Island hopping: Mag-Asawang Bato, Dampalitan Island and Borawan

Mag-asawang Bato, Dampalitan Island and Borawan 

(May 6 2012)

after we packed our things around 12 in the afternoon Ka Roger fetched us for our island hopping
adventure :)

just behind the end rock that you see on the left side of puting buhangin cove you will already see Mag-asawang bato. They were called magasawang bato cause during low tide those two island merged as one, there's a land bridge connecting those two and even have their babies. too bad the sea level was high when we passed by :( so sad anyway i hope to get off on the island next time i go back :)

mother island and father island

dampalitan beach front 

Damplitan beach is a privately owned beach resort, there are lots of spots to explore. There is an entrance fee of just 30 pesos for this wonderful relaxing serene place. The ambiance has a resemblance to anawangin cove (which has an overnight stay of 100 pesos), but clearer water. They also have cottages and stores and water for rinsing, unlike the very pure puting buhangin, so you wont really have to be worried about ice and getting so thirsty. They even sell halo-halo so when we saw that store we hurriedly asked manang to give us four halo-halos! we were so so so thirsty :)

Jella finishing off the last piece sago of her halo-halo 

As we finish eating we decided to explore the area, we saw this spot on the sea that as you go far water level is still low :) well it really looks like a sand bar, and during low tide this patch of rocks, corals and sand will be exposed heheh :)

us crossing the sand bar :)

me trying to go up the cliff :)

We took a moment to sit and feel the beauty of Dampalitan Beach so make sure to visit the Island cause your Quezon adventure won't be complete :) 

left back part of the resort 

before we ran out of time we headed back to Ka Roger's boat to went to Borawan.

our photographer Kenneth took this photo ;)

As we explore the island it really has a unique beauty but it wasn't really look like boracay the sand is not fine but more like the size of a pebble and the water isn't that clear i don't know maybe because it rained the night we went there, but it does not really resembles boracay. However, the rock formations and limestone can compare to palawan.

Jella trying to make her way up as much as she can :) 

Borawan is beautiful in its own way, the natural formations of the rocks are truly stunning, it was a bit crowded because the island is small but its worth it. There are stores, they sell ice, softdrinks, junk foods, canned goods and even Tshirts you can have it for 280 pesos :) 

If you this one big boulder, you will realize that it was a mountain of dead corals, it looks like that long long time ago a giant man threw this one big stone to be in its position now.

as we climb this big mountain of dead corals. 

As we roam around the island there is a nearby virgin beach there are no people but lots, and when i say lots i mean it, of dogs and Kenneth told us that the beach has a different owner so we should not go there we may accused of trespassing :) respecting it we then return to our base camp :) hehe 

as we approch the prive beach owned by dogs LOL

before the sun says goodbye to us again we decided to go to Ka Roger's turf to rinse and get ready  to go back to manila.. And Ka roger advised that we have to get there before the sea level drops down because we will have a long long way to go....

when sea level drop down :) it was really a long way

 And caution there are sea urchin and balatan invasion in that area so careful :) 

thanks to the local people of Quezon specially Ka Roger and his grandson Kenneth :) we got home safely.. :)

Ka Roger

There in Ate IRma's we waited for a bus that will drop us to Lucena, they said that the next trip would be not until 9pm we decided to take a tricycle since ate Irma said that there is a crossing called Malicboy where buses from daet, bicol, are also passing by.

I tell you the ride was really really a long long long way, like a never ending road cause it was dark no street lights only the lights from the tricycle and supermoon but it was fun! hehehe we paid 300 pesos for the tricycle cause we were so atat hehe. it took 30-45 minutes for hte bus to pass by we paid 24 pesos to take us to lucena grand terminal :)

this way is if you plan to stay in puting buhangin first :)

EXPENSES: 

Jac liner Bus : buendia - Lucena : 210php

Jeep LUcena-Pagbilao: 13 php

jeep Pagbilao to Brngy Polo - 30-35 pesos

tricycle Brngy. Polo - Puting buhangin gate : 25 pesos

total : 278php one way (556php two way)

OTHER EXPENSES: 

registration fee before entering mining site on the way to puting buhangin: 5 pesos per head

entrance fee puting buhangin: 100 per head (overnight) 50 pesos (daytrip)

entance fee dampalitan beach: 30 pesos

entrance fee borawan: 50 pesos 

if you want to ask Ka rogers number and for  more questions feel free to leave your comment ::) 

Island Hopping: Puting buhangin and kwenbang lampas

Puting Buhangin at ang Kwebang Lampas

(May 5-6 2012)

Puting buhangin is located in Pagbilao Quezon, there are many ways to get there.

this started when me and my friends (mayeth, lorraine and aljhun) were drinking on Mayeth's house (April 27)and they said they want to go to the beach so i suggested Quezon islands because based on the blog i read the island is very beautiful, virgin and more attractive because of kwebang lampas and the good thing about the island is that they just started allowing night campers on the island this April 2012 because the LUkang family is the new owner of the island. We have the compact with blood, heart and intestines that even if there's just 3 of us we will still pursue the dream hehehe. So in short this plan is what i call the "DRUNK PLAN"

And so in the end we were six  hooray! (me, Jella - marine biologist, Mona - Ms banker, Mayeth - an Engineer, Lorraine - shipping cheverlou US, and Raymond - just officially graduated). We left Manila 5am with Jac Liner Bus, travel time is 3-4hrs, we arrived at Lucena around 8:30 am and rode a jeep from Lucena Grand Terminal to Pagbilao Market fare is 13 pesos.

When we arrived we realized that we forgot to buy butane gas in manila so we roam around hoping to find a store that sells butane gas for our cooking equipment, unfortunately (in british accent) there is no store for that so 2 of my friends went to SM Lucena,( almost 1 hr travel time from the market. ) when my friends left we decided to start buying stuff for foods, as we walk along the market we saw this store which sells plastic pitcher, plastic bowl for a cheaper price, we bought the pitcher for 40 pesos and kuya gave us 5 pesos discount :). About this market only one store has calamansi and her calamansi are all greenish yellow in color so i called my friends at SM to buy calamansi there adn they told me that the mall opens at 10am good thing it was  30 to 10 so we had no choice but to wait for them.

One important thing to bring is a cooler cause i tell you there is NO ICE on the island, you can buy cheap ice at the market for 12 pesos per bloke too bad our ice box is small :( anyway as we wait fr them we went to a carinderia to eat Lunch and we saw thisssss....... 

you want daing? :)

when they arrived it was almost 11nn, when you leave pagbilao market make sure that you have everything you need because again there is NO STORE in the island unlike Anawangin cove. 

We commute through jeepney from pagbilao to brngy polo fare is 30-35 pesos, we waited for the jeep to get full for like 45  mins or less. travel time to brangy polo is 1 and a half hour. 

the driver dropped us to the tricycle station, going to the gate of puting buhangin.

 here they will ask you to register your name and pay 5 pesos per head for it maybe because the area is private :)

the tryk :) 

when you see this you are half way there and the road will start to get rough.

manong said that this is a mine site.

And when you see this you are almost there :) 

Pagbilao power plant

and when you arrive you can tell manong driver when to pick you up if you wont go to other island. the fare for tricycle is 25 pesos per head.

when you arrive at their gate you have to pay Ate Gemma (09475911630) 20-25 pesos for the boat and 100 pesos fee on the island for night stay and 50 pesos if you'll just stay for the day. they also have cottages if you dont have a tent just call ate Gemma for reservation :)  

this is why you have to pay 20 for the boat you have to cross the lake going to the island :) 

crossing the lake

As you reach the other side of the lake you have to go for a 15-minute trek :) good thing it was low tide when we got there cause during high tide the water in this area rises :)

our ice box rice tent

as you move along you will see this stunning threshold.

naturally beautifully carved by nature

the trek it was quite tiring and there was some cliffs so be careful :)

The hike was really worth it because the beach delightfully welcomes us to his arms! hahahaha whoala the white sand and clear waters ..... :)

Lorraine, me, Mona, Jella (Mayeth cameraman) :)

Well after all the blogs i read about the island it is true that that it has a pristine crystal clear water and from all the beaches I've been this is first on my list! i advice you to wear sandals or swim shoes whenever you go for a swim cause there are very few sea urchins in the sea. :) but it was all worth it!

starfish at sight!

we walk towards the cave since it is low tide the water is very low.. but when high tide the water is at the waist level :)

the kwebang lampas

the cave has two openings one is the entrance from puting buhangin and the other opening is the exit to the vast ocean as you can see ....... :)

i was trying to touch a fish :) 

was trying to say "Jella l;ook at this!" so may fishes in the sea lol

as we tour on the island Raymond was busy preparing our dinner :) ehehehe we forgot our laurel but still our adobo was really good deliciously cooked!!!! thanks :)

raymond with his friends pitcher and cook :)

at night we started drinking under the supermoon :) it was very bright. the place was a fantasy imagine the bright light from the moon reflect on this calm water.. ohh how i wish you all can see this.. picture wont tell all the story :)

supermoon :)

headlights are really helpful :)

mayeth, jella, and me 

As the sun showers the island,  we packed our things and preparing to visit BORAWAN ang DAMAPALITAN including MAGASAWANG BATO :)

mayeth and me folding our tents :) 

i will visit the island again very soon :)

food: (depends on you)

Boat we rented to go on island hopping 1500php Ka Rogers boat i will give you ka rogers number :) to get an extra side island trip :) just tell him you get the number from my blog.

this is ka roger :) i have his number if you want to get boat discount :)

our adventure to borawan and dampalitan beach will be on my next blog :) thanks for reading! hope i gave you an idea ;)

EXPENSES: 

Jac liner Bus : buendia - Lucena : 210php

Jeep LUcena-Pagbilao: 13 php

jeep Pagbilao to Brngy Polo - 30-35 pesos

tricycle Brngy. Polo - Puting buhangin gate : 25 pesos

total : 278php one way (556php two way)

OTHER EXPENSES: 

registration fee before entering mining site on the way to puting buhangin: 5 pesos per head

entrance fee puting buhangin: 100 per head (overnight) 50 pesos (daytrip)

entance fee dampalitan beach: 30 pesos

entrance fee borawan: 50 pesos 

if you want to ask Ka rogers number and for  more questions feel free to leave your comment ::) 

Hamilo coast -Pico de Loro Beach Club Resort

Pico de Loro

Hamilo Coast is currently accessible by land via the traditional Tagaytay-Nasugbu route, which is roughly 114 kilometers of 2.5 hours travel. In 2011, a ferry service from the Mall of Asia Complex to Hamilo Coast will be operational to service residents, club members, and guests. This will cut travel time from Manila to 1.5 hours, or 70 kilometers. 

Pico de Loro is a very huge development made by SMDC. It was a relaxing place with residential condos, hotel accommodation and beach activities it was so huge that like UP's campus you have to ride a vehicle everytime you want to go to a different area.

They have a gym, an indoor tennis court, a station where you could play PS3 and XBOX.

Pools in different sections of the resort

Their infinity pool facing the man-made lake and condo units.

Yes the place is so relaxing and wonderful for vacation.

Buffet is awesome too. :) 

Anawangin cove: 2nd expedition :)

Anawangin Cove: 2nd time around

March 26-29, 2011

After a year i decided to go back in this place so dear to me :) It was our last year in college and I lure them to have our graduation trip in the cove, unlike the first time, we just had to commute this time.

We meet at Victory Liner, Pasay  around 11pm but the other's were not on time so we the last trip to San Antonio left already, so what the boys did was they rented a van which cost us 350 per head, and the van did not drop us to San Antonio, instead a he dropped us somewhere we do not know so we had no choice but to rent a jeep that will take us to Pundaquit where we could rent a boat to Anawangin Cove.

In Pundaquit we rented a boat to Amazing Pundaquit where the owners were very hospitable and even let us stay cause it was too early when we got there it was 5am, but just in the right time cause we still have to buy our food from San Antonio market place since the Jeep we rented was on that way too we asked for a hitch and dropped us to the market.  It was a big wet market that all we needed were in there we bought some fish to grill and some meat to make Adobo after we got all we needed we rode a tricycle to Pundaqiut.

When haring araw was starting to paint the horizon with its rays we set sail, and this time the boat we rented was big enough for all of us and it was cheaper than the boat we rented the last time i went here, it was only 1800 that was good for 20 persons already.

us in the banka featuring our very own MAC :)

As we were approaching the cove i was starting to see small colorful things hanging,and I was surprised that over just a year there were so many changes happened to the Cove, the colorful things that i was seeing are the small flags attached to the fences placed on the beach.

fences were placed for dividing the cove

It was really a different ambiance from what i experienced a year before, but the cove is still pretty amazing we decided to stay at the pine trees behind the lake for more "outdoors" experience and as we roam around the cove we realized that it was better to pitch our tents on the most left side of the cove and near the beach.

They now have several cottages available for those who do not have tents. 

And also several nipa huts.

Azel and a nipa hut :)

We like this spot because it is less crowded and we were beside the mountain :)

Us eating :)

We had grilled bangus :)

Mike

And squid. yummy! :)

After eating we, the girls, decided to trek the mountain i once trekked and the boys were left off for their early drinking session.

me, azel, avie, yen, mac (left to right)

As we move along i noticed that the water level went down a LOT!(not because it was low tide but that is how it is now permanently) It was not like before the shore was wider, I thought that its because of the global warming LOL :)

azel, mac, avie, yen at the foot the of  the mountain, (where the lake and sea supposedly meet)

As you can see in the picture below the sea level was so low that the lake water was stuck there (that is why its so stagnant)

hello Mac :)

As we were approaching the "bonsai" tree i noticed that its still the same a little bigger that before though .

azel and yen :)

And to my amazement I saw this red flag at the peak of the mountain... maybe locals or the tourism put it in here..

me with the flag

Before dusk we retreated to our campsites.

Also in my bewilderment, the calm water that the cove gave me last year was gone, it now has big waves (well not that big) but you will notice the waves on the center part of the cove, in my opinion, since the cove has a letter C shape the wind must have met at the center from the two ends (well i hope you can figure out what im trying to say here). Anyway, as i swim i also noticed that the rocks were gone, all gone it was all sand and nothing but sand. 

knee to waist water level. 

Be careful, since the rocks were gone and wind is blowing hard the sand were gathered and compiled at the center of the cove, (where the waves are) so the sand at both sides were very low. 

read the signs for precaution

With haring araw gone we made a bonfire, enjoying the cove as the darkness engulfs it.

We stayed there for 3 days 2 nights, which we originally planned to stay 1 night only, its up to you what activities you want to do, the owners do not offer water activities yet.

Four families owned the cove now, that is why it has fence divider and now has a 100 pesos per head per night. 

A lot of BIG changes happened to the cove, the beauty that the cove offers before was very unique unlike the beauty it offers now, but it still is remarkable let us just help it save its beauty by just putting our garbage to  one container. 

for more info just leave a message below.

thanks.