Coron Palawan, Philippines

Coron - one of the most popular scuba diving and snorkeling destinations in Philippines. From island hopping, to delicious sea food (cooked on boats); from enjoying the corals #beautiful to diving at World War 2 Japanese ship wrecks #Vintage!!

Some of the best locations were Malcapuya island, Kayangan lake, Barracuda lake, Buloc dos island, World war 2 ship wrecks diving and mt. Tapas. Oh and don't forget the hot spring.

While going to Kayangan lake, you need to hike a few steps, and the view from the top is amazing.

Enroute Kayangan lake

@Kayangan Lake

@Kayangan Lake

At the Kayangan lake you can swim across the lake, and into a small cave.

Barracuda Lake Lime Stone Mtn.

Reaching Barracuda lake

Barracuda lake is a fresh water lake in the midst of the ocean - more like a lime stone mountain in the middle of the ocean, shaped like a bowl, holding the lake within. There's rock formation from where you can try cliff jumping, swim to the middle of the lake (which is kind of scary).

The islands and beaches at Coron... oh what a sight! Clear waters, fishes, corals, hammocks and the sun :)

Kayaking at Bulog Dos

Malcapuya Island

Malcapuya clear waters

Fooood cooked on boat.. Fresh and SO delicious

I also got attacked by small fishes. I was snorkeling, without disturbing the waters much or making much noise, so I could see the fishes swim around and not get scared. This one fish (white) swims to my face and turns back (I smile thinking 'yei swimming with the fishes'); it comes again and goes back. Does this couple of times, I am happy smiling. And before I know it there is a really big group of small fishes around me. Woah! .. And then one nibbles on me!! That's it, time to get out ;) I think they thought I am (or have) food. Phewsh, came back alive ;)

I wish I had an underwater camera to capture the world war ship wrecks and our swim inside the wrecks. And capture the beautiful marine life you can see while snorkeling and diving.

Unarguably, one of the best places to dive. Get a flight from Manila to get to Coron and enjoy the delicious food, beaches, snorkeling and diving. Carry a kayak on your boat, stay put at an island overnight, and climb to Mt. Tapas!

The Perfect Cone - @Mayon Volcano

Mayon was recently on Alert level 3. An active volcano in province of Albay was spewing lava and smoke. Seeing a possibility of a violent eruption, the 8 kms around Mayon was ordered to be evacuated.

But it's a sight to see the vast Mayon in the dark when it releases the pressure off the top of its cone. And a perrrrrfect cone! 

How could you miss this majestic volcano!! Mayon rarely erupts violently, mostly releases the lava and smoke every now and then.

I reached over the weekend, and they announced that it was already a little calm by then, so no fresh lava. I thought it would really just be a mountain then, for which I traveled 10 hours one way! But now that I was here, I went to the Lignon Hill. One of the best views you can get to Mayon.. :)

The view was so mesmerizing that I couldn't stop looking... I just could't. Surrounded by beautiful fields and meadows, and in the shape of a perfect cone, not an inch here or there. A beautiful crater, perfectly round, and the 5 am sun shining over it! THAT was the view of Mayon! 

Mayon in midst of morning clouds and sun

While on my way to Lignon view point, I saw Mayon from a distance, and kept watching till I took the bus at the terminal.

At the top of the cone, the texture of the mountain looks rough and black because it forces out lava and smoke every now and then. And it gives a rugged look to the mountain, making it even more handsome! That's probably the reason I couldn't get my eyes off Mayon!

 It's not really off the alert, but it's calm now. They let you take ATV rides, hike up with a guide. (Can find that while hiking to Lignon hill to reach the view point). But these activities were shut for safety of people. But I intend to return to Mayon for a hike.


Getting to Mount Mayon from Manila - you can board a bus from Cubao to Legazpi City or Daraga. These cities ae at the foot of the mount, just about 12 kms away from it. It mostly takes around 9-10 hours from manila to Legazpi. But if you take a bus in the morning, it could go upto 15 hours due to traffic. Stay at Backpackers Inn - easy access to viewpoint, transport and cheap.

Other places to see - Check out Hoyop-Hoyopan caves, Cagsawa ruins.

Hike to Taal Volcano, Tagaytay

2 hours drive from Manila, and you can reach some really beautiful places! This visit was to Taal volcano.

Known as one of the smallest volcanoes in the world, and the only one which is an island in an island in an island.

Luzon in Philippines is an island, Taal volcanic hill is an island itself in Luzon in between Taal lake, and inside the volcanic hill crater is now a lake with a very tiny island :) 

The boat ride to Taal volcano is beautiful, the water mirrors the sky.

Boat to Taal Volcano

      The hike uphill is easy.. just pray it's not too sunny. We went on a really hot day! 

There are horse rides also available when you enter the hill, but I personally did not like how they keep the horses.. And the hike is fun! Reach uphill, and treat yourself to a Buko (coconut) :)

The view from the top, is beautiful! You could also play some golf there and try to hit the ball into the lake ;) 

To get to Taal, you can take a shared FX from Star Mall (Ortigas) or a bus from Cubao. Stay overnight at Tagaytay and a boat to Taal in the morning.

Kalinga - Hike to the Tribal Village of Buscalan to Meet the Last Mambabatok

Around 20 hours away from Manila, I visited the Butbut tribe of Buscalan to see the oldest and last tribal tattoo artist (Mamababatok) in Philippines. She is the only one left from the native tribes now. I wasn't sure if I will get a tattoo, but when you're there, you ought to get one in the traditional way! And that is now the story of my first tattoo for life! :-) THAT is the way to get inked! 

Fang-Od's grand daughter, Grace,helped with drawing the design, and is now picking up the art.. 

Getting my first tattoo from the 'last' and the oldest tribal tattoo artist from Kalinga.. tattoo by Whang-Od.

Tattoo by Whang-Od, the 95 year old last Mambabatok in Philippines..

Started off solo from Manila, requested guide Francis Pa-In (who is quite famous in the area) and it's always good to hire a guide because there are lot of rides you need to take to get to Buscalan. On the way met some wonderful people from different ethnicity and finally it was 5 travelers who went to Buscalan. 

Getting to Buscalan, Kalinga was an adventure! Rode a bus to Banaue, jeepney to Bontoc. And from Bontoc when we took a Jeepney to reach Kalinga (where we started the hike) we rode on top of a Jeepney. and your trip isn't complete if you haven't done that! (but keep some a bag or cloth under your ass, or it'll hurt real bad later ;) )

on top of Jeepney...

Hike to the Buscalan village is not a difficult one! Just about 2 hours, and it's green, fresh, and scenic!

Reaching Buscalan Village: 450 PHP from Sto. Tomas university bus terminal to Banaue, 150 PHP from Banaue to Bontoc, 150 PHP from Bontoc. And then the hike to Buscalan.

How to get there:

Manila (Sto. Tomas University) to Banaue bus - 450 PHP, Overnight 8-10 hrs

Banaue to Bontoc Jeepney - 150 PHP 1.5 - 2 hours (can find one close to the registration office, but have to wait till it's full)

Bontoc to Buscalan village drop off point - 150 PHP

And then hike to the village. 

When covering Kalinga, and if there is time in hand one can do Baguio -> Kabayen -> Sagada -> Kalinga -> Banaue -> Manila. Can do Vigan as well, but it's slightly further north.

For Sagada hanging coffins: 

http://travellingexploringphilippines.blogspot.com/2015/01/sagada-mt-province-hanging-coffins-and.html

For Kabayen mummies caves:
http://travellingexploringphilippines.blogspot.com/2015/01/kabayen-mummies-caves-mt-timbak-aka-mt.html

Swim with Dolphins at Subic, Philippines

It was AMAZZZING!! The idea of being able to swim with the dolphins....

Subic is a famous weekend getaway from the city - Ocean Adventure park, swims at the ocean, the old American navy base and the Zoobic safari. You can just walk around the town, cross so many beaches, a big cemetery (am glad it wasn't too late in the evening when we crossed that) and some easy trekking terrains.

If you can visit ocean adventures for swim with dolphins, it is amazing! We took the adventure park free shuttle, managed to slip in just 5 mins before the program started!!

The Swim..... It was beautiful,, Dolphins are indeed very friendly. Some trained tricks, but we danced, swam, played games with the dolphins, and what an experience. We got to feed them too.. and learn s few facts about them. Pretty thick skin, and strong fins! Very strong fins!

Dolphins :)

       

Ummuuah! :-*

   

The dance with him was the best dance I have had till date!

Pulled out the dancing shoes _/!

 Jumps, dives, and it also kisses you and let's you kiss him back..

But these were trained tricks. It's beautiful to watch them go for their own swim after they completed a trick :) it was so much more natural and happy :)

Dolphin skin .. it isn't slimy or slippery as I had imagined. Very small eyes and ears.. but the eyes are wet - to protect them. I didn't know dolphins had a tendency to drown -- coz they breathe from their breathe hole on top, not gills like other fishes. This is why the park looks for volunteers to watch over rescued dolphins while they recover.

Riders on the waves

Later, we went to feed the jack fish, turtles and reef sharks. Turtles tend to get into fights with their own brothers or sisters for food, in which the weakest sibling mostly gets left out, affected and can not survive in the wild. Ocean Adventure rescues them. There was a turtle which wasn't in the shelter with other turtles. We wondered why... Instructors told us his brothers had bitten off his beak mistakenly while fighting for food. He was rescued and it is difficult for him to survive with other turtles for same reason. The food drops off his mouth because of the broken beak, and if there are more turtles he might end up not getting any food. Hoping to visit again with a certificate in open water - and then I can go into the water where they keep reef sharks and feed them!

Lot more happened at the Happy Street: the weekend is pretty awesome in Olangopo! We met some people working at the park and went to Happy Street. Every weekend, the street is alive! buzzing with people, singing and dancing competitions, the clubs and music, groups jamming by the road. Just pull up a table and order some beer to enjoy the celebration and the weekend :) We went for a few beers.. hit a club.. danced until 4 am..... tried Balot Balot (the famous Philippino dish) for the first time.... :)


Getting to Subic from Manila: Get a bus from Cubao - Victory Liner headed to Olongopo. It will drop you off at Subic free port zone (Harbor Point mall). We lodged at The Cabin - fairly decent budget hotel. Has wi-fi too. And is walking distance from Harbor Point.

The Passion of the Christ: Holy Week at Paombong, Philippines

With the Spanish and American rule, Catholicism became very popular in Philippines. Holy Week, the week before Easter, is a significant religious observance - the Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Black Saturday and Easter Sunday. Traditional Christians treat these days as fast days. Strict Catholics eat only one full meal, and two small meals (which together are less than one whole meal) in a day and no meat is prepared (beef, pork, chicken, etc.). The streets of Philippines see processions to mark thanks giving to the Lord.

Philippines is among few countries that celebrate The Passion of the Christ - on Good Friday, people volunteer to be crucified to a cross. I visited a colleague's home in Paombong over the Holy Week and visited the ground where the play takes place. People volunteer to self-flagellate or be crucified.

We arrived at my friend's place on Thursday morning, spent the day eating some delicious fish and sea food dishes - bangus, shrimp soup, crabs... all home made! Masarap!

Good Friday noon, we left for the procession being held at an open area close to the church. The churches don't approve of such practices, but people follow their beliefs and volunteer. You need to walk a few minutes to reach the place. Be warned before you read more..  In the crowd you can see some people self-flagellate and it's scary.Fortunately or unfortunately, I didn't witness flagellate, but I heard from the locals that there are some blood drops that come on you if you are walking near someone who volunteers to flagellate. Sometimes their back slits open, or small pieces of 'flesh' fly around. Sent shivers down my spine!

The Crucifixion - Good Friday commemorates the passion and death of Jesus, and people enact the sculptural Way of The Cross. The first crucifixion ceremony I witnessed (it was the second volunteer of the day playing one of the robbers that was crucified) was on stage where the volunteer was nailed to The Cross. It was a huge crowd . Some oil is applied to the volunteer's feet and palms.. The Cross is put up on a stage, and the volunteer nailed to it, one foot above the other; the palms nailed on both ends. But somehow, to me this was just half as scary as the way to The Cross. The volunteer playing Christ is scourged through the way while he carries the Cross, he fainted on the way, everyone waited for him to gain consciousness - 5 minutes and the ceremony resumed. The scourging is where I felt a little distressed. The volunteer carries The Cross up the stage where crucifixion will be performed, the Cross is stood up and volunteer crucified. This volunteer playing Jesus also recites sermons to everyone.

I wondered what the volunteer feels! They say they feel no pain, it is an expression of thanks to the Lord for all that he has done for us, and to pay penance.

After the crucifixion ceremony, everyone goes to the Church for mass. We took off earlier, and headed back home.



Reaching Paombong from Metro Manila:

Paombong, 2-4 hours from Manila. Catch a bus from Cubao to Hagnoy, which will drop you at Paombong Ministop. From there we took a Jeepney to our destination.

Scuba Diving @Batangas, Philippines

Getting introduced to scuba diving at Batangas.. beautiful place! Ocean in the midst of hills. The cottage where we are at.. the porch opens up at the beach.. sat there soaking in the vastness of the oceans. Hmm.. the infinity amazes me.. Makes me imagine a lot of thing ;) being dropped in the middle sometimes and being carried by the waves. Or being gifted to communicate with the dolphins and whales at the first 'meet' ;) and then saving a dolphin from the money making fishing industries..

Anxiousness and excitement mixed, am ready to discover a millionth of the depth.. YES!! A 45 minutes introductory session. Most Important: DO NOT forget to breathe! And yes that happens - when I went in I realized it is very different to be breathing compressed air from a tank from your mouth, not breathing from your nose and fear that if you're not able to breathe 30 mts underwater it's going to feel like ages before you can come back to the shore and breathe normally again.. I love the water.. but I was a little scared! I started with snorkeling just at the shore which made me feel confident..! Snorkeling was a good idea to start with. The water spiders were a little creepy though.. But it did make me think that I could dive really easily :) but then.. that is what I THINK.

Depths of the Ocean

When we get to the diving point not too far from shore (since it is just an intro dive)the waters were not-so-calm and I found it slightly hard to breathe from the tanks. Then I needed extra weights.Took a little while for me to get used to it. I looked very anxious, so the instructor even asked me if I wanted to go ahead and do it or wanted to head back to the shore. I was scared but I had to experience it!! Okay let's do this..

Once you're underwater, it's far more easier. Water is calm, and I was super excited by now. It was beautiful! A different world.. And Batangas has beautiful corals and marine life to explore. It's like colonies where I am an alien.. fishes coming out of the corals.. watching out of curiosity and hiding into the corals when you're too close..

Finding Nemo :)

Starfish, Juvenile Barracudas, Nudibranch, Puffer fish and more.. And colorful corals! I couldn't stop smiling the rest of the day..

Followed by delicious Philippino dishes for lunch and some lazing around I tried Wind surfing.. :) So difficult. How do you balance on a surf board AND manage a sail?! But.... it was amazzzzzing fun!! I could barely manage to stay on the surf board for more than 3 minutes, and this is the 'better' time recorded after trying for some 15-20 mins. I would either fall over the sail, or take the sail on me and fall into the water. Haha..!!

Day was closing in, packed up to return. A wonderful Sunday, so much that I visited Batangas again with the same friends for more intro dive. I would be a pro-intro diver soon .. LOL ;)

I now have experience of 5 dives (intro/basic only still), but I can tell you Philippines has some beautiful diving spots! I spotted a sting ray on one of the dives in Batangas again. Dived at World War 2 Japanese ship wrecks #Vintage I call it! And am going to be a certified diver before end of this year!

It's so much fun in Philippines!