I've been planning to start blogging for the longest time, I have made one too many accounts in the past but never had the time to start writing an entry and never bothered to go back at it, or maybe I was too lazy, I also thought it might be better to create entries with best shots taken by hi-res/def cameras which I don't really have one with me during my travels, but the heck...this time I will start posting and blurting out whatever. So cheers to my first entry. Enjoy!
At some circumstances, it's the destination that counts and not much of the journey. This is my latest travel to a hidden paradise down south... Calaguas Island. I first saw this Island picture from a friend of mine on facebook, I end up reading on blogs about the place and read nothing but praises about this paradise, found other folks tips and suggestions how to get there, I initially wanted to do it DIY style "alone", good thing I did not, for one I might have caught up with the boat ride which is pretty much ummmm...expensive, Luckily, one of the blogs had mentioned about Biyahe Lokal and Biyaherong Barat ( check their FB accounts to find more ). Now these guys are the best, normally an arranged trip is a package of somehow a group or a company of 10-15 people, just my luck that they have this trip arranged for solo or couple backpackers to bolt in as a group, without hesitation I booked in, then applied for a vacation leave from my company approved or not approved, yes, that's how eager this one beaver is. Either you got to do it or just do it, ha! Besides I wouldn't let this summer pass me by without hitting the sand, sea and sun. Now my girlfriend gave me the sanction to get on the road, coz mind you, there's no reception even how fancy your phone is when your inside the island, actually there's this spot where you can get some but not sufficient.
THE TRIP
It's one hell of a ride by land and by open seas but all exhaustion vaporized in a matter of split seconds when I finally set my eyes, dug my butt, and laid my soul to this little piece of heaven.
SITTIN' BY THE SHORE
SEA OF CLOUDS
I've seen clouds swimming from the skies with my previous travels mostly in mountainous areas but this one is literally a sea of clouds as you can view it from mountain top alongside the highway heading to Labo, my good friend Jed aka Biyaherong Barat stated he had passed through this point so many times but never saw this breathtaking view before, I guess we're on for a little treat.
MAHABANG BUHANGIN
Left side facing the sea you'll find rocks and corals where fellow travelers would go for some photo op (well, at least a hundred shots I supposed), if you're a keen observer, you might have noticed that most beaches has this part where people would go and take of their bikini cover ups and pose ala FHM style
EXITING VINZONS PORT
CALMNESS
JED ROSELL aka BIYAHERONG BARAT
This dude is born to move
(Please visit his website http://biyaherongbarat.com/category/who-is-biyaherong-barat-2/)
I traveled without knowing anyone from a group I joined the package and I gained so many friends with this escape, thanks to Jed aka Biyaherong Barat, Yani of Biyahe Lokal, Man you're the best! Looking forward for my next escape with you guys.
PANORAMIC VIEW FROM HILLTOP
Here's a view of the island coast on a panoramic angle, you can have this activity by following the trail found on the right end side of the beach, bring water with you for re-hydration and P20 for entrance fee, if you're a bit on a commando mode, you will find a way to get off the trail and dig your way out of the jungle (descending) to find yourselves awed with the beautiful other side of the island.
(It's like that scene from THE BEACH when they first saw the cove)
THE OTHER SIDE
BLUE BEGETS BLUE
CANVAS WORTHY
SETTING SUN
Took this shot from my iPod while swingin' by the hammock with my brain induced by Chemical Brothers' setting sun, it was an invitation for tranquility coz amongst us, there was a pack of political campaign staff who arrived that late afternoon, they had a medical mission from the barrios of the island which is a good cause, but they also brought their generators and sound system with them and annoyingly set dem speakers just right beside our camp and started blasting music that only dem people seem to be enjoying it... Our bud Miggy "THE TOWER OF POWER" uttered urrrrgggghhhh!!! the whole time the music changes every 30-45 seconds, the DJ just can't decide which one to play I guess, 'twas a massacre, haha!
Then that night at around 9:30 those patok type music suddenly stopped, I can hear the waves breaking gently from the shore then, less than a minute...BAAAAM! Enter campaign jingle, I just wanted to cry that time, I was forced to listen to it coz my iPod's battery drained, we all went to sleep eventually while they kept playing the jingle, came the next morn that jingle keeps ringin in my head, everyone was silent as we took it's toll while getting breakfast, I then sang a part of the jingle and everyone had a good laugh. Damn...they could have made a reggae or island riddim version of that jingle to jive with the place.
(P.S. I can still hear that jingle in my head)
"THE TOWER OF POWER"
Miggy is Jeds college friend who sports 6 feet 2 inches vertically, who just came from Nepal, climbed the Himalayas' vertical limits as he is more of a mountain guy in contrast to Jed's more beach interest. Took this shot as he's tryin to escape the junk music blasting from the unholy sound system, he'd probably be thinking "where's my mountain, where's my peace" on this scene.
SEA SAND SHADE
PEACE
OFFSHORE
BLISS
THE LOKALS
A priority on every island trip I make is to mingle with locals, and what better way to enjoy it but by alcohol, it's somehow my own principle to really be one with the island, lokals from the island are very friendly, welcoming, kind, warm and lowkey, I encourage you to invite them to share food or for a round of booze, they would love to invite you for one but they're a bit shy, so you should initiate, this session I was invited to take shots of their native liquor "LAMBANOG", a concoction of Nipa sap or juice, fermented and served warm and it gets warmer inside, it has a good bitter kick but I was told there's no hangover, I seldom turn down invitations so keep them rounds goin' boys, as the night crawls we continuously infused more alcohols of various sorts, shared stories under make shift lights and as dawn breaks, the nocturnes passed out one by one and I dubbed as "EL TUMBADOR" emerged as the last man standing. I then went on a morning dip, the best time to cool down, I was surprise by the warm to cool water as I was swimming I noticed something moving in random directions sweeping my legs, the water is so clear that you could see your toe nails and whoa! a swarm of jelly fish, at first I was alarmed as initial reaction would be you'll get stung, but I then realized I've been dipping for 5-10 minutes already so I should've felt a rash or burnt, they're tiny and greenish, I tried googling it and found that this is a spotted jelly or lagoon jelly known as Mastigias, Like many species of jellyfish, the sting of some species of Mastigias have little or no discernible effect on humans, Amazing! That was the best swim I had. And yes I felt no hangover, at least not until the next day.
MANG PUTONG AND THE BANGKEROS
ME AND HAPON
THE JELLY EXPERIENCE
Thank you to the group who enjoyed the Island with me from Cainta, Ivan who spent his birthday island style, yeah man! And the rest of the crazy bunch, you're all crazy cool! I will be in touch. To kuya Sonny, your driving skills are wicked! My heartful thank yous to Mang Putong and Hapon, our Bangkeros and lokal residents for the Lambanog session, do not underestimate the "EL TUMBADOR". Ate Janet whom we dubbed as Julie, you're the best chef in the island. Overall, thanks to Biyahe Lokal for a smooth unforgettable island escape, this one is definitely a destination that tops my lists. For now...
For a complete info on how to get there and the works, please visit:
BIYAHE LOKAL- http://www.facebook.com/pages/Biyahe-Lokal/162107037235357?fref=ts
BIYAHERONG BARAT- http://www.facebook.com/biyaherongbarat?fref=ts
BIYAHERONGBARAT.COM- http://biyaherongbarat.com/
Here's a link to a video I've made for this escape
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RVzrN7H8cc
Don't forget to leave a comment
