Cheers!
Been out and about for the last couple of weeks hence the MIA status here. It feels like it's summer doesn't it? Looks like Ber-breeze hadn't come yet, or will it? I don't think I have the right to complain since November have been another beach month for me this year. This month is blessed with great whether for Island hopping and beachin' lulz. Last November 15, my friends and I went to one of the best Islands I have ever been to: Coron Island, Palawan. This place is indeed enchanting.
I've plotted my leave for this getaway since June! Hahah Excited much lang. Well, not really because we plot our leaves annually for the whole year. Since November is our Anniversary month, this place plus great company is just a perfect celebration.
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| Andrei, Camilia, Jay, Aldrin and Dianne: HS friends |
We arrived at Busuanga at past 9 in the morning, 30 minutes ahead of ETA. Served lunch and had siesta before the day 1 tour began. First stop: Mt. Tapyas with its 720 step! Kaloka. Unang stop paguran agad. I strongly think this should never be the first stop cause we all had body aches the rest of the trip! huhu I was never a fan of walkathon nor trekking of all sorts. But oh well, the view from the top is definitely worth it.
Perfect timing cause it's sunset yaay! The view of Coron Island from up there is breathtaking. Definitely worth the 720 steps. And another 720 going down. Haaaay my legs were trembling the hole trip down! We all wished they put some zipline in there. Oh well. We head to Maquinit hotspring after. Too bad we don't have pictures there. Hung out for some time and head home for dinner! After that tiring trip to Mt. Tapyas, rough, dark road trip to Maquinit and a sumptuous dinner, who would still think of a night life? We're all dead tired calling it a night.
Day 2 is for snorkeling and island hopping. This also the first time Dianne's gonna try her Sony under water camera. One thing I noticed about this trip is that people of Coron are so nice. Our guide and boatmen are educated enough to be better with their livelihood. They take time to tell us our itinerary for the whole day, the dos and don'ts and possible dangers we may encounter (which btw doubled the fear in most of us!haha). Of all the island hopping I've had in the past, I am impressed by these guys especially by kuya Charlie! Haha
First stop: Twin peak for snorkeling. I was scared at first because I am uncomfortable with corals and holes underwater. You know, something might just appear from no where and bite me, or grab me. Hahaha paranoid lang masyado.
Too bad Dianne's underwater camera got busted. The best snorkeling site is still on the 3rd day.
You noticed we're always in a bunch? haha we're that scaredycat. Next stop is the twin lagoon where the water is surprisingly warm!
That's the outside actually. We have to swim under a rock formation to get to the lagoon and since we don't have waterproof camera anymore, we don't have picture of the place. Our guide explained why the water is warm but I was too busy appreciating the place that I didn't get too pay attention well. Hahah. Excuses.
We had lunch at Banol Beach. It's my first time to try the seaweed and uhmm it's alright. It's slimy like okra. Didn't like it much, but the huge fish and inihaw na liempo? Plus the view? Winner.
Next stop? Kayangan Lake and the Iconic Coron view.
Last stop is Siete Pecados where we dread to see a lion fish. I don't particularly liked this place because it's shallow. Meaning you may get to step on the corals including sea urchins, Lion fish (if there's any) and other underwater creatures that are not safe for human contact. I didn't have an aqua shoes so I was hesitant to go down. But I don't want to miss anything so I jumped in, trying my hardest not to set foot on anything and praying hard I don't get stung by anything poisonous. Siete Pecados is a marine protected sanctuary and I saw why. Lotsa marine creatures can be found there and it's amazing to see them upclose.
Such a loooooong, amazing day! Since the first night we kept on planning for a night out but day 1 was so tiring we ended up on the sheets. So for the second night we head out after dinner and had an overpriced malabsaw na halo-halo with fruit cocktails (120+ for the small one!) and some barbecues for them.
Day 3 is less tiring but equally captivating. I lost track of the names of the places we went to so I'm relying on the photos.
CYC Beach where Andrei got scratched from corals?
We headed for the ship wreck and it was scary- for me. Haha, it doesn't look like a ship anymore because of the things that grow on it. Again, no photos. Some were deleted from Cam's camera and I'm still waiting for those to get recovered. Andun yung epic jumshots ih. hehe.
91 Beach for lunch (which we misheard as 'Tiny one beach' lololol).
And one of the best views I have ever seen, underwater! Coral Garden!
Even from the surface you can see the fishes and the corals, that's how clear the water is! And one more reason why I liked this is because it's actually deep. You won't get scared that you might get scratched from the corals nor get stung by some sea urchin or whatever. If we only have an underwater camera I'll have proofs. But then again it's already in my memory :). A completely different world down there. Kudos.
Last stop is Baraccuda lake. You can see what's underneath unlike in twin lagoon and Kayangan lake. Huge stones underwater, it's creepy cause you might actually think something might appear from those black spaces in between those stones and pull you down. Sorry minsan exaggerated lang talaga imaginations ko. Again, the view is enthralling. Sabi nga ni Andrei parang sa Jurassic park lang yung feel.
It was our last stop before we go back to Manila the next morning so I guess someone wanted to say goodbye. Just when almost everyone got off the lake and it's just three of us left on the water, Jay saw a sea snake a few meters from where we were! Kaloka nag panic kami! I was so scared I wanted to disappear. Good thing the snake swam downwards and we were able to get off safe. Whew. Thank gaaaahd.
As I've said day 3 wasn't that tiring. We head back early to have some random snaps around the Luwalhati Park. Coron is beyond charming. There's just so much to do and so much to see! This place is so rich. Our guide was telling us which part of the island is rich on which mineral and it's overwhelming how blessed this place is. From under the soil to underwater they are indeed wealthy. I wish those in mining industry would realize what natural beauty they are destroying in exchange of money.
This place is one hell of a paradise. Breathtaking views and nice people, two thumbs up Coron!
Para sa hndi matuloy tuloy na inom dahil sa sakit ng katawan. 43php Tanduay Ice.
It would be hard to top this one so we have to do some research as to where to head next. I have one in mind, actually saving it for one occasion I dream to get real soon. See you next time, Coron!
Photo credits to Camilia, Dianne and Jay :) Thank you!
