, there were other mountains that were higher so you couldn't see a 360 view of the area.

Group pic at the Summit - Photo by Victor Ayson

Photo by Victor Ayson

Panoramic View of the Summit - Photo by Alex Locsin

Other side of the panoramic view - Photo by Alex Locsin

After the summit, we went back to the beach. It was around 6, so it was getting dark by the time we reached camp. Deo started cooking and grilling, but we were only able to eat around 8 pm already, so we were all very hungry. While waiting for the food to cook, some of us went night swimming. Seeing "underwater fireflies" whenever we move under water, getting stung by a weird underwater organism (cannot be identified due to the darkness), hoping it would be cloudless so we could see stars...

Dinner followed by socials. Buti nalang the guys follow a "Ladies First" rule - Photo by Victor Ayson

After dinner, we had the usual socials. Supposedly, we were to have our karaoke for our socials but it was only up to 10 pm, so we forego that thought. (A lot of us were REALLY disappointed with that thought... So much that we made up for it in our post-climb! Which was really fun because we were almost complete, only 2 of us didn't make it that time, and we finished and dispatched at 6 in the morning! The sun was already shining! Haha But that's another story for another time!) We just had the usual Deo style of Q and A, while drinking some really bad mix of gin, orange and more gin. Really disgusting! Only eating my Oreos made me surpass that! But still...

More photo-ops come morning for those people who were awake.

Sunrise at Laiya Beach - Photo by Victor Ayson

Rock Formations -  Photo by Victor Ayson

Looking at the sea -  Photo by Victor Ayson

We ate breakfast. Wanted to play volleyball but there was no ball (I should have brought one! I knew I thought about it...). Played patintero in this striking heat of a sun. (Bakit ngayon wala ng clouds? Kagabi ang dami??) Eventually went to the beach at noon! After a series of photo-ops, we fixed our things and went home. I was able to reach mass in Quezon City by 7 pm :)

Backpackers United at Laiya Beach -  Photo by Victor Ayson

PS The campsite was beside the place where I got electrocuted! If only I had my camera (or even my phone camera), I would have taken a picture with MY pole again after three years! Hehe Everything looked the same!

Katipuneros in Daet

My college friends and I were considered to be "Katipuneros" because we would always traverse the intense heat of lunch to Katipunan just to eat. Anyway, after two years of hibernation in designated hospitals, the four of us met again for some quality time and outing together! (We missed Rizza and Jike though... Okay, maybe Jad... for them? Ha!)

Originally, Loi suggested Anawangin Cove because it's cheap and there are several deals on it. I agree, actually. But then, a friend's sister mentioned the beauty of Calaguas, read on that, and so, I suggested that instead.

Three words: It was beautiful!
Okay, another three words: It was hot!
Got tanned and burned in the process of appreciating this beautiful isolated place.

Anyway, we started with catching a night bus on May 21, 2012, using Philtranco Gold Service, priced at PhP 720.00. (The difference between the two was there is a comfort room in the Gold Service, which people didn't use because nobody saw it! Hmph! I think they're deliberately hiding it...) Basically, the bus was delayed plus there was a road construction somewhere in Quezon, so we arrived in Daet, around 7 am.

Gold Express Philtranco Bus (seated in front; which is a bad idea. it's better to sit at the back)

We had breakfast at the Lourdes Hospital, which my cousin's husband's family owns, then briefly went to the private port, which was still under construction.

Then on to our two-hour boat ride...

Calaguas Islands

We reached Mahabang Buhangin, the popular tourist spot of Calaguas Islands, where we had our lunch. We were scheduled to go to the private island at around 4 pm, so we better get used to the heat and start swimming! At first, I didn't go because I'm not really a beach person.

Mahabang Buhangin, Calaguas Islands, Camarines Norte

This is the life: lounging in the hammock, listening to the waves, feeling the ocean breeze

Buffet in Calaguas Islands (compared to the usual roughing it out)

After lunch, there's no way to go around it but to swim in this freakin' heat! It's so hot! But the sand is so powdery and soft! We basically stayed around the boat's shadows, trying to protect ourselves from the scorching sun, but it was no use. We tanned! Hehe

Powdery White Sand of Mahabang Buhangin, Calaguas Islands

Anyway, sad to say, but we had to transfer and go to the private islands while it's high tide. En route, we saw a floating fish, which our boatsmen caught. It was a very big talakitok. It seems so heavy, I wanted a picture with it, but there wasn't time hehe

A very large Talakitok

In the private island, we had our own bathroom and everything. We had some photo-ops by the rocks, set up a camp, had dinner, washed up, and proceeded to the main event for the night: drinking and talking and star gazing!

View from the Private Island

Rocky Formations

Shoreline of the Private Island

In the morning, we had some photo-ops (except for Loi who's feeling feverish maybe from the alcohol or the hot seat last night hehe), breakfast, and changed clothes again (We had minimum of 3 sets of clothes! Bwahaha! This is an outing meant for pictures and the pictures we got wasn't even enough!). 

When we got back to the mainland, Doc Philip was already waiting for us. We bought some souvenirs, and he toured us around the city for a while. We went to a church (sorry, no picture!) and Bagasbas Beach. Wow, I wanted to surf! The waves look so inviting... even in the midday scorching heat! We also saw the historically first Rizal monument.

Bagasbas Beach on the left, Runway of the airport on the right; View from a beach resort

Bagasbas Beach Shoreline (Low-Tide)

First Rizal Monument in the Philippines

We had free lunch, from the hospital which was actually for the Diabetic seminar participants (well, we are doctors and nurses hehe). Then we went to the Mampurog River for some swimming. (I just love fresh water compared to salt water.)

Panoramic View of Mampurog River

The river was rocky (as obviously seen from the picture), with varying depths because of the rocks. There was a slight undercurrent, which was no problem for me to swim through. Apparently, I made it appear easy to swim across the river. But Loi was basically... washed with the current to say the least; she lost her slippers in the process.

Loi lost, er I mean, donating her slippers to the river

There were lots of palm trees around, and we had some buko juice afterwards.

We went back to the hospital to wash ourselves up, and fix our things. Then we had dinner, and caught the 8 o'clock bus back to Manila.

(Non-Gold Service) Aircon Philtranco Bus

It was just an overnight trip with the girls, but it was fun (Okay, 2D/3N, but since 2 of the nights were in the bus, it didn't count). I really like the star-gazing part (I found two wishing stars! Guess what I wished for? Clue: Inspired!). I really like Mahabang Buhangin too.

For the financial part, we paid a whopping PhP 8,000 for our boat (which if you can compare, you can get from other boatsmen at around 3-4k)... A boat that can fit 35-45 people! And there were just 4 of us, right? Anyway, we didn't know at the start (but we were billed afterwards) with additional PhP 1,000 for the cook. (Hmm, if I'd known that I would just insist we could cook. It would even be more fun that way!) My cousin also told me that there's basically Php 3,000 worth of food items bought (over-budget since we didn't eat that a lot; there's just four of us!), so we paid for that too. Then the bus ride going home costs PhP 540 for the non-gold aircon bus, which was actually faster and I had better sleep than the other one! Since I'm a very budget-conscious person, it feels like we paid a huge amount of money for this trip (rounded to PhP 5,000 per head), when we could have had this trip for a bargain, and still fun! (Maybe more fun, because we would be staying in Mahabang Buhangin. And sometimes, it's actually the "roughing" it out part, that's fun.)

Though if I was really honest about this trip, I sort-of wished I didn't tell my cousin that we were going to Daet. There was just the four of us! Maybe if I had a bigger group (maybe 35 or something?), I would tell her. But since there's only four of us, I don't think the boat or the private island is worth it. Actually, I think I would rather stay in the tourist beach Mahabang Buhangin, because it was just... really... amazing! I was satisfied there already, even if we don't have our own bathroom in the private island. The private island was great with rocky formations and such, but I would rather go with the Mahabang Buhangin. Actually, we didn't even have enough time to go and explore Mahabang Buhangin... Sigh, maybe next time...