Our Camiguin Adventure 2009

Posted by lheavenice 1 August 14, 2011

Our Camiguin Adventure 2009

Summer - It was this time of the year that I always look forward to going out of town most especially going to white sand beaches near Cagayan aside from the hot weather this is my chance to inhale the sweet summer breeze of nature. And it was a perfect timing since Jeff’s parents was planning to go to Camiguin to celebrate Ate Jan’s birthday (Jeff’s sis).

And so Jeff and I decided to join the celebration to escape from the stress and worries that our work brings us. This was the time to go on a vacation, relax and at the same time reflect since Holy Week is just around the corner. Jeff’s parents went ahead of us since I still have work Saturday night. We left CdeO the next morning, Sunday at around 6:30 am in the morning and rode the Bus going to Butuan at the Agora terminal. The fare costs us PHP125 each. The trip took two hours plus for us to reach the Balingoan terminal, a few walks away from the Balingoan Port Terminal. We reach Balingoan at around 10 am and decided to ride a motorela since it was too hot to take a walk to the port. The fare costs us PHP5 each. When we reach the port, the next trip bound to Benoni was at 10:30 am. We paid for our tickets which were at PHP135 each and the terminal fee at PHP5 each. We immediately boarded the ferry and took our seats while the ferry waited for more passengers to fill up the ferry. The ferry was loaded with a lot of tourists, mostly Filipinos and a few Foreigners. Some were in groups, some with their families and while some like us, couples. The trip took another hour and we reach the port of Benoni at approximately 11:30 am. Upon reaching the port, multi cab drivers would be meeting you and would offer island tour trips at an affordable price. As for us, we already had enough on that kind of island tour stuff since this was not our first time coming to Camiguin. As Jeff’s mom instructed, we rode the van that will drop us off to the Camiguin General Hospital. The fare costs us PHP 30 each. We finally arrived at the hospital at 12 noon. Dad met us at the hospital gate and led us to Ate Jan’s apartment located just right beside the hospital building. We rested for a while before starting our island trip.

Our first destination was at Ate Ging-ging’s hacienda in Upper Lumad. Ate Ging-gings’ husband was Dad’s cousin who was also a Batangueño. We rode a motorela to get to Upper Lumad which costs us PHP10 each. Upon our arrival, we were greeted with a vast area of plants and coconut trees. Ate Ging-ging met us on the way and led us to the house. Jeff and I were so hungry then which was the perfect time to eat since our hosts prepared lechon for us. We spend the most part of the afternoon there with them, eating and the elders talking to catch up things for the times that they haven’t seen each other. We even had our coconut treat. At around 3:30 in the afternoon, Jeff’s parents decided that we should better get home so that Jeff and I can still go and visit Walkway and the Sunken cemetery.

Our island trip was quite different this time because we used to just wait for the multicab driver to lead the way for us and bring us to the tourists’ spots in Camiguin. This time, Jeff and I were on our own. Before we started our adventure, we asked instructions first on how to get to Walkway and the Sunken cemetery. To get there from the Hospital, we need to ride a motorela and asked the driver to drop us off the Bonita store. The motorela costs us PHP6 each. When we arrived at the Bonita store, we asked around on what vehicle to ride on to get to Walkway. We were told to ride a jeepney with a mark that says Mambajao – Catarman. It was already 4:45 in the afternoon and we’re still at Mambajao waiting for the jeepney to leave. We were offered by habal-habal drivers to drive us to Walkway for only PHP150 one way and PHP200 if back and forth. The jeepney driver told us that that was too expensive when the jeepney fare to Walkway was only PHP15 each. And so Jeff and I decided to wait while at the back of my head, I prayed and prayed that we would arrive in Walkway with the Sun still shining and that we will be able to witness the breathtaking sunset in Sunken. All of my prayers were heard! We arrived at Walkway at around 5:40 pm with the sun still shinning brightly. The ride to Walkway from the market was around 30 min plus. You’ll be paying PHP5 when you want to climb the Walkway to the Old Volcano. Fortunately for us, we were able to hit up to the third station with the sun still shinning. The distance from each station was a more than hundred steps away. We stopped at every station to take pictures as well as to pray. Just in front Walkway's entrance are souvenir shops that sells from keychains to hand made native jewelry and from Camiguin t-shirts to bags and swimwear. They sell keychains for as low as PHP5 where you can have your name printed on the keychain for free. We bought one for ourselves and asked the store owner how to get to the Sunken Cemetery. They were so kind to tell us how. We were told that it’s just a few walks a way from where we are. yeah right! And so with the sun still up, we started to walk from Walkway to Sunken, only then that we found out that it was a long walk from Walkway to Sunken. It was a 20 min walk (if you walk fast) and we were already so tired from climbing the walkway. So to keep us from getting tired we had some stop-overs to take some pictures using my Sony Camera and Jeff’s Nikon. It’s been a long time that we’ve walked this far. It’s like we were doing a panaad for the holy week.

Just in time when we reach the Sunken, the sun was almost setting. We immediately took pictures to capture that magical moment where the sun sets behind the cross. It was really breathtaking. All of our sacrifices were worth it! The paths down to where you’ll be riding the boat going to the cross were now made of cement. The last time we were here, it was still muddy and slippery going down. After taking a lot of pictures, our dilemma was how to get back to Mambajao. It was already 6 o’clock by then. We asked the food vendor on how to get back and we were told that the Jeepneys going back to Mambajao are only available up to 5 PM. Our only hope is riding the habal-habal. Fortunately for us, there was this man who didn’t look like someone who’s in for driving tourists because he was wearing house clothes, stopped at the entrance and asked a man where he’ll be going and so I figured out that he might be looking for passengers. So I asked him if he was. He asked us where we want to go and we told him we wanted to go back to Mambajao. He agreed and said that the payment would be PHP100 for both of us which I believe was good enough knowing that it’s already near night time and the transportation back to Mambajao is quite scarce. We arrived at Rooftop around 6:30 in the evening. We ordered pizza and bought ice cream and drinks for Ate Jan as she requested it. We went home and took our rest.

The next day we woke up early so we could get to White Island early. Unfortunately, we were able to get out of the apartment around 6:30 in the morning. From the hospital, we rode a motorela that would bring us to Upper Lumad. From there, Ate Ging-ging met us and we rode another motorela going to the Paras beach resort. We stopped over the Yumbing market to buy food for breakfast on the island. When we reached Paras, a guy approached us and offered PHP300 for the boat fare back and forth to White Island. The trip to white island took 15-20 minutes. When we arrived there, we were asked to pay an entrance fee of PHP20 each. The white island looked the same like the last time we were there but this time there were no food vendors selling and cottages were for free. The best thing about the island now is the island was developed the government and you can now do a lot of activities in the island aside from swimming and sunbathing. You can do the following activities, jetski, ride the banana boat, wind surfing and etc. You can also buy native jewelry souvenirs from vendors that can be very affordable if you know how to bargain. ;) The island looks nicer too with the floating cottages that they built for visitors who want to get a shade from the heat of the sun and it's for free! Jeff and I took pictures of the breathtaking scenery of the white island and after doing so took a swim on the clear blue sea, really refreshing! After two hours of staying in the island we decided to go so we can still pack up our things. Before going to the Benoni port we stopped by the VJANDEP to Pastel. Pastel is one of Camiguin's island delicacy aside from the famous lanzones. You can find their main shop near the Bonita store in Mambajao. Also, near the store are the vans that can take you to the Benoni port. The fare would cost youPHP30 each.

The ride home was very hot since we left Benoni during lunchtime. The trip took another hour that costs us PHP135 each. When we arrived at Balingoan, there were no vans available and so we decided to go to the Bus terminal to ride a bus. Unfortunately, the bus going back to CdeO is already full. Fortunately, there was this man who approached and said that a taxi is available that would bring us back to CdeO worth PHP100 each and the taxi can only cater up to 4 passengers. Well, what a lucky day for the four of us! We rode the taxi going home all comfty yet tired from the trip but still looking forward on our next summer destination... I'll keep you posted for more of our adventures this summer. Ciao!

Here's some of our pics, for more our our pictures, you may check them at: http://lheyvens.multiply.com/photos/album/41/Our_Camiguin_Adventure Enjoy the pictures!

at the bus going to Balingoan terminal: