A Taste of Athens in Fortune Island

Nestled 14-15 kms off  the coast of Nasugbu mainland was once a luxurious resort, Fortune Island; an extremely stunning island with pristine white sand and an acropolis with Grecian pillars and statues on the edge of the island overlooking the blue sea.

The island is long-owned by Jose Antonio Leviste, a former governor of the Province of Batangas who build a resort in 1995 that was shut down in 2006.  Fortune island has also been the site of modern day shipwrecks. Unfortunately, according to  Kuya Dan Dan,  it’s already sold to a Korean businessman.

Since I vowed to myself that I will experience summer to its fullest, I grab my backpack and camping paraphernalia and head for an overnight trip to this gorgeous Island. Thanks to Mam Ron again for letting me join their cool group and recorded  another amazing beach experience.

It was past 7 AM when we started traversing the south Luzon road all the way to Nasugbu Batangas and safely arrived after roughly 4 hours.  It should be way faster it just so happen that there were a lot of road commotions going on last Saturday.

Finally, welcome to Fortune Island Resort. The name above made sense when we arrive in the Island and found the chance to do chit chatting with Kuya Dan Dan while waiting for our boat back to the mainland.

We waited for the boat that will take us to the island. This will take another 45 mins to an hour depending on sea conditions. Glad that it was calm when we started cruising. All in all, it was a safe voyage. We safely docked on the seashore despite the strong current of the water. The Grecian Pillars on the top of the hill and the pebbles and white sand stretches along the island greeted us.

 

The island has long been abandoned and seeing how the structures has been wrecked is a testament. This made everything look so sad and forlorn but did not diminish the natural beauty of it.  The resort is still attractive despite of the abandonment.  The bungalows were half destroyed, cottages remain deserted, windows shattered, drained swimming pool as its center piece, some part which has been reclaimed by nature.  Arriving a bit exhausted due to the scorching heat plus  growling tummy, we settled our stuff and started preparing lunch. It was past 2 in the afternoon when we reloaded ourselves.

    

Lunch satisfaction at its fullest and after which we started doing our thing. Some went all the way up to the pillars, others started swimming, and I started taking my well deserved rest before exploring the place.

It was past 4 in the afternoon when I grabbed my Camera and started exploring.  . Facing the sea, I started at the left side. Few meters from our surviving ‘cottage’ was a wrecked ship. This is just a replica of a ship that was found near the island (approximately 900 meters / 2,953 ft. northwest of the island) that the galleon San Diego was sunk on December 14, 1600 by the Dutch warship Mauritius under the command of Admiral Oliver Van Noort. The shipwreck was discovered in 1992 by French underwater archeologist Franck Goddio.) and was  once a restaurant. The ship that sunk but never sunk (from Tinker Bell :)  Guests can take pictures and climb on top with caution.

This monument with human bones inside is said to be found when the island is still under construction. Belonging to a woman and rumored that her ghost roam around the island at night (creepy! isn’t it?) Ironic though coz I pitched my tent right next to this structure which I wouldn’t do have I known it earlier. Just goes to show, it’s better if you knew nothing at all. The marble plaque was  dedication to Former President Fidel Ramos and  First Lady Amelita Ramos who were guests of honor  on the island.

If you wanted serenity and total relaxation, this is a great spot. Sit underneath the tree, listen to the crashing waves and feel the ocean breeze. Close your eyes and be carried away to paradise

Walking to the other side of the beach, I passed by some rocks and pebbles and from afar I can see the Pillars with guests taking photos. Can’t wait to climb up there and see how majestic the sunset would be and overseeing the island.

 

The Grecian Pillars which looks like Parthenon from afar appears to be dreamy.

 

Just when I am about to climb all the way up to the pillars, I felt a little dizzy,maybe because it was so hot, so I settled just taking pictures near the rocks first and rested a bit.

  

Yes! Finally, after several hours of waiting, I was able to climb the topmost part and waited for the sunset.  Aside from the photographic opportunities offered by  Acropolis, the sunset is also best viewed and photographed from this location.  There you can see group of photographers doing there thing. The place is really a perfect setting for Photo Ops themed after the Gods and Goddesses of Greece. 

On top,  right next to the acropolis were structures of Sphinx and Athena. At the back part were steep rocks and they’re perfect spots for cliff jumping. I climbed on the edge and it was windy up there. The Greek like columns looks fantastic regardless of the wrecked fraction. The statues along with the columns overlooking the sea were spectacularly a breathtaking view. I can tell the busted pillars and statues were victims of the forces of nature. It looks as if Zeus strikes its wrath through lightning bolt on each of the pillars nevertheless the ruins remains to be my favorite part of the Island.

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Just when I thought life can be tough at times, just looking at this breath taking views made me realize that there’s more to smile about it. And as the yellow blots of paint were slowly fading away and sky got darker as it stretched from one end to the other.  That very elegant sight revealed a smile from me in an instant. A new day was dawning. Just like all the challenges I am facing, I know tomorrow will always create a rainbow. That very reason is enough for me to keep on moving.

 

We met some new friends while taking some pictures.

 

It was getting dark when we went back to our spot, had dinner and socials after. It’s time to get acquainted with the new folks and learn little things about them. Yes, we had a great moonlight setting near the beach.

 

If you are planning to stay overnight on the island, your only option is to bring tents and to set up camp for you and your company. There are still a few standing structures however, most are boarded up while others can be used as "camp central" for cooking and evening socials. Also no bathing facilities or toilet so it’s really one hell of an adventure. We brought water for cleaning our stuff (eating/cooking utensils) but not for bathing.

Waking up with this view of sunrise is just amazing. I never thought that this place can offer stunning images of both sunrise and sunsets. Had some hot drink to warm and perk me up and for the second time I climb up to the acropolis to see how it looks like during sunrise and expecting less crowd.

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This beach get away will  not be complete without experiencing the water. Yes, I am happy that its clear and the seabed is clean as well aside from slippery rocks which is tolerable. Sands were fine too but not as powdery as what I expected it to be. Overall, great waters for swimming.

   

Fortune Island did not just offer something breath taking for me see, experience and to take away as I go back to the hustle and bustle of the metro but restored the faith I lost in myself.  The fascinating view I saw reminded me that even if a thing is abandoned and totally wrecked, there is still goodness and beauty in it. You just have to continue believing and take that leap of faith and everything will fall into place. Just learn how to appreciate it.

I just cant imagine how beautiful this island 10 years back.

Items	Rates
Van Rental	Php  6,400.00
Entrance Fee	Php  6,400.00
Boat Rental	Php  9,000.00
Food and Drinks	Php  4,773.00
Total Expenses	Php 26,573.00 / 16 persons
Expense per Pax	Php  1,661.00

You can also go to the island for a day tour and that would cost Php 350.00/person for the entrance fee and the boat is negotiable depending on the number of persons you have in a group.

Contact Person: Kuya Dante (0939.489.5292) and his son Kuya Dan Dan were very accommodating

Don’t forget to bring your costumes for best Photo Op ala Adonis and Athena and try cliff jumping (I have to try this in my future travels!)

Some things to keep in mind when you plan to go to the island:

- There is no electricity or functional faucets in the island
- There is no restaurant in the island. You have to bring your own food.
- There is dressing room. Abandoned but can be utilize (for your photo ops)
- There is smart and globe signal. (yahoo!upload pictures right away)
- They don’t provide tents, you have to bring your own.
- I don’t recommend visiting the place during rainy season. Waves can be dangerous.
- Expect some rubbish on the shoreline.
- The coastline isn’t pure sandy; there are tons of pebbles and stones. Make sure to wear your slippers most of the time.

Happy Travels to all! :)

Technorati Tags: Fortune Island

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