Antique: Seen On Malalison

Leaving the mountains behind, we now make our way to the next stop of our journey, the beautiful Culasi. The hour-long trip ended on the wharf where we will be riding a pump boat to bring us to the island of Malalison. Before heading out to sea, we ate lunch in Jing’s eatery (special mention coz name sake), had our water gallon refilled and bought a 3kg fish for only 250 pesos.

Malalison from the wharf

The trip to the island was brief, 15-20 minutes. There is an island visitors’ registration area where you will also pay 10pesos for environmental fee.
The house we rented for 3000pesos is quite big, it has 2 bedrooms good for at least 4 persons each, 2 bathrooms, a living room with tv and a kitchen complete with cooking utensils. There is also a pump behind the house for bathing. No running water here, and also no electricity during daytime. Electricity is only switched on during the night and only from 6pm-10pm. The house, though, has a solar panel installed.

Sand Bar

Instead of hiring someone to cook food for us, we decided to go cowboy and do the cooking ourselves. Good thing, some of our male companions knows the hows on the kitchen, so we are spared from having distasteful meals.  While some of us went about with cooking pancit, sugba (grilled) pork& fish, sabaw (sinigang isda); others went to explore the sand bar in the rain. They came back at around 3pm to eat. Swimming does make one hungry.

Swim, Drown & Snorkel

Finished with dinners preparations, all of us also went to the beach to go swimming, semi-snorkeling and picture-taking while watching the sun set. The sand bar separates 2 areas of swimming: on the left is a rather rocky beach with corals littering the area which is safe for swimming and on the right is the ideal place to swim with its sandy beach and deep waters and danger of sea urchins. One cannot really have it all. We swam in both areas of course, with a little care.

Rainbow Sunset

After all the pictures were taken, we went back to the house to clean up and eat our dinner, watch the pictures we took during this trip, played some cards and slept when the lights went out. Early the next day, we cook adobo while waiting for our tour guide for the mountain trek to arrive. And since its dark when we started cooking preparations, we had the chance to use solar-powered bulbs in the kitchen 

The Hobbit & The Lord of the Rings

When the guide arrive at about 7AM, we started the climb. It started with stairs to the mountains, then a winding road that leads to the beach. We also passed by the school, the school is on the mountains and the children has to climb to get to it every single day. Exercise done right, in my opinion.

Pitcher Plant

Malalison Island has 3 high points when you look at it from the sea. The target of the climb is the 2nd high point. The trek brought us to the 1st point – Nablag Islet, it’s a low tide and the mountain is connected to the island via a stretch of sand. Along the way, pitcher plants dotted the side of the mountains. This side of the island is a coral beach, and we had fun picking out beautiful corals but the guide says that it is not allowed to bring any away. 

Nablag Islet

Hole in the Wall

Then we proceed to go the cave, it’s a slide down the mountain with only pine trees to save you. The pine trees planted is a project of DENR(Department of Environmental and Natural Resources) to bring trees on this, otherwise, grassy mountains. The cave is not really the cave that we are expecting, it is only a hole in the rock that can accommodate 20persons at once and the entrance is also the exit. Sort of a disappointment but we are only halfway and already thirsty. We stop for drinks and food, then proceeded to climb again.
 

The climb is steep and there is an area where one mistake can bring your death as the mountain has a cliff that directly falls to the sea. And you are not even sure how high it is. But we did reach the summit after a lot of rests, and the view is beautiful. Just leaves you wondering how it must look from the highest point, but the trek there is not for beginners as the tour guide insists. Then, we begin the trek back to the house for brunch and to prepare for departure as well.

The Advance Party

We paid the tour guide 500pesos. After eating and cleaning up, we decided to leave all leftover food to the caretaker and all our surplus food supply as well.

At around 12NN, we left the house behind. Rode the pump boat to tour around the island (during high tide only), was brought back to the wharf, and paid the pump boat 150pesos for the transportation to and from the island and the tour.

Then we waited for our van, and we are on our way to Iloilo city. We stopped by San Joaquin to buy bandi and arrived in Molo Plaza at around 4PM.

Tan not so visible but it was a great adventure and a cheap one too. Each person only paid 1,850 pesos for the 3day-2night trip.

Hooray for a Great Escapade!

Shout out to the owners of the pix: @goldpiz @elzniv @mikejohnsabido

Next week will be my Palawan adventures. Look out for it. 

Related article!

Daghang salamat sa pagbasa!!!

Antique: Dip Now in Tibiao

Leaving Molo Plaza at 5AM in the morning on a rented van, we pick a few friends along the way until the van is filled to its capacity of 15. Along for the ride are my officemates, friends and the bf. We are bound south to visit the beautiful neighboring province of Antique. Our first stop will be in Tibiao and the next is Culasi. The van is rented to us for 8k (8 thousand pesos) for this 3day-2night escapade.

We arrived in San Jose, Antique at about 9AM, making good time, withdraw some money in case we need to buy something unplanned on this trip. San Jose will be the last stand of civilization where access to ATMs and malls is still available. After this, it will be more of the provincial way of life.

Welcome to Tibiao!

An hour or so, we arrived in Tibiao, already at awe with the beautiful stretch of sand and sea that we glimpse through the van’s window. We stopped at the marquee heralding our entrance to Tibiao, got down from the van and have our picture taken as any tourist may have done. Our itinerary is quite lax since we did not get ourselves a tour as we have friends who hails from Antique and the places to visit are places she have been to before, therefore connections. For ready-made tours, a friend owns a katahum.com and he offers different tours for different places in Antique. But if you want to do it for less, you can always DIY.

Before proceeding to Kayak Inn, we also stopped at the tinda (market) of Tibiao to buy food supplies. No restos on the mountains, but the caretaker’s wife offers cooking services for a fee of 250pesos/meal. Quite reasonable for 15 of us. We bought 15 kilos of rice, pork, chicken, veggies, seasonings, ice for the cooler where we will be storing our food, and other things one might need for cooking.

Exploring if safe for swimming

Kayak Inn is located on the mountains, the van really has to climb a little bit as we wind our way into it. The driver really needs to be cautious, aside from the steepness the road is also under repair. At the entrance to the barangay where the mountain resort is situated, we were hold up a bit because the back hoe needs to be moved out of the way first so that the van can pass.

Glenn d monkey and Tanya d pig

We paid 50 pesos as environmental fee upon entrance. The dual zipline is also situated at the entrance. It costs 300pesos for each person. As we were hungry, we did not linger there. At around 12NN, we finally arrived at the Kayak Inn where we will be spending the night. We discussed what meals to be cooked for lunch, deliver it to the capable hands of the caretakers and relaxed.
 

While waiting for lunch, or afternoon mess; some of us relaxed in the shade, went exploring on the river and the hanging bridge, and befriended the animals as there are pigs, dogs, a monkey around the premises. Around 2PM, we lunched on fried chicken and pork with monggo and kalabasa for ‘sabaw’.

Malakagat Hanging Bridge

We would have loved to go kayaking or banana boating on the river, but since it’s the summer the water is quite low and its really not fun rowing in that. But there are places that are deep enough, so some frolicked and swam in the river.

swimmin coz no boatin and kayakin

After that, we reserved ourselves for a Kawa Bath which the place is sought after for. They have kawa that can hold 4 persons at once, there slightly smaller ones that can hold 2 and the slightly bigger than the one used for cooking that can only accommodate 1. While waiting as the Kawa is being prepared, some played basketball and some just sat talking while enjoying the mountain breeze. Quite a breath of fresh air after living in the city so long.

Kawa in flames for good boiling (sauna)

The Kawa Bath is for 250pesos and you can dip yourself in it until the water turns cool or until you feel that you are slightly cooked :D. Kidding aside, the advised max time is 30minutes until you are boiling and the vegetables are ready to be added.

At around 7PM, we have dinner on grilled pork and the leftover monggo from lunch. After this, we prepared for bed. There is electricity in the place but there are no entertainment sets. So, we make do cards and talking and gadgets while waiting our turn to use the bath.

We have an early night as well, for we planned on a trek to the falls before we leave in the morning.

Before the sun has risen, I was awake and about as one of our companions is taking photography lessons and she plans to have a picture of the sunrise. Woke everybody up as well at 530AM so that we can leave by 6AM for the falls.

A dip in cool 1st falls

Bugtong Bato Falls is located an hour away from the inn on foot and into the mountains. You cannot go there without a guide, so you need to hire 1 for 5persons at least. We hired 2 from the barrio and the caretakers’ daughter came with us. The trail is quite easy to follow, on the way to the falls. The 1st one has a place to swim in and also a spring where you can get drinking water. The 2nd one also has a place to swim but water is not so deep and you need to climb the stairs to get there. The 3rd one is amazing. It’s a 12ft basin below the falls with a wide area to splash into. The water is cool as well, and if only we are not going somewhere else, I could stay there all day to dip myself in that inviting freshness. You have to rappel your way into it or go via the stairs which is steeper than rock climbing.

Rock climbin to swim!

Sadly, good things must come to an end for a greater good. So we climb back down to bring ourselves back to the inn. We paid 300 for the barrio guides and some tip. Then we prepared to leave for Culasi. Our overnight stay is 250pesos each but the bed smells and feels nice so that makes up for it. The food was great to.

The 3rd falls is approved!

SHOUT OUT to the OWNERS of the PIX… Thanks to @goldpiz @mikejohnsabido @elzniv

 
Don’t forget to check back the next day for our adventures in Culasi.

Daghang salamat sa pagbasa!!!

Semester Break Escapade Part 3: Mambukal Resort

Another hour of road trip, this time to Murcia, Negros Occidental for our overnight stay at Mambukal Resort. We had to pay a 50 pesos entrance for each person before entering the resort.

Mambukal Entrance Sign

Our accommodation is a villa with 4 beds, a bathroom, and a CR. Shortly after arriving, we unpacked and had our dinner. The food was so good and cheap, and the service instantaneous. Starving as I was before the meal, I was so full afterwards that sleep is a good option.

Sulfur Hot Spring

But before we hit the sack, we decided to take a dip on the Hot Spring first. Good thing its’ already late, there are a few persons around and we have the pool almost to ourselves. On the sides, they provide some cold water spouts if you want to relieve yourself from the warmth of the pool. There is also a mini fountain where the hot water flows into the pool. The water is also hotter there. The hot spring boasts of a 38 to 45 degrees Celsius temperature and delivers.

At 10:00 PM, the pool closes. We showered and dressed, played some cards and drink some tequila before turning in for the night.


Early on the next day, at 7:30 AM after a breakfast of sandwiches, we trekked on to the 7^th falls advertised as one of the to-do things when in Mambukal. Before the climb, we passed by the area where the bats roost at the day, and some are really large. This is also one of the activities offered by the resort: Bat Watching.

Lone Bat at Dawn

It was a very steep climb with rocks and trees, the only things surrounding you for hours. Oh, and the occasional bats, when they were disturbed by other trekkers. But the breathtaking falls on every stop make it worth the climb.

trek to the 7th falls

2nd Falls

Rest stop on the 5th and 6th falls

7th Falls Swim

At the 7^th, we rested for a while and had a falls massage. This is my 2^nd time on Mambukal but the falls is really preserved and protected. The water very clear and cool. We also refilled our water containers for the climb down. On the way down, we use a different route which was not as steep as the way of the falls. The trek was only for 2 ½ hours and we paid the guide 500 pesos.

Upon arriving at the resort, we directly took a dip at the hot spring again. This, by the way, comes free with the accommodation we have. The hot spring or the swimming pool are the choices.

After 30 minutes or so on the pool, we decided to shower and change and also check out of the villa. We had our lunch at the restaurant and it was a banquet. Well, with all those things we ordered, it certainly looked and felt like one. We had pork, scallops, pancit guisado, fish and a lot of rice plus drinks. And there were only 11 of us eating and we consumed everything in sight. After the meal, we did a little sightseeing like buying flowers and plants.

Boating Pond

Mambukal also offers boating, slide for life and wall climbing. We were not able to do this things, but we just visited the butterfly garden for the souvenirs and other stuffs.

Then we have the ride back to Bacolod City. We passed by a Tanduay Distillery, San Miguel Brewery and the Coca-Cola Plant which we did not see on the way to.

At Bacolod City, we stopped by Merci to buy some pasalubong. Then off to Bacolod Port for the journey home on the 5:15 PM trip on the Ocean Jet Ferry again. At 7:00 PM we are back on Iloilo City with a welcome of a pouring rain.

That’s end of the journey for my Semester Break escapade. Now off to write about our previous trips.

Part 1
Part 2

Daghang salamat sa pagbasa!!!

Semester Break Escapade Part 2: Campuestohan Highland Resort

After an hour of taking pictures at The Ruins, we again went on a one-hour road trip to Campuestohan Highland Resort.

It is located in Sitio Cabatangan, Brgy. Campuestohan, Talisay City on the side of the mountain. So going there, without a private means of transportation is not only a hassle but also a bit costly. So, if going solo, there is a shuttle provided for by Campuestohan that leaves at 9:00 AM from Villa Angela Arcade parking lot (front of Lopue’s  East Corner), Bacolod City and 4:00 PM from the resort. The fare is 100 pesos to and from the resort.

The entrance fee for Campuestohan is 150 pesos for each person, this is inclusive of the swimming pool and the park rides. They also have the following activities offered: The Sky Bicycle for 100 pesos, Zip Line for 200 pesos, Horseback Riding for 150 pesos, and Rope Course for 200 pesos.

Bonita Huts Accomodation

The accommodation for the day trip includes some huts around the swimming pool area, some lounge on the villas and a canopy tent on the grounds. It costs 300 to 1000 pesos depending on size and location. For overnight stay, they have the Bonita Huts which is good for 4 for 2500 pesos. The Log Cabins for 3000, 4000 and 5000 pesos good for 3, 4 and 5 persons respectively. Extra persons costs 500 pesos exclusive of breakfast. The night accommodation is inclusive of breakfast and entrance fees.

Sky Bicycle for 100 php

The Sky Bicycle looks fun and my friends enjoyed their ride. I think it’s a very exhilarating experience judging by their expressions. But if you have fears like the author, hehe, I don’t really go for heights. It’s located at about 700 meters to 1000 meters from the ground. And the only means of support is the bike and the rope around your waist. I did enjoy strolling on the hanging bridge, so that makes up for it.

View from Hanging Bridge

Buttered Chicken for Lunch

After the Sky Bicycle, we had our lunch at the resorts restaurant on Buttered Chicken, Chicken Binakol, Pork Sinigang, some seafood meal, different drinks and rice. The food tastes great, though the service is not as fast as we wanted it to be. Well, it was also after lunch time so there is a fewer staff working, I think. Definitely needs improvement on service but food is tasty, so let bygones be bygones.

 

Restaurant Sign

After the meals, we had our picture taking on the different figures around the resort. All around the 15-hectare land area, if I remember correctly, are different statues of our favorite characters. They have the Avengers, Son Goku, Michael Jordan, Spoon and Fork and Veggies at the entrance of the restaurant, the Dragon Warrior and the Furious Five, Bumble Bee, Optimus Prime and a giant King Kong that bellows from time to time.

King Kong

Dragon Warrior and the Furious Five

Rope Course for 200 php

I really wanted to try the Rope Course, it looks so inviting, but we didn’t have any time and there are still some people who are trying it out. So we didn’t pursue that one and just strolled on the ground.

The place is so relaxing and so fresh. Just sitting there, eating ice cream and chips is a feel good experience. I hope to get back there one day and take my revenge on that Rope Course.

At 4:00 PM, we left Campuestohan behind and journeyed to our next stop: Mambukal Resort. But before proceeding there, we stop by Bacolod City to buy some bread and other essentials.

And onto the next post.

Part 1


Daghang salamat sa pagbasa!!!

Villa Igang Beach Resort Escapade

A few weekends back, we went on an outing with office mates and friends. We went to a nearby province called Guimaras. Guimaras is the Mango Capital of the Philippines. It’s sweet and tasty mangoes are legendary. That’s why the most popular festival celebrated on the island of Guimaras IS, you guessed it, the Manggahan Festival.

Why did we go there? You ask.

Not to unwind but to join the fun run on the first day of activities of the Manggahan Festival as was planned. But we ended on the beach, anyway.

Let’s do the boring anecdote of our Guimaras trip.

How to get to Villa Igang Resort, Guimaras?

From Iloilo City, you take a boat ride on the Brgy. Ortiz Wharf that will dock on Jordan, Guimaras. The fare is 14.00 Php. From there, you ride a jeep to Nueva Valencia, that will cost you about 40.00 Php. i am not sure if that is the normal price as we hired the whole jeep to accommodate all 19 of us.

What to do on Villa Igang Resort?

There are a lot of beaches on Guimaras. But I am writing about Igang because that is where we stayed.

We paid 100.00 php for the entrance. With this payment, we can go swimming on the beach, go caving and swim with the fishes on the Coral Cave and of course Explore.
If you want to swim on the pool you pay an additional 50.00 php.
And if you want to go boating, that’s 300.00 for 6 persons.
And as Filipinos are very fond of videoke, they also have a videoke machine were you can sing your heart out, as we did.

Where to Stay?

We also stayed on Villa Igang for the night, and we paid 300.00 php per person. But that’s alright as the room assigned to us was very ‘roomy’ and that’s saying something as there are 11 of us staying on the room.

Where to eat?

You can bring your own cooked meal and pay for their corkage fee of 35.00 Php per person.
Or you can bring uncooked meat, fish, pork, anything and pay 100.00 Php per kilo of that but the resort will cook that for you.
Or you can order from them and eat. Each meal serve is good for 2-3 persons and costs 180.00 Php or more depending on the food preparation.

And that’s the way with Igang…

Upon our arrival which is late in the afternoon already, we ordered some dinner then went swimming on the pool. After the swim, we ate and some drank beer and videoke-ed, others played mahjong and other games.

The next day, some of us went to Jordan to join the fun run. Ate breakfast on a diner that served Hawaiian Pizza with a Mango Twist and return to the resort.

Then, we spent the whole morning swimming on the beach. By noon, we ate lunch, packed up and left the resort at 3. Then we stooped over the Manggahan Festival Fair for ‘pasalubong’ or take homes.

Then Goodbye Guimaras, Hello Iloilo!!!

Whether you want to be alone staring at the night sky, or stroll around, goof with friends on the pool, drink and sing with buddies, swim with the fishes and dive to unknown depths, just take everything in stride and enjoy yourself.

I hope you are excited to go on your own trip to Guimaras.

Daghang salamat sa pagbasa!!!