Summer Ender | B.O.D Series (Bais Edition)

Simple but fun. It is with these words that people often describe their dream destination. They look for qualities in destinations suggested by friends or other sources but often ended not finding them. We’re often unaware that it is what you take with you to a place, and not what you find at your destination that makes travel appealing. Yes, we all know about these spots, but this vacation became memorable because of the people I went along with.

Summer is finally commencing, and before we bid goodbye to the summer sun, we head to the southern part of Negros Oriental to see dolphins and whales playing in an open sea: Bais City.  A third class city in the province of Negros Oriental  and located 45 kilometers from the provincial Capital, Dumaguete.

This getaway has been planned a month ahead to have ample time of preparation. Originally set to go out with highschool friends, but I ended up inviting external friends to materialize the trip.

On a Friday morning of May 30th, I took the earliest flight bound for Bacolod and will head south. It was a beautiful Friday morning up in the air.

  

Spent the night in Binalbagan with friends before heading to my first destination the day after.  It has been more than 24 hours that I am wide awake but this vacation keeps me alert and most of all excited.

We left Binalbagan past 4 in the morning and reached Bais City around 7. The trip could have been faster if we didn't have to make endless stop over.

DOLPHIN WATCHING

Our guide met us at the City proper and take us to Capiñahan port for our Bay Cruise. After everything has been set up, off we go to start our tour.The tour group will have an onboard dolphin spotter. Everyone involved in tours, from the boatman to the spotter, has undergone training and activities and follow strict rules.

 

Whales and dolphins usually feed during early hours of the morning, so it is ideal to start cruising as early as 7 in the morning. Out of 23 species of marine mammals documented to have been sighted in Philippine waters, 9 have been sighted in Bais Bay-Tañon Strait area, acknowledged to have one of the biggest concentrations of cetaceans in the world. The flat calm water of the strait makes it a suitable breeding and feeding ground for whales and dolphins. We were cruising the waters for more than 2 hours before we got a glimpse of the dolphins from afar.

Every time our boat come across other fisherman, our guide would ask, where the dolphin is swimming and we head to that direction. The first group that we found were afraid of the boats so we continued our search for the other types of dolphins that swim near the boat and actually following it. Yes, we finally found them. Were like kids jumping in happiness when we finally saw them. All hard work paid off, patience indeed was a virtue we developed. You can really appreciate the natural playful behavior of the dolphins

 

This wasn't the first time I saw dolphins, but it felt different this time. Seeing them playing in an open water and not in a pool makes it more appealing. Watching them freely playing, so graceful  and lovely, it was heavenly.  I should say, the feeling is awesome. Boats are also not allowed to speed up, rather they keep a steady slow pace. to avoid injuring the dolphins swimming beside and under it. Also, we are not allowed to feed them.  As much as I wanted to jump and swim with them to tick one item in my bucket list but the guide said we can’t. They will be fined.  I just settled sitting at the edge of the boat and take as many memories of the dolphins as I can.

MANJUYOD SANDBAR

After the dolphin watching, we went to Manjuyod Sandbar to enjoy the clear water. The sandbar is a 7-kilometer stretch of whitesand perfect for Swimming, Sunbathing and Snorkeling to top some of the water activities you can do.  Since the water started to rise, we were not able to see the sandbar, floating wooden cottages welcomed us. The cottages can be rented for Php 3,5000 – Php 4,000 a night. Nevertheless,  the crystal clear water completed the experience.

 

Tired and exhausted from the half day water activities, we were served with sumptuous seafood lunch while cruising. Mouth watering Crabs, shrimp, grilled fish and fruits replenished us. For me, nothing beats eating seafood while cruising :)

 

 

Tour is not yet over, after having lunch we were taken to the snorkeling site to see and enjoy underwater creatures. Yes, we found a blue starfish. (Happy Me!)

 

 

We enjoyed the tour  and food provided by  Mam Jen and her father Mr Jesus Pancho(Boatman/Tourguide)

Contact Persons: Jesus Pancho Jr. 0920-253-8099 (Mam Jen might answer your inquiry)

Tour Package: Boat for 8-10 persons capacity Php 3,500.00 (whole day activity)

Lunch Buffet: Seafood / Pork&Meat Menu at Php 250.00/pax (menu might change in the future depending on the guests’ preference)

Seafood Menu: Steamed Crabs, Buttered Shrimp, Grilled Fish, Fruits, Soda and Unlimited Rice

Pork/Meat Menu: Grilled Pork, Adobo, BBQ, Fruits, Soda and Unlimited Rice

Technorati Tags: Bais Whale and Dolphin Watching,Manjuyod Sandbar

Whale Shark Crazy Swimming Experience in Oslob

The world has been a crazy playground and remained to be a very mysterious place. More things left unknown, species and places yet to be discovered, and some that has been discovered still remains a puzzle. I guess that’s what makes this life truly interesting and worth living, it is full of adventures and uncertainties. 

To be able to experience the wonders of the world is truly a gift, and I will be forever grateful to that. Taking that leap of faith to make the first step requires a lot of commitment that you will never give up.  This traveling and exploring things I believe is not just about going to places and escaping a stressful life, but also a self discovery and feeding one’s soul with pretty good stuff.

I know most of us wanted to see this gentle giants up close, and as a water person, I am not an exception.  This side trip in Oslob Cebu was never part of our original plan. We intended to just have Bais and Dumaguete back to back tours for 2 days but since we found out that it’s very convenient to go there via Dumaguete, we grab that opportunity.  Talk about spontaneity and flexibility!

GETTING TO OSLOB FROM DUMAGUETE

We woke up past 5 in the morning as we will begin our Oslob Adventure early. A town where sightings of whale sharks (aka butanding) were made in the past couple of years. To get there, we needed to ride a ferry from Sibulan port to Brgy. Liloan in Cebu, then ride a tricycle from Brgy. Liloan to Oslob proper.  The ride was smooth and fast and after 30 minutes we found ourselves in Liloan Port. I can’t help but notice the clear water despite that this area has been used 24/7 by large vessels carrying passengers from anywhere. Fare is just Php 45.00

 

  

We hired a tricycle to take us to the whale watching site. As we moved towards the area, my heart is filled with excitement, finally, I am ticking one item in my bucket list. The drivers took us to a private resort with Php 100.00/head entrance. What???? We tried to haggle and finally settled at Php 50.00. The good thing about beingi in a private resort is you will be prioritized. There’s one area that doesn’t have any entrance fee but you will be placed in the waiting list on your whale shark encounter.  After we settled our dues, we left our things inside the locker provided by the resort, yes, we put sunblocks to find out that it needs to be removed. (big sigh) The boatman guided us to the orientation area for the basic guidelines. The whalesharks have been Oslob’s main attraction that paved way for tourism to boost in this side of town.

 

30-MINUTES WHALE SHARK ENCOUNTER

After few minutes of waiting, we’re now ready to rock the boat to the whale shark sanctuary. Wohoo! A bit fearful since they are huge and any wrong move I will make might place myself in danger but I am very much excited to see these creatures up close.  The boat man started to paddle and the 30-minutes encounter started. I told my friends, we were only given very limited time so this should not be wasted. Alas! All of us started to take the splash as these gentle creatures swimming everywhere.  I have to be honest, I take all the courage I have before jumping in especially when I saw the whale sharks approaching.  When I finally plunge in the water, it felt like I am in a humongous aquarium. The water was crystal clear, the visibility wickedly great. And right in front, below, to the right and left, and finally, behind, are the world’s biggest fish. Four, five, six—it was useless to even count. And they didn’t look like they were going anywhere else.The area for whale shark watching was no more than 20 meters from the shore, a swimmable distance.Though whale sharks have a gentle nature, we still felt a rush of panic when one of them comes up from behind and swims to our direction.

 

It’s tiring to swim, so I keep on clinging to the side of the boat.  The fishermen continue feeding them  and their mouth look like vacuum cleaners just taking all that was feed to them.  They passed by our boat and we started screaming. During the orientation, they said we’re supposed to maintain 4 meters distance from the whale shark. However, they are really close and I even touch one of them with my foot. Slimy and hard, ewww… I couldn’t believe it.  It was crazy and thrilling and I was surprise to see myself laughing like a lunatic.  We were surrounded by whalesharks . I can’t keep the huge smile from my face especially when I tried to see the whale shark underwater again and again.  They were breathtakingly gigantic, it’s my first time to see such enormous marine life.

 

 

For those who are planning to go on whale watching in Oslob please make sure to come here early. Whale Watching is from 7AM – 1230NN only and preferably weekdays, it’s less crowded.

Items	Rate/Pax unless stated
Ferry Boat to Liloan	Php   45.00
Tricycle Fare to Oslob (RT)	Php 200.00 (4 pax)
Swimming with the Whale Shark	Php 500.00
Resort Entrance	Php  50.00
Camera Rental	Php 500.00 (entire group use – 8 pax)
Ferry Boat to Dumaguete	Php  37.00
Total Expense/Person	Php 757.00 /person

Short but one of the most thrilling underwater experience I’ve ever had.  Swimming with the whale shark was an experience of a life time; it’s a must try!

 

Technorati Tags: Swimming with the Whale Shark,Oslob

An Overnight Encounter with Him at the Prayer Mountains

It was past 2 in the afternoon when I took another Jeepney ride to Cogeo market to find the jeepney route to Paenaan where the prayer mountain is located. I’s almost 4 in the afternoon when i reached Touch of Glory Prayer Mountain.

At the entrance I had to register and leave my ID. To those who wanted to get here, make sure to have a reservation as there are a lot of people during weekends. After logging in, the guard gave me my reservation slip and told me to proceed to the admin office  so I can settle my dues. I then proceed to the Female Dorm to rest and freshen up. I had a bumpy, dusty and exhausting ride going up here. Few minutes later, I found myself roaming and familiarizing the different spots I needed for my stay.

The Hallway to the Private Rooms and it’s Air-conditioned (2 pax @ 1200 and 4 pax @ 2400)

Female Dormitory (Fanned Room @ Php 250.00/person)

Fish pond where you can stay and unwind

Main Hall where gatherings and events are being held

Prayer Cells (this is the friendliest spot, a place for meditation and reflection)

Cafetorium ( serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks from 6 AM to 9 PM)

PC #23, you know what this means :)

It felt really good finding the time to spend an overnight weekend here. This by far can be considered as one of my most important travel for this year. Being alone, in a prayer cell/room felt surreal. Away from any distractions like what I used to have back home. I don’t have to think of anything at this time but myself and what this life is all about. As I read through the scriptures, I see not just words but a whole new meaning. I thought about my life in the: Past, Present and Future and this made me realize how blessed I am, how God has provided and taken care of me all throughout and of course we all know how emotional I can get, the next has been overflowing tears; might be regrets or joy I couldn’t describe it. I played “Take me Out of the Dark and Warrior is a Child”, these are my all time favorite songs. There maybe questions left unanswered but it’s all up to Him. All I know is that the moment I got out from that cell, I felt lighter.

After my ‘me time’ and clearing my mind inside the prayer cells, I hang out in the cafetorium while writing my journals. Facing the mountains while listening to soothing music gives me the relaxation and peace of mind I needed to think and compose myself.

It was a short stay at the Prayer Mountains but achieved my ultimate goal and went back full of hope and happy smiles and ready to conquer my fears. I have reloaded for my next battle and this in turn will help me face life with positivity, strength and gratefulness. My perspective will change as I move forward, that’s for sure.

Address : Bgy. San Jose , Sitio Calumpang, Antipolo, Rizal. Office Landline : 986-15-27. Mobile # 0917 840 12 88.

FX from Megamall – Antipolo RT (Php 50.00/way)
Php 100.00

Jeepney Fare from Antipolo Proper – Cogeo Market RT (Php 16.00/way)
Php   16.00

Jeepney Fare from Cogeo Market – Prayer Mt RT (Php 21.00/way)
Php   42.00

Accommodation (Dormitory)
Php 250.00

Dinner and Breakfast
Php 205.00

Other Expenses (Tric from Antipolo to Eds House)
Php   50.00

Total Expenses

Php 663.00

Technorati Tags: Touch of Glory Prayer Mountain

A Quick Out of Town Break at Pagbilao Quezon

I have always been spontaneous and it really feels great to keep it intact during time of needs. I awe this Puting Buhangin and Kwebang Lampas trip to the powerful FB group events. Sometime in March, i got invited to Pinoy Travel Addicts Group and this is where I saw a post for this trip. They need 8 more joiners, and i thought, it will be another great weekend escape from the hustle of Manila. I got excited after my slot got confirmed. My weekends were full, Saturday was a trip at The Manila Museum and Sunday is spared for Pagbilao, rock on The Blue Rider.

A bit tired and lacking sleep I woke up early morning of Sunday to prepare as we are meeting at 2 AM. I am a bit apprehensive if I got the instructions correctly with regard to the meeting the meeting place, luckily, i got it right. After few minutes of waiting for the rest of the joiners to come, we finally come to the closing of the van’s door and started traversing all the way south past 2 in the morning.

A bit sleepy so I started feeling comfortable and sleep along the way. I just woke up when the van stopped for a quick stretch and pee break for all of us somewhere in..nyahaha..I don’t know. After that short stop over, we continue the long road to Pagbilao, Quezon.

Kwebang Lampas is located in Barangay Isla Polo in Pagbilao Quezon. About 140 kms south of Metro Manila and travel time is about 5-6 hours if you take the public transportation. For those who will be driving or taking a private vehicle, 4 hours is a safe estimate. Since this is a group tour, we hired a van and it took us roughly 4 hours before touching Pagbilao. A beautiful day is awaiting as the sunrise started to show up.

 

We arrived at the jump off port (actually not a port because we will be cruising a very short mangrove river to get to the other end). We will be taking a motorized boat to cross the river.  While waiting for water to rise, the boatman told us that they can take us straight to the seashore for additional fee, but we prefer to do a little trek to make this trip more exciting.

This is just a quick boat ride and I started taking pictures of the sights along the way including the lighthouse of the Power Plant. Just a sight I couldn’t help but photograph.

Arriving at the other side of the lake, we continued treading until we saw gorgeous rock views and the sea with Pagbilao Power Plant serving as a great backdrop.  We stopped for a while and took some photos.

  

We continued traversing the visible way following the signs along the road until we entered a forested area, slowly engulfed in the thickness of of the trees. The trek and trail is a bit slippery but not that bad at all but proper care is still recommended.  We have a kid companion but was able to manage it without any problems, so I am pretty sure that adults will be able to do it hassle free.  We continue walking until we arrived in the area with coconut trees, the grounds for Puting Buhangin :)

Of course, it’s a Sunday so I am expecting a lot of beach bummers and campers. The challenge for us here is to look for a perfect spot to keep ourselves protected from direct heat of the sun. We’re lucky we found one, right in front of the beach and the center of the cove.

 

 

We started to settle and had breakfast. Weeh, great to know that these people are also into a lot of travelling and thanks to Minie for cooking a great breakfast for all of us.

After feeding our hungry stomach, we started enjoying the beach. Some went on swimming while others started exploring the cave. As for me, I just wanted to lay down and enjoy the sea breeze. Since the sea is calm, no crashing waves.

I took the liberty to roam around and check the resort facilities, if there’s any. For those who wanted to spend overnight in the resort, sorry to disappoint but there’s no room for rent for you to stay. You can pitch your tent anywhere safe and you are ready to spend the night. There were only few nipa huts with tables and benches designed for day trips only. They have Toilet and washroom as well, but don’t expect it to be cozy.  There’s no drinking water available so it’s a must that you bring your own. Definitely, no electricity in the resort so come prepared especially for those who will go on overnight. Make sure to bring flashlights or headlamps to be able to move around. Like in remote places, mosquitoes can be notorious so insect repellant should come handy. 

After my own ‘take-a-look-around’ trip, we all went to the limestone cliff to check what’s in store for us. Of course, for another Photo Op Session with the gang. The road to get to the top is a bit tricky and you need to make sure that you hold on the right rocks to keep you steadily safe. Happy me when this spectacular view greeted when I reached the top.  It’s breathtaking and simply mesmerizing.  They say an experience could never be created twice and I agree with that. Glad, i went all the way up here, it’s just simply beautiful. You can see crystal clear water all the way from here, and cliff diving is allowed in here (take extra care though, DIVE AT YOUR OWN RISK). Lastly, before I forget, be careful with the sea urchins too.

 

It’s one hell of a happy beach – secluded, serene and stunning. Nature at its finest. The emerald green water is sparkling. The sand is white, the shore is clean and most especially the water is calm.

After we had that short aerial view of the cove, it’s time to take a splash. We enjoyed the calm water but not the rocks. They’re a bit sharp and slippery. I recommend you use coral shoes when you come here and swim. You can also go inside the cave if you can resist the cold salt water. Launch shots of my Action Camera..acceptable!

 

Since, i prefer this day to very light, i just took few minutes in the water and went back to the shore to just consume the beauty before my eyes. This is one of the reason why I so love beaches even if that would mean getting burned under the sun and sticky/coarse hair. Beaches keep me calm and rejuvenated and by simply looking at the vastness of the ocean, I felt grateful.

After few hours of swimming, beach bumming and sun bathing, we had our seafood fiesta lunch :) Yeah, I can live with seafood all my life. That being said, I  could have been a sea creature in my past life, hehehe!

 

After having lunch, some went back swimming, others went up to the cliff and dive and me, I went to sleep. heheheh! This is all I wanted to do today, to sleep and chill beside the beach. Music playing, the winds are blowing, I can smell the sea water and I started closing my eyes and drifted away.

After 2 hours of napping, I freshen up! It’s time to get back to girl scout and CAT days wherein you have to really live within your means. I bought 5 liters fresh water to clean up myself (Php 50.00). After taking a bath, we all prepped up to go home.

 

Puting Buhangin and Kwebang Lampas is just a daytrip but I never underestimated the experiences and discoveries I will have. This does not only recharged myself and get ready for my next week’s battle at work but also gave me a different perspective in traveling. I have always and will always prefer to travel alone, but it’s always good to find company at some point. Not to highlight getting someone to talk to and share cost on your trips (I spent Php 700.00 all-in for this tirp) You will get to meet a lot of personalities, great people with great stories and experiences to tell. People who share the same passion as you do, people who always aim to explore, to travel and to experience ‘life-on-the-go’ that will eventually become your friends.

Here’s the breakdown of expenses for those who wanted to experience Puting Buhangin and Kwebang Lampas in a day (taken from Mam Ron’s Damage Report)

Items	Total Cost
Van Rental + Fuel	Php  6,000.00
Toll Fees	Php     414.00
Parking Fee	Php     100.00
Food and Drinks	Php  3,177.25
Entrance and Boat Fees	Php  1,890.00
Total	Php 11,581.25 (to be shared)

We found Php 500.00 along the way so we had an extra fund. Total cost Php 11,081.25 / 17 joiners , that makes it Php 651.83 each person (budget travel indeed)

Thanks to Mam Ron for allowing me to join this group and find future travel buddies maybe not just in the Philippines but also abroad. It’s one of the  best Happy Beach Sunday experiences.

Technorati Tags: Kwebang Lampas,Puting Buhangin,Pagbilao