Showing posts with label travel diary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label travel diary. Show all posts
It's my 2nd time and Coron! My second chance was all about re-exploring and re-appreciating the beauty of this piece of paradise on earth. 

Back in 2012, I traveled with my friends for the first time. This year, 2015, was there for a company planning/ outing and must say, even though I've been to places we visited, there were nooks and crannies I left unexplored.

Of course, Coron has 50 minor islets in the Calamian Archipelago of Northern Palawan and a few days each wouldn't be enough. I was thrilled to be back!
  • Mt. Tapyas- was able to conquer the 720 steps in 2012 but this time, was able to experience the 'back door' while we waited for the sunset. The back door I'm mentioning is the hilly top at the back of the gigantic white cross. I was like, oh! If the view deck gives a panoramic shot of the city (with the houses and everything), the 'back door' was pure nature: hills, skies, greenery. It was wonderful.
mt tapyas coron palawan view from below
View from below or 720 steps below hilltop level
mt tapyas coron palawan panoramic view from the deck
Panoramic shot from the view deck
mt tapyas coron palawan 100 stepsmt tapyas coron palawan cross summit

mt tapyas coron palawan back door nipa hut
This bahay-kubo is already at the 'back door'
mt tapyas coron palawan back door pathway
Look at the scenery (me included) going to that nipa. This is beside the pathwalk.
mt tapyas coron palawan hugot from the top
Apparently, the scenery is conducive for this drama. haha
mt tapyas coron palawan back door view
Can you see the view??? Thus my own drama. haha
mt tapyas coron palawan sunset1
Sunset at Mt. Tapyas
mt tapyas coron palawan steps
Time to go down
  • Malcapuya Island- first time here and if I was all praise for Banol Beach last time, Malcapuya Island gives a different kind of exhilaration. It offers a stretch of wine sand amidst the crystal clear blue waters. It was breathtaking! What's more, it's not yet developed that close to the nature, it was. There were hammocks we rested in while enjoying the view. Lunch was also superb here. The freshness of our meal complemented the serene surroundings. 
malcapuya island coron palawan docking area
I call this the docking area because here's where we parked our boat
malcapuya island coron palawan panoramic view
What greeted us! WOW!
malcapuya island coron palawan panoramic view 1
I had to take a shot, of course
malcapuya island coron palawan view
Serene :)
malcapuya island coron palawan white sand
Safe to swim also. You can see what you're stepping on and water's very clear
malcapuya island coron palawan pristine waters
Away but shallow
malcapuya island coron palawan crystal clear waters
There are fishes here near the corals!
  • Twin Lagoon- again, my first time. Wasn't able to go here last time. Going to Twin Lagoon was spectacular. Limestone cliff formations were just so awesome. As we wade through our way, our jaws dropped. Twin Lagoon though is perfect for a swim especially when in the inner lagoon. But it was so deep already that of course, that snorkeling isn't advisable.
twin lagoon coron philippines way to lagoon
On our way to the lagoon
twin lagoon coron philippines way to lagoon 1
Not yet there but the limestone cliffs enveloping us were hard to resist (not to take photos of!) 
twin lagoon coron philippines outer part
Outer part of the lagoon where we docked
twin lagoon coron philippines shallow part
The shallow part connecting to the other lagoon
twin lagoon coron philippines inner part
Happy to be at the inner part of the lagoon, eh?
  • Kayangan Lake- as always, Kayangan Lake never fails to impress. It was stunning! Beyond compare. After quite a steep ascend, I was already anticipating the breathtaking view from atop and whoa, still an exhilarating panorama. Same goes with our descent to Kayangan Lake. Happy to note that it's still as clear though there were less fishes than I can remember. Probably because we were a big group so they went away (hope so). This time too, just enjoyed the 'unsalted' water. Last time here, explored the caves but it was fun just to swim back and forth. 
kayangan lake coron palawan view
The most photographed, and for a reason
kayangan lake coron palawan view 1
Mandatory turista shot--- bec I don't have a copy before
kayangan lake coron palawan trail down
Trail down to the freshwater lake
kayangan lake coron palawan view 2
What a beauty! Apart from us, that is
kayangan lake coron palawan enjoying lake
Enjoying some freshwater
Coron is still a beauty. Three years after, I'm still in awe. I pray and hope that come another 3 or more years, Coron will stay as pristine, as beautiful. I know we Filipinos can maintain this paradise. I will never run out of hopes for my beautiful country and confidently beautiful (with a heart) countrymen. :)

coron island, palawan, philippines
I <3 CORON!

Some photo credits to dey, henry and blesr. 
Still in Coron series: 2nd time around food trip edition!

After enjoying my coffee in Coffee Kong, had the chance to go a bit farther because TripAdvisor recommended in its top 10 list, Santino's Grill. We had to take a tricycle and traveled 20-30 minutes away. Trike drivers didn't even know it except when they were informed that it's near where the cheap cashews are bought.

santino's grill coron palawan
Love the natural feeling
Santino's Grill is an alfresco restaurant complimentary to its Filipino-interior theme. I love it inside although I could've appreciated it more in daylight. :)

When in this restaurant, Baby Back Ribs (half-slab/ full-slab) at Php 300/ 500 is a must. Said yes to mashed potato instead of rice. The mashed potato was good! Baby back ribs was in a generous serving but it's a bit sweet for my liking. But it has to be said that the ribs were cooked well: tender and good.

santino's grill coron palawan baby back ribs
Hi there, baby!
Also had Bulalo perfect for a nippy night in Coron. Their Bulalo is okay but not as good as that in Tagaytay. It's good to note the generous serving, though.

santino's grill coron palawan bulalo
For the night so cold :D
Ambiance is relaxing. Food was okay but wasn't impressed. Service is slow. 


Santino's Grill is located at:


Tagumpay,
Coron, 
Palawan
A paradise just near the city....

Crystal clear waters with swimming fishes as company...

Water changing from green to blue to dark blue...

All against the creamy white sand....

It's a perfect recluse. Yet it's not so far that you will loose your wits in the process (well a bit, I did).

I'm taking about Samal Island, in particular, an island at the "back" of it called Talikud in Isla Reta


samal island travel guide isla reta talikud 7
Even when you just stare away...

THE ROAD TO ISLA RETA

*note: this wasn't a planned trip. Just a spur of the moment... so welcome to our (mis)adventure. :)


The Island Garden City of Samal is practically around 30 minutes away from the city. Booked at The Pinnacle Hotel at the heart of Davao City, we just rode a cab to the port for around 20 minutes at Php 120. The port that we went to was private for Paradise Island Resort, it was just Php 15 per head, 1-way. 

When we arrived at Paradise Island Resort, we didn't like the beach so much. It was literally just across the port so it's also not as clean so we decided to look for another. Warning: don't follow this mishap. We didn't know that we weren't allowed to beach hop so we had to pay Php 200 as entrance fee per head (also because we have to exit in their vicinity, too). (Tip: go via the public port where barge ride is at Php 10 per head, ride will just be at 20 minutes because the barge is slower). 



Oooooooops, wrong move
At the exit (which was 10-minute walk from the entrance-- a large resort, in fairness), we found waiting habal-habal and rented it at Php 400, 2-way. At first we just wanted a better beach than Paradise Resort but the searches from Trip Advisor points us to Talikud Island

The habal-habal drivers said they can accompany us. We added Php 100 or Php 200 more I think because it was a bit far. And oh boy! Little did we know that we will travel half Samal Island (around 20-30 minutes) just to get to Kaputian Port


First, the travel for me was a bit scary because we just learned a few months that a foreigner was kidnapped. And, law of relativity computed, it was a long and hot travel.It was hard not to ask, "Are we there yet?". But the drivers were just so reassuring! They kept on telling us that they won't do anything bad because it's their tourism at stake. But on the other hand, it was thrilling! So thrilling I wish I had the courage to take a video or even photo of myself while riding.



samal island travel guide isla reta talikud habal habal
Had to take photo of the habal-habal ride
Second, Kaputian Port is beautiful in itself already but it's now so developed and it is used as port. So we had to cross again Kaputian and right at the back of Samal from the port is Talikud Island. We rented a boat at Php 1,500. 


samal island travel guide kaputian port
Kaputian Port is pretty in itself, right? 

samal island travel guide kaputian port dusk
Almost dusk at Kaputian Port
Whew! An unforgettable experience. 

IN ISLA RETA, TALIKUD ISLAND, SAMAL


samal island travel guide isla reta talikud sign
Welcome! 
Was it worth the habal-habal ride just for a bit of paradise and recluse? The answer is a big YES. Just a few meters from Talikud Island, I can already sense that we are up to something nice. 


samal island travel guide isla reta talikud port
Docked at Isla Reta, Talikud Island
samal island travel guide isla reta talikud white sand
Happy to have set foot here
We landed at Isla Reta and the white sand was glistening as a welcome. Such a treat! And I guess I need not say more with these pictures:


samal island travel guide isla reta talikud 3
A bit of an adventure
samal island travel guide isla reta talikud 4
My color belong

samal island travel guide isla reta talikud beach front
Beach front
samal island travel guide isla reta talikud 6
What you see at the backdrop is actually Kaputian Port


samal island travel guide isla reta talikud 5
Time-freeze this moment <3
samal island travel guide isla reta talikud animals
Cool sheep

samal island travel guide isla reta talikud 2
Look at the colors :)
samal island travel guide isla reta talikud 1
Beautiful! 
samal island travel guide isla reta talikud dusk
Almost dusk 

Food wasn't a problem in the island because they have a resto. 


samal island travel guide isla reta talikud food menu
No you won't get hungry
samal island travel guide isla reta talikud foods
A feast near the sea
On the way back to the city, we made sure to ride a barge thru Samal Ferry Wharf that operates 24 hours. :)

It's good once in a while to be unprepared. It's just that it will cost more than usual. All things considered, it was well worth it. :)



samal island travel guide isla reta talikud panorama 1
Look at it from every angle...


samal island travel guide isla reta talikud panorama
...it's stunning at every turn

 *some pictures credits to: @marydms