Follow Your Foots: February 2009

Footsteps: Going to Guimaras

Book a flight going to Iloilo. Our airline of choice is Cebu Pacific. As you reach Iloilo International Airport, hire a van and ask to take you at Ortiz Port. The usual van route will take you up to SM Iloilo but since the new airport is far from the city proper, it is advisable to hire a van. We paid around P 500.

When you reach Ortiz Port, take a boat going to Jordan. The trip is less than 30 minutes and the fare is P 13. Remember that it is strictly prohibited to bring mango fruit, seedling and the like in Guimaras to protect their mango variety and the industry.

As you reach Jordan, you have option to hire a multi-cab or take a jeepney or tricycle to bring you to your destination. We opted to hire a multicab for P 400. The price is standardized so no need to worry.

Guimaras people are very accommodating as evidenced by our encounter with the multicab driver, boatman, resort staff, and others. They maintain that Illonngo culture of being malambing. Though life in Guimaras is simple, they take pride of their interesting places and mangoes .

It was a good retreat! it's worth the trip!

ortiz port, iloilo

on air

iloilo airport

inside the boat

inday mar ferry boat

boat

iloilo airport

Footnote: Raymen Beach Resort

We're supposed to book at villa igang but no one was there when we arrived. When I asked Kuya Jesus our driver, he told us it's better to stay at Raymen so our feet led us to raymen beach resort.

It's facilities are relatively new as they offer hotel-like accommodation. We took the P1,100 room because they only offer local tv channel s so we opted to let go of television. Fan rooms are simpler than air-conditioned rooms.

Unlike some reviews, we find raymen staff accommodating and the place is relatively peaceful. Added to that is access to good food for they have a cafeteria where you can order from their menu or buy fresh catch from local fishermen and ask the café to cook it for a minimal fee.

Raymen's shoreline is relatively small but it has fine white sand. The beach front is protected by safety nets for protection of its guests, as well as supervised by local lifeguards.

Cottages are also available for day trippers.

For more information, text Raymen Beach Resort at 09185207271.

Island Hopping in Guimaras

It was 8 am in the morning and the sun and sea is one with our craving for interesting places in Guimaras. We didn't not see the boatman who offered island tours the other day so we took chances and ask one of the island tour stations along Raymen beach. It's nice to know that island tour is standardized in Guimaras. They charge P 400 for the first hour and additional P 150 for succeeding hour.

After a sumptous breakfast, we took our gears and money to tour the island. We took a yellow boat owned by Charlie and went to diffent places around Guimaras. He's so accomodating, articulate and tourist-friendly. He is a good photographer as we let him take our photos. If you're in Guimaras, he can pick you up from Jordan port and he can meet you in Raymen Beach Resort. His mobile number is 09293100842.It took us almost 10 spots all in all in just three and a half hours so it's worth the boat ride.

We went to Pawikan Caring and Feeding Station situated in a nearby community. It was my first time to touch a pawikan and it's quite heavy. When you visit the station, make sure to bring extra money as they encourage any monetary donations for maintenance of the facility.

After that we passed through several beaches and islets that are undeveloped. Then we stopped at Ave Maria Cave to snorkel. We were not able to swim right inside the cave for it is so majestic that you want to look at it from the outside. A sea urchin hit my toes so I decided to stay near the boat while we stopped bleeding.

On the other side of Ave Maria, we took a dip in a white sand beach. There we had our traditional jump and shoot travel photos. hehe...

We had a breaktaking view when we stopped in baras beach resort and walked up the cliff. It felt like you're one with everything you see. There were many foreigners booked in baras beach as it is one of the secluded resorts in Guimaras since it can be reached through a pump boat.

Isla Naburot is also one of the secluded resorts in the Island and its cottages are made of native materials that reminds everyone of bahay-kuho. There is no electricity in Isla but is situated in a quiet and peacefull location.

On our way back to Raymen, we passed through other interesting places like properties own by foreigners and lighthouse. We bought fresh samaral fish and lobster for P 520 when we arrived at Raymen. yum!

Sharing some photos of my travel friends...