Philippine Travel Notes

I was quizzing my royal self, "could I do a day-tour to island destinations in Region 8 without having to stay there overnight"? Ah, only one way to find out - try! Ang tinamaan sa bucket list, Almeria in Biliran! Why Almeria? Well, there are two little islands that are purportedly good to visit. And they were next in my "places to see list", when I thought of this crazy experimenting idea, as just said above. They have been on my list for many years. I've even seen them from a distance! Kapinyahan and Dalutan Islands. So, the mental plan was hatched (kagabi lang).., 1) fly on a PAL early-morning flight from MNL to TAC (no other choice actually, since I've already been booked as such by one cruel assistant, galit yata eh); 2) be fetched at the airport by my service vehicle (yes, I have that 'luxury' as of now) then immediately speed off to Almeria; 3) tour and enjoy the 2 islands; and 4) be back in Tacloban by sunset or nightfall. Kaya ba? We...

Let's continue from my previous post . The views were interestingly clear compared to night shots that I've seen online. I also said this would've been better if I waited a bit more for sunset, but I could not... Anyway, below are two shots with things I want to tell you about Catbalogan (for now).., 1] Front and a little bit to the left, as viewed from the deck of Inang's Sky Garden Restaurant.., Those big, blue and/or red-roofed buildings at left are some edifices inside the Samar State University Main Campus (SSU Main). That is one of the best universities in Region VIII (Eastern Visayas Region). Trivia: as of now, SSU is the only state university in Region VIII that has a building with a lift (elevator)! That is in all of Eastern Visayas - Leyte, Samar and Biliran islands! But, do not shout to the whole wide world about it heheh! Hush lang kayo.., that (NEW) elevator is so tiny, apat na tao lang yata ang kasya! Well, if I may contradict my self.., we can ac...

We were on the way out of Catbalogan going Tacloban, not in a hurry.., on this "a bit of a gloomy day". To satisfy my curiosity, as we climbed the Maharlika Highway, going up and out of the city, I asked my 'pilot' to turn left to the diversion road, for us to peek at how Catbalogan looks from this hilly vantage. And we stumbled upon this restaurant with a view aptly named "Inang's Sky Garden".., While this was my first time to be in this 'restaurant with a view', I have seen this on some FB posts of friends, and even family - but all wonderfully at night. So, chance to check the views at mid-afternoon! How were the views? Well, interestingly clear - compared to the many (night views) that I have already seen online! Would've been a little bit more wonderfully dramatic if I waited for sunset. But I could not. Oh the waitress (owner?) was waiting for us to tell her our orders! I was not that hungry for food, I was just hungry for the ...

We ended with this pic in our previous story , right? The Floating Swimming Pool of Brgy. Cagutsan. Like us when we arrived, you may now be asking where's the "swimming pool" and how does it "float"? Well, I was not at all joking when I said THAT is the "floating swimming pool", marked by the two rows of bamboo rafts that act as the two ends of the 'pool'. The distance between them is the pool's length. Can you see it now? I mean, can you imagine it now? I know I know.., like I first did, you may now also be thinking "what kind of idiotic gimmick is this"? But when I learned of the real story behind this "floating swimming pool", I felt lumps in my throat, and as if someone or something was wringing my chest ever so tightly, it sent chills to my arms and spine... Let me first show you "the swimming pool", as I stood at one of its ends (one of the bamboo rafts).., As barangay officials (and some kids...

To continue from my previous post , I was on the way to Sierra Islands - just to island-hop, plus to see and swim in what they call a "floating swimming pool"! Do you know what it is? We'll see, just read on! The ride from Catbalogan Port was already full of wonderful sights. You know where 'Sierra' is? Here: Those in the red circle are the "Sierra Island Group" or " Sierra Islands ". But locals just say "Sierra"! It is comprised of a number of barangays belonging to Catbalogan City. Blue arrow was our boat's route to Brgy. Cagutsan which takes almost two hours (110 minutes)! Panoramic calm waters -in the morning! Going to any of the islands for business or leisure would usually require chartering a boat (pakyaw). Why is that? Ah, commuter boats cater to islanders' schedules, as there is no regular touristic activity on the islands yet, i.e., boats leave the islands in the morning and return to the islands early afternoon...