Calaguas 2015

Calaguas – Second Time Around in the Paradise ^_^

Travel Date: May 1, 2015

 **  Back in your Arms Again Calaguas  **

My Calaguas First Visit to this paradise was last 2014 Holy week with my Family and friends, we took the Package from Biyahe Lokal because I find their all in package hassle free, transaction with Sir yani is very smooth.

Where to begin?

My other friend envied me when she saw my pictures in Calaguas and she keeps on insisting to visit the place with her and so we reserved with Biyahe Lokal again (our original date was Holy week but due to personal reasons I had to cancelled it and also there was a typhoon  coming to Bicol Area).

10:30pm depart from Manila and arrived at Vinzon Port around 6:30am. After buying some stuffs (Milk, Gatorade, etc.) we headed to the port, we are 12 including the Coordinator. This time the Bangka is a little bit small and because of the traffic (yes, expects to experience this thing in the port because of flocking tourists in the area going to Calaguas). We encountered problem because the coast guard did not allow us due to lacking of Life Vest. The captain has to find additional life-vest. I think we waited for about an hour, some of our companions had their pack lunch, so they eat their lunch while sailing.

We arrived there almost 12:00pm and no chance to get the good spot for our tent, we were sleepy and hungry and yet we can’t have our own rest, I even requested to change the position of our tent but to no avail, the sun is really shining bright that it hurts our skin so much. After waiting for about 30 minutes our sumptuous dinner arrived and the other group also shared their local “laing” pack by one of their companions, after the sumptuous lunch, we stayed in the nippa hut and bough Ice Candy to freshen our inner body

year 2014 we are the first to arrive in the island, this time, we are the last and because we are the last we also have to worst tent position for three days.



systematic tent accupation because of huge numbers of tourist

My friend was so irritated while I’m grinning at her and mouthed the word “I told you”. Before this trip I already informed her about the inconvenient thing that we could encounter for our 2 nights and 3 days stay there that Calaguas is not like Boracay.

We stayed with locals in their nippa hut while preparing the goods for our Dinner and made a little chitchat and some of them recognize me, and I requested them to grill us a squid and fish (of course you need to give them to money to look for fish and squid) just give them extra once departed from the island as their service though they won’t ask for it.

I met biyaherong barat turned out be one of the coordinator of biyahe local  ^_^

Difference Between Boracay and Calaguas

Like El Nido and Coron in Palawan, Boracay and Calaguas have its own uniqueness when it comes to beauty, they can be comparable but unique on their own.

Boracay offers convenience, fun and lots of activities to choose from while Calaguas offers only her beauty and virginity, Calaguas has a “mountain” top hill where you can capture a good shot of the Island, overlooking of the pacific oceans.

Boracay has a long and wide stretch of different kinds of sands from Station 1 to 3 while Calaguas has a short stretch of shores to explore with a very captivating view of the ocean and a good spot for photo shots (this is my subjective opinion about this two)

As for the night life (which I’m not fun of it) Boracay offers a wide variety of bars and restaurant while Calaguas you can be contented to what you have packed on your bag and enjoy all of it.

For me Calaguas teaches you on how to interact with nature while in Boracay teaches you how to socialize with different types of people with difference races and I just hoped that the tour operator would be responsible in handling business, because as I see it, Calaguas is being raped and torn and few more years, this paradise can become like a Puerto Gallera case in Mindoro wherein her beauty fade away because of the irresponsible actions of humans.

And that’s the end of my story about this “HIDDEN PARADISE IN NORTHERN BICOL”

I can’t find anymore words to describe this island and hopefully these pictures will justify my adjective view about Mahabang Buhanging in Camarines Norte known to many as Calaguas.

I agreed to accompany my friend because I wanted to visit the Mountain Hill Top of the Island and I'm glad that I did it.

now let me show you some of the pictures that I had on my second visit on this charming Island.

Crystal Clear Water of Calaguas

took her time to swim

Powdery Sand of Calaguas



its a must picture :)



you need to climb and jump from sharp rock to another in order to get on spot




Crystal Water of Calaguas on the other side of the Island near Waling WalingResort

The overlooking view of the Mountain Hill top

a pathway going to the other side of Mountain




over looking view of Pacific ocean

Sunrise



Day 3 : Going Back to Manila. Good Bye Calaguas See you again when I see you.

Recently my friend invited to go to Calaguas again but due to my busy schedule I decline the Invitation.

I wanted to visit the Island wherein there's no huge tourist flocking around, I wanted to experienced the Serenity that other blogger tasted on this place, if you read my previous post about Calaguas, I really experienced sleepless nights on those two time visit I had.

THANK YOU FATHER GOD, THANK YOU JESUS, THANK YOU HOLY SPIRIT FOR PROTECTION AND GUIDANCE AND FAVOR AND SELF CONTROL THAT WE HAD ON MY SECOND VISIT TO THIS ISLAND.

 

 

Calaguas 2014 Day 2

Travel Date: April 2014
Despite of the restless night we had that night, we still manage to wake up early. There are a little rain shower that morning, but still, the cloudy sky cannot cover the beauty of Calaguas.


Cloudy Morning of Calaguas



** They are ready to Swim again **    :)   ^_^

Most people are still sleeping because of the "party night" the other night, and we are few of those tourist who woke up early, after our thanks giving to our Lord and asking for protection again and the ability to enjoy whatever happened, we did our morning rituals.

We asked for hot water but instead of hot water they gave us also coffee, and that's what I can call "Great Service" one of the best that I had experienced in many places.

I really commend those local server by Biyahe Local, their service is genuine, courteous and kind. That is the best service that I've ever had in my entire life in travelling.Too bad, I really don't know their names.

I just noticed that even though some of the guest were rude to them and treat them like a servant they still manage to smile and comply and give whatever request from the guest.

We just sat on our tent while drinking our coffee and eating our biscuits appreciating the beauty of the island when they called out for breakfast.

Day 2 Breakfast

We let the other guest to finished their breakfast before we attack our own and so if you notice, we seems like the only guest here hehehehe.


Food are unlimited, that's what I really like abou it, unlike the other tour operator where the food is being serve by portion, good thing we choose Biyahe Lokal for this, the service is all the best.


After the heavy breakfast we started to explore the island from end to end by foot, my mother swam with my younger sister Dhing, while the four of us choose to visit the other end of the beach.

The island is beautiful in any part, the crystal water, the fine white powdery beach, I've been already visited Bohol and El Nido but this island has a unique beauty.


Hope these Pictures will justify the beauty of the island though I am not a professional Photographer. No edit was made...



My friend enjoying the powdery sand and crystal clear of calaguas

The water is not very salty, its tolerable and you can open your eyes for a few seconds. We took that chance for my family to learn how to swim and to snorkel.


Time passes by so fast that they called us for Lunch.


After Lunch and Washing out, we just took our rest and try to take up some nap despite of the scorching sun, we manage to nap at least 15 minutes, my friend readied her camera and things and we proceed to our next destination.


We don't have umbrella and so we used our hat and sarong


My friend ready to go to the other side this time despite of the hot weather

Buti pa si Kuya May Payong

You will see this Sand Turtle to take pictures, like boracay just give whatever amount you want.

We are exhausted the moment we arrived on this side of the island and too bad we forgot to bring water with us, my mother went back to our tent while we proceeded there.

We rested for about 30 minutes on this part of the island when we decided to go back, along the way we scouted for T-shirt as souvenirs P250.00 - P350.00 depends on the design.

THEIR ICE CANDY IS ALSO DELICIOUS..

Time passes so fast, after bathing, we arrange our things for the early check out next day (check out talaga), check our things, we made sure that nothing is missing except from my Mother's Black Sleveless she lost (hindi namin alam paano nawala kahit nakaipit sa tent namin yung damit).

That night, we had our games at the beach, but our tired body betrayed us, and so we sleep early, and because of the rain shower, the group of Party People transfer to the nippa hut near to our tent and there they made a loud noise that disturb us from our sleep.

There are things happened that night, and I don't want to disclosed it anymore but for me being a tourist, we must share concerns to others and be responsible to the nature.

Calaguas is being hailed as one the best beaches in the Philippines, but this place is being raped by irresponsible tourists and operators, there's nothing wrong to visit island like this because tourist help locals creating an income aside from their usual livelihood.

UPDATE AS OF 2015: CALAGUAS BECAME LIKE PUERTO GALLERA AND BORACAY WHERE NIGHT PARTY TOOK PLACE AT NIGHT, ALCOHOL IS EVERYWHERE, TOUR OPERATOR ALLOWED ALCOHOL AND THEY EVEN SELL IT TO GUESTS.

As of this writing, I came to visit Calaguas again with my other friend last May 1, 2015, this time I prepare myself to have a restless night from parties everywhere, I readied myself to hear a lot of flirting and cursing from girls and women, I prepare myself as if I am in one of the Club in Metro Manila 24/7 for two night.s


I maybe sound like a conservative one, but then its my opinion, as a tourist who love peace and serenity.




CALAGUAS HAS HER OWN UNIQUENESS WHEN IT COMES TO BEAUTY, SHE IS ENCHANTED AND CHARMING.


WILL I GO BACK THERE AGAIN.. MY ANSWER IS DEFINITELY YES...

THANK YOU HOLY SPIRIT FOR GIVING ME WISDOM ON HOW TO CONSTRUCT WORDS AND SENTENCE FOR THIS BLOG ABOUT CALAGUAS.

NEXT POST: CALAGUAS 2015

Calaguas 2014

Travel Date: April 17, 2014

*** CALAGUAS ***

CALAGUAS is always on my travel bucket list since 2012 but time and budget did not allow me to visit this island. DO IT YOURSELF or D.I.Y style is not applicable here because you need to shell out a huge amount specially if you are just 2 person and I really don't want to cook my own food.

Mahabang Buhangin known as Calaguas to many tourist is located in Camarine Norte and was featured by the late "Tado" in one of the GMA 7 Documentary entitle "Ang Misteryong Paraiso".

To many travel blogger they called this island as their happy beach, some really hide the identity of this island because they are afraid that it might ruin the place like what happened to Puerto Gallera. Some called it the Gem of Northern Bicol, and others hailed as their Number 1 beach in the Philippines some called it the "Old Boracay.

The right timing came to me when I stumbled to the FB Page of Biyahe Lokal who offered a very cheap ALL IN PACKAGE for CALAGUAS, though the schedule falls on Holy Week which my family and I had a trip going to El Nido, and despite of having a Roundtrip Ticket going to Palawan, we choose Calaguas and Cancelled the other one.

My transaction with Biyahe Lokal is smooth, they are active on their FB page.

=========================================================================

DAY 1

We left at 10:30pm from Cubao arrived in Vinzon Port at 6:30am, they informed us to buy plastic and wrap our bags as protection.

Ready to Go (Van Service of Biyahe Lokal)

Vinzon Port (en-route to Calaguas)

Putting our things in a Plastic which will serve as protection from getting wet  along the way

We had a almost 3 hours rough ride from Vinzon Port to Calaguas, we encounter strong waves good thing our motor boat is quite big the boat can accommodate at least 20 plus person.

We pass by on this island

Approaching Island from afar

We were the first batch to arrived in the island and the moment we set our foot on the crystal water we just exclaimed "WOW" this is incomparable beauty, the water is very clear, the water is calm, this is the beach that I wanted to visit.

Authors Note: I visited Calaguas first before Boracay

The Advantage of being first to arrive is that you had an option where to put your tent, and we choose to pitch our tent under the tree.

Our 3 Days Shelter

others choose here facing the beach (the dis-advantage: lot of people passes by

We are all hungry the moment we arrived in the island, after placing our things at our tent, we sat at the nippa hut and ate our pack adobo lunch but we don't have any rice, and to our surprise, biyahe local serves our lunch more minutes and the whole place is pack with tourist.

Day One - Lunch by Biyahe Lokal

Despite of the scorching sun we manage to take minutes of nap due to lack of sleeps and tired from almost 12 hours ride overnight, my mother manage to get a good spot at the nippa hut where the local chats.

Locals of Calaguas

At 2:30pm we asked for coffee (par of the all in package of biyahe local), we just rested a few more minutes and adjust our mood for the day activity.

Our first activity for the day is Island Hopping P100.00 per head. Don't expect the Island Hopping here like El Nido or Coron, I thought we could jump into the water and snorkel but no, the boat will just tour you from end to end of the shore and I was pretty disappointed and promise not do to it again.

Some shot that we got while "Island Hopping"

Newly Built Waling-Waling Resort

Update: As this this posting my last visit in Calaguas last May 2015, the island hopping became a real island hopping, they could bring you to one island to snorkel and dive, but I did not join them because of my first disappointment.

After the Island Hopping, we decided to swim with my companion, we just enjoy the water as it was warm, we don't mind if we get burn we just enjoy our moment together.

Look how Clear the water

US: Enjoying the water despite of the scorching Sun

You need to pay P10.00 for a pail of water in the manual water pump ("poso") and because there are many tourist, you need to line up too.

there are no convenience in Calaguas unlike Boracay, and so if you are Maarte better, check Inn at Waling Waling Resort, but you need to pay a price.

As usual the dinner serves on time, we choose to rest early because of our tired body.

WE THANK GOD FOR PROVIDING US THE PROTECTION AND GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT THIS VIRGIN ISLAND and WITNESS AND ENJOY HER BEAUTY.

NEXT POST IS: CALAGUAS 2014 DAY 2

RAINY DAY IN BORACAY 2014

Travel Date: July 28 - 30, 2014


From CORON to Boracay

If some of you read my CORON TRIP well this is the continuation of my epic (epic daw oh) journey to these two paradise in the Philippines.

My Boracay trip was far different from my CORON Journey. If everything in Coron was in rush, Boracay is some sort of relaxation for me. I have my itinerary to all the activities that I wanted to do, but due to my leg pain and headaches, I choose to just seat at the seashore and watch people playing with the waves and feasted my eyes to the beauty of this place.

Being able to visit Calaguas and all the negative feedback I‘ve heard and read about Boracay I didn’t expect too much here.

Back to manila from Busuanga was a little bit scary, the flight was been delayed for minutes only because heavy rain started to pour out again, and first time I experienced an almost 20 minutes of turbulence, I just prayed and sing some praise and worship songs, my fear fade away and it turned out to be fun because I am just like riding in a roller coaster.

We arrived in Terminal 3 on time. Feeling so tired and my head is already throbbing in pain, walking with my backpack is really “harmful”, the crew of the airlines fetch me at the arrival area but the guard insisted that they can’t pick me up and transfer me in a “shortcut” even though I have a connecting flight. (arrival and departure door is just 20 step walks away), even though the airline crew explain about my leg pain and about my boarding pass, the guard did not permitted us to take the “shortcut” route.

The flight going to Boracay (via Caticlan Airport) was been delayed due to poor weather in Caticlan, I informed the orchids resort manager about it he sent someone to pick me at the airport.

Finally!!!  ;)

With headache and empty stomach, I did a nap on board, good thing I don’t have a seat meat I was able to make some stretching.

Hello Boracay...

Upon Exit, I saw the signage of Orchids Resort holding by Reggie/Gerry. I gave P500.00 to him and let him do all the payment for all the fees that I needed.

Environmental Fee            75.00

Tricycle Fee                       80.00

Boat Ride Fee                    30.00

Add:                                 100.00 – From Manoc-Manoc Port to Boracay (another tricycle ride)

Grand Total                   285.00

Reggie carry my heavy backpack and he became my instant photographer

Reggie!!!

After the never ending fees (hehehe) I finally set my foot in Boracay.

Orchids Resort is located at station 3. I immediately took some rest as I entered to my room

My P700.00 non-aircon room

It rained that afternoon so I choose to stay inside my room and had my biscuits as my late lunch and take a good nap (zzzzzz.......)

It was 5:30pm when i decided to explore the long stretch of beach of Boracay and ate at Andoks for my Dinner.

My first day in Boracay wasnt that exciting, after my lunch and as the heavy rain stop pouring i immediately run to the nearest store to buy some amenities such as shampoo, gatorade and other snacks and went back to my room.