Make Nowhere, Somewhere.

Boracay Island, Malay - December 2011

2012-01-11T17:21:00.001+08:00

Date of Travel : 15-18 December 2011
Disclaimer: A huge amount of resource has already been dedicated in finding ones way in Boracay. Being a Boracay virgin, I have listed those that I think will assist first timers, who would like to have a tip of the ice idea of what this place has to offer.
We are coffee loving people who prefers spending vacations in a sound and quiet environment and here we list our sentiments and opinions about how Boracay appealed to us.

Boracay for Noobs.

Domestically , there are two ways to get to Boracay fromManila. Via Kalibo and Caticlan; the long and short route. Although theCaticlan route is preferable, ticket price restrictions during the season wewent there is still viable above the latter.

The Kalibo Route.

If you know or have reviewed your Geographic’s or read userexperiences through blogs,(which should be a requirement to anyone goingplaces) you’ll see and know that the municipality of Kalibo in the province ofPanay requires:

1 and a half hour van/bus ride to the CaticlanJetty Port
15minute boat transfer to the Island of Boracay
20minute tricycle/multicab ride to your preferredresort.

Make sure you alot extra leeway for ticket purchase andvan/bus waiting time. This is important so as not to miss your schedule and flightgoing home.

The Caticlan route however, only requires a P50-5minutetrike ride to get to the port then cross the island.

Some Observations about Boracay.

Crowd. One thing not to notice here is the huge number ofpeople, be it Asians (Japs, Koreans, Chinese, Taiwanese-they all look mostlyalike), Americans, Russians, Pinoys.. you get the point. Walking the Whitebeach especially at night makes it look like a October 31 visit to thecemetery, elbow to elbow especially during peak seasons.
Establishments. Youwill not miss the city. There are a lot of em commercial establishments here. Most of them without air-condition though.
Beachfront. There is no question that White beach holds awesome shorelines; powdery sand, enjoyable water, friendly waves and all. But it could have been broader, more to enjoy and less establishments that pollutes the area.
Pricey Commodities. Since they had to transport commoditiesto the island, expect that price of things around here is steeper. I hadcravings for peanuts and the usual P35 Sugo peanut cost P55 to P110 here.
Food. Huge selections averaging from P300 up. A bit steepthan our usual meals, so dedicate time, efforts in scouting and do somereadings about places that fit your allotted meal budget. This is fine thefirst time but when we got to spend P1200 for 2 pasta meals and a Pizza atARIA, which is by the way average tasting, being practical backpackers, weopted to try out the less intimidating restos around the next time we needed toeat.
Manong/Manang agents. You’ll promptly decline the first fewinstances of them offering ATV, Helmet diving or Astoria eat all you cans, butafter a while, it gets disgusting when after every few meters you thread WhiteBeach, after every few minutes; you get asked inquiring questions. This is the same reason I hated PuertoGalera. "Mam Sir, Banana boat kayo?", "Sir, naka pag helmet diving na kayo?" Teh horrors.
Seafood galore. Awesome range of freshly harvested creaturesshowcased along the foot paths of Stations 1 to 3. Pick and they shall cook it for you!
Refreshments. Fruit Shakes here costs P50 up. There's this Shake Stand at Station 2 called 928 Fruit Shakes that sell 50 peso fruit blends, might want to give it a try.
Hotels and Inns. Since Boracay caters to a huge market,there is a huge variation of hotels and Inns that cater to every Market segmenttype here.
Night Life. Perfect for those who prefer loud music andentertainment. Watch kids get wasted run around and hit the waters with theirpartners and would be one night stands. Some unload their alcoholconverted beer intakes facing the horizon, directly at the sea. We also witnesseddrunken locals maliciously stare at us; at my wife specifically, as if with intent, turning head ever so far from where they should be looking at when walking. We were quietlyconsuming our vodkas on the beach sands then. Truly WTF.
Starbucks, Shakeys, Pizzahut, Mang Inasal, Andoks, Pancake House, Cyma.Just some of the big city players who added their franchise on the island. Yousurely won’t miss the city.
Souvenirs. I particularly like the sand in a bottle souvenir.We were also able to buy some native bags and some accessories we gave out toloved ones.

Its a party house in paradise, almost the same as Panglao in Bohol, only worst. It seem that some people forget that there are those who picture out paradise in a way totally opposite the way we have been welcomed with. But that's Boracays character and dont get us wrong, we enjoyed our stay here even given these that we despise. Its just that it could have been more ideal, with these we gripe lessened.

Now some reminders and crash course of sort about what the island holds for you....

A short glossary ofcommon Boracay Terms, Activities and Places to go to.

Bartering Cap -Haggle, in Filipino, tawad - This is a prime essential inBora. Prices are steep so always impose (not request) a discount before decidingto get goods be it service or souvenirs. Of course gauge and respect those whomost likely already offer fixed price, specifically Food.
White Beach - is divided into Stations 1-2 and 3. Station 1is where the luxurious hotels are. Station 2, the average and is the heart ofentertainment, shopping central and where there are a lot of hotels, restos andbars. Station 3 is said to be the quieter part of White beach due to lesserconcentration of commercial establishments. Besides, had you walked theentire white beach even just starting at station 2, you’d be exhausted to threadstation 3 further, especially when a lot of people are also doing so. People add to the stress, and with the right ingredient of sweat and sun, it can easily bug you down. Dont let me prevent you from doing so though.
Outside White Beach -There are a lot of other resorts andprivate homes you can rent if you want to avoid the commercialism overload atthe beach front, take note though that you’d have to either walk far or commuteto the beach if you’d like to get some sand. These places are usually near the Main road.
D’mall - is an area filled with commercial establishments.This place is also what separates the main road from White Beach and is yourEntry point to Station 2. All your needs are here, budget hotels, shopping boutiques; (board shorts, t-shirts, bikinis etc) convenience stores, restaurants,fast foods, supermarkets, wet markets, souvenir shops, alcohol stores, ATMs,even cell phone repair shops!
D’Talipapa - If you’re familiar with dampa, this is itsBoracay counterpart. You can purchase the goods and have it cooked by your chosenrestaurant. Groups who also prefer to cook for themselves, (some guest homesoffer their kitchen facilities for guests to use) will find this market place aseafood Mecca. There are also souvenir shops here.
Andoks/Mang Inasal - Located at the Dmall, this place, even very commonin Manila is crowded with people most of the time compared to other restos or fastfoods due to the affordability of their servings.
Astoria - If you want free food, don’t mind sales people andthink you can bullshit your way out of their hard-selling offer, doentertain an agent when asked and pass by their hotel at Station 1 by 6pm fortheir eat all you can buffet dinner. As mentioned, they’ll try to sell you anAstoria property after your feast, as they have hotels in almost all tourist destinations in thePhilippines.
Helmet diving - Also known as Reef walking. Breathe under ahelmet and feed the fishes. With CD memories of your Videos and photos, pricedat P350/head. They have hand signals they’d teach you before the decent. Don’tconfuse yourself with the signs, thumbs up (aprub) and OK sign (ala “Magnifico” inItalian jargons) or they’ll pull you out of the water instantly.
Willy’s Rock - A rock formation at Station 1 where a grottohas been placed. Nice spot to take photos.
Bulabog Beach - is parallel the White beach. You’d need tocommute to get here.
Kite Boarding, Wind Surfing – An Extreme sport rapidlypicking up. If you dig this trip, head on over to Bulabog Beach. Wind favorablemonths are November to March. Competitions are also held during these seasons.
Ariels Point - A 30minute VIP boat ride to Buruanga,Unlimited drinks, food, snorkelling, kayaking, swimming and did I mention, unlimitedcliff jumps in varying levels the whole day? Make sure you’re at the pickup pointin the morning as they only have one chartered ride to and fro in a day. P1400.
ATV – includes a visit to the Everland Aviary Farm (mini Zoo-whereyou see photos of people stretching a bat to its wing tips) and the Ocean Towerwhere you can have a 360 view of the entire island on a self driven All TerrainVehicle. P350+ for a 1hour guided tour. It’s a different rate if you’d like to addanother hour tour to Puka Beach and a top Mount Luho’s summit, the highestpoint in Boracay.
Buggy - Same tour as the ATV but differently priced. An advantagefor those who rather leave it to their partner to drive. P800
Zorb - If you want to negate that headache, add this to youractivities. If you take the ATV before this, you’d pass by one of the Zorbareas.
Paraw - Are the blue and white sailed boats you can seearound stations 1 and 2. They offer rides for those who are cheesy over settingsuns. P600 for the whole boat for an hour cruise.
Parasailing - Fly on a parachute for 15minutes. P1250 toP1500. Selling point of those who price higher is better and newer equipment.This activity is variably available depending on the weather.
Zipline - 300meters, 80Feet above sea level, two riderssimultaneous. P600 each.
Skimboarding - Wait, run, throw and ride. At P200/hour theycan also teach you the basics. It’s best to engage in this activity when lesspeople are zombie-walking the beach as they can be obstructions and delays foryou to catch those breaks you’re waiting for.
Flying Fish – a crazy float ride pulled by a fast jet boat.Sure to get you off your under wears. I think they have a minimum capacity of3persons to make the ride a go. P400
Banana Boat – Same as the flying fish but on a banana shaped floater. Sure thing here is that you and your group will have a nice experienceof being, kicked-off-the-boat-and-eat-sea-dirt, during those sharp 360 turns.To hang on or to let go? P200.
Scuba diving - Ideal on January to June, there are about30+dive spots 30minutes from Boracay. A Packed experience with fishes, reefs, wrecksites, caves and canyons-excellent sites for amature and professional divers.
Jetski – Step on the gas and rampage with this piece of machine withoutinflicting accidents. For the drive frenzies’, jetski’s are teh way too goo. P1500/30mins
SPA - You’d find a lot of them along the beaches, but if youlike privacy, there’s this spot in Station 1, beside Real Coffee that’s nice;ambiance and facility wise. There are a lot of kung fu styles of massaging, soinquire. Basic is P350 On site. P500 Home Service.
Bars Pubs and Clubs - Its definition is not really far fromwhat City life (even price wise) offers except for a few variations here andthere. Beer, liquor, acoustic, live band, some Reggae or House music. Othersalso showcase Poi Dancers. You can also see a lot of em escorts here, if youknow what I mean. Makes Boracay less ideal for those who hearts serenity, peaceand quiet.
Hair Braid and Henna Tattoo - If you want a statement of whereyou’ve been, try these two souvenirs.

Here are just some of the basic stuff a Bora virgin needs toknow. There are a lot of activities you’d be surprised, exists here. A 4 HourMainland Eco Tour, Horseback Riding, Mountain Bike cruising, Island hoppings,stand up paddle tours, heck you can even play golf or go for private plane or achopper tour if your budget permits. If you like to see your options, demand aMY BORACAY guide book at the Caticlan Jetty Port.
Boracay Map.

Accomodation.

Tans Guest House. We have stayed only at cheap hotels duringmany of our travels. There are just a few that, by our budget definition, ispricier, and Tans is one of them. But considering the hotel rate standards onthe island, Tans is definitely within the middle spender bracket. We took thenewly built (but still under construction) Annex part which is a few metersfrom the main guest house.

Room 305.

WIFI - We had to come out of the ground floor room to get astronger and more stable connection even when the reception area is just a fewsteps from ours and the router just outside our door. No DSL connection on theisland, only USB stick internets.
Comfort Room – Hot and Cold Bath. Japanese inspired Slidingdoor. Huge floor and wall tiles make it look more spacious. Hotel like but with no bidet.
Main Room – Flat Screen 32inch Sony Vaio with cable. Foamed Queen bed. Cabinet for your folded clothes. With hangers but with noallotted bar to hang it on to. Small ref enough to fit a few bottles of beer and water. Side table. Cold working aircon. Hugeglass sliding door with curtains allow a view of the outside and for light tocome in. Clothes rail to hang wet apparels. Tiled and well maintained. Fantastic ambiance.
Service – All our expectations were met and simple requests wereimmediately granted. Courteous staff; front desk and roof top diner crew. Breakfastmeals are the usual “SiLogs and coffee” and are sufficient in serving. Webought a 500ml bottled water and load it up daily at the diner to have it chillin our room ref.

http://www.tghboracay.com/

80White Beach, Station2, Balabag

BoracayIsland, Malay, Aklan, Philippines 5608

+(63)(36) 288-6878 / +(63) (928) 500-0040

Boracay, as we experienced it.

There are a lot of activities that one can endulge in at the white beach but we prefer to less engage on those. We were there to celebrate our 3rd year anniversary and to fulfill a long dreamed of activity. To parasail. But since Sendong is brewing and concluding havoc somewhere, we were only able to take the ATV tour the 4 days we were there. The rest were spent bumming around the beach and the waters, walking here and there, Drinking by the sand, buying souvenirs, bonding over coffee and taking lots of pictures along the way.
**We will be back on September 23, 2012 to Parasail. Got cheap tickets as early as now.
From here, Ill let the photos define our experience.

White Beach and its Sunsets.

Boredom Kickers.

Banana Boat Ride.

ATV.

At the Everland Aviary farm.

Bats natural state are closed claws, reason why they hold firm and wont easily budge and release their grip.

A poor Golden Retriever, probably missing his owner. The Boys at the Aviary takes care of him (or not). He stinks by the way.

One of the Zorb Areas.

Bulabog beach.

The tip part of the Island.

At the Ocean Tower grounds.

Fiesta Folkloriada.

Wasting time in coffee shops.

US: Celebrating our 3rd Year Anniversary.

Photo bombing.

With our friend Chot.

At Andoks.

They always seem to pop out of nowhere, just when I want to have my photo taken. LOL.

Since they disallowed the Sand guy from making awesome sand arts, kids make money from donations with their simple creativity .

Souvenirs.

People.

DETAILED TALLY OF OUR EXPENSES (from teh wife)

December15, 2011 - Thursday

Time	Amount	Activity
555 AM – 630 AM	220.00	Taxi fare – Pasig to Airport
	400.00	Terminal fee
	165.00	Café France
950 AM – 1130 AM	400.00	Kalibo airport to Caticlan port
	126.00	Jollibee brunch
	150.00 (75/pax)	Environmental fee
	100.00 (50/pax)	Terminal fee (Caticlan – Boracay)
1200 NN – 1215 PM		Boat ride
1215 PM – 1230 PM		Multicab to Station 2
1245 PM		Check in at the hotel
215 PM	219.00	Late lunch at Andoks
	45.00	Mineral water
700 PM	250.00	Shrimps for dinner. Cooked by the Branna Family.
TOTAL:	2075.00

December16, 2011 - Friday

Time	Amount	Activity
700 AM		Breakfast
	25.00(x2)	Taho
	50.00	Shake
	35.00	Magnet
1210 PM	175.00	Lunch at 928
	190.00	Groceries
400 PM	355.00	Coffee at Café del Sol
640 PM	440.00	Dinner at BBQ Backyard
1030 PM	200.00	Coffee at Café del Sol (w/ Chot)
	125.00	Wallets
TOTAL:	1620.00

December17, 2011 - Saturday

Time	Amount	Activity
700 AM		Breakfast
800 AM – 1000 AM	1,020.00	ATV with entrance fees
	50.00	Tip to Kuya Kenneth
	230.75	Groceries
240 PM	1165.00	Late lunch at Aria (OMG!)
600 PM	275.00	Coffee at Real coffee
1200 MN	182.00	Late dinner at Andoks
TOTAL:	2922.75

December18, 2011 - Sunday

Time	Amount	Activity
900 AM		Breakfast
	100.00	Shake
1210 PM – 1225 PM	100.00	Tricycle going to port
1230 PM – 1245 PM	100.00 (50/pax)	Terminal fee (Boracay - Caticlan)
	550 (additional 150)	Van and boat to Kalibo
110 PM – 235 PM		Travel time Caticlan to Kalibo
	80.00(40/pax)	Terminal fee
530 PM – 630 PM	350.00	Taxi fare going home
TOTAL:	1280.00

TOTAL:

Thursday	Php 2,075
Friday	Php 1,620
Saturday	Php 2,922.75
Sunday	Php 1,280
Total	Php 7,897.75
Airfare – Zest Air	Php 1,254.40
Airfare – PAL	Php 3,704
Hotel (Tans Guesthouse 3days)	Php 6,000
	Php 18,856.15

Video Summary.

Dumaguete, Negros Oriental - August 2010

2011-11-20T17:34:00.001+08:00

Date of Travel: August 27 to 31, 2010

A little background.
Holding the map we bought from nationalbook store, I told my wife, Dumaguete seem like a small city. And I was notwrong. We hardly took any tricycle from point A to point B. And almost 80% ofvehicles in the City proper consist of either tricycles ormotorcycle/scooters. Now, what to do inDumaguete? A friend said that Dumagueteños’ past time is… drinking. Seriously?A question I exaggeratedly asked as well. Where I grew up, liquor is most oftenassociated with good times and yeah… trouble; an irony that they are termed“The Gentle People”.

Afriend also told me about Rizal Avenue, much like Baywalk here in Manila. Other than Siquijor and Apo Islands, there’s also the internationally known Silliman University… Founded 1901, wewere fortunate enough to be there during its 109^th founder’scelebration.

|| Hotel || Silliman U || Food || Landmarks || Street Photos || Siquijor Island || Apo Island || Expenses ||

Welcome.

It was a warm welcome, even for us, thetourists. We felt like we were the delegates as everybody was smiling andgreeting us at the airport. We were even fortunate enough to catch the JUANDELA CRUZ Band, most significant among them, is Pepe Smith. They were there,invited to play in a gig.

My own personal Welcome committee.

Yep, thats Pepe Smith.

Where we stayed:

Plaza Maria Luisa Suites Inn. This is anice spot if you want to go roaming about. You have a nice view of the CityPlaza (Quezon Park) and proximity to the busier streets where the majorestablishments are. It is also a few blocks away from the most recognized spotin Dumaguete, Rizal Boulevard.

Hotel lobby. They also have a souvenir shop and computer rental here.

Still at the hotel lobby, tables for dinning.

Elevator, wide enough to accommodate at least us 4.

Landing area, with a view of the outside.

Yes it does look creepy. But if you don't dig that shit, it has a unique artistry in the way they designed this place.

A view of the Plaza.

Contact info:
http://www.dumaguetecity.net/marialuisa.html

Vicente T. Locsin Bldg.
Legaspi St. Dumaguete NegrosOriental
(035) 225-3267 or 7994 / 09228774056

Our stay also includes free pickup from the airport and free breakfast as well, very ideal.

We had a list of places to visit but mostof them we had to screw as they require that we do some special travel to getto where they are, or so I assume. And we made no priority, just an optionalto-go list as itemized below. If you plan on just bumming around in Dumaguete, these places might interest you.

Provincial Capitol
St. Catherine of Alexandria Cathedral
Bell Tower
Silliman University
Rizal Boulevard
~~Sidlakang Negros Village~~
~~Lamplighter zoo~~
~~Fil-Am-Jap Amity Shrine~~
~~Casaroro falls~~
~~Mag-aso spring~~
~~Mina’s Underground World~~
~~Zoo Paradise of the World~~
~~Sto. Nino Chapel~~
~~Twin Lakes of Balinsasayao and Danao~~

For info about these places, http://www.godumaguete.com/

Silliman University Founders Celebration.

It was capital B for BUSY for everyone. Eachhas his own business. A pack here, an org there. Old folks and young. You cantell by their different costumes designated by a shift in design and clothingcolor, Oh and yeah, and age. Some faint sound says a group is practicing their act somewhere near,ever getting louder as we progress walking; might be a drummer doing someparadidling, warming up the pulse and sticks. The afternoon sun, even at itsangriest is blocked by huge tree populations, dispersed in the open Campusgrounds. Silliman U is huge, much like UP. People waiting by the side of the main road summarizing that theparades are about to begin.

A recognition of diversity.

Consolation from all the sweat and heat, Mirienda at Scoobys.

Our hosts, Liane and James.

Huge Pizza delivery.

He doesn't seem to find me amusing. No, not at all. :D

At the Provincial Capitol, walking all the way from Siliman. Exploring, mingling, immersing.

Food.

Locals here always recommend City Burgerand Sans Rival. City burger for its grilled chicken and Sans Rival for theirpastries. But James, a friend and a local who grew up in Dumaguete, took us towhere students and even the public officials eat. JP's Eatery. It’s neither fancy nor decentlooking, but they have a wide range of “Lutong Bahay’s” served over.

These small silis are teh bomb. Looks harmless, but one of these is usually enough.

There are also a lot of bars and restos across the Rizal Boulevard and intersecting street inskirts with pinches of foreign ownership if not used to attract them.

Jutz cafe.

Sans Rival

Jo's Chicken Inato.

Landmarks in the City.
As I used to street shoot alone back in the days DSLRs are very uncommon, I am always fascinated in immersing in different environments. Here's a glimpse of Dumaguete.

Dumaguete Cathedral

In Quezon Park.

Rizal Boulevard.

Sisters of St. Paul Chartres

An insignia under a probably broken lamp post.

Park at the Rizal Boulevard.

Dumaguete Cathedral.

Bell Tower.

Tricycle ride.

They actually have Valet parking here due to little street space specifically in commercial areas.

Street Photos.

Siquijor Island.

Isla de Fuego or Island of Fire as referredto by the Spanish conquistadors back then, due to the swarm of fireflies thatabound at night.

Attributed to the island is also the practiceof witchcraft and mysticism, when during Holy weeks, traditional healers aresaid to gather herbs and secret ingredients they use as potions and herbal healingstuff. Awooo….

But enough of that shit. We were there on ashort day tour. It was awesomely laid back which was for me, very nice. When westepped foot the port, I immediately fancied relaxing by the nearby white sandbeach, dosing off upon the winds breeze, rolling on the sand, living the island life… I had tosnap out of it. Again, we were there on a day tour, and a constricted one. Wehad to secure our return and so bought tickets as early as we arrived. Theysaid that we can tour the entire island in a day on a tricycle, problem is, theferry returns at 3PM and it’s the last trip back. So point to take note of, Dedicate at least 2days here to explore and visit the recognized landmarks in Siquijor and aswell, bum by the beach.

Another to note is that the first ferry trip at 5:45AM, may not be available. So buy tickets a day before to determine if the earliest ride is a Go. The port is just atricycle ride and is at the back of Silliman University, left most part of theRizal Boulevard.

Places of interest in Siquijor:

~~Cantabon Cave~~
Cambugahay Waterfalls
Century old tree, estimated to be 400 years
Capilay / Guiwanon Spring Park
Lazi Convent and Church
~~Mt. Bandilaan Peak, viewpoint~~
~~Salagdoong Beach~~
~~Siquijor Town~~
~~Spring Park~~
~~St. Francis of Assisi, oldest church in the Siquijor~~
~~St. Isidore De Labrador church & convent~~
~~Old Cang-isok House~~

At the port you'll be presented with a lot of offers of resorts and island transpo. We picked a tricycle to go about these landmarks.

References:

http://www.mysiquijor.com/lodging.html

http://www.ironwulf.net/tag/siquijor/

Apo Island.

We took the bus to Zamboangita, a quick 30minute ride. Then waited at the Malatapay Terminalfor their operation which starts at 7:30AM. Here you have to register and payfor the boat which will take you in an hour rideto Apo Island. At the island, you need pay for an entrance fee and secureyourselves with a life vest if you’d want to go snorkeling. This is required asthe corrals at the sea onset are shallow; hence from there you are required tofloat to avoid stepping on the corrals.

They should have reserved telling us thatthis is a shark infested island. But none the less, us being snorkel suckers,plunged and wandered at how awesome and colorful the corrals were at ApoIsland. Apo is quite populated so no worries about food and water, you can just dine in at a local eatery on the island to satisfy your hunger.

References:

http://www.apoislandresort.com/

http://www.dumagueteinfo.com/apo-island-day-trip.php

http://www.aposhore.com/things2do.html

To sum up, I appreciate the diversity thistrip brought us. Laid back Dumaguete, Walks in Rizal Boulevard and the food, especiallyCity Burger and Sans Rival. I would like to return here and explore Siquijorand Apo Island further. Awesome creations, and Apo’s Marine Sanctuary is so farthe most colorful snorkelling experience I’ve had above Balicasag island in Bohol.

Dumaguete Map

DETAILED TALLY OF OUR EXPENSES (from teh wife)

August27, 2010 - Friday

Time	Amount	Activity
415 AM – 445 AM	250.00	Taxi from Hampton to Airport
	400.00	Terminal fee
	75.00	Delifrance coffee
900 AM	50.00	Hotel / Tip to guard
945 AM	145.00	Brunch at Manga area
	30.00	Tricycle to Hotel
200 PM – 400 PM		Watch Parade at Silliman
400 PM	117.00	Scooby’s
620 PM	30.00	Back to Hotel
740 PM – 830 PM	324.00	Dinner at Jo’s Chicken Inato
	107.50	Grocery
900 PM		Rest at the hotel
TOTAL:	1528.50

August28, 2010 - Saturday

Time	Amount	Activity
630 AM		Breakfast
815 AM		Port of Dumaguete going Siquijor
900 AM	350.00	Ticket to Siquijor
	20.00	Candies
1000 AM		Arrived at Siquijor
	30.00	Bottled water
	348.00	Ticket to Dumaguete
	530.00	Tour
1230 PM	75.00	Lunch
	20.00	Beggar
300 PM		Departure from Siquijor
	50.00	Magnet (Souvenir)
345 PM		Dumaguete
	27.00	Tricycle to Lee Super Plaza
400 PM	101.50	Merienda
500 PM		Go back to Hotel
900 PM	175.00	Dinner at City Burger
	15.00	Tricycle
	142.50	Grocery for Apo Island
1000 PM		Rest
TOTAL:	1884.00

August29, 2010 - Sunday

Time	Amount	Activity
400 AM		Wake up time
430 AM	168.00	McDo breakfast
545 AM	16.00	Tricycle
615 AM – 645 AM	60.00	Bus fare to Zamboangita
740 AM – 815 AM	680.00	Boat to Apo Island
	300.00	Entrance and snorkel fee
	200.00	Rent for Life Vest
	200.00	Sarong
1200 PM	100.00	Lunch
100 PM – 145 PM		Back to Zamboangita
	40.00	Halo Halo
	50.00	Souvenir
	40.00	Bus fare
300 PM	15.00	Tricycle to Hotel
445 PM	189.00	Merienda at How Yang Cuisine
	50.00	Sans rival
530 PM – 630 PM		At Rizal boulevard
700 PM	84.00	Jutsz Café
	54.50	Grocery
	15.00	Tricycle
745 PM		Rest at the Hotel
930 PM – 1030 PM	355.00	Dinner at Jutsz Café
1100 PM		Hotel, rest
TOTAL:	2616.50

August30, 2010 - Monday

Time	Amount	Activity
530 AM – 630 AM		Sunrise shoot
900 AM		Breakfast at the hotel
230 PM – 300 PM	189.00	Late lunch, City Burger
	15.00	Tricycle to City Burger
	80.00	Souvenir
300 PM – 415 PM		Boulevard
415 PM – 500 PM	166.00	Coffee and cake, Sans Rival
500 PM – 630 PM		Roam around the plaza, shoot
645 PM – 745 PM		Rest at the hotel
800 PM – 940 PM		Street photog
945 PM	196.00	Dinner at Highway 10
	5.00	CR fee
1015 PM		Back to hotel, rest
TOTAL:	651.00

August31, 2010 - Tuesday

Time	Amount	Activity
830 AM		Breakfast
1100 AM		Check out hotel
	3800.00	Hotel fee
1115 AM	15.00	Tricycle to Robinson
1130 AM – 1150 AM	183.00	Lunch at Ted’s
	438.00	Pasalubong at Bong Bong’s
1235 PM – 145 PM	225.00	Coffee at Sans Rival
	60.00	Terminal fee
530 PM – 615 PM	290.00	Taxi from Airport to Pasig
615 PM		Home
TOTAL:	5011.00

Overall Expenses:

Friday	1528.50
Saturday	1884.00
Sunday	2616.50
Monday	651.00
Tuesday	5011.00
Total	11691.00
Airfare	2843.00
	P14,534.00

Mt. Maculot- Cuenca, Batangas - October 2011

2011-10-31T21:17:00.000+08:00

Disclaimer: Im not an experienced climber and to thatmatter, with handicaps. I’m overweight and is coping up with a knee injury I’veinflicted on myself doing a first 10K run a few years back. Bottom line, use this info as reference but don’t takeit from a noob hiking enthusiast.

I have done Mt. Manabu twice and twice learned a lot oflessons the hard way, even when I came mostly prepared the second time. I mustadmit that Mt. Maculot was a relief of some sort, given that it wasn’t rainingunlike the 2 times I climbed Manabu.

7:30AM. Our two man group, Gerald and I, met at Robinsons Lipa.
Toget there, I took the bus at Buendia Taft-going to Batangas, boarded off StarToll exit (Tambo exit) and took the jeep to Robinsons. There are jeeps going toCuenca in front of the mall which we took and boarded off at the Cuenca Municipaltown hall. We loaded up at the nearby eatery and took the tricycle to thejumpoff. There is a mountaineers stop (Ka Manuel) a few meters before the areato load and clean up as well.

Notes:

· The trail is more or less a 2hour assault.
· Hardcore tip is to progress slow but non stop.You’ll be there in more or less an hour.
· There are lots of mini stops as well to sit and catchbreath.
· Expect your heart rate to near max.
· Cover up, there are mosquitos, ants and bladegrasses, especially near the summit camp.
· Dont get lost. It is to your physical andpsychological advantage to be with someone who knows the trail as even thosewho previously climbed Maculot, take the wrong fork.
· Pick up garbage along the way and don't add up to the pollution, please.

8:50AM-11:20AM. After about 2.5hours of streak-rest-streak, we reached ourdestination. An awesome view of Batangas and Taal lake. Up the summit camp, thereis a small store that offers most of what you’ll need.. or want. Softdrinks,Liquor (Grandma, Gin...), Yosi, Gatorade, Finger foods, and they’ll even cookthe instant noodles for you. It’s convenient for those who come less prepared.Of course, that sort of stuff is gold’s worth (say x4 the price) as they need to carry all thosejust because you can’t or don’t want to. This is not the real summit but herecan be found what is awesome in Mt. Maculot... The rockies.

An assault almost 50degrees (I assume) with boulders you’llneed to scramble (crawl on 4s) to make your way pass. Virgins usually bumptheir heads (as I did) at the second or third boulder block. It’s a nice climband you’ll get to the top in about 15mins. I can’t justify how awesome it is up there bydescribing, even with the photos, so I leave it to entice any enthusiastreading this to visit the place. Then again as a personal note, don’t mess upthe mountains and come prepared. Don't mistaken climbing this mountain to awesomeness, as I noticed in some of the guests.

There’s also the grotto for those seeking penance or justwant to photo bomb with the cross. We didn’t bother pass by... sorry Jesus, maybenext time.

The protrek reads 760MASL at the summit camp and 775MASL at therockies. (Pinoy Mountaineering reads it 706+ at summit-so I definitely have somecalibration issues with the PRG-130Y.

Return.
We were down in no time starting descent at 4pm and reaching the jump off at 5:30pm. A bit of relief that we passed the 6pm mark as darkness is always creepy besides the ghost stories I read from other blogs. Gerald also mentioned that someone committed suicide jumping off the cliff at the rockies. What's disturbing is that HER spirit is sometimes seen by guests and even tags along with them. I'm sure there are a lot more creepier stories during overnight socials.

Expenses:

Bus to Lipa-P124x2=P248(back and fort)
Jeep to Rob-P8
Jeep to Cuenca-P24x2=48(back and fort)
Morning meal-P57
Tricycle-P20x2=P40(back and fort)
Environmental/Registration fee-P10
1.5L Coke-P135/2=P67.5
Mountain Dew at Eatery-P12x3(I had two and I got Gerald 1)=P36

Total : P514.50

Coordinates from the summit camp.

Coordinates from the Rockies.

First Mini Stop. Buko Juice for sale.

Catching breath.

Nearing the summit camp.

When there are lots of Blade Grasses, you're near the top. Plus, if you keep your eyes open, theres actually a rock with writings on it saying, "Malapit na Po."

Thats a 711 to your right and a small hut-almost standing, hardly usable but an added protection against the heat of the sun and rain.

Business up Maculot.

Friend of Lem Pascual. Christopher Puso.

From a top the Ledge before assaulting the rockies.

Man made Army commemoration.

Gerald and his Deuter Act Lite 32L.

Rockies assault.

Videoke or some event, still heard from 775MASL.

Finding shade and a little comfort from rocks.

A bunch taking photos of a snake they found.

Catwalk, edge of the rockies.

Post Climb Assessment:

Bring at least 2L of water, not 1.5L.
Will need to retire the Merrel Ottawa Water Pro due to tight toe room, les use the Sandugo slippers.
Pack lighter.
Thin clothing is good, but dry fit is still the way to go.
Sunblock... Its easy to forget sunburn while enjoying the view from the rockies.
Open patella support, left knee.

PS: Upon registration, We noticed a family of about 8-10 members signed up the log book ahead of us, same day. We were able to catch up with the dad and his son resting in one of the mini stops. We had a little chat and found out that they opt not to full fill the climb as the Dad was worried about the child's condition. Enrico, 8 or probably 10 year old slim kid on glasses. Said that he has a rare condition called Kawasaki disease. A very deadly and traitor condition that even fit and active athletes die on the spot when the heart failure kicks in. We know that they did their research and that they come from a well to do family as the dad tells us bits of info about the origins, preemptives and probable source of this rare disease... oh and that we were conversing in English most of the time.
It was a sad moment but Gerald and I felt that we should at least give the kid some inspiration. Enrico is determined but the father is afraid of what worst may come.
"Im sure you have your reasons, wanting the kid to do the climb given his condition. Im not a parent yet but if be of any inspiration.. and I totally understand how you feel as a parent, not wanting to lose him... I guess maybe it would also be good to consider letting him do what will make him happy given that he's a ticking bomb and could go "out" any time." Those were my words to the dad. He politely answered, maybe when he's old enough to decide what he wants to do.
I was reminded of how unfair life is for some and how many junks its value... and here a kid who could die any time with Tiger determination and a parent who doesn't want to lose the kid by protecting him against what may trigger the condition...

Anyhow...
Hopefully this is not my last Maculot climb, but the first of many. A place to refresh and re-evaluate purpose, appreciate nature and life, relax, replenish and be reminded that life is awesome even as we live it at its simplest, that, at least for myself.