Summer rain

and I am dreaming of the beach...

Quezon

  

Coron

Batangas

Pagudpud

Zambales

and Caramoan,
and Marinduque,
and Pearl Farm,
and Tawi-tawi,
and Zamboanga,
and Batanes,
and the 7000 others.

If only I can teleport, jump from one place to another and freeze the time, I'll do that in one weekend. I am just an ordinary mortal and can only dream of it, so for the mean time I'll sit here, listen to the rain and wait...

Is it okay if I call you mine?

"Just for the time

And I will be just fine..."

Yeah, just like the lyrics above, I want to call Cagbalete Island my own, my private island, mine. But, I am just a guest who enjoyed the sand and can only shout to the world that it's mine no more than the hours that i walked, sit, swam and shoot on its creamy fine white sand and clear water. My shout maybe loud but it will only be eaten by the wind, my footprints maybe deep but it will be buried by the waves. I can never make it mine, but i can have it forever etched in my mind.

After a very hot 10 minute walk on a pathway that penetrates the small community of the island, after the curious stares thrown our way, after the friendly exchanges of "magandang araw po" to the locals (and they returned it with a smile), after the little confusion with the right way and finding ourselves walking on the shore, we arrived sweating in Pensacola Resort (042-7840158, look for Fe) just in time for lunch. After the initial introductions with Mang Rommel (the owner), we were lead to the tree house that I reserved the previous day. And whoa! aside from it being too big for two persons, the tree house - the only one in Cagbalete, by the way - is open, save for pieces of woods hammered together, it has no walls! Later on, we find it a unique experience, and the air can freely come and pass by from all sides.

Since we availed of the meal package, P700.00 per head that covers lunch, dinner and breakfast plus two snacks, our lunch was served in no time. And man, the serving was huuuge! And i love the crispy pata and leche flan!

Lyn rested on the hammock under our tree house while I take a few steps towards the beach, low tide!!! The low tide in Cagbalete starts at around 9 in the morning and continue until 2 in the afternoon. During those times, if you are brave enough to challenge the scourging heat of the sun, you need to walk around 400 meters from the shore for you to reach a waist-deep water and maybe a few more if you want chest-deep. The water is very warm and clear but the walking is just not fair hehehe.

We observed that there's a group of yuppies doing a team building on the other cottage and it's fun watching them, we even complimented that they're behaved compared to other people of their age (not that we're that old). We just let the time pass by talking about sensible things like "kung isa kang ulam, ano ka?" hehehe. And the two of us were just laughing, unmindful of the other group that's now starting to get noisy.

The water started to return at around 2, and before we can change into our swimming gears, turon with langka and buko juice were served as our snacks. yay!

Since it's still very hot to go swimming, we just explored the area, and walk further on the other side, challenging ourselves if we can get into the other resort, we almost made it but we returned after we saw a cemetery by the shore. natakot?! hehe.

The resort is not very ideal if you're looking for a nice sunset shot, you need to walk to Sabang for a perfect view of it. I did not walk towards Sabang, but a nice opportunity with a docking boat gave me a shot of the sun that's starting to hide.

Dinner time. The generator is now running, lights are now flooding the cottages like there's electricity. The noise of the yuppies are now starting to accelerate to the level that later on will reach the annoying part. I really did not enjoy the fish as it tastes so...fishy, malansa! Yeah, it's fresh but I am not really a fan of fish, except when fried.

We slept early, but the yuppie groups are now alcohol-glazed and were laughing like they're the only one there. It's really annoying, the noise that they are making, plus the music from their gadgets does not actually blend with the surrounding, the owner should have banned loud music! but maybe they won't as they're also discreetly singing in the videoke! hehehe. I don't know, maybe we're just tired, but we dooze off and woke up the next day with some birds chirping on the tree.

After having breakfast, we had another round of photo-ops that we enjoyed so much, it took almost the entire morning and the moment we decided to swim the water is already running away from us hehehe.

Walking very far and swimming on knee-deep water is not really my idea of fun so we give up and just had pancit habhab and cake for snacks. yum!

By the way, the resort (and all island occupants) is relying on deep well, so the water you'll be using for taking a bath, to rinse off the salt water, is clean but has the deep well quality we all know, from the smell to the taste, but who are we to complain? A lot of people are using that everyday and they're still alive, besides it is logical that we already prepared ourselves for that di ba? So, if someone is sensitive to these kind of set-up, well, just don't go there and just check in to a 5-star hotel. :)

We boarded the 12:30 pm trip of the passenger boat, and the people we saw the other day were the same people we're with in the boat. And after the exchange of pleasantries, we talked like they already know us (I've learned from them that majority of Mauban folks haven't been to Cagbalete). We thought that our boat ride going here with everyone and everything was already a learning experience, going back to the town proper offered an even more surprising twist: the passenger boat has just boarded a fully grown carabao!

If Cagbalete was not an awesome experience, I don't know what is.

"It sets off something I can't explain

And I can't wait to see you again."

We'll be going back on May 1-3. :)

Cagbalete Island: How to go there

I teased you with pictures of Cagbalete Island, then you excitedly packed your bag with your swimsuits and sunblock, your shades and that book that takes you forever to finish, you already planned what you'll do on the island, that you'll swim to your heart's content, that you'll do this pose, that you'll shoot this and take picture of that, BUT, do you know how to go there?

The internet is laden with all the informations you need, but you don't have to go far as you can get them from here, and for me, getting to Cagbalete Island is not rocket science, it's as easy as 1-2-3.

1. Go to Lucena. Ideally at 3:30 am, take the Jac Liner or Lucena Liner bus in the corner of Buendia and Taft Avenue, very near the LRT Buendia station. There is also Jam Liner but the first two are better as they go inside the Grand Central Terminal in Lucena while Jam do not. Ask the bus conductor to drop you off in the Grand Terminal. Fare is P187.00 (air-conditioned) and travel time from Manila is only three hours.

2. In Lucena terminal, take the Mauban mini-bus that can be found on the left side of the terminal, which is just a few steps from where the bus will drop you. If you leave Manila by 3:30 am, you will be in Lucena by 6:30 am, you can have your breakfast at the terminal and board on the bus that leave for Mauban either at 7:30 am or 8:00 am (there's a trip every 30 minutes, earliest at 5:00 am). This is an ordinary bus but the morning breeze is refreshing as you will be travelling on a mountainous area. Travel time is approximately 45 minutes to one hour, fare is P50.00.

For those who prefer air-conditioned buses, sorry, there's none. But there are air-conditioned FX/Vans in SM City Lucena that can take you to Mauban. Fare is P60.00 and travel time is faster at 30 minutes, but the waiting period (both for passengers and available vans coming from Mauban) is both longer and crucial. From the Grand terminal, just wait for a jeep with SM Lucena as sign board.

3. By 9:00 am, you're already in the small town of Mauban. You can walk (around 7 minutes) or you can take a tricycle and ask the driver to take you to Pantalan (small port) and tell him to bring you near the passenger boat going to Cagbalete, tricyle fare is P7.00 per head.

The passenger boat has two trips everyday, 10:30 am and 4:00 pm. Fare is only P30.00 and you will be sharing the boat with everyone and everything from hundreds of kilo of rice, flour, breads, vegetables and other necessities. You can observe that everyone in the boat knows everybody, except for you, of course. And can you take note of tagalog words that you did not understand? That would be quite a lot hehe.

At 9:00 am, you also have the option to pass by the public market and get your provisions from there. I assure you that you can get there the freshest catch and vegetables, you can also buy your drinking water and some more chichirya.

The water can be rough as the boat will go against the wave, so better secure your belongings and yourselves (don't worry, there's a vest).

There. Before noon, you'll be in Sabang, you'll be in Cagbalete island. Though the "welcoming sight" may not be very ideal (there are informal settlers in the area), you can already sense in the water that the fun and enjoyment and relaxation is about to start.

Whether you'll stay in Pensacola resort (0427840158) - which we did - or in Villa Cleofas (our next destination), you'll be walking for about 10-15 minutes. You can ask around if you're going the right way. The island occupants may appear to be a bit intimated by your presence and all of them will look and/or stare at you, but they are friendly and you have to understand and expect such reaction because it is only know that tourists (like you and i) are starting to flock to their once secret place.

Being the guests, we have to be humble and friendly, and not the loud type that's usually associated with Manila people (which is bad). In other words, once there, we are the ones who will make the adjustment and not the other way around. I should know, as I grow up in the province. :)

But, is the almost five hours of travel by land and sea worth all the trouble?

to be continued...

it's Cagbalete Island!

and it's in Mauban, Quezon.

it has Boracay's sand, the serenity of Anawangin, the food trip of La Luz, and hear this, on a backpacker's budget. san ka pa?

enjoy? ENJOY!!! (details coming up...)

teaser...

where is this place?

no, it's not boracay or palawan, not even cebu or davao. forget about puerto galera and even zambales. pagudpud is quite far.

so where is it? sirit? in my beloved province, Quezon.

believe it.

more later...

La Luz

wala pang walong oras mula nang umakyat at bumaba kami ng batulao, kasama na dito ang halos limang oras lang na tulog, lalarga na naman ako na parang di napapagod. superhero? hehe.

naunahan kong gumising ang mga pusang mahilig maglampungan sa bubungan ng bahay ko, di pa man tumitilaok ang mga manok ay hinarap ko na ang lamig ng tubig, naligo, nagbihis, at di na nagkape. mamaya na lang.

mas matagal pa yata yung paghihintay ko ng tricycle at bus kesa sa aktwal kong byahe, o disoriented lang ako dahil parang pumikit lang ako sandali nasa edsa na ako. oo nga pala, linggo ngayon, walang traffic, nagpapahinga ang mga tao maliban sa akin at sa mga kasama ko hehehe.

sampung minuto bago mag-alas sais, nasa mrt ayala na ko, habang bumababa ako ng hagdan, nakita ko na ang mga kasama ko: tumatawa nang malakas si mau habang me kinukwento si mark at nakikinig naman sina yuyu at neris, at sa may bandang sm makati, me nakita akong nagpa-flying kiss na, si lyn! kasabay na naglalakad ni julie.

beso. beso. beso. dumating na rin si pam, (na groge pa rin sa pagiging sweeper ng batulao hehe) at ilang sandali nandyan na rin ang mag-asawang beng at kit. kwentuhan na akala mo ay may hinihintay pa gayung kumpleto na ang cast. nagrerequest na ng kape ang sikmura ko pero wala pang bukas na kainan, buti na lang nasa tabi si manong at pinagtyagaan ko ang taho.

byahe na kami. at dahil sa arnibal ng taho medyo tumaas ang energy ko pero kape pa rin ang parang itina-chant ng tiyan ko, kaya kelangang dumaan muna ng gasoline station sa slex para sa kape, tinapay at kape.

sa la luz resort pala ang punta namin, tatlong oras na byahe lang yun dyan sa laiya, sa san juan, batangas.

habang kinukwento namin ni pam (sya lang ang kasama ko sa batulao) ang mga pinagdaanan namin sa batulao, panay iling at "ano???" ang karaniwang reaksyon at may sundot pa na "mga pasaway kasi!!". hehehe. thank you for the compliment. :)

ilang sandali pa, samahan pa ng konting pagkaligaw at konting tanungan ("ala ey, kaliwa kayo tapos kanan pagdating dyaan sa susunod na kanto"), dirt road na ang dinadaanan namin at ang signboard ng la luz, ayun nakikita na!

mga unggoy ang una naming napagtripan pagkababa ng van, nagparegister at tiningnan ang reservation namin ("maaga po kayo masyado, pero pwede po kayong mag-stay sa mga cavana"), bumaba kami ng konti at eto na ang bumulaga sa amin:

medyo matagal din kaming nakahilata, pinag-usapan ang tungkol sa trabaho, ang buhay-buhay, ang pulitika, showbiz, ang walang katapusang "grilling" tungkol sa "future"...

umiikot-ikot din ako para makaiwas sa mga tanong kung kelan na ba (hehehe) at para na rin makapag-picture...

at kung sino pa yung limang oras lang ang tulog sa loob ng 48 hours ay sya pang naunang magbabad sa dagat na medyo may taglay na malalaking alon at may kalamigang tubig! pero di rin naman ako nagtagal dahil sisimulan na ang kainan!!!

oo nga pala, nagbayad kami ng tig-P900 para sa buffet lunch, buffet meryenda, buffet dinner, buffet breakfast na sa sobrang dami ng pagkain pati mga isda ay inambunan namin ng makakain, at di naman nila kami binigo dahil nag-imbita rin sila ng napakarami pang mga isda para maki-fiesta at magpa-cute sa mga nagi-snorkle.

at ganito na ang naging kwento namin sa loob ng dalawang araw sa la luz: kain, swimming, kain, picture, kain, swimming, kain, picture, kain, inom, kain, inom, picture, kain, kain, inom, picture, tulog, kain, tulog, kain... at di pa kasama dyan ang mga baon naming chichirya...

kain, tulog, kain, picture... para tuloy kaming mga patabaing baboy...

kain, picture, kain, swimming... parang ang major activity dito ay kumain, secondary lang ang swimming LOL.

ansarap na ipamper mo minsan ang sarili mo, ansarap dito lalo pa't galing sa puyat at nakakapagod na trek, ansarap dito lalo pa't kasama ang taong malapit sa yo na mga wala ring patumangga sa pagkain hehehe (sayang, walang videoke dito...)

understatement ang sabihing very relaxing ang lugar na to, basta masarap dito... kung mag-isa o dalawa lang kayong pupunta dito, medyo mahal ang lugar. pero kung grupo kayong magti-trip dito, ayun, mahal pa rin sya hahaha, biro lang, mas makakatipid kapag malaking grupo.

marami pa akong picture, pwede nyong pasyalan dito.