Getting to the Island Called Camotes

Camotes Island doesn't ring a bill, especially to those who are outside the Visayas region. Recently though it hogged the headlines following the tragic motorboat incident that claimed the lives of at least 61 passengers (as of today). Reports say that passenger boat M/V Nirvana bound for Camotes Island capsized a few minutes after it left Ormoc port on July 2, 2014.

...and so my memories of that little-known island all began to rush back to me. Sometime in 2013 I was whisked away to that island without any extra clean clothes on my backpack. 

From Danao Port (approximately 2 hours travel by land from Cebu City proper), we boarded a Ro-Ro vessel off to Consuelo Port in Camotes Island. This was what the port looked like at that time:

Travel time from Danao Port to Camotes Island took us approximately two hours on-board the Jomalia ferry. One-way ticket cost Php180 per person for non-aircon and Php200 for air-con accommodation. 

                         

We left Danao Port at 8:00 a.m and arrived at 10:00 a.m. As of 2015, however, I found some changes in schedule. This might help those who want to visit the island:  

Danao to Consuleo, Camotes:

• 5:30 AM 
• 8:30 AM 
• 11:00 NOON 
• 2:oo PM 
• 5:30 PM 
• 9:00 PM       

Consuelo, Camotes to Danao Port:

• 4:00AM 
• 5:30AM 
• 9:00AM 
• 1:00PM 
• 5:00PM 

As we reached the Consuelo Port, we rented a multi-cab to take us to Santiago Resort and ride us around the island. A motorcycle or tricycle can be a good option to roam around the island to see its hidden wonders including the island's fine beaches. (Motorcycle is the main transportation in the island.)

Timubo Cave should not be taken out of the itinerary. This natural cave is simply amazing. With its clear, cool water underground (and for a 10-peso environment fee), swimming would definitely be fantastic. I actually soaked myself in the blue waters of that pool-like cave for hours. 

The sun was about to set when we went out of the cave. Feeling fresh and rejuvenated, we went to the Agora market from the Timubo Cave to take our dinner. The Agora place was just too beautiful and too relaxing to ignore...(to be continued)      

Getting to NAIA Terminal the Cheapest Way

In my recent official trip to Cebu, I decided to deviate from my usual mode of transport going to NAIA Terminal 3. No service vehicle, no taxi ride. I was so curious I tried the alternative way to the airport and found out how cheap and easy it was. Goes to show that travelling is possible on a shoestring budget.

Where and how? 

1. Go to EDSA Taft. If you're riding the LRT, stop at EDSA Station and proceed to the bridge connecting the MRT Taft Station.  

2. Under the MRT Taft Station you can see Mc Donalds. It's across the MetroPoint Mall along EDSA. You can also see the Sogo Hotel building. In between McDo and Sogo Hotel building, there's a way leading to the terminal where shuttle buses servicing NAIA Terminals 1,2,3 are picking up passengers. Enter that narrow way and proceed to the shuttle bus (White bus).

3. Believe it or not, fare is only P20.00.

4. After a few minutes, you'll be in NAIA Terminal 3...for only P20.00. The bus stops at Bay 1.    

Note:
Some shuttle buses don't go directly to Terminal 1 and 2, so you have to transfer to another shuttle bus. Just ask the driver.  

               

Getting to Harbor Square in CCP Complex, Pasay City

Looking for a place to dine out on a Friday night? Come to Harbor Square within the CCP Complex in Pasay City. It's a nice and convenient place to hang out with your family or friends. It was my first time to be there on a Friday night and I enjoyed the ambiance.

It's a place just beside the Manila Bay. So if you want to scape from the crowded streets in the metropolis, then this is the place to be. Here you can enjoy the view of the Manila Bay by night with all the colorful lights on the background.  

The Manila Yacht Club is just near the place so you'll see different sizes of yacht floating in the bay like paper boats. At the end of the square is the terminal for ferries going to Bataan and for Manila cruises.   

It's a compound of fast food chains, restaurants, bars, cafes, etc. Live bands and music coming from different sides of the square make the night alive and happy. Worry not as there are budget-friendly restos and fast food chains. Yes, Jollibee is here! There are also choices of restos and bars for the well-scrubbed.         

There are also mini bazaars. So if you want to buy gift items, then you can find some here --  from clothes to toys to gadgets and other Divisoria items. Just watch out for the prices! Naturally, prices are a little bit high, but of course you can always haggle. 

So how to get to the Harbor Square? It's actually accessible. It's just along the famous Roxas Boulevard. It's within the CCP Complex just beside the Cultural Center of the Philippines. It's easy to get here on a private vehicle or taxi ride via Roxas Blvd. Just tell the taxi driver to drop you off Harbor Square just beside CCP. 

Commuting via LRT-1 or Taft Avenue? Just a walk away from the Vito Cruz LRT Station, you can find the terminal of jeepneys (small and orange in color) going to CCP (Just ask where the terminal is). Ride a jeep and tell the driver to drop you off right in front of the Harbor Square. Fare is only P8.00.

Or you can ride an FX/Van that passes through Roxas Blvd e.g. Lawton-Sucat route or Lawton-Cavite, route. Tell the driver to drop you off the CCP. From the corner, walk towards the CCP and to the right is the Harbor Square.     

  

Sidetrip: From Cagsawa Ruins to Daraga Church to Embarcadero De Legazpi

This is Embarcadero de Legazpi by day, the most popular urban mall in Legazpi City. (Photo taken during a bad weather day). It's a mall by the wharf or harbor, hence the name embarcadero. 

This is practically a waterfront establishment and inside the mall are stores, boutiques, restaurants, pasalubong center, etc. (There's also a hotel within the mall - the Ellis Hotel).  

But locals say that the best time to go malling here is at night when most restaurants and bars are open, making the place alive and exciting.  

From Embarcadero to Cagsawa Ruins and Back 

From Embarcadero (near the point of the first picture above) you can ride a jeep going to the Cagsawa Ruins. Ride a jeep bound for Polangui or Guinobatan and tell the driver to drop you off the Cagsawa junction. (See my blog on Getting to Cagsawa Ruins).    

From the Cagsawa Ruins, you can drop by Cagsawa Church before going back to Legazpi City. You can take this route:

1. At the Cagsawa junction, ride a jeep going to Daraga or Legaspi (I forgot the exact fare but it's more or less P10.00 only).

2. Tell the driver to drop you off the Caltex Station in Daraga. In front of the Caltex station is the Novo store. In between the Novo store and the South Star Drug there's a street. 

3. Enter that street and a few steps ahead you can see a way leading up to Our Lady of Gate Parish Church popularly known as Daraga church (Close between10 p.m. and 6 a.m.).  

This is a Baroque church located on top of a hill so from this point you can see the majestic Mayon Volcano in its full cone shape on a fair weather day. It was cloudy when we went there so we were not able to take a full view of the Mayon. Chances are you've seen this already on screen as this has been used as a shooting location for several local movies. 

You can attend the daily mass in the morning or in the afternoon. We attended the 5:00 p.m. mass (On Sundays, mass is all throughout the day). When the mass ended, we went out and we saw a different view of the church facade on a blue hour. It was so romantic to be in this place around that time.   

Then we walked down from the church. There are restaurants around the area and down the streets for lunch or dinner. You can try Graceland, a popular local fast food chain in Bicol. It's down the busy street of Daraga and a 10-minute walk down from the church. Combo meal ranges from P80.00 to P150.00.  

Outside the fast food chain you can ride a jeep going back to Legazpi City (Fare is P10.00). On your way back to the city you'll pass by Bicol University, the biggest and most popular state university in Bicol region. There are also tricycles that can take you to anywhere within Daraga (Fare is P8.00). 

Jeepneys bound for Legazpi City have different routes so you better ask the driver first if his jeep passes by the place where you stay or where you want to go. Jeepneys with Rawis signboard, for example, pass by Embarcadero. Other jeepneys have different destinations.       

Sidetrip: How to Get to the Cagsawa Ruins in Albay

When you’re in Legazpi City, one of the popular tourist spots you can visit is the Cagsawa Ruins. From this point you can see the beauty of Mayon Volcano in its perfect cone. If the weather is not fair, however (just like when we went to Cagsawa), there's a probability that you'll not see the entire shape of the volcano, but you can still enjoy the site with all the ruins on the ground. It was rainy and cloudy when we got there so this was what my camera captured:

   

According to the locals, the best time to be there is in the morning when the weather is fair. Going around are local jokes that when Mayon Volcano doesn't show up, it means she doesn't like you. Joke, of course! Nevertheless, you can still enjoy the surroundings. 

The park's ground is wide it is perfect for dating and family bonding. Perfect also for "selfie" and picture-taking. Inside the park are cottages, restaurants and pasalubong centers. Here we tried the sili shake (buko shake with sili) while relaxing in one of the cottages.

So how can you get to the Cagsawa Ruins? 

From Legazpi City:

1. Ride a jeepney going to Polangui, Guinobatan or Camalig. Fare is P15.00 per person.

2. Request the driver to drop you off the Cagsawa junction. Right at the junction is the way leading to the Cagsawa Ruins. 

3. Ride a tricycle (Fare is P10.00 per person) or walk straight ahead going to the entrance gate. It's just near the highway so you can really stroll down until you reach the entrance gate. Then pay the entrance fee (P10.00 per person). 

Upon entering the gate, you'll see this bell tower which is part of the remnants of the Cagsawa church that was buried by rocks and sand from the eruption of Mayon Volcano centuries ago (February 1, 1814).     

If you think you've already captured all corners of the park and the perfect shot of the Cagsawa Ruins with the beautiful Mayon Volcano as backdrop, then it's time to go back to Legazpi City or head to other tourist spots in Albay. 

From the site you can ride a tricycle or stroll down the street going back to the highway. On your way you'll pass by this All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) adventure site offering a tour to the base of the volcano. If you have the budget, then you can try this adventure.      

Should you decide not to take this adventure, then you can proceed walking straight to the highway where jeepneys going to back to Daraga or Legazpi City are waiting. Ride a jeep and in less than 30 minutes you're back in the city!     

Sidetrip: Candido Lopez Public Market in Lipa, Batangas

How about a side trip to a public market? No, there's nothing really special about the Candido Lopez Memorial Public Market in Lipa City, Batangas. I just enjoyed my time watching around the market and taking photos of the veggies, fruits and other fresh products. I was there 2nd week of April to participate in a group development activity and part of the activity was a tour in the market. So here are what my camera phone has captured:  

Yes, tomatoes! Tomatoes are actually fruits, not veggies according to experts, and are perfect for ensalada -- green mango plus tomatoes plus bagoong!

Cucumbers or "pipino" in Tagalog are perfect for a salad recipe. Easy to prepare. Slice the cucumbers and put them in a bowl. Add salt and sugar to taste. Add a little paminta. There you have a simple cucumber salad.  

Melons are summer fruits - perfect for summer refreshments. Grate the melons and put the grated melons in a pitcher. Add sugar to taste and there you have a melon juice. You can add milk, too.  

This is the facade of the public market. On the 2nd Floor are eateries and canteens. On the 1st Floor are all you need in your kitchen!

From Bicol to Cebu via Masbate

A relative in Bicol once asked me how to get to Cebu other than the Samar-Leyte route which can be a long and tiring trip. The option is via Masbate City which is a combination of trips by land and by sea.

From any area in mainland Bicol, e.g. Naga or Nabua, you have the option not to go inside Legazpi City if you’re on-board a bus bound for Legazpi. So,

1. Request the bus driver to drop you off crossing in Banyag, Daraga.

2. Ride a tricycle and tell the driver to take you to the van terminal going to Sorsogon. Tricycle fare is P 8.00 per head. (You have the option to go to the jeepney terminal which is just near the van terminal)

3. In the terminal, ride a UV express van bound for Pilar, Sorsogon. Fare is P70 per head.

4. Van stops right in the entrance of Pilar Port. Enter the port gate (entrance fee: P15) and go straight to the ticketing office of Montenegro Lines for fastcraft (Fee: P396.00) or Denica Lines for MV Gloria motor banca (Fee: P250.00).

Montenegro Schedule (More than 2 hours trip to Masbate):

1st trip: 8:00 am

2nd Trip: 11:30 am

Last Trip: 3:30 pm

MV Gloria Schedule (More than 3 hours trip to Masbate):

Trip: 11:30 am

5. Once you arrive in Masbate Port, go straight to the ticketing office of Montenegro Lines or SuperShuttle Roro to book a ticket bound for Cebu. Montenegro ticketing office is inside the pier while that of SuperShuttle is walking distance from the port’s gate. 

Montenegro Schedule:

Trip: Daily 8:30 am

Fare: P800.00

SuperShuttle Roro

Trip: Every Wednesday 12:00 nn

Fare: P655.00

6. From here, you can enjoy your trip to Cebu City!