Potipot Island

It was a long overdue vacation. The first time we planned the trip, an unfortunate event went down and we had to cancel all reservations. Then about two weeks ago, we finally decided to push through with the weekend getaway. We almost missed it for the second time because of another unlucky accident! If only I were superstitious enough, I wouldn't have gone to Potipot knowing that it was going to be just my friend Tugs and moi, coz we were supposedly a trio. Worse luck, Ren (the wuss without a Twitter account) came down with a fever the night before we were set to leave for the vanishing act! At almost midnight, we were still scouring for another chum. Of course, we couldn't find anyone more kaladkarin than us, could we? So, it was decided. We were gonna conquer Potipot, Tugs and I!



It was breathtaking! The pictures here don't give justice to what awaited us. It was what people would describe as "paradise here on Earth". Oh, Gaia!

One of the best things about this trip was the timing. Amidst my busy schedule (paper submission deadlines for conferences, candidacy exam, and other teaching duties which were all due the same week as the bolt for freedom), we decided to be "reckless". It was liberating. What a perfect escape from 32 emails (excluding Facebook notifications) and 23 SMSs! Oh work, you hold your horses! :-)


No T.V. No internet connection. No electricity. How awesome! It was really nice to commune with nature like that. Totally rejuvenating!


Jealous much? Here are the details on getting there! I'm definitely going back soon! Ciao!

View of the island from our resort.

Totally stole the following from Tugs' post:

Details of our itinerary:

• Left Victory Caloocan at around 8am, paid 418 each to Uacon, Candelaria.
• Reached Puerto Del Mar at around 2pm. The resort cost 1800 for 3 people.
• Left for Potipot at 5:30am. Boat ride costs 500 (upto 6 people) roundtrip.
• Paid 100 each for environmental fee. You can also bring your tents or spend the night in cottages in Potipot but I do not know how much the cottages cost or how to reserve them.
• Took a bus to Sampaloc, Manila at around 12noon

Camiguin Loving

We've been living in RX since 2001 but it has taken me quite a while to visit Camiguin Island. Minsan hindi napapaniwala iyong mga tao. Like they're also surprised whenever I say that I haven't been to Cebu. It's just a boat ride away from CDO. It's coz most of my adventures are here in Luzon. Anyway, Camiguin... I'd been hearing lots of great appreciation of the marvelous island. Some even claim that it's much better than Boracay. Probably depends on what you're really after. :)

Sa wakas! Family vacation in Camiguin. Wah! Super, super, super ganda ng islands! I've been to Boracay but, this I can say: if you really wanna experience the beach and nature in their grandeur, go to Camiguin! A natural paradise :)



Photos below taken by: Fourth



Some of the stuff I love about my dear neighbor Camiguin:

(1) Virgin pa siya!! :) Bwahaha! No, seriously, the island is so pure. It's not commercialized unlike Boracay. There are not much people loitering around the place. It's so serene!

(2) It's so cheap!!! Haha not cheap, cheap. But cheap, as in cheap na affordable cheap. Donation lang! :) Seriously! One of the best things about being maintained by the local government, I guess. Tipong the entire white beach, bente lang iyong bayad! C'mon! :D

(3) Lots of interesting places to visit! There's the Sto. NiÑo Cold spring! There's the Esperanza Ardent HOT spring! It'd never be an "island born on fire" without the hot spring. I loved it. It's so soothing and refreshing. The hot spring's around 40deg C. There's also the Katibawasan Falls and the Tuasan Falls. And of course, the main attraction... (drum roll please): the seemingly untouched white sand beaches!! White Island and the Mantigue Island. Ah! :)

(4) Other attractions on the Island like this really old church, which name I forgot to note plus this mini-museum at the PHILVOCS office.

(5) The food!!! The food there is great! :)

(6) Lanzones!!! Mananamis namis na maasim din. Need I say more?? :)

Ah!!! Camiguin... One of the must-see places in the country. Exquisite! Marvelous! <3

Up North

Details soon.