Coron-El Nido-Coron Trip...Through rough seas for those who dare

Eleven months and three weeks later I found myself travelling to Coron once more- again by boat...nah, no way- this time thru a very comfortable 1-hour plane ride.

Day 1
We landed in Busuanga airport at eight in the morning. I did not notice any means of public transport so it will be best to book your airport transfers to Coron proper ahead of time. Along the way, the clear skies made the green landscape look even greener. There were quite a number of free range cows running around and about. I grinned as I remembered my sister saying over and over, after her previous trip there, that “beef in this small part of the Philippines (especially the bulalo) is so much yummier because they were happy cows during their lifetime”...hahahaha!

Some sections of the road were still rough but most were newly constructed cement roads. After 20 minutes, we already reached our home for a day. It was still early so we settled in and rested for a couple of hours until our stomachs started to rumble. 

I haven’t decided yet on what to have for lunch so we strolled around for a while and we ended up in Sea Dive Resort. Just a quick flashback... during my previous visit, the meal that I least liked was the buffet dinner in their restaurant but I believe in second chances and I figured maybe the food quality will be so much better if I order ala carte. Liking the food and a particular place is very subjective and my very subjective verdict is...If not for the refreshing ambience, I’d definitely say that I should not have given the place a second chance. It took more than 30 minutes before the food reached our table. The chicken wrap was cold and tough, and the spicy chicken wing dish was a bit bland for my taste. Afterwards we went to the local boat operators to confirm if there is a boat leaving for El Nido the following day, shopped for water and snacks for our trip, worked for a while (the usual workaholic me) and took a nap in our hotel room until dusk. 

Dinner was at La Sirenetta restaurant. The place was so perfectly romantic and every touch of the wind in our ears was like notes in a serenade. Our meal was a sampling of almost everything on the menu. I particularly liked Sirenetta sinigang for the freshness of the ingredients, Spicy tuna olio penne for the al dente pasta with just the right hint of chilli and the Calamianes calamares fritos for the perfectly cooked squid and the spicy tomato salsa, which I think is a hundred fold better than the hundred island dressing that we’re accustomed to in Manila.

Day 2
At 6:30am we were ready to load a tricycle to the port/public market, bought our tickets, had breakfast in one of the market carinderias, did some last minute fruit shopping and boarded the boat.  Considering it’s an 8-hour ride, it can fit 10 uncomfortable passengers. To our relief, there were only 3 of us. The length of the journey was aggravated by the angry seas. Aside from the fact that the way to El Nido is against the wind, we were going towards the open sea. The waves were bashing our poor outrigger wooden boat so hard that the seawater was constantly slapping our faces. We could only watch as the boat struggled its way forward. 

There were moments of peace and calm though as we entered mini coves surrounded by small islets. On one cove, a large group of butterflies flew around our boat. It was amazing to see life in extreme isolation. About 4 hours later, in one of the islets with blinding, almost paper white sand, I saw an unfinished hat amidst the coconut trees. I wish I could have taken a more upclose photo! It left me thinking how long it would have taken them to transport the building materials from town...and ending up wanting to have one someday...my own private retreat!

How we managed to doze off was beyond me. We basically slept, snacked on whatever, slept again, woke up and looked around to see endless blue and some patches of land, listened to the ipod, and then again slept on and on and on...I attempted to read a book but the endless splashing of seawater made me quit. This ride is something that I would only want to do once, just for the sake of being able say I did it, which by the way earns me a BRAGGING RIGHT! I’m definitely taking a plane next time!   

And then...at 4:30 in the afternoon...there it was!

El Nido is located in the northernmost tip of mainland Palawan. It is accessible by plane flying direct to the island, by a 6-8 hour boat ride from Coron, or by 8-9 hour land travel from Puerto Princesa. It is a quiet little town situated at the foot of giant towering limestone cliffs. From afar, the houses and resorts looked like pea-sized pebbles at the foot of a rocky mountain.

The municipality of El Nido, is situated at the northernmost tip of mainland Palawan and is surrounded by Linapacan Strait in the north, South China Sea in the west and Sulu Sea in the east. “Nido” is a Spanish word that means “nest”. The town got its name from the edible swiftlet bird nest found in the limestone cliffs. 

First stop was a visit to the local tourism office followed by a stroll around the town and along the beach, which only took about 1 or 2 hours. It was fast approaching sunset and the restaurant staffs were starting to set their tables and torches along the beach. 

Dinner was in a small shack along the main street. We had onion soup, grilled squid and sweet and sour fish. It was filling but I expected the seafood to me fresher than it was.

 

Day 3
Whenever I travel to a new town or province, I try to always visit the local market especially on market day (most towns and provinces have this). Lucky us, it was market day! We got up early and in just a short walk we reached the multipurpose hall/basketball court. The whole area and the surrounding streets are packed with vendors selling anything and everything. There was an assortment of cooked food. We sampled several rice cakes which were superb, bananque, maja mais and other local sweets. 

When I said that they sell everything, I meant everything. There were as assortment of vegetables, some of them I couldn’t even recognize. They also had the freshest seafood...different varieties fish, clams, mud crabs, small blue spotted ribbontail rays and baby sharks.

 

We bought mangoes, pineapple and small shells...which will later be in our table for lunch. It was such a treat!

We then went straight to the registration area to pay for our tour package. We took tour package A which consisted of Small Lagoon, Big Lagoon, Secret lagoon , Simizu Island, Entalula Island, Seven Commandos. We had a chance to chat with the boat owner’s wife about the tourists that come and their everyday life. She also graciously taught us the best way to cook the shells that we bought from the market while handing them to kuya (our boatman). Our boat made its way to our first stop as we enjoyed the cool breeze and the water with different shades of dark blue, deep dark green and aquamarine.

The boat slowed down and dropped its anchor in front of the small lagoon. We jumped on water and swam towards the opening of the lagoon. You can either choose to swim or take a kayak inside. For us, it was a cool swim. The lagoon is covered by the shade of the limestone walls wrapped with trees and thick vegetation. I particularly enjoyed the swim towards the cave at the far end of the lagoon. I you are not a good swimmer, take precaution and wear a life vest because the water here is very deep. The opening to the cave is small and narrow but it immediately opens up to a high dome inside. The big lagoon was very similar to the small lagoon so we did not stay long.

Entering the Secret lagoon was a bit of a challenge. I had to try to keep my balance while walking on waist-deep water and very sharp rocks and hard corals. Since the waves were too strong, I got a couple of scratches on my foot and leg.  After the walk, we had to crawl inside a small hole to the lagoon where the water was a bit murky.

We had our lunch at Simizu island which had several covered hats. If you want to bask in the sun, you can lie on the white sand. Otherwise, you can choose a spot under one of the trees and shaded areas. The boatmen were preparing our lunch while we built up our appetites and snorkelled. Apparently, this is one of the best snorkelling sites in El Nido. We saw a number of fish, corals and some big pink jellyfish.

Our meal was a parade of grilled fish, grilled liempo (pork belly), well-seasoned cucumber salad, tomato and onion salas, white rice, grilled baby shells (the ones that we got in the market) and sweet pineapple. It was delicious! To top it off, before going to our next stop we laid on the beach for about an hour while savouring the bandi (a local delicacy made from cashew with caramelized sugar). This is a must try and once you start snacking on one, you’ll surely crave for more.

We hit other snorkelling sites before our final stop – the Seven Commandos, a privately owned island. This is a beach where, even if there are several boats docked, one would still feel isolated. The beach was extremely wide for an island with the backdrop of high mountains. I had enough swimming for the day so I just spread my mat and read my book while sipping the fresh coconut juice that I bought in the island for only 20 pesos. The combination of the waves of the sea, the cool air and the mixture of sounds in the forest slowly put me to a quick nap.

Day 3
For our last full day in the El Nido, we decided to hang our outdoor adventure shoes for a while and do nothing. Electricity was already out by the time we woke up at 9am. After breakfast we circled the fish vendors in the market to buy fresh seafood. We bought a huge squid and an even bigger fish each weighing almost a kilo and took it to one of the beach side restaurants where the cook prepared it to perfection. Gobbling it up at 1 in the afternoon with a couple of bottles of light beer was pure pleasure!

The rest of the day was spent relaxing, staring at the peaceful view and reading my book while sipping glasses after glasses of fresh fruit shakes...burp!

After sunset we had dinner and a few more beers then we decided to call it a night. As we walked to our hotel, I marvelled at the site of the enormous limestone wall. The sight of it in the dark was seemingly haunting and almost scary if not for the bright stars that guard each passing stranger.

Day 4
We spent our fourth day mostly travelling back to Coron. It only took us 6 hours because the wind was on our side this time and the seawater was almost flat. We had a quick late lunch at Kawayan grill. I was anxious to check in to Village lodge, take a shower and finally get a well deserved massage! A full hour massage at the nearby Spa Paradise and Cafe was too expensive for us so we asked around and found a smaller massage place along the main street. We got our massage for a steal at only 250 pesos per hour! My therapist Ate Rose said that they also provide hotel room services with an additional fee of 50 pesos per person.

We then made a familiar walk around town. One would feel safe and secure despite the few people on the streets and some dark alleys. As we asked around for some information and directions for the following morning, I noticed that people were a bit more friendly and welcoming than in my last visit. Maybe they have already adjusted to the continuous influx of tourists.

We planned dining at Bistro Coron but when we got there, it was plain HORROR...The front door sign said - ”To all our valued customers: Bistro Coron is closed for its annual holiday. We will open again on July 7, 2009”...ohhh mannnnn!!!!! We ended up eating in the Village lodge cafe where we had salad and a big plate of crabs. They have good food, especially the bulalo, but the service is very slow so if you want to dine there be sure to order your food 30 to 20 minutes in advance. 

 

Day 5
We began our day with our usual trip to the local market where we bought crabs, enormous wild shrimps, bread (to feed the fish while snorkelling) and fruits for the island hopping. I was delighted to see this much fresh seafood with different varieties- blue spotted ribbontail rays, blue crabs, huge mud crabs, wild shrimps, bright-colored parrot fish, lapu lapu and every imaginable type of fish...no baby sharks this time though. 

There were four of us in the tour. There was a middle aged doctor at his early 50’s and his 13 year old son who were visiting from the States. First stop was the Kayangan lake which has not lost its charm. Next was the Skeleton wreck. This is a popular spot for snorkelling and diving. The wreck was a bit creepy for me. Maybe I’m just not into the thought of getting anywhere near an old sunken war ship with a lot of violent history attached to it, and possibly even earthbound spirits lurking around it. It was a great and unique adventure. As I jumped out of the boat, I could immediately see a blurred reflection of the tip of the ship, even in choppy waters. As I dove deeper to get a closer look, I could see the image become nearer and nearer. There were also some big fish swimming around.

 

Parched and hungry, we stopped at Banol beach. While the boatmen were busy preparing our meal, we were also busy swimming, taking pictures and easing off in our very own private beach! The cream-colored sand was fine and the water was cool. There are three covered hats conveniently situated on the beach. We ate our sumptuous lunch in one of the hats. You might want to consider bringing an insect repellent when going to this tour because there are a lot of mosquitos in this island. I got several bites but the view and the ambiance was worth it.

It was already pouring hard when we reached Barracuda lake. Getting to the lake involves a short but steep hike. There are wooden stairs along the path but gaps are far apart and the edges of the rocks are sharp and rugged. The reward to the hike is a wide, quiet lake. I loved swimming in this deep, warm lake which I only had to share with three other people...This is the best part of an off season adventure travel.

Last stop, but definitely not the least wonderful was the Siete Pecados which literally means “seven sins”. It is a protected area composed of seven small islets. Fishing there is prohibited. As the old myth goes, there were seven girls who disobeyed their parents and went out on a boat to the sea. Their boat capsized and all seven siblings died. Shortly after, seven patches of land appeared in the area where the girls drowned. 

The corals looked very healthy and the abundant fish swarmed around us as we scattered bread crumbs and crushed crackers.

Day 6
Still hungover from our drinking/laugh trip session the night before, we woke up on a stormy 5am. I was relieved to hear that the airline will not be cancelling our flight home. With that confirmed, we went to the local market again to buy seafood at the market for pasalubong. I have never been the type of person who buys “who knows what” to give it to “who cares who”. I only buy pasalubong if it’s is special. The best one to bring home if you’re coming Coron? No less than the freshest, humongous mud crabs! I must say it takes a bit of skill to pick the best ones but if you know how then people back home will absolutely love you for it. As I always say, “kapag lumalaban pa yung alimango, madami pang laman yan sa loob”. I chose really big ones- 1 kilo per crab. The vendors will charge you Php180.00-Php250.00 a kilo. Just tell them that you’re taking it to back to Manila so they can put it cartons and seal it well with packing tapes and plastic straws. 

I did not notice it when I first arrived in Busuanga airport but as we were anxiously waiting for our flight back to reality, looking around I was impressed with the new airport in this small part of the Philippines. It was clean, modern, spacious and comparatively better structured than other tourist-packed airports in most of the well known destinations.

When I got home I immediately checked my “pets” and they were still pretty feisty. Maybe they knew what was waiting for them in the kitchen in a few hours!

Coron...Way back when we were one of the few who witnessed its stunning isolated beauty!

CORON, PHILIPPINES

The island is situated in the northern most part of Palawan, Philippines. If you are coming from Manila, you can travel by ship or by plane. For my first visit we decided to choose the latter. We were already at the port by 1pm but the ship left at about 4pm. Although there was news already about an incoming storm, the weather was hot that afternoon. We mostly slept through the 12-hour ride and woke up to a beautiful morning in Coron. From the port, we walked for a few meters to where our boatmen were waiting for us. 

KAYANGAN LAKE

A good 20 minutes through our boat ride, we were greeted by the numerous towering limestone cliffs that almost looked like concrete on the surface, submerged in an endless ocean of blue green crystal clear water. We started our adventure in Kayangan lake. We reached the facade of a huge limestone cliff and as the boat made a turn, we entered the cove that guards the lake. Since the tides were still low, we were able to have a quick breakfast before starting the trek to the lake. From the main boat docking area, we hiked for about 150 to 200 steps and then again approximately 500 meters downhill to the actual lake. I did some research before going to this trip and I read that this is the cleanest lake in the Philippines so I had high expectations but simply saying that it is beautiful and clean is a gross understatement. To say the least, we were in awe. The lake was wide. Before jumping in, you have to take precaution because it is very deep. The fishes were small and lacking of a variety of colors though, as in most lakes. The brackish water was clear as glass with an aquamarine and deep, deep turquoise tones. It was serene and seemingly unruffled by its visitors swimming about. As we headed back to the boat, we stopped at the highest point of the track and enjoyed the view. I felt like I was looking at a postcard, only better...breathtakingly better.  

 

TWIN LAGOON

We then headed to the Twin lagoon. It is composed of two lagoons kept apart by a limestone wall and connected only by a small, narrow passage. The first lagoon is accessible by boat but you have swim through the passage to get to the other one. If the tides are low, you can easily get to the second lagoon with a life vest on but if the tides are high and you can’t swim, getting to it is out of the question. By the time we got to the lagoon, the tides were already high. We jumped off the boat to the first lagoon. The water was cold and choppy but there was no stopping us from enjoying a good swim. We were all intrigued by what is on the other side of the wall but only a handful of us were able to go. Luckily, I knew how to swim. To get to the other side, you need to swim for about 10 seconds through a narrow opening. Be careful though because the edges are sharp and you can easily scratch and hurt yourself. Once we were inside, I instantly noticed the calmness inside. The leaves floating on the surface were seemingly unaffected by the wind and the waves outside...a striking contrast to the disturbance on the other side of the wall.

CYC BEACH

It was already starting to pour so we decided to skip the other spots and go directly to CYC (Coron Youth Club) beach where we were initially planning to pitch our tents and spend the night. There is no freshwater source in the island so if you’re planning to stay the night here, be sure to bring enough water to rinse yourselves and to use for cooking and consumption. Since it was already past noon, I did not immediately appreciate the place because I was focused on attacking the lunch prepared by our boatmen. We feasted on seaweed salad, grilled fish, pork and chicken adobo and fresh mangoes and watermelon.

After our tummies were satisfied, we decided to explore the beach and the island. The beach was white and relatively wide and there were many mangrove trees. The sand is not as fine as in Boracay and Bohol but if you want to do away with the crowd and you’re after a more relaxed and tranquil outdoor experience then this is the place for you. We did not see much under water because the current was too strong so we just did what we do best...chill! If you’re anything like me, you’ll find a lot to do to kill time. If luck is on your side and the beach is still wide, you and your friends can throw a Frisbee. I, on the other hand, savoured the moment and read quite a number of pages in my book while lying on the white sand.

One thing disturbed me in this island...trash...anything from plastic and glass bottles to small plastic containers and cigarette butts. It saddened me to witness that an island as isolated from the city as this is tampered because if the carelessness of many. If you are planning to visit the island, please spare even a little concern to take your own trash back and maybe pick up some of the others that you will come across around the area so that others in the future can still enjoy it the way we did.

By mid afternoon, there was more news about the storm. It started to rain again, and it poured hard...really hard. The seawater started to creep higher and higher up on the beach and we realized that it will be too risky to spend the night so, for everyone’s safety, we ditched our plan for more island hopping the following day and went back to town.

 
CORON TOWN PROPER

We reached the town at 5:00 in the afternoon. During that time, except for a handful of foreigners, only a few people go to Coron so we immediately got accommodations in one of the resorts there. Refreshed, we walked in town to ask around and plan an alternative activity for the following day. Ironically, it is still distinctly an “old little town” with the comforts of a modern life. There are no jeepneys and taxis and regular people generally travel by tricycle. One can easily walk throughout the town center. There is no need to carry excess amounts of cash from Manila because ATMs and banks are conveniently situated in town. There are also internet cafes and some WIFI hotspots. My impression on the Filipino locals was that they were aloof but I realized that they are just shy and maybe a bit overwhelmed by the several tourists visiting their home. We met Mark, a British architect who has been living in the Philippines for 6 months. He was thrilled to guide us on what to do and where to go on our last day. Since we were about to have dinner, he highly recommended Bistro Coron where he said they “make pizza the way they make it in Europe”. We did not think twice about trying out the place and we were definitely not disappointed. We had delicious Chicken curry, a large pizza margherita and spicy seafood Tom yum soup with a heaping serving of fresh fish fillet, crab, shrimp and squid topped with a whole lobster. It was worth every penny. After dinner we stayed in the restaurant for a late night game of billiards and a few bottles of beer.

On our last day, we had an early start. At 6:00am we had breakfast at a carinderia along the main street where we had chicken curry, sweet and sour lapu-lapu and bamboo shoots in coconut milk. It was a great hardy meal to start our day. Everything, especially the fish, was very fresh and the prices were very reasonable.

MT. TAPYAS

To save our energy for the 720+ steps to the peak of Mt. Tapyas, we rode a tricycle to the base/jump off point. The ascent is easy because there is a stairway and there are several covered stops where you can sit down and rest. As we neared the top, I could clearly see the huge towering cross peeking, as if it was motivating us and whispering...come on, just a few more steps!

We had an amazing 360 degree vision of the whole island and those that surround it. If you still can, you can hike downhill to the small huts a few meters from the top. 

We then had lunch at Kawayan grill, an al fresco restaurant that looked interestingly native. It turned out that it was their soft opening and we were one of their first customers. We ordered crispy kangkong, ginataang lobster (lobster cooked in coconut milk), grilled tuna, pork barbecue and chicken barbecue. They were excellent. This is probably a great place to hang out and drink the night away.

MAQUINIT HOT SPRING 

From the town proper, Maquinit hot spring is a 20-minute ride by tricycle. When we got there, the place was packed with people, mostly locals. Maquinit is a local dialect that means hot. And HOT it was indeed! I wouldn’t be too sure about dipping in on a hot summer day but since it was raining and the weather was cool, it was a perfect day to jump in. 

OUR LAST NIGHT IN CORON

We had our last dinner at the Seadive resort. The buffet was ordinary and uneventful.

 I left Coron that night with an assurance that I will travel back. Aside from the fact that there is still so much outdoor adventure to experience, something about the place enchanted and intrigued me. It may be the wonder of its nature, the distinct personality of its town and its people or the momentary peace that it has brought me and many other visitors. I did not bother to try to fathom it anymore but I was certain that I will be back...it was just a matter of time.

Philippines' Last North Frontier - Amazing Batanes Islands! (Part 1)

General Information
Batanes Islands is a province located at the Northernmost tip of the Philippines. It is about 190 km south of Taiwan. The smallest province in the Philippines in terms of size and population, its three largest islands are Batan, Itbayat and Sabtang. The people of Batanes are called Ivatans and the main languages spoken are Ivatan (spoken in Batan and Sabtang) and Itbayaten (spoken in Itbayat). Majority of the Ivatans are fishermen and farmers.

The climate is subtropical and it has no particular wet and dry season. Summer is from April to June and winter is from December to February.

Day 1

This is technically already day 2 of our scheduled trip to Batanes Islands but because of an unfortunate and inconvenient circumstance with SEAIR, all of us 33 passengers were held back by a day. I might write a full article on this in one of my future posts.

Finally, at 8:00 in the morning, we touched down in Batanes! Although there had been a storm signal the past few days in Luzon, the weather was surprisingly sunny and hot when we arrived. The Basco Airport Terminal Building was like no other airport in the Philippines. It is small but unique. The exterior walls are made with huge stones, which is a modern take on the traditional Ivatan house. The walls, the two-door entrances, and its red roof tiles are reminiscent of the houses in the 70's. 

In less than 5 minutes from the airport, we were at the town center and in less than 3 minutes we were in our pension house. We checked in, had a short nap, changed our clothes. The moment we stepped out of the inn, it started to pour. Just our luck! In a matter of minutes, the weather shifted from extremely hot to massive rain! Our guide told us not to worry because it is a normal thing that will pass in about 10 minutes. Sure enough, it did.

A few minutes' drive from the inn, we reached Chawa view deck. It has a small grotto along the highway. Here, we had our first glance of the very photogenic view of Batanes Island. There is a viewing deck with cement benches. To reach the sea, one has to go down a flight of stairs with approximately 103 steps down. The remaining few steps can be a bit slippery so it is best not to go all the way down. 

We then drove past the Shelter port. This is where boats are parked to protect them from huge waves during storms. I found it to be ingenious and aesthetically pleasing at the same time.

Next stop was Mahatao town. We registered first and paid a Php50.00 fee per person before entering the town.  The nearby San Carlos Borromeo Church, more popularly known as Mahatao Church, was built in 1787. It was ravaged by a storm in 1872, rebuilt in 1873 by P. Cresencion Polo, O.P and was declared as a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum in July 31, 2001.

Next was the infamous "Marlboro Country", formally know as Rakuh-A-Payaman. This is where I fist stepped foot on Batanes Island's mountainous terrain. By this time, it was already sunny again. There are small huts where people can rest. There is a restaurant at the entrance as well but it is mostly closed unless there is an advance food order from the tour guides. The hills itself is a wide field of grass where cows, carabaos, goats and other animals are brought by the farmers to graze. I have never seen grass so green in such a wide area…farther than my eyes can see, and so well maintained…no need for trimming because the animals do it for them!  

Although it was sunny, I never felt uncomfortably hot because of the strong wind coming from the deep blue Pacific Ocean.

Next was Blue Lagoon. The 10-minute easy trek down to the rocky beach is worth it for those seeking for a private swimming experience. This is where Spanish friars used to bathe because they did not want to mix with the locals in the open beaches.

A few minutes after the blue lagoon is a White beach for those who still want to swim on a white sand beach. The sand is more cream than white and is not as fine as in other beaches in the Philippines because of corals, pebbles and other shells. It is just a few meters from the side of the road. 

Both the Blue Lagoon and the White beach have no shower facilities.

Lunch was in Vatang Grill and Restaurant. Only the narrow road separates it from a beach with cream sand so the dining experience includes relaxing to the sound of the ocean waves. The interior is very basic. The inside of the roof is lined with the thin bamboo that is typical of a lot of the structures that I have seen. As we settled down on our table, the staff played a video of Batanes Islands made by the local tourism. I wanted to try some of the local dishes but all of them had to be ordered a day in advance.

For lunch we had Chopsuey, Chicken in honey sauce, sweet and sour fish and a fish hotpot (no photo of the hotpot here). All of the dishes tasted good and home cooked. The serving sizes are big. If it says in the menu that it is good for 4 persons, it really is. My favorites were the chicken with honey sauce, which was similar to lemon chicken but not as sweet, and the fish hotpot dish with a hot broth, lightly fried maya maya fish, ginger, scallions and vermicelli. Our total bill was less than Php800.00 for 4 persons. Now thinking about it, I think we ordered too much food! :)

After lunch, we dropped by the Honesty Coffee Shop where "Honesty is the best policy". The unmanned store is owned by Elena Gabilo. The store has very basic merchandise, mostly food, drinks and souvenir items. I have never heard of any other store in any other country doing the same thing.

Once you have decided on what to buy, you are to drop your payment in the wooden box and jot down what you bought. There is a message posted by the owner...

We then drove past the Songsong Ruins (Ghost town). These ruins are what is left of the traditional stone houses along the beach that was struck by the Tsunami in the 1950’s. There have been no residents in this area since.

Next stop was the Alapad Gorge which offers a view of the LORAN (Long Range Aid to Navigation). The LORAN used to be a US facility used to navigate ships and aircrafts.

After taking a quick photo of our last stop, the San Lorenzo Ruiz church, we headed back. It was 3:30 in the afternoon. Along the way I noticed several men on the beach carrying nets attached to long wooden sticks. I thought they were doing Sudsod, a way of catching shrimps in mangroves, like what I’ve tried in Donsol. Apparently, these men were trying to catch small squid. I’m very curious, I want to try this next time.

...to be continued...