Category Archives: Outdoor

Soccoro: The gateway to Sohoton National Park

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The beautiful morning that greeted us in Soccoro

It was nearly evening when we arrived at the Soccoro Port from Dapa Port in Siargao. The moody weather delayed our scheduled boat ride. It was almost an hour and a half of being swayed in the sea. After all, we’ve passed by the Pacific Ocean as Siargao and Soccoro are geographically facing the Pacific.

I heaved a sigh of relief as soon as my feet felt the solid ground of the port. It’s time to find the lodge where we will stay for the night. The directional signage of Island Vacations Country Inn was helpful. Country Inn was just a few steps away from the port. It took us less than 5 minutes and saw the inn.

Fellow Pinoy Travel Blogger member, Sir Edelito Sangco, who’s also behind the blog, IslandVacations.me, owns the place. Though he was not around during the time that we were there, he endorsed us to his sister and brother in-law.

The rooms are located on top of a bakery store. Hence, we always smell the freshly baked bread. I got the fan dorm room. The fan room rate is Php 200 per head per night. We stayed for 2 nights. But the gracious Sir Ed Sangco let us stay for free. (Thank you sir Ed!)

It was around 7:30 PM when we decided to have dinner. During this time, only one cafeteria was opened. Candles and flashlight illuminated the area due to electricity loss during that night.

The townfolks of Soccoro slept early as the roads were almost deserted. And so we dozed off to sleep as well for an early island hopping the following day.

The smell of freshly baked pandesal awakened my senses. It really smelled so good. But the downside, the heat emitted by the bakery evaporated through the room. If you’re going to stay at Islands Country Inn, get the A/C room for Php 250 per head per night. :) Read more about Island Vacations Country Inn here.

The morning breeze in the quiet town of Soccoro was refreshing. The port was not yet busy at 6:00 AM. But as I walked further, I found two kids playing by the port.

While others were still yawning, fishermen were already casting their nets into the sea. I knew it was just the beginning of an exciting day.

Up Next: The Adventures in Sohoton National Park.

Travel Notes:

  • Travel time from Dapa Port to Soccoro Port- 1.5 hours
  • Ferry fare from Dapa Port to Soccoro- Php 100.00

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Bohol Adventures: The Climb to the Balete Tree

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This is no horror story. Yet, the Balete tree has been tagged to horror stories such as the white lady at the Balete drive. It didn’t cross my mind that a time will come that I will climb a balete tree.

When we went to E.A.T. Danao in Bohol, my goals were to do the root climb and the famous PLUNGE also known as the canyon swing. The E.A.T. Danao guides introduced themselves (but I forgot their names). I was too excited to do the root climb.

It was not an easy path. The riverside of the Wahig River has too many rocks and boulders. One wrong step would result to a sprained foot. Finally, our guides pointed a tree. It was not just an ordinary tree. It was a Balete tree with its humongous roots hugging a wall like something’s hidden underneath.

The CHALLENGE: Climb the towering wall which measures 60-feet high using the roots of the balete tree.

J volunteered to go first. He was fast even with his weight. lol. Thanks to his height. He was able to get up fast. I followed. I looked up at the resting point and thought, “Nah. This is easy.”

But lo and behold, when I held the roots and placed my feet on each hole, I found it to be the opposite. hahaha. I spoke too soon. It must be the lack of exercise. Physical fitness, I need you badly. Just look on how focused I was while climbing.

And yes, my friends asked me to smile for the photo-op. Whew! It was about three minutes before I got to the top.

CHALLENGE #2: Rappel down the 15-meter wall.

The next challenge was to rappel down. It isn’t my first time to do rappelling but it did feel like the first time. It was four years ago since I last rappelled so I have somehow forgotten how to do it.

Thanks to the guides who showed us a demo first. I was able to get down with intact bones and flesh. :)

The root climb and rappel at E.A.T Danao cost Php 400.00 but the experience was priceless.

Video Blog: The Underwater Garden of El Nido’s Small Lagoon

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No words can best describe the experience of snorkeling in El Nido’s Small Lagoon. But if you still insist, I can say that the experience was ethereal and otherworldly. On the surface, Small Lagoon seemed similar with the other stops. It was surrounded by limestone karst draped with greens. But as soon as I submerged my body, I was blown away by the “underwater garden.”  Alright, I’ll stop talking. Let the video tell the story.

This was one of my unforgettable snorkeling experiences as I swam with not just a school but a “university of fish”. Too bad, I didn’t know the fish specie.

Small Lagoon is part of the El Nido Island Hopping Tour A.  Read more about El Nido:

Capturing El Nido: Helicopter Island and Cadlao Lagoon

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If you love snorkeling, then fly to El Nido. It’s the place to be! Snorkeling in El Nido seemed endless.

After eating lunch at Talisay Beach, we were off to Cadlao Lagoon to burn the  calories. Originally, we should have gone to Secret Beach as part of the El Nido Tour C. However, the Habagat/ Southwest Monsoon prevented us from doing so.

Niel of Servant Tours told us that it would be unsafe if we pursue the Secret Beach (oh well. till next time. Hopefully, I’ll be able to return by summer). The boat docked at a small beach. Our boatman told us that this was the only place where they could dock. Hence, we needed to swim to Cadlao Lagoon from there. It was about five meters away from the boat.

Cadlao Lagoon was underwhelming for me. Nonetheless, I jumped out of the boat and started snorkeling. On the other hand, our French companions were so excited to swim in the lagoon.

While snorkeling in the beach area, I found this. Okay, forgive me, I cannot name this fish specie.

But then, this one really freaked me out. Wah. Banded sea krait again? Why do I always see one? wah. And you know what happened next, I swam fast as I could to the lagoon.

I was tired. My legs were tired. There’s nothing to see underneath the water of the Cadlao Lagoon but depth to the unknown. I felt the water temperature changing from cold to warm. I lie on my back and stared on the sky. I didn’t notice that I’ve rested for sometime and it was time to return to the boat.

We bade Cadlao farewell as we moved to our last destination for Tour C, which is Dilumacad Island, popularly known as Helicopter Island.

Helicopter Island was named as such because of its shape which resembled that of the helicopter. Our boat docked at the long stretch of beige sand of the Helicopter Island along with other tour boats.

Janet, J and I wasted no time and plunged into the waters of Helicopter Island. And wow, the marine life was amazing! Watch this video:

Among all of the islands that we’ve visited in El Nido, Helicopter Island was the best snorkeling site. The corals were still alive and healthy unlike the others.

 

Another day has ended but our adventure in El Nido has just began.

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What’s Cooking in Antique?

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Photo by Ely Valendez

(Photo by Ely Valendez)

What’s in Antique (pronounced as an-tee-ke not an-teek which meant old)? The name Antique came from the Filipino word for big ants, “hantik”. Since the Spanish can’t pronounce hantik, they called it Antique. 

This province, which belongs to the Panay Island, holds so much mystery among its neighbors Aklan (where Boracay is), Iloilo, Capiz, and Roxas. It would let a traveler’s imagination fly until he/she braves the path and sets foot on this province.

When I left our house, my mom told me, “Enjoy at mag-ingat sa mga aswang!” Horror movies tagged Antique and Capiz as home of the “manananggal/ mambabarang/ mangkukulam” and other enchanted creatures/spirits which believed to eat humans.

But I was not afraid at all. Actually, I was excited to go and explore Antique. The rough road that we passed by at Brgy. Tuno in Tibiao added to the excitement. We stopped at a garden fenced with bamboos. The place was called Kayak Inn.

The locals filled up the kawa (big cookware) with water and placed firewood underneath. The water started to boil. “So what’s cooking?,” I asked.

Guess what? It’s not kaldereta nor nilagang baka but humans. Yes, humans.

The first victim was one of my companions in the tour, Ejay. At first, he was enjoying splashing water into his face but not for long.

The fire started to rise that caused him to panic and run out of the kawa. Haha. Kidding!

The next victim was Ely of Ely’s Planet. hehe. Isn’t it fun, Ely?

The Kawa Bath, one of the major attractions in Tibiao, Antique, was a brainchild of Kayak Inn’s Australian owner Greg. The staff told me that they wanted to offer something that’s related to what Antique was known for: enchantment and mystery. Kawa is used by Antiquenos for cooking muscovado (unrefined brown sugar). They started offering this unique type of bath in 2010.

Dipping in hot water can be relaxing.

You can stay for an hour for Php 200 pesos but you can opt not to finish the one hour especially if temperature rises to an unbearable heat.

Travel Essentials: 

  • Contact Darcy Nu 0921 570 1947
  • 0917 918 3825
  • Provincial Tourism of Antique (RG Gayatin)- 0915 804 4662

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Special thanks to 2Go Travel and to the Provincial Tourism Office of Antique for letting me experience the wonders of Antique.