Showing posts with label paradise. Show all posts
Showing posts with label paradise. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

4 days 3 nights adventure in Coron



If there's another definition for paradise in just one word it would be "Coron".
Definitely mesmerized by the beauty of everything that Coron has to offer. Every island has its enchanting magic. They're all different but have something in common, beauty.
 Plus, seafood dish can be found in any restaurant. All cooked in different manners but still tastes superb.
White sand, clear water, sun, good company... what else can I ask for? Nothing.

Coron is a small town, so you won't probably get lost. And I highly recommend it for solo travellers. I felt really safe during my stay. Everything is just blocks aways. Travel agencies and shops are all walking distance. And for another recommendation, it's way better to purchase tour packages in Coron. It's way cheaper than booking online.

I must say that it's the best and most beautiful place I've been to so far. Seriously. No hesitations about it.

So here's the itinerary of our 4 days 3 nights trip, may 6-9,2015, in Coron with my friends, Melvy and Dianne.

Day 1:

Our 3:15pm flight with Cebu pacific was 1 hour delayed so we arrived in Coron around 6 pm already.
We hopped in a van that took us in the town proper. We had to pay Php 100 each for the ride. Time travel is around 30 minutes. It was surprising that there were no rice fields along the way, i wasn't used to it. Instead, there were mountains everywhere.




We checked in at Jazmine's Place (http://www.jazminesplace.com/). We spent Php 8,000/3pax for 4D3N of stay. Their rooms are very pleasant, i highly recommend it, too.



After resting, we rented a tricycle to bring us at the Maquinit hot springs just for Php300, back and forth. Entrance in Maquinit is Php200, but if you're a student remember to bring your I.D for discounts. Too bad we didn't bring ours.

The maquinit hot springs was really hot, literally. But it was indeed relaxing. We didn't catch the sunset so we didn't take too many pictures.



Then, we had dinner at "Lolo Nonoy's Food station". It was about to close when we arrived there but, luckily they still welcomed us and had us as their last costumers for the day. Their food is really affordable and delicious.


Afterwards, we booked our first DIY island hopping in Expeditions.




Day 2:

We had our first island hopping tour in private by paying Php 1,700 each, lunch included. We DIY-ed our tour. We were able to visit 7 islands: Siete pecados, Kayangan Lake, Barracuda, Banol beach, Calacuchi beach,Twin Lagoon, and Hidden lagoon.
(Pictures below are in order)








We had to manage our time so we can hike Mt. Tapyas before sunset, and so we did.
Mt. Tapyas was really a tiring activity, i can't recall how many stairs there were, but the view was really worth it afterall. Imagine the scenario, the sun setting behind the islands of Coron. Amazing.

 


Later, we had dinner at "Sinugba sa balay" and their food was totally exquisite!


At night, we walk around the town proper and spent like more or less 30 minutes to surround it. It's that small.

Day 3:

This time we had a joining island hopping tour to save money. The fee for visiting Malcapuya island, Banana island and Bulog dos island costs Php 1,200; lunch and snacks included. It's expensive due to it's distance. Time travel is around 1 hour and 30 minutes.

At first, i thought that joining a group tour would be awkward but I was wrong because you get to know people, make friends with them. In our boat, we were 16 + 2 tour guides.

Malcapuya Island:




Banana Island: It is called Banana because the island itself has a shape of a banana leaf.



Bulog Dos Island:




After our tour, we decided to have a dinner altogether at "Kawayanan Grill Station". A place where they serve cocrodile sisig and el nido soup. We took the tricycle to reach the place by paying Php 10 each. We ate seafood, we sang the karaoke, played billiards, etc.

This day was fun because of the new people we have encountered.

Day 4:

Had our breakfast at "Kawayanan Grill Station", again.


Last day also means last minute of buying souvenirs! Bought their traditional delicacy, cashew nuts. It's really delicious. I should have bought more, but it was kinda expensive.

And before our 12 noon flight we had to go back to the airport and had to bid goodbye to the paradise. Sadly, our flight was delayed again for 2 hours.


Back in Manila, again.





And that's our memorable adventure in Coron. Here's an additional information about our expenses:

Just for more or less Php 10,000/person you can enjoy an unforgettable underwater experience in Coron. But you can spend less by joining tours, picking hostals or room for backpackers instead of hotels if you're in budget.

Roundtrip airfare : Php 5,000
Island hopping tour: Php 1,700+1,200= Php 2,900
Airport fee : Php 70
Airport-Coron-Airport transportation: Php 200
Souvenirs: Php 500
Maquinit hot springs: Php 200 (entrance)
Food: Php 1,000 (depending on your prefence)

In our case, we had to spend more for transportation because we live in Ilocos. Spent around more than Php 2,000.


I hope everyone gets to visit and love Coron like I did.



Watch our Coron adventure video in this link below:
https://www.facebook.com/jessicafelipe17/videos/vb.1552909790/10206089322262740/?type=3&theater


Most of the pictures and the video are taken with: Goprohero4silver 

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Badoc Island getaway

Our trip to Badoc Island was planned in less than 24 hours. As usual, me and my spontaneous outings attacked me the day before, again. 
 I started with a status post in my facebook and convienced some of my friends, despite of not knowing some of each other, to make the trip possible. I think one of the positive outcomes of this gathering was being able to meet new friends and arriving to a paradise.

We left Laoag City at 9:45am. Our expected take off was 9 am but due to 1) Denish had to burn his clothes because of some beliefs 2) Kebong bought a puppy in the para Badoc terminal. 
We arrived in Badoc around 11 am. So time travel from Laoag to Badoc is aprox. 1 hour with bus (Fare: Php 50). 
We stopped by the police station to get some information. And luckily with Denis connections, we had the opportunity to get a free ride from the town proper to Brgy. Pagsanahan, where we had to take the "boat"/banka that took us to the island. 

Again, we we're very lucky to hear from the residents that the sea hadn't been calm for the last few days, but unexpectedly the day we choose, the sea was in our favor. Thank you, Lord. 


This is the banka which we rode on. We were all 8 + 2 = 10. 
Time travel: around 10-15 minutes.

This is not Badoc Island.

                                                                     THIS is Badoc Island. Hadn't got a very good shoot. Sorry. 



Finally, arriving Badoc Island was like: Put your hands up in the air!!! 
White sand and different layers of blue water welcomed us warmly with the rays of the sunlight. And yes, we we're alone in the island. 
So after, we had our lunch, played cards, took pictures and waited for the sun to lessen its heat. No one wants to get burn, my dear. (Mahirap din magpaputi. haha)



After 3-4 hours of waiting to avoid sunburn, we dive in. We took some underwated pictures but sad to say the gadget used got broken when we got home. Hoping for it's early recovery. 
We swam for a really short time due to we had to pack up before sunset. We left around 5 pm, for...

THIS:

Beautiful sunset in Virgen Milagrosa, Badoc.



 We wanted to visit and to take a glance of the sunset in 'Virgen Milagrosa'. We took 2 tricycles to bring us there. Time travel was around 15 minutes. But sadly, the sunset color and feeling lasted for 5 minutes only. Then, we visited the chapel, took the typical groupie with friends, and hit the road back to our homes.

Expenses:
Food prepared: Php 100/person
Laoag-Badoc-Laoag: Php 100/person
Tricycle (Pagsahanan-Virgen Milagrosa- Highway) : Php 30/person
Boat: Php 750

I recommend everyone to visit Badoc Island, just be sure not to litter the beautiful virgin paradise place.

PS: A short video of our journey.
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10205501625650692&set=vb.1552909790&type=3


DON'T BE SHY AND JOIN OUR NEXT ADVENTURE ANYTIME SOON!!!