It was during one of those family outings after the holidays that I knew of and visited Bao-Bao Falls in our neighboring province of Surigao del Sur. Checking out new places is staple for me so when the destination came up it didn’t even take me a second to jump at the idea. “Don’t go chasing waterfalls,” TLC said. Why heed such advice, right?

Transportation

Getting to Bao-Bao Falls is as easy as ABC. You just have to teleport transport yourself to the barangay of Diatagon in Lianga, Surigao del Sur. Tandag-bound buses from Agusan del Sur can bring your arse there. You will then have to look for the junction, from the national highway, that leads to your destination.

Or you can simply ask a local on how to get to it. If you happen to ask one who doesn’t have the answer, s/he must’ve been living under a rock. When coming from Butuan, you can reach Diatagon via the Awa Junction, which opens up the opportunity to biga at visit Bega Falls.

The Waterfall

The main swimming area of Bao-Bao Falls didn’t feature a high vertical drop but the plunge pool was still deep enough for anyone who thinks they’re tall enough. Ahem. “Bao” means “turtle” in Bisaya so the name of the waterfall could pertain to something related to a turtle, like its shape. I didn’t see any resemblance to any part of a turtle, though, and didn’t ask anyone either so… Beats me. (Don’t even think about turtles being present there.)

The waterfall had a slide; cliff jumping from the top of it wasn’t that enticing. Even so, there was a rock that allowed jumping from a higher elevation. If it gets crowded below, there’s no other way but up!

Climbing to the rock also led to the higher tier of Bao-Bao falls where there were swimming pools whose depth also didn’t disappoint.

Pools were at nooks and crannies and it was so relaxing being in them that, contrary to what I usually do, I no longer explored further to where the water was coming from. Only few people were curious enough to check what was upstairs so I didn’t have to share the Jacuzzis at all. #blessed

Nope, t’is not the Oblation Run.

And then it was high time for a cliff jump. Cowabunga!

Amenities

There were no cottages around the waterfall so all tourists just settled on the rocks (sadly without any whiskey, though) in the surrounding area. Totally not an issue, especially that bringing food and beverages was allowed—no corkage, y’all! It also follows that there were no changing rooms. Having said that, there were actually restrooms. They may not have been around the waterfall as well, but hey! If you need to take a dump, there’s that special place for ya.

Walking to Bao-Bao Falls from the road is a walk in the park because the local government unit already paved a walkway to it. Unlike when taking the stairs to Bega Falls, it was senior citizen-friendly. No worries to bring everyone, mate.

Tips

• When going to Britania in San Agustin for some island hopping, Bao-Bao Falls is the stopover you never thought you could have.
• When coming from Butuan and taking the Awa Junction to Lianga, Bega Falls is another stopover you never thought you could have, especially when on a private vehicle.

Visited: January 2016

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Only a few days after coming back from our seven-day trip to Palawan, I came across an AirAsia seat sale with an airfare that was less than half of how much our Cebu Pacific Air fare was. At only ₱485.62, I thought to myself, “Some buffets cost more than this and it’s already a round trip ticket, so why would I not steal it when it’s more delicious than food?” Assuming I ended up not boarding the flight to Puerto Princesa, the truth is it wouldn’t have hurt that much. Not the case, though, as I went on a solo travel to El Nido.

The flight was in a year’s time but I pretty much knew that I was gonna be doing it on my own since my companions wouldn’t be interested in visiting the same place they just visited the prior year. I still informed them anyway just so they wouldn’t accuse me of being a selfish prick. *shrugs*

Arrival

I was heading directly to El Nido and was staying at El Nido Sands Inn again so I had a van ride arranged. My flight landed before midday and as I remember it I only waited for a few minutes before I got my arse on the van and its engine started grumbling. At six o’clock, I was back on the balcony overlooking limestone cliffs and anchored boats.

Our itinerary during the aforementioned Palawan trip was jam-packed in that we were essentially always on the run. There was no reason to do the same since the experience was still fresh and I wasn’t staying on the island for the same number of days. With that, I didn’t really do any planning; I only looked forward to getting some sun and seawater in El Nido.

After settling in my room (I don’t have problems being in a dorm but I opted not to be in one this time around), I went out to check the nearest ATM, hunted dinner, and watched tables unfold on the beach and be swarmed by people. It’s either I have yet to have the habit of taking photos of my beverages then or it was simply a sober night. Tapping my back if it was the latter. Good job, self!

El Nido Island Hopping

Eating isn’t a priority when I travel so having breakfast in the form of bread and cheese spread was already a luxury. Island hopping tours in town go by the alphabet and since I already did a combination of Tours A and C, I wanted to go on Tours B and D. Unfortunately, the latter wasn’t as popular as the former and it was an off-peak season again so the inn’s attendant wasn’t able to find a group that I could join in.

In the end I landed on a group that was doing Tour A, with the destinations being Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, and Seven Commandos Beach. People were crawling because it was the National Heroes’ Day and the islands I already visited weren’t how I remember them. #DramaKing

Big Lagoon

Unlike when I did the bundled tour, it was high tide when we came to Big Lagoon so it was such a marvel being able to explore it on a boat. The fact that I was the only outcast in the group, though, silenced my desire to tell the boatmen to stay around for a bit for some swimming. Boo! Sucks to be a #shytype.

Secret Lagoon

I’m not even gonna bother with photos to the entrance of Secret Lagoon because people were smothering it, waiting for their turn to penetrate it get through. Crazy how it was only us when we were there the year before. I started mingling more with the group here and even snapped at them. Saw Megan and Mikael on our way out and, true enough, the guy was “ahead of me” with only one tabò.

Shimizu Island

I’m not actually sure if it was Shimizu Island where lunch was served but if our watermen stuck to Tour A’s destinations, then that must’ve been the island. The food was even more heavenly than the last time and, with me gurgling with bottles even while still on the boat, sobriety was already a thing of the past. Booyah!

While the water was crystalline like everywhere else, I didn’t enjoy snorkeling that much because, where we were, majority of the corals have already undergone bleaching. Ouchie!

Seven Commandos Beach

For being the last stop of many tours, it wasn’t surprising that many visitors were making the most of the water at Seven Commandos Beach before calling it a day. For having benches for reflection relaxation and a store for refreshments, who wouldn’t wallow, right?

The tree swing was restless this time.

There was redemption on the snorkeling activity as there was a lot to take in with the submerged scenery here. In fact, I was sightseeing too much underwater, away from everyone, without paying attention to the time that one of the boatmen eventually came looking for me. Sarry!

Late dinner and more Red Horse was at a deserted Marber’s Restobar (can’t believe I don’t have photos of what I devoured). Afterwards, I retired back to the balcony, in front of my laptop, and abandoned myself to the quaint night and the lights illuminating it.

Taraw Cliff Canopy Walk

I was to climb Taraw Cliff (never thought about doing it when I had company) the next day but due to an accident earlier that year the activity was prohibited. Having already set my mind for it, I succumbed to doing the Canopy Walk which was supposed to be an alternative.

At the end of the trail was a platform overlooking the bay. Alas, it wasn’t any close to the view from Taraw Cliff. But hey! It’s already very good if you’re someone who doesn’t have the stomach for climbing cliffs.

I was done with the activity in less than 20 minutes and it felt like I was ripped off. Then again, it could’ve been due to my long-legged legs me being the only tourist around. The activity’s very safe with the quality of the hanging bridges and metal walkways and stairs. If you’re someone whose adrenaline loves the likes of tying your junk to a bungee or throwing it off planes, though, you’ll definitely prefer actually climbing Taraw Cliff instead.

Got some banana-pineapple shake (sosyal) to counter the blazing sun on my way back and came home to an empty inn. The sight was quite melancholic.

Nacpan Beach

Past midday I hopped on a scooter (remembering Bantayan!) and made my way to Nacpan Beach, stopping by the sign to Nagkalit-kalit Falls despite not having the slightest intention of getting wet there. Being in a van previously, I didn’t remember the road from the highway being unpaved at all.

I brought my loaf and cheese spread and at around two o’clock feasted on it together with the pancit bam-i I ordered at the cottage where I was loafing, all the while watching noobs people play volleyball using a minuscule net. For not having the custom of photographing everything yet, I don’t have a single proof of the cold beer that was quenching me. Shame!

The water was low but as serene and unclouded as it was.

When the sun drew closer to half past four I walked towards the capes to relive the cult for perspectives, saying hi to furries along the way.

I was already nearing my journey’s end when scooters scooted past me, making me bang my head the way Sia sang it, for the reason that I could’ve done the same had I seen someone ride one on the beach beforehand.

Nacpan and Calitang Beach—the twin beaches—were naturally in a dry state because of the tide.

I then carried on to the headland at the farther end. During my my first visit, our group had to retreat and stop exploring further because my companions were lazy asses one of my companions got dizzy.

Quite some view below, right? Only that it would’ve been way better if my scooter was with the lot. #bitter

The vantage point from this cape was made more picturesque by the presence of a tree, making the cape reminiscent of where the Kirikos lived during the Hunter Exam. With the right coverage, a shot could look as if looking at the beach through a forest. Kabog!

Pictured on the top right below is the headland with a view of the twin beaches. Would you go this far?

I got reunited with my scooter and lambasted it for not taking me across the beach 37 minutes past five and was back on the balcony yet again before darkness completely swallowed the day. That night I had pasta again at the same restaurant where I dined on my first night. Clingy, I know.

Puerto Princesa

I was leaving El Nido after lunch so on my penultimate day I just took a dip in front of the inn and fraternized with boats. That was also the last time my Ricoh camera was seen alive. Who was I to know that water was already seeping through the bastard?

I visit churches when I get the chance when traveling so I did that as well. You gotta be thankful, you know.

I arrived at Dallas Inn in Puerto Princesa at 6:00 PM and found myself chitchatting with a Kiwi couple in the 8-bed mixed dorm room. I’ve always sucked at geography and capitals and my knowledge that Auckland is the capital of New Zealand (well, it used to be) was debunked. Pretty much the same when I only learned in Sydney that Canberra is the capital of Australia. Yeah, my whole life has been a lie.

Despite having four bottles of Pale Pilsens that night I still managed to publish more than a year’s worth of post on my personal blog following flipping another year. Or was it all thanks to the drive brought about by the no-holds-barred moans of the foreign couple who banged the night away? Such music to my ears, it was.

The same melancholy in El Nido crept in on my last day after waking up and seeing that everyone had already gone for the day. But with Rasty and Airen—the inn’s cordial attendants—around, the feeling fleeted. We connected on Facebook and I remember Rasty being very approving of people who do local tourism on their own. He had a handful of necklaces with shells as pendants and asked me to take some to give to loved ones.

The greatest takeaway of the trip? Always bring a photo that you can easily dispose. ‘Course I added an entry to the map on the board. Ako pa sad! #kumpetitib

Tips

• For being among the most coveted destinations in the Philippines both by locals and forangers, flights to Palawan are aplenty and could be very cheap at times.
• Solo travel to El Nido is a piece of cake as you can easily join other groups in island hopping tours. Some may even include a visit to Nacpan Beach and/or Nagkalit-kalit Falls.
• Tricycles are readily available should you wish to check out nearby places and don’t know how to handle a scooter or motorcycle.
• Go for an accommodation near the beach so you can chill out or go swimming if you feel like doing so, pronto.
• As usual, avoid holidays and weekends if you want to steer clear of the horde of tourists. The presence of many people, bundled with the nature of tides, could mean that some stops during island hopping may be skipped.
• If you’re flying to and from Puerto Princesa and have or can make extra time, try to squeeze in activities there.
• Most importantly, don’t be gloomy when it’s gloomy. It was all drizzly before I flew out of Manila so I anticipated the same in El Nido especially with the forecast. For that reason I brought a laptop to be busy with in case I’ll be stuck indoors because of the weather. Life really is like a box of chocolates as the sun was melting me good throughout the trip.

Expenses

Visited: August 2016

The post Going Solo in El Nido: An Itinerary appeared first on Itinerant.

After paying a visit to Nagkalit-kalit Falls and Nacpan Beach, we were back at El Nido Sands Inn before three o’clock and had ample time to rest and prepare for our fourth day in Palawan which involved nothing else but a good swim at Long Beach in San Vicente. Around two and a half hours later, we got the ball rolling for our transit.

Accommodation

After transferring to a different van at a junction and traversing a hardly lit road which wasn’t paved all throughout and seemingly didn’t pass any civilization, we arrived at Myrla’s Garden and Cottages in Barangay New Agutaya a little over half past seven. I was starving and was very glad that in less than an hour we were already called for dinner; we had squid, fish, and chicken afritada.

Our visit to the archipelagic province wasn’t at the peak of the summer months and San Vicente wasn’t on the same level as El Nido and Puerto Princesa in terms of popularity so it wasn’t surprising that we were the only guests around (well, AFAIR). We karaoke~d until midnight (maxed it, mate!) and, thanks to GSM Blue and Red Horse, even danced the night away in the open air outside our rooms. Alak pa!!!

The 14-Kilometer Beach

Twelve hours after dinner and seven hours after the gyrating, we had dried fish and eggs for breakfast. And I just feel the need to say that before leaving for Long Beach, I had an acquaintance…

Long Beach was only 500 meters away from Myrla’s Garden and Cottages. We entered through a path which had a sign of an entrance fee but since no one was around to collect it, we just gave the payment to ourselves. #kurap The beach was as bare as a newborn’s butt cheeks; where we were, there were no establishments at all.

How annoying can it get when you anticipate a very sweet panorama shot only to find out that someone bombed it?

The place was deserted like a desert but there was a bamboo table and a suspended bench supported by tires. I’m no stranger to my companions so, for the very first time and for a change, I decided to strip down to swimming trunks. Life’s too short not to try on new fabrics for other people to see, right? You will always be judged anyway.

We lazed around, captured photos, and swam to the skies. The water was unbelievably crystal and overall the place reminded me of Nacpan Beach.

What if…I wear a fedora?

As far as our eyes could see, there were no other tourists who strut on the sugary white sand during our two-hour stay in Long Beach. Again, it could’ve been due to the off-peak season and the place not being as popular as other Palawan destinations yet. Also, given that Long Beach is said to be 14 kilometers long (allegedly making it the longest white sand beach in the Philippines) and has rocky headlands that interrupt the continuous expanse of its length, another possibility is that there were actually other tourists but they were in the other coves.

Monkey (D. Luffy) see, monkey do. The shot was blurry, though, as if MTRCB intercepted the shutter.

We had a very hectic schedule (artesta?) so we returned to Myrla’s at midday, just in time for lunch. Our ABS-CBN executive producer being constantly on the phone with a certain “Ms. Alma” instantly became a running joke since day one. At 3:00 PM, we were on the lookout for a bus going back to the capital.

Tips

• Long Beach spans multiple barangays of San Vicente so should you want to explore its entirety and you know how to ride a scooter, well, you now know what you can rent.
• While the part of the Long Beach that we were on had nothing was unspoiled, it wasn’t surprising that in reality, given its stretch, other parts of it already have beachfront resorts. As an emerging tourist destination, it could eventually become an alternative to Boracay.
• San Vicente is where Port Barton, a known Palawan destination, is so if you’re traveling from Puerto Princesa to El Nido or vice versa and plan to drop by, you can kill two birds with Long Beach as the other one.
• San Vicente has been made more accessible with the presence of an airport. Fly away!

Visited: August 2015

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Thanks to how the Internet has evolved, people are learning about things that have been under their noses all along. For instance, it was only until travel blogs were ubiquitous and social media was rampant with misinformation that I became aware of Bega Falls, located in the municipality just next to my hometown in the province of Agusan del Sur. Better late than never, I guess?

“Let’s go to Bega Falls tomorrow!” expressed a classmate during an afternoon trip to Pugad Beach—the only beach we had back in the day—in Surigao del Sur. Having had my fare share of drinks already, the declaration fell between “Let’s do it!” and “Sure, as long as everyone remembers it and wakes up on time tomorrow.”

The next thing I knew, I was packing stuff after groggily reading a message that we were supposed to have left 50 minutes ago.

Transportation

As the future is nothing but uncertainties, at the time of writing getting on a flight to Butuan is the quickest way for you to biga at Bega Falls. Other options are the airports in and Surigao and Davao. Unless you’re taking the route from Surigao which doesn’t pass through Butuan, the point where you need to get off when taking public transportation is at Awa Junction (intersection) located in Prosperidad. It’s around 1.5 hours from Butuan and farther when coming from Davao.

If you’re taking public transportation all the way, there should be motorcycles known as “habal-habal” at Awa that can take you to Bega Falls which is part of Barangay Mabuhay. These rides are notorious for rough roads but you can bet on your sorry ass that there’s not gonna be any of it as there’s already a concrete road network all the way to the stairs.

Unlike the day before, the mastermind of the trip didn’t bring the kids so it was only her husband and our other classmate who was also around the day before and was probably as oblivious as I was earlier that day. I think I was the only first-timer. The couple had a car and from Awa, we made a wrong left turn which became evident when the road was no longer paved. We still asked a kid anyway.

Mastermind: Dong, mangutana unta mi. Diri ba ang paingon Bega?
Kid: Dili uy! Didto pa sa unahan!

The correct left was at the next three-way intersection. Watch out for any sign that mentions “Bega Falls” but if there’s no sign and your gut is telling you that that’s it, ask someone before turning 90°. From the right (the definition which means “correct” and not the direction) turn was a 15-minute drive to the entrance to Bega Park & Resort.

Orientation

There was no other group when we arrived and first things were first: “Is drinking allowed and is there a store where we can buy something to drink?” The answer to both was a no, leaving us with the whatnots we grabbed from a 7-Eleven. Because in essence it was a spur-of-the-moment decision, our preparations were the complete opposite of what we had for Pugad Beach.

The orientation was primarily on wildlife preservation and the mandatory rental of cottage and life vests. It also turned out that children under a certain age were not allowed.

On our way to the car for a five-minute (approximately) ride to the actual gateway to Bega Falls, another group materialized with children who looked like they were under the age limit. It didn’t look like they won’t be allowed to go to the falls, though. Also, one of them ditched renting a life vest as she claimed that she won’t go swimming. Hmm… Don’t me!

Stairway to Falling

The point where vehicles become inferior to lazy humans are at the top of the stairs leading to the waterfalls. What immediately caught my attention was a notice which stipulated that only “excessive drinking of liquor” is prohibited. I knew it! Not that I had a single drop with me but you get the point.

The steps were supposed to be around 400 but I didn’t count to confirm it because there are much more important things in life. Still, it doesn’t hurt so feel free to do so when you get there and let me know?. It was a walk in the park since it was literally all downhill (alam na!). You just need to be careful with each step especially when it’s wet. In less than ten minutes we were at the foot of our the stairs.

The Waterfalls

Bega Falls is essentially a tiered waterfall, described as those that have more than one level or tier but are close enough to be seen together from one vantage point. There’s gotta be more than three tiers, but as of this writing these three are the most accessible and have amenities in the form of concrete cottages and restrooms.

The first waterfall was deserted. We would’ve been told upfront if it weren’t the case, but I was really glad that the water was clear despite the weather. It’s not like there was a downpour every single day prior to our visit, but you never know when Mother Nature decides to be a bitch and turn the water brown, right? It was actually drizzling when we came on the scene but after seeing the vodka water I couldn’t have cared less if it suddenly rained cats and dogs.

Our crosshair was on the topmost waterfall so it was immediately exit stage left for us after taking a snap.

Level 3

On our short walk to the third level (I’ll stick to this term and abandon “tier” hereon) we caught a glimpse of the second level. When we reached the coveted waterfall, I was blown away (in a wholesome way) by its monstrosity. It was ginormous and definitely living up to its name.

Now, where did Bega Falls get its name? I had to do some reading and while there are multiple versions of the folklore, it all goes down to a woman’s (fairy’s, in others) seduction. (Seductress ang peg ng lola niyo.) “Biga” is the easy translation of “flirt” in our mother tongue. That was also the first word that popped into my head the first time I heard the name even without knowing any legend pertaining to the waterfalls. But if you ask me, I would say that “lust” is a more appropriate translation. It’s more lubricous.

bigaon: lusftful

We weren’t able to get a cottage near the vertical drop because they were all occupied. But heck, we could’ve just settled on the rocks for all I care! I checked out the restroom, stripped to my swimming gear, and soberly munched whatever everyone had because it was already half past midday and we were hungreh.

There was a lookout for visitors but he wasn’t reprimanding those who were swimming without life vests. We were, however, told off that we have to pay for the bamboo raft tethered to a wire if we want to pull ourselves on it to the heart of the cold-hearted plunge pool. Being the close-fisted folks that we were (“baksidor”, as we would call it), we turned down the offer since we all know how to swim anyway.

Video

I wanted to stay longer but since our arrival wasn’t the earliest and Bega Falls had more to offer, a quarter before two o’clock we descended to the lower level. Oh, oh! I wouldn’t skip mentioning that before we went back to our cottage and left, the people cleared up so we managed to score photobomb-free shots showcasing how minuscule humans look next to the waterfall! (Yes, I’m this ecstatic when it comes to these things.)

Can you spot the woman who has her back on the camera?

Level 2

We didn’t backtrack and took a different path to get to the next level and the only presence that greeted us was that of another lookout. It felt surreal having the place just to ourselves. There were two visibly separated cascades on this level (twinning, anyone?) and the edge of their basin was overlooking the first waterfall that we skipped.

Kayaks were available and were most probably for rent but I’m not really into them so I never even thought about asking if they really were. At this point it made sense why renting a cottage is mandatory—each level has its own set of cottages and the payment encompasses the use of any of them. It would be problematic, though, when there’s a horde of visitors and some aren’t able to use what they paid for.

Level 1

Reverting to the first level, we also followed a different trail. There was one group when we arrived but none of them were swimming. Similar to the previous levels, this one had a deep and very swimmable plunge pool. Don’t let that scare you if you ain’t a swimmer, as the compulsory rental of life vests is highly unlikely gonna go away.

Like in the preceding waterfall, the preceding waterfall was visible from this level, clearly putting up Bega Falls in the ranks of tiered waterfalls. (I know, waterfall overload there.)

It shouldn’t be surprising since it’s a forest but I was still amazed after seeing another exhibit (pardon the misspelling on it) of its fauna. Lots of snakes there, creatures that have always freaked me out and possibly the form a Boggart would take if I were to encounter one.

Ascent

With the hundreds of steps fully going downwards to get to the waterfalls, reality must’ve been warped by Wanda Maximoff if by the time you return it’s not the complete opposite. If you’ve been skipping leg day, it’s not gonna be easy even with landing stations with benches for resting. A kid had a temper tantrum that he was throwing “Yeah, right!” at his mother each time she says that they’re almost there. No pain, no gain, kiddo! I won’t deny that it was really amusing to watch while realizing how hard it would be for senior citizens. I was panting like a bitch dog.

On our way back to San Francisco we stopped by a restaurant called Tikyo and filled the void of a hunger deep within. A decent meal, at least! Had to give the place a negative review, though, as the reply was in the negative when I asked, “Do you have beer?”

Tips

• Prosperidad is more known as “Bah-Bah” (yes, with the h’s there) so if you don’t wanna sound touristy, you could use it instead when telling the conductor or driver where you’re headed.
• As far as I’m concerned, “junction” isn’t widely used so when you mention it when asked where you’re getting off and they pull their eyebrows together, use “crossing” instead i.e. “Awa Crossing in Bah-Bah”.
• The road from Awa leads to a fork to Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur so if you’re having a sort of Mindanao tour and from Butuan intend to visit at least one of those provinces, dropping by Bega Falls wouldn’t hurt.
• Another road leading directly to the first waterfall was under construction so by the time that it’s finished the stairs’ popularity might start declining. Unless people are in for a leg day, of course!
• As with any other waterfall (shoutout to Igpasungaw and Nagkalit-kalit), there will be days when the flow of water is small-scale and days when the water isn’t crystal.

Expenses

Visited: November 2020

The post Visiting Bega Falls in Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur appeared first on Itinerant.

As per the timestamps of my photos, we arrived at Nacpan Beach in the neighborhood of 30 minutes after the quick wallow at Nagkalit-kalit Falls. Our mode of transfer was a shuttle (van) which the landlady of El Nido Sands Inn arranged exclusively for our group. Other modes of transportation include renting a tricycle or a scooter (tried the latter on my second visit).

The Beach

At around ten o’clock, the long stretch of beach was next to deserted with only very few people, the powdery sand and azure waters extending on both directions against the horizon under a clear sky. There wasn’t any need for it in our case but if you want some quiet time instead of being amidst a crowd, either ends of the beach is your destination.

Before waging war against the sun, we helped ourselves to a late breakfast which was also prepared ahead by the inn. It was superb like our lunch the day before. Unfortunately, a knife succumbed to death following its battle against a watermelon. You fought well, Knifey.

Four-legged friends kept us company and one of them seemed to have gotten the habit of constantly touching people’s hearts for food. Who was I not to give in to a domesticated fur with such mischievous innocent eyes?!

After initiating another cheat day, we went for the cape on the south end to check out views of the twin beaches—Nacpan and Calitang—and along the way we passed by a community. The ocean was quite the temptress and the photo of a boatman carrying his boat reminds me of Eren Kruger after he revealed himself to Grisha Yeager.

The Cape

With grasses on the rocky promontory, I thought one particular photo dump was obligatory.

Our planner for the trip, Cha a.k.a. the lady in red, didn’t waste any breath and headed to the nearest high point from where we landed which, for some reason, had a prop ready in the form of a wooden bench.

Being the kumpetitib and epal that I am, I ventured even further for another high point that juts out into the sea.

The rest mustn’t have been inspired by Michael Bolton as they didn’t go the distance and just stayed downstairs, seemingly keeping up to date with what was on the news while trying to be shady. (See what I did there?)

Being on the farthest position, I had such a broad perspective and panoramic views were at my disposal, which of course included the signature view of Nacpan Beach and Calitang Beach sharing the same shore. (Does that mean they’re also caring since sharing is caring? *wondering emoji*)

Twin Beaches

Before long, the lady in red was already leading a cult. All hail Blood Reina!

We no longer headed to the other headland; someone got lightheaded and had a poor vision on our way back, probably due to the heat, that we had a runner do his thing for some water from the community we saw earlier. Run, Forrest, run!

With everything good, we packed our things and went home. Nah, that would’ve been among the greatest crimes of all time. ‘Course we luxuriated in the waters! The waves were close to none and the tide allowed us to get some distance from the beach. Phew!

We had lunch (we still had a lot of food!), had group photos taken, and then left around two o’clock. Rather early, yes, but that was for us to be able to ready ourselves and get a bit of rest as we were bound for San Vicente on the same day. I can’t believe I wasn’t day drinking though. Not a single one. Why!?

Nacpan Beach is a must-not-skip destination when you have time in El Nido. And while you’re at it, make sure that you also drop by Nagkalit-kalit Falls. There’s just no reason not to because it’s along the way. In fact, while this wasn’t one, there are also island hopping tours which may include both Nacpan Beach and Nagkalit-kalit Falls. Your choice.

Expenses

Our round trip ride from El Nido was exclusive to our group and inclusive of a stopover at Nagkalit-kalit Falls.

Visited: August 2015

The post Day Trip to Nacpan Beach in El Nido appeared first on Itinerant.

For having only two bottles the night before after our El Nido island hopping, we were on the road and back to our senses before seven o’clock and in around 25 minutes were already parked to start the hike to Nagkalit-kalit Falls. The entrance fee and tour guide cost us ₱770. Doing the math necessitates the counting of our heads in the foregoing post or carrying on.

The Hike

Rivers will have to be crossed so you might wanna ditch those shoes (but not the red dress!). I have my reasons, so along the way I was putting on some sunblock. #reasons #defensive

There was a track of what looked like that of a slithering snake but if it wasn’t that of such (a) reptile, then it was probably by your best friend who’s about to perform an act of perfidy (or already did).

You know what they say: silent still waters run deep. #mema

The Waterfall

In more or less than 40 minutes we reached Nagkalit-kalit Falls and since he who hesitates is lost, I took it off and jumped into the water without shilly-shally. Because like beaches, waterfalls shouldn’t just be looked at. (Well, at least for me.)

One happy kiddo.

Like other waterfalls, Nagkalit-kalit Falls provides free massage with no extra service.

Cliff Jumping

Our tour guide demoed where we could cliff jump so who were we not to do it? Gehee.

There were only three of us who indulged in the water and the rest were just onlookers, which was actually nice in that we had a dry maniniyot for some mowdel-mowdelan.

And mind you, our background below looks like the Devil’s Snare.

We only stayed for approximately 30 minutes but it was more than enough as we had the place to ourselves; a foranger came by but just added to the audience impact.

We retraced our steps through the wilderness called life and were back on the road a little past nine, about an hour after we arrived at the waterfall.

When in El Nido, you might as well get wet at Nagkalit-kalit Falls and be the early birdies (what’s new) at it. The hike was not like going to Igpasungaw Falls where slippery rocks offer you the opportunity of going with the flow. Malayo sa atay. We were on our way to Nacpan Beach when we visited and were lucky the torrent was substantial.

Expenses

Visited: August 2015

The post Nagkalit-kalit Falls: A Stopover to Nacpan Beach appeared first on Itinerant.

It was already 37 minutes past three in the morning when I did a final check if all the plugged gadgets were charging, ensuring we have enough juice for our El Nido island hopping activity. Following firefly watching in Iwahig (where I have no proof of the sightings because I was too busy dramatically thinking if a croc was gonna attack our boat in the dark), we flew from Puerto Princesa to El Nido in a van. It was one of those moments where you get to be thankful for an nth life, where n > 1.

We stayed at El Nido Sands Inn which was directly facing the playa. Of course, during that time I had no idea that “playa” is “beach” in Spanish. The place was basic with no air-conditioning, and I’m saying that not for a negative connotation but to point out that there really was no need for us to stay at a fancy accommodation since we were essentially staying for just one night. Young, wild, and free, if I may say. (On cue, Snoop and Wiz!)

El Nido island hopping has different flavors. We were to select from Tours A through D and we went for a combination of A and C, the supposed crowd favorite, and had a boat to ourselves since there were seven of us. After some food and beverage to start the day and some goofing on the balcony, we set off at eight minutes past nine.

Only a few meters away from the mainland, we were greeted by a turtle. I wasn’t adroit enough to take a snap though.

Helicopter Island

In around half an hour we arrived at our first destination—Helicopter Island. You might think of a position when you hear “helicopter” but even a kid should be able to tell why the island is named so. We spent the next 30 minutes snorkeling and socializing with Ariel’s minions besties.

Nemo, our favorite clam, and corals were in for the attendance check.

We still had a long day ahead of us so as much as we wanted to savor the white sand on our feet and check out the island itself, it was time to move on and set sail again.

Hidden Beach

El Nido is known for its limestone cliffs and it never comes short of them. Another 30 minutes elapsed and Hidden Beach was already in sight. The tide wasn’t what John Holt belts out in his song (it was already Atomic Kitten’s and Kardinal Offishall’s versions during my time) so the boat couldn’t be beached and we had to reach the beach ourselves.

The Beach and All Saints singing “Pure Shores” was what immediately came to my mind upon beaching. Trivia: Although the novel of the same name (Wikipedia, ikaw ba ‘yan?) from which the movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio was based was set in Thailand, the author was allegedly inspired to write it after visiting Palawan. Di mabasol.

What six-letter s-verb first comes to mind?

We had a lot of choreographed group photos on this beach but majority of them have bombs so I’m settling with the one below. After frolicking for about half an hour, we made our way back to the boat and headed off to Matinloc Shrine.

Matinloc Island

After approximately 27 minutes (don’t ask me, but the duration of our transfers from one island to another up to this point seemed consistent), pointed cliffs of Matinloc Island greeted us before revealing the shrine behind them.

Aside from the Virgin Mary and angel statues under the dome, there was also a statue of Jesus Christ on the island.

Hardly any time was spent on swimming here; we exhausted our stay by sniffing around, taking photos, and climbing the cliffs by the shrine. As they say, never settle for less so aim for the high one!

Secret Beach

It was midday when we left for our next destination and along the way our boatmen started cooking our almuerzo. I didn’t really search beforehand what to expect so I was absolutely ecstatic when we were told that to reach Secret Beach we have to swim through a hole. *grinning emoji*

See that hole right there? Let’s get ready to rumble!

With uncalm waves, swimming to the concealed beach was so reminiscent of when we swam a great distance from our boat to the shores of Apo Island without life vests and, as confident as we were with our swimming skills, ended up struggling. That was another life and I’ll spare the story for a different post.

Just right before the orifice was a massive school of sardines which I would’ve mingled with had I already known how to hold my breath better then, had flippers, and the waves were pacific. (Muchas condiciones amp!)

But first, let me take a selfie with my ever reliable flappy little wings.

From the looks of it, the beach is also accessible when the tide is high (there, I finally spilled the lyrics) by climbing over the crevice (or whadever it’s called) seen below. Why’d I fail to ask the guides for kanfeermation, I wonder?

The soulmates didn’t join us; I had my Game of Thorns moment. Secret Beach certainly wasn’t a long stretch but we still spent a good amount of time on it.

Secret Lagoon

Seventeen minutes past one o’clock it was when we approached Secret Lagoon, our preantepenultimate stop. Again, our boat had to be docked away from the shore because of the water level. It was great, actually, because the background was like no other. Like no other!

If the view below doesn’t impress you then I don’t know what will. #gondo

An advantage of having a boat exclusively to your group, aside from providing flexibility in your pit stops, is it won’t be awkward taking photos on the bow (unless you’re comfortable with strangers watching you, of course). You can have as many shots as you want until the perfectionist in you is satisfied. Lights, camera, accion!

At half past one, we fin’lly feasted on the scrumptious meal our boatmen prepared. Por supuesto there was rice! Nyormnyorm.

When we’ve had our fill, we started our search for a Horcrux. Apart from watching out for sharp rocks on my way, I was also on the lookout for critters in the shallows. No big deal.

For not being witches and wizards who can apparate, we had to walk to the left to the entrance of the lagoon.

Fortunately, no sacrifice in the form of blood like what Dumbledore did was necessary as the hatch was wide open.

With the stillness of the water licked by a gloomy sky and the way we broke into the lagoon, it was as if we were in the cave where Voldemort You-Know-Who hid Slytherin’s Locket, one of his Horcruxes. If we weren’t there to steal it, then we probably were among the Inferi.

I failed to ask again but it appears that the lagoon can also be accessed through the crevice when there’s a rise in the water level.

Big Lagoon

Including our lunchtime, we lasted for an hour and around 40 minutes before proceeding to Big Lagoon which was roughly a 10-minute ride. Yet again, as the tide wasn’t in our boat’s favor, we made use of our limbs—for ten minutes—to reach deep waters.

Seeing what lay beyond reminded me of another movie: The Lord of the Rings.

Always watch out for this spiny sea creature. For being a prick having been pricked thrice already at the time of writing, perhaps I should add vinegar to my checklist?

Big Lagoon would be my favorite in the tour even with the low tide taken into consideration. The water was placid and perfect for practicing freediving, which is again quite a shame that I wasn’t any better with my lungs then and didn’t have fins.

Our plunge was a bit abrupt despite the size of the place but I still enjoyed it as evident in the lack of photos while we were at it. That didn’t mean that the shabu pose could escape though.

On our way back my company maximized the “availability” of land while I chose to be with marine life by retracing my steps. Was worth it.

Small Lagoon

We reached Small Lagoon at four o’clock after about ten minutes of transfer from the bigger one. One hole for the road! It was as peaceful as Secret Lagoon.

At this point my back was already burnt to a crisp. Not that I cared. I am dust, and to dust I shall return anyway.

And then we were finally off to our final stop.

Seven Commandos Beach

It was nearing five o’clock when we were arriving at Seven Commandos Beach and from afar I could already tell why it was the last stop. With the presence of huts, there was no denying that were was gonna be a place to buy food.

Of course, I was actually looking forward to drinks. And I naturally had my gesture of triumph when their presence was kanfeermed. Thinking back, I couldn’t believe I didn’t bring booze with us. Would’ve been sweet being squiffy all the way. Hic!

While we were waiting for the sun to set over beers, our girls were being hit on by a foranger. Isang round nemen jen!

There was a tree swing near the store and someone had his Wrecking Ball moment. #ngeshu #LawitDilaPaMore

Capping off the El Nido island hopping activity on Seven Commandos Beach is a great option. You can chill out on the sand, get one final soak, or just wait for the sun to be swallowed whole while finishing a bottle and thinking about decisions you failed to make in the shower. We passed an hour and a quarter more on the island.

As we were setting out for the mainland, another heavenly body was attitudinizing; the moon was beaming, as if reassuring the horizon that the sun is already out of the way. (Gracias, Samsung Galaxy Camera!)

And can I just mention the cavity on the cliff below? For what it’s worth, it felt like a Wall Titan should’ve been in it.

Apparently Seven Commandos Beach is not far from where we started the day, as in less than 20 minutes we were already back at El Nido Sands Inn, excited for dinner and the bottles of Excelente and G.S.M. Blue Mojito.

Tips

• Private tours are also possible in which you don’t get mixed with other tourists and you can select which islands to go to (i.e. you can stay on them as long as you want).
• Ask about how the day’s tide will affect your destinations.
• If you want to maximize visiting islands, I’d say you have to be in El Nido for at least two days.

Expenses

The following day we proceeded to Nagkalit-kalit Falls and Nacpan Beach.

Visited: August 2015

The post El Nido Island Hopping Tours A & C: What to Expect appeared first on Itinerant.

Bucas Grande has always been under my radar due to its proximity to my home province. When I fin’lly (wow, twang again) had the chance to visit it, what I actually had in mind was a typical island hopping activity. Apparently, you can also swim with stingless jellyfish in Sohoton Cove. (The use of “stingless” there may have been unnecessary. Who wants to get hurt, right?) My GoPro was still alive back then and the nasty little devils sure did a very good job in showcasing how much wonder there is beneath the surface.

Socorro

Because the municipality of Socorro where Bucas Grande belongs to is adjacent to Siargao Island, Sohoton Cove is easily reachable via island hopping tours from Siargao (I only learned recently that there’s already one in Klook). In our case, our entry point was Hayanggabon Port in Claver, Surigao del Norte and from there we looked for an available boat that can accommodate our headcount.

So as not to deviate from the main event, I’ll spare the details on a separate post on how we dropped by a fancy resort for sightseeing (I’m not really a fan of expensive stuff so I didn’t get its name) and went spelunking.

Cliff Jumping

Touring Sohoton Cove is regulated so we transferred to smaller boats (this may not be the case when you’re coming in from Siargao) in order for us to proceed and explore islets, lagoons, and limestone caves. There was even a cliff jumping spot. It’s not that high of a jump but to get to it you need to go through a cave. So instead of retracing your steps, you might as well exit through the platform by jumping into the water.

Before we headed back to our main boat our boatmen asked if we were interested in getting intimate with jellyfishes. We needed to pay extra as it wasn’t part of what we paid for but that was immediately out of the question as my eyes were already gleaming just from hearing it. It’s something you should never miss; it’s out of this world.

Stingless Jellyfish

As they may not be provided, make sure to bring gargles goggles if you have a pair. Or better yet, a mask and a snorkel. Believe me—and I take it that the photos so far are enough proof—that the experience is absolutely not the same when you’re just observing the critters from the surface. Had I known beforehand, I would’ve even brought flippers (not sure if they’d allow them though since using them might be harmful to the jellyfish).

If you have an underwater camera that has a wide-angle lens, use it not just for photos but for videos as well. I would say that the best way to do the latter would be to swim around. You’ll see how wicked it’ll appear and feel in the video below.

The stingless jellyfish in Sohoton Cove is not one of a kind. There’s Jellyfish Lake in Palau and a similar lake with the same name in Kakaban Island in Indonesia. It wasn’t a lake in Sohoton though so it’s likely that there will be times that the magnificent creatures aren’t around. But hey! It’s definitely a cheaper option for the same (or even better?!) experience. We went in the month of April and herewith is the hullabaloo. Volume up for unearthly sounds!

Video

Expenses

Visited: April 2017

The post Swim with Stingless Jellyfish in Sohoton Cove appeared first on Itinerant.

Following our quickie (which didn’t feel like one, by the way) in Hinugtan Beach, we made our way from Alegria, Aklan to Sebaste, Antique in two tricycle rides and one bus ride within two hours. From there we hopped on one more tricycle and arrived at the jump-off point to Igpasungaw Falls around three o’clock.

Transportation

Reaching Igpasungaw Falls is easy-peasy because Sebaste is accessible by buses from Caticlan, Kalibo, and Iloilo. Our transportation was unconventional because we had a jam-packed weekend itinenarny itinerary and couldn’t afford to wait for one. We had to keep moving, just like in life. (YEHES!)

The Hike

Like other regulated tourist attractions, registration is required before the chase can commence. It drizzled as we started the hike but it was over before we even thought about turning on our heels. Rivers will have to be crossed along the way and ropes may be necessary to avoid literally going with the flow. We arrived at our first stop in roughly 30 minutes.

After acclimatizing to the water, we headed off for 15 minutes to the next stop, where I realized how worthwhile the visit was.

The Waterfalls

There’s no better background for a group photo.

If you have an eagle eye (which I doubt), you must’ve noticed that it’s the waterfall in the topmost photo. That’s right, it’s possible to go behind it. Of course, it could be very slippery so extreme caution should be taken. If ever you fall—in the same way you fell for someone who didn’t reciprocate your feelings—don’t go against gravity and just plummet into the water, like what my classmate did.

We arrived at our last stop, where a wide pool was sitting, waiting to be harassed disturbed, in less than 10 minutes. I guess this would have to be what everyone considers as the Igpasungaw Falls.

Sliding down (if you can slide up, do let me know) the first two waterfalls was no trick, but before we did it we walked a tad further to check what was around and, well, immortalize the experience in photos.

Who doesn’t want a massage, right? Although it was such a shame there was no extra service.

Waterfall Slide

And then it was the moment of truth. Could I be contemplating about my decisions in life here, thinking that it may not be too late?

And then it was too late. There was a bubbly light, and I thought I was done for. (Nah.)

Being the #influencer that I am, I wasted no time in shouting at the other two, telling them that there’s no point in delaying the deed.

We slid together side-by-side on the next one, leading to the photo below which is quite reminiscent of the one we had in Guimaras while in the middle of the ocean.

We had the place to ourselves but my hunch told me that it gets crowded on perfectly sunny days especially in the morning. In any case, start early so you can wallow in the waters all day and have all the stopovers that you want. It’s an easy trail and your only adversaries are the slippery rocks and current when crossing rivers. If it’s raining or rained recently, that’s gonna be another story. The cascades when we were there were not at their mightiest but I’d say that the torrent doesn’t dictate how much you’ll have fun. Besides, the pools were just too good.

Expenses

The cost of the tricycle ride to and from the jump-off point was ₱500 and has been excluded because our final destination was Culasi. Haggle if you’re only going back to Sebaste.

Visited: June 2017

The post Igpasungaw Falls: An Escape in Antique appeared first on Itinerant.

If you haven’t heard the news, summer is basically upon us again. And before we know it, it could be almost over already. I already had a dose of Vitamin Sea so Bunker Dive Resort ain’t the first for this season but because I loved our quickie how quick and easy it was to get there, here I am, bragging about it first.

Transportation

The JAM Liner Terminal was crawling around 5:00 AM but thankfully most of the people weren’t bound for Lemery, Batangas. With an accident in EDSA that early, it was three hours and twenny (felt the twang there?) minutes before we got off in front of Xentro Mall. After munching at Jollibee we immediately headed off to the pickup point but were shookt (in case you’re not familiar with millenial slæng, that meant “shocked”) when an extension of EDSA was in town; the main road was under construction so I practically started sunbathing at the back of the tricycle driver.

Around 45 minutes elapsed and there we were, walking towards other groups of people who were also waiting to be whisked away. To my not-so surprise, I met two (which later became three) folks from last year’s getaways. Twenny more minutes for the boat ride and we were finally at Bunker Dive Resort which is already part of the municipality of Bauan.

Having arrived later than anticipated and with the beach just in front of the resort, we di(d)n’t waste another breath and made out with the aquatic life. On a different note, pardon my sleazy sneezy look in that photo.

Freediving

Bunker Dive Resort is perfect for snorkeling and learning and practicing freediving. It even takes things to greater heights when the sun is up and about and not behind the comfort of clouds.

Seeing boats come and go with passengers in life vests getting off to snorkel made me realize that it could be the same site that I went to a few years back with a different set of friends. That time not a single soul in our group brought money so the boatmen collecting the entrance fee or something got pissed. Thankfully we were not shooed. Anyway, that’s another story.

I haven’t really thought of enquiring rates but it didn’t come as a surprise that scuba diving was also available. Malamang. Or could it be that the massive school of trevally below simply drowned the thought away? How I wish I had a fishing net. I heard it’s better than using dynamites. JK!

Video

Part of our Bunker Dive Resort day tour was a buffet lunch but according to the lady in charge, they serve meals by the plate when there are only a few guests or guests don’t eat at the same time, which was the case when we were there. Now, I generally have quite the appetite and if it weren’t for the satisfactory underwater sightseeing, I would’ve gone berserk and flipped a table complained. We had pochero, laing, and chicken feet and the amount served was just right for us so I no longer bothered asking if they would be refilling it.

The water was already cold in the morning but in the afternoon it felt even colder that even with fins, propelling around was no longer easy. Nonetheless, we still lasted for two hours and saw more creatures up-close as well as other schools of fish.

First off… Nemo!

The crown-of-thorns starfff… Wait, what? How could this be a starfish. *inserts grumpy emoji here* Turns out it’s a nasty coral predator. Puksain!

Brain, anyone?

A year-long supply of unlimited beer on me to the first one who can tell me the name of these transparent-looking fishes that open their mouth like “Whuuut?” while swimming swiftly. Offer expires in five seconds.

Accommodations

I’ve been told that sea turtles can be seen early in the morning; you can opt to stay overnight if you intend to catch a glimpse of them or if a day trip simply isn’t enough for you. They have fan and air-conditioned accommodations with rates starting at ₱1,750 inclusive of boat transfers and meals. For details you may contact them via their Facebook page. I’d say I’d spend the night next time.

Sunsets look stunning everywhere IMO (okay, that was “in my opinion”) and it isn’t any different when observed from Bunker Dive Resort and its neighboring resorts. The platforms photographed below add a touch to it. Some people were even well-prepared that they had props for their photos as the sun was being extinguished. If they want it that way then next time I’ll have a photo of me taken wearing this, wearing only this.

Tips

• If you’re going for just a day trip be there at your earliest to maximize your stay and experience!
• There was no corkage for food and drinks.
• There was free water and coffee so you might wanna skip bringing those.
• Neighboring resorts might be cheaper so you might wanna check them as well. One of them is Camp Raya.
• Be sure to check the schedule of the last bus going back to EDSA. It was 7:00 PM when we were there.

Expenses

Visited: March 2018

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