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...

shot in baras cliff (photo by shing)

isla naburot (photo by shing)

isla naburot (photo by shing)

Boatman Charlie in his yellow boat

houses near pawikan conservation project

pakiwan conservation project

PawCaFS: Pawikan Caring and Feeding Station

pawikan

rock formation

rock formation

rock formation

breathtaking view...

ave maria

the author outside ave maria cave

white sand beach 

white sand beach

ave maria

yellow boat

ave maria 

ave maria beach

on our way to different islets, caves, and beaches

limestone formation inside baras cave

inside baras cave

rock formation

baras cave

islands shot from baras cliff (photo by john)

in baras beach cliff

private property in one of the islets

cliff (photo by john)

lighthouse (photo by john)

Quezon Adventure

Our team was invited by Pen’s family to Lopez, Quezon. At first I didn’t know what to expect coz the last time I have been to Quezon was during one of relief operation where the sights were not that good. We stayed at Pen’s family house and enjoyed very good food prepare by her mom. It was worth the trip. The following day, we went to Pulo Niyugan, an island near the municipality. Going there was an adventure because you have to ride the trolley while you appreciate the surroundings. There were fresh buko and off course sumptuous meal prepared for us. We were spoiled…It rained during our stay in the island but it didn’t stop us from having pictorials.

Taken during while waiting for the boat going to Pulo Niyugan

Some of my teammates waiting in the sand bar

During one of my 'serenity walks'

Balsa...

In Pulo Niyugan...low tide and rain beginning to fall

Lunch was served in a big balsa. It was a good time to bond with our fellow teammates. On our way home, we get to appreciate other sights such as the Quezon National Forest Park and the Bituka ng Manok (zigzag road in Atimonan, Quezon). On our way home, they bought buko pie in Colette’s. Personally, I like The Original Buko Pie in Los Banos.

Bituka ng manok in Atimonan, Quezon

Quezon National Forest Park in Atimonan

Zambales’ Hidden Treasures: Camara and Capones Islands and Anawangin Cove

View of mountain slopes and cloud formations from Camara Island

Toni just came from Canada for a vacation and as we all wanted to have an escape, Liz suggested to visit a place in San Antonio, Zambales. We slept in Weiss’ house then got ready for a trip with Liz, Toni, Mitch, Mabeth, Johann and JC. Hmmm..Ben was out of sight. As we reached Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales, we stayed at Nena’s Resort for that would be our staging point going to different islands nearby.

Rock formations in Camara Island

First stop, we took a boat ride going to Camara Island. It’s the nearest island in Pundaquit where we grilled our own lunch as we reminisced our college days. It was a small island that boasts of unspoiled surroundings. After lunch and petiks moments, we took another boat ride going to Capones Island.

Shot during one of my 'serenity walks' in Camara Island

Rocks look like a human face

Tilapia...(From Weiss' camera)

Capones Island has a lighthouse but unfortunately we only saw if from a far because we arrived there late and it may take several minutes to reach the lighthouse. I noticed unique rock formations and the same clean surroundings. We took a different route going back to Pundaquit to better appreciate Capones and Camara Islands.

Capones Island

Rock formations in Capones Island (hgarcis)

That night, we gazed through the stars after a night of booze while we remembered the ups and downs of college life. Ahahah…The following day, we headed to Anawangin Cove. It’s a bit far from the two other islands but it was worth the ride. It was undeveloped. The boatman even talked to one of the locals just to inform them of our presence. We also cooked our own lunch as we enjoyed the beach and the forest that surrounds the area. It was a perfect picture of nature’s wonder! There’s the beach, forest and mountain as your back drop. It’s sad to see though that some of the forest areas were now gone.

Pine trees are said to grew after the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo

Pine trees in Anawangin Cove along the river.

Some of my college friends. Author second from left. (Taken from Toni's camera)

Nice but I wonder what happened on the hill at the back

White sands are said to come from lahar

Shot during one of my 'serenity walks' along the cove

We should have camped out in Anawangin but time did not allow it. But I look forward going back to Anawangin. We had dinner in Subic on our way home; arrived late in Manila and rushed to bed coz in a few hours I had to wake up to work again. Hay…