Martes, Mayo 5, 2015

Sambawan Island to Tinago Falls

"Don't just be a tourist, be a traveler" - the back packer guy  
One of the best ways to spend this summer is either by swimming into the beach or by dipping into refreshing waterfalls. But what if you enjoy those two options just in one place? Isn’t it exciting? Well if you are thinking for that perfect spot then Biliran Island should be place that you should be going. You should try visit Sambawan Island in Maripipi, Biliran and the Tinago Falls in Caibiran, Biliran. :D





The Crew

Souvenir picture for the group at the Biliran Bridge
It is adventurous if you travel with your friends, but what is more adventurous if you travel with your new friends whom you just meet on that day. isn't it amazing? :D:D:D This trip was really fun and an interesting one because aside that i enjoyed the scenic beauty of the Sambawan Island and the Tinago falls I meet new friends which are very friendly and interesting bunch of people.

Meet my new friends. see picture below (from left: Kintoy, Rey, Weng, Imman, Kris, Sian, Gie Anne, Sam and Billy) well at least I remember all there names...clap clap clap :P . 



Sambawan Island

Unique and simply amazing, those two words could describe this tiny island but very pleasing to the eyes. It is unique because of its island shape and the big rocks that can be found there. The sands there are not the typical one which is fine but it is mostly consist of small grained corals. You can easily appreciate the beauty of this island especially when you go at the top of its hill where there is a watch tower built there which is just a minute away of trekking from the beach. At the watch tower you can see the top view of the whole island, the volcanic form of Maripipi Island, parts of Western Samar and even the province of Masbate.




At the watch tower with Imman, Rey and Kint
Group Picture before late lunch :D

At the stairway to heaven hahaha
Pre-nup?

The rock formations

Touch down Sambawan Island

Love team (Imman and Kris)

The beach of Sambawan Island

At the Kawayan Port 

Top View of Sambawan Island



At the Watch Tower

Things you can do in Sambawan Island:
  • Of course swimming at the beach
  • Snorkeling 
  • Scuba Diving
  • Trekking towards the watch tower
  • Camping
  • Play Lucky 7 (new discovery)

Tinago Falls

It is already my second time to be here in this place but I'm still loving it. Here you can enjoy the refreshing water falling from above the mountain plus you can try mini cliff jumping (that's what we did). This place is perfect if you just want to feel the nature because it is surrounded by big trees. Its a must visit place especially this summer.



Budol Fight







To wrap things out, I really enjoyed this trip and yeah hope to travel more with you guys soon. Thank you for this amazing experience. Hope we can play Lucky 7 again.
Last Picture taking at the Biliran Bridge 




the photobombers



till next time pipskins....

a

Two Days, One Night in Olango Island

“A journey is best measured in friends, 
rather than miles.” – Tim Cahill
It was lovely Saturday morning when me and my classmate in college, Engr. Kint Canete together with his “friend “ Ms. Mae Alcontin were waiting for Ms. Ikuo Jane Limbaga together with her younger brother Akio outside the Movenpick Port in order for us to travel together going to Olango Island. Well, yeah it’s the second time for me and Ikuo to be in that place but for the three of them (Kint, Mae and Akio) it’s their first time plus it’ll going to be different because we’ll be staying there overnight so it’ll surely be another exciting and fun filled adventure.


Me, Mae and Kint while on the ferry boat.
Day 1 Activity

When we are at the Sulpa Island
The boat that we rented for just Php1,500. So sulit!
At the port we rented a motor banca for as to get there, and guess what? We only paid Php 1,500.00 for it, special thanks again to Ikuo we had a discount from Sir Didi the owner of the boat (well it’s really nice to have Ikuo when you travel cause she knows how to persuade and ask for discounts). We visited Sulpa Island and it was very peaceful and quiet, we are the only one who was very noisy there. After that, we decided to go now to Olango Island but before that we made a stopover at the middle of the sea for us to jump, dive, swim and enjoy the sea. When we docked to Olango, we have to walk for almost a kilometer to reach the shore since it was low tide. We went directly to Sir Diding’s  beach resort since he promised us that we will be free for our accommodation there.When we get there its already around 6:00 pm so we then set-up our tents.
Lunch at the boat while heading to our destinations.
Ikuo and Akio. Magkapatid
First Destination: Sulpa Island
Already 21 years old so okay nang uminom :D
Akio and the star fish
pabida ang start fish
that white sand and the two of them
rock formation and the sands
that clear water
Kintoy the explorer
Model of the day
Just enjoying the water
Night Activity

The fine sands, fresh sea breeze which blows through the leaves of the mangroves, the sweet sounds by the waves and of course the bonfire makes the moment very relaxing :-D . Since there's already a bonfire, we then start to eat our dinner (lechon manok + sinugbang bangus + sinugbang sa-ang = perfect). After taking our dinner, we then started our drinking session which is Emperador Light mixed with lime juice (perfect combination for my opinion). After few hours we walked through the bamboo made board walk until we reach the end zone. At the end of the boardwalk you can over see the city lights of Mactan Island and Cebu City which is very pleasing to the eyes plus the breeze allows you to release all the stresses you're bringing (actually while seating at the boardwalk we continue drinking and talking non sense to serious things and from funny moments to crying moments hahaha, we just simply released all the stresses from work). After few hours,from the tip of the board walk we then jump to the water and then swim and then feel fresh. I think its around 2 am when we start sleeping on our tents.


Day 2 Activity

Morning sa mga tent pipz
Sleep late but wake up early hahaha. As early as 5:30 am we are already awake seating on the bench drinking coffee while observing the locals picking sea shells. We then planned on the next activity that we'll be going. After planning, we then rented 2 motorcycles (for me and Kint since we are the drivers of the day) and went to Sta. Rosa to have a breakfast. Riding in me was Ikuo and Akio while on Kint her "friend" Mae :-P . After taking breakfast, we went directly to the Bird Sanctuary and enjoyed taking pictures to the different species of migratory birds and after which we went next to Sagastrand Beach Resort and take our lunch. There we stayed for almost 4 hours before we went back to our tents and packed up our things and then ride tricycle to bring us to the port going back to Mactan Island.

At the Bird Sanctuary credits to
Akio
Beautiful Mangroves at the background
The board walk heading to the observatory tower of the sanctuary. 
Birds from the different countries that refuels here in the this tiny but rich in bio diversity island.
Kintoy observing
Ikuo smiling and Mae seriously watching the birds with the aid of the telescope
Akio focusing hahaha

Chillin at Sagastrand Beach Resort after bird watching.
Lunch at the Sagastrand Beach Resort.
She is really hot.
The pool at the Sagastrand Beach Resort
Adventure in Olango is more fun the second time around. You gotta try this place.

Special Mention

Thank you so much for Sir Diding for the discounts and accommodation. Thank you also to the care taker of the resort where we stayed for being accommodating and gentle. also special thanks to the locals for being friendly and always wearing a smile whenever we asked questions or directions to them. LIKE!


How to get there

From Elizabeth Mall (or preferably called by many as E-Mall) commute a Jeepney (12J route) going to Cebu Port Terminal 3 and then take a ferry boat going to Lapu-Lapu City. Commute a Jeepney again going to Punta Engano and ask the driver to drop you at the Movenpick Hotel.