Adventures in Flores, Indonesia - Land based blog

You guys must be wondering - What? Another vacation? Does she ever work? The answer is - Yes, another vacation, and yes I do work! But you work hard, you play hard! And because I just quit my last job, I had 2 weeks free time, and being me, I can't just sit still and stay at home for 2 weeks! That's fucking 14 days! So I ran through my head, packed my bags and headed off for another adventure and finding the meaning of life before I start my new job!  That's life :)

 

So then you may ask - Flores? Huh? Where's that or why there?  Haha, the answer is simple yet interesting.  It traces back to a dive master's suggestion back when I was travelling in Philippines in Feb this year.  He started talking about working in Labuan as a DM for a bit and how the diving there is fantastic, and the name kinda stuck in my head for a bit.  So when I knew I had 2 weeks free time to plan, i ran through my head for ideas - usual suspect like Vietnam, Thailand crossed my mind too but Flores kinda stuck cos of the diving!  How can you measure Manta Ray against the mountains of Vietnam? So then roughly 2 weeks before I start my 2weeks break, I decided to plan my Flores trip, with the main highlight of diving in Komodo.  The ease of solo travelling - everything can be done last minute!   So basically, if I had not gone to Philippines in Feb, I wouldn't have thought of going to Flores.  That's how life works :)  Yes, I'm easily influenced.  Just hit me with the idea of paradise, fantastic diving and adventure and I'm up for it!

 

With what little information I got from the Internet, I decided on travelling East to West Flores, stopping for a long break in Labuan Bajo to end my vacation on a high.  Sights along the way are - Ende, Moni, Kelimutu, Bajawa and finally Labuan Bajo.  It was easy enough, just that the travelling sucks.

 

Bracing myself for potential flight delays, I was pleasantly surprised that my flight from Bali to Ende was only delayed by 20minutes! Yeah! Interestingly, the domestic flight from Bali to Flores is not exactly cheap considering it's less than 3H and an international flight from Singapore to Bali is not much more expensive.  I got my ticket till the very last minute and cost me more than S$150 to fly Bali to Ende (2.5H), which sucks.

 

Flight was smooth, no remininsce of the disaster that happened a few days before I flew (when LionAir crash landed in Bali airport).  Once I arrived in Ende, I zoomed in on my ultimate destination Moni.  Of cos I had to pay a premium to get a car to drive me to Moni since buses stop mid-day.  So I paid IDR250K for the 2H comfortable ride to Moni, arriving at around 7pm.  Immediately checked into Bintan Bungalow for a discounted price of IDR100K (include breakfast) since I was a single person (discounted from IDR150K).  After a so-so dinner, pop to sleep for an early morning to Kelimutu.  May I just add that it is COLD in Moni because we are at an altitude.  So pack for the cold!

 

To see the sunrise, I left at 430am with a motorbike (IDR70K return) that took 45mins to reach.  The journey there was freezing cold (luckily I had jacket) but the star-filled skies brightened up my day!  It was really amazing!  Once there, had to pay for entrance and camera fee, then followed by a 30min hike up to the top.  Reached just in time for the amazing sunrise behind the crater lake and saw the lake changed to turqoise.  So beautiful.  Stayed for a fair bit just absorbing the beauty of the place before heading back to Moni and preparing for another journey to Bajawa.

It was cold up there at 6am in the morning.  The lake is changing colour!

 

Two lakes, two different colours

 

 

Luckily, a driver was heading the same way so 2 other tourists took the ride to Bajawa, paying IDR100K (about the same as the public bus), enjoying a more comfortable ride (6H), stopping along the way at Black sand beach, blue stone beach.  Seriously, these are just names, and the beaches really aren't anything to shout about.  Plus, there was a terrible smell to them.

Black sand beach in Ende

Blue Ston beach in Ende.  Apparently people sell these stones in Labuan and Bali!

Bajawa is really a small, sleepy town.  We reached around 2pm, and there wasn't much going on in town.  Checked into Korina hotel for IDR120K (includes breakfast and WIFI Yea finally internet!).  It is a very basic budget hotel, but I got a comfy enough room with double bed.  However my sink was leaking so I got a shocked in the morning to find all my bags soaked.  THe breakfast is nothing to shout about and rather looked unappetising.

Went for a walk around the local market which only operates during the day and that was about it to do in Bajawa town.  Met up with my guide for the next day and talked about our itinerary for the next day.  I was too tired to venture out (having woken up at 4am), so decided to take a nap.  Interesting story about my guide. I had contacted Marcelino (recommended by travellers from Lonely Planet), but he got sick and sent his brother Arnold instead.  Then the night before, Arnold told me he couldn't make it the next day as he had to attend to something, so sent his best friend Malkiol instead. So that was how I ended up with funny Malkiol the next day.  Bajawa is still a little chilly at night, and bathing in freezing cold water made me cuss and swear each time I pour a bucket of water over me.

Sleepy town of Bajawa

Next day started at 730am, and off we went biking to Wawumudha crater lake.  Took us 45minutes then a 1H hike up to view the craters.  Not as impressive as Kelimutu but still great views up top!  Then it was off to visit 2 villages - Lupa and Bena villages.  They were both nestled in the mountains with amazing backdrop.  In the village, women are the king and property owners.  Men get married and move into live with the women.  These women are tough! and they love to chew beetlenut, those things that make your mouth and teeth look all reddish.

The ride up the mountains along the way will show you the beauty of Flores, with mountains, volcanoes and greenery greeting your eyes.  Interesting fact - NO rice fields in Bajawa cos the soil and conditions are not suitable.  People in Bajawa consider corn to be their staple food but of course now gradually becoming RICE.

Hiking up Wawumudha with my guide Malkiol

Yellowish crater lakes

Mount Ineri

Lupa village

View at Bena village

I couldn't resist NOT doing this.  Missed it the last time I was in Philippines

After the villages, we went for hot spring!  We soaked in the stream where freezing cold water meets boiling hot water and the warmth was soothing! You get occassional blasts of freezing cold, then the warmth hits back at you.  A refreshing depart from the cold showers I've been having.  By the time we got back to the hotel, it was late afternoon and I was beat.  Bade farewell to Malkiol and went for a nappy.  Malkiol was a cool and funny guy and also very knowledgeable!  Good grasp of english too!  I would highly recommend him.  And in his 3 years of guiding, I"m only 1 of 2 Singaporean he has ever met!  How Cool! If not for the next morning early ride to Labuan, I would have accepted his offer of an arak night, but alas 630am awaits me...

The next day started at 6am, waited and waited till 7am before the bus came.  We all operate on Indonesian time here! Then 15mins into the ride, we stopped at the edge of Bajawa town for god knows what, until 8am before we moved off.  Maybe the driver decided to have his breakfast? No idea! 3H into the ride, stopped for the only break of the entire 10H journey (IDR120K).  Then it was all go and no break, except for passengers to board and alight.  10H on a bumpy mountainous windy road on hard, rim-rod straight seats is not exactly comfortable.  Sleep came and went, dozing off here and there before being awaken by a bump on the head.  The scenery along the way was amazing though!  And finally, when night falls, Labuan Bajo was in sight!  Off at Gardena Hotel and checked in for IDR120K (discounted for single).  The room was amazing though!  1 double bed and 1 single bed, good enough for 3! But that was all me baby for 9 nights!  Breakfast included, but no WIFI and cold shower.

My nice hotel room in Labuan Bajo with Mozzie Net!

Met 2 Dutch boys who provided me with the entertainment for the night (together with 2 other girls from the same hotel) and also the night after.  Of cos, the 1st thing I did was check out the dive shops and booked myself for my dive adventure with DiversParadiseKomodo, just beside the hotel!  More on the dive adventure in a separate blog dudes! I'm keeping this blog DRY! Which kinda means not much going on in Labuan to do with DRYNESS.

(from Left) Hugo (Instructor), Gregor (OW diver), Alex (works at dive shop) and Theo (my dive master) at Local fish market

Pre-birthday party @ Paradise where I was challenged to arm wrestling. I won by the way

Anyways, praise myself for my great timing, but my visit coincided with my favourite dive master's birthday so that means PARTY!!! And I love a great party!  We had a pre-party the night before, and an actual day party on the night itself!  And can we say WASTED!!  Literally everyone got wasted, especially our birthday boy who was so inebriated not long after arriving at Paradise!  Face flushed red, and started dancing and kissing everyone and anyone.  But it was a fun fun night with my dearest friends in Labuan Bajo.  Of course, you pay for the drunkness the next day, waking up feeling like you're on the boat when you are not!

Party has begun, alcohol kept flowing!

Next day, finally after a few days of diving, I embarked on land activity in Labuan Bajo.  Thanks to my personal bike driver, Theo (who also happens to be my dive master Hah), I was able to visit Cunca Wulang.  Wouldn't be able to do so as I don't know how to bike and yeah you need to bike to visit that place.  1H bike through not so great road which kinda deteriorates even further.  Bring a cushion for your butt if you are not used to bumpy roads.  Then it was a roughly 30min hike to the waterfalls.  The waterfall was amazing!  And yes, I finally did cliff jumping, albeit after a few hesitating minutes.  Look, I don't have a fear of heights, but I just don't like to jump from heights.  It was not that high from where I jumped but still it was jumping from a height of more than 5M.  But I did it.  Attempted to swim to the bottom of the falls but the rapids were abit too strong for me to swim through.  And I still regret not being able to do it to this day!!!

Cunca Wulang!!!

On our bike back, got offered some coconuts from the local boys and chatted abit.  Well I didn't cos I don't speak Bahasa, but I listened in to Theo and their conversation and kinda figured my understanding through observation and intuition.  I must say I'm pretty good with that!  Had a good dinner at MadeInItaly, great food!  Then of cos, it was all back to diving again!

Finally on my last day in Labuan, I visited Rinca Island for the Komodo dragons.  I can't leave Labuan without seeing these creatures with my own eyes!  Went with the diving boat (did 2 dives + Rinca), so only had to pay for the Rinca Island fee of IDR50K + camera.  We went as a group of 4 so were charged for 2 cameras which we shared amongst us (IDR50K for each camera).  And IDR80K for guide to share.  Funnily, it was IDR50K before 1 May, and we went on 1 May when we were told 'Change in regulations, now IDR80K').  Great, just great!  Anyway we split amongst ourselves.  Saw a few dragons, happy happy.  They are big, but apparently those on Komodo island are 2x bigger!  Once they draw blood and their saliva mixed into your blood, you can die in 2 weeks unless you get the proper treatment.  We hiked up the mountain to view the sunset and the view was amazing!  Then it was off back to Labuan for a night cap to mark the end of my 2 weeks adventure.  I would say 1H is more than enough time to visit the dragons, cos they are just dragons laying on the ground. 

Komodo dragons sleeping...

The view was so amazing that I was jumping with joy!

What more do you want then to just see them and done that? For those tours selling more than 1H hike, there is really nothing much more to do than they taking you hiking up mountains and walking a bit longer. Also, since I'm a diver, the snorkelling trip that comes with the tour packages doesn't really entice me much. When I can get down and close to the marine life, snorkelling on the surface is for babies...

And that's all for land-based activity.  It was sad leaving the place after I have spent 8 days with those people and really enjoying myself there.  Days gone by without me realizing what day or date it was and that feeling was really what I've always looked forward to.  And I couldn't believe that 8 days just flew past and it was time for me to say GOOD BYE. 

My trip back home was smooth sailing, no flight delays and no mishaps.  Arrived 45mins @ Labuan Bajo airport for my flight (IDR10K for the passenger service fee) and the flight departed right on schedule.  Smooth sailing at Bali, paying IDR150K for passenger service fee again, and it was home sweet home! Back to hot showers which was the only thing I missed and craved for during my vacation. 

Updates

Just back from yet another vacation.  3 vacations in the past 4 months, i guess you can say vacation overdose?  Goes to show I really needed to get away and refresh myself.  Yes, I really needed those vacation.  The past year has not been kind to me.  Thought it started great and promising but all things just went downhill and almost fucking killed me.  Glad I finally found the escape and those vacation really helped to calm me down and find my inner peace.  Kinda.

Now, back from a fucking awesome 2 weeks trip, of which I spent 7 days diving, looking deep into the faraway ocean line, starry starry skies, mountains and volcanoes, meeting people who breath a new splash of life into me, I feel refreshed and ready for the next challenge that awaits me.  Yes, it still is intimidating walking into a totally new environment, not knowing if the people will like you or if you will like the people, if the environment suits you and if you will gel.  But I guess, you don't know if you don't try!  Better fight for your own happiness than be trapped in a mountain of sorrow and unhappiness.

 

Maybe this will be my final destination in life? Maybe not really but who knows? I might go off and become a free soul, dancing with the ocean one fine day when I'm done with life! Like I always say I will do but never really did do. I just hope that the next chapter will be kind to me.  I've had enough of the shit.  I think I deserve better.

 

Will work on my Indonesia travel blog soon.  Stay tuned.

Diving in Puerto Galera

Long overdue post on my weekend dive trip to Puerto Galera back in March 2013.  Well, it's my 2nd time back to PG and this time to ensure I have evidence of the dive!

 

As usual, an uneventful bus ride from Manila to Batangas late night.  Arriving close to midnight there and finally hopped onto a tricycle from the Pier to Traveller's Inn.  Mind you, the tricycles are out to extort!! They charge 150Php per tricycle and there's no bloody way I was going to pay that for a 5min ride!  I was planning to walk in the darkness when another couple came along and 3 of us shared 1 tricycle for 50P each.  Geez, what a difference 1 year makes!  Last time I went, I paid 40P but courtesy to a local who helped with the negotiation.

 

Next morning up at 6-ish for the 730am boat.  This time, I walked to the Pier (20min walk), bought my own tickets (without the help of touts) and got on the boat!  Same price as before - Ticket price+ environmental fee+ terminal fee.  The boat departed late and by the time I reached Sabang beach, it was past 9am and I missed the 1st dive!  This time, I decided to choose a cheaper dive shop - Big Apple Dive Shop, right along Sabang Beach.  They have a fixed dive timing of 9, 11, 2pm approximate.  Unlike Blue Ribbon, which was a little more flexible.  So instead of 3 dives, I only did 2 dives.

 

My room was not ready when i arrived (another bummer compared to Blue Ribbon).  The only available room I got was for 1,100P - aircon and a big room at it.  But I kinda miss Blue Ribbon's bungalow (at 1,200P it is slightly more expensive) - there's a balcony with hammock and a nice cozy feel.  Big Apple has a big room, with a fridge and sofa but no hammock!

 

Diving at Big Apple is much cheaper because at 1,100P/dive, you get equipments for free! Blue Ribbon charges additional 300P for rental per day.  Plus, at Big Apple, I was told that repeat divers get a further discount of 900P/dive the next time they go back! 

 

Talking about the dive experience - I kinda went to similar sites + 1 new one.  But I must say I enjoyed my dives with Blue Ribbon more the last time round.  Maybe it has to do with the DM i went with.  The one I went with at Blue Ribbon - Pinoy DM, seemed more knowledgeable with the dive sites and area and was able to show more things.  This time @ Big Apple, the DM was a foreigner.  He was good and nice, but somehow I get the feel that he is less knowledgeable about the surroundings.  We saw some nice things too but felt not as in depth as Blue Ribbon.  But of course, I'm sure some divers feel differently and this is just my personal option.  If not for the additional 300P per dive day at Blue Ribbon, I would definitely go back to Blue Ribbon.  Yes, 300P is not much but still a little bit goes a long way!  Still it was good to try out a new dive shop for experience!  Also, Blue Ribbon was a little more flexible - they can start the dive at 8 or 9am, and they can schedule another dive at 10am for those who miss the 9am dive!  they even took just me alone out for a 3pm dive the last time i went!

 

About the place - Blue Ribbon is more quiet and secluded being in Small Laguna.  Big Apple is noiser as it is right smack in the middle of Sabang beach.  And the restaurant/bar area is a little more complicated at Big Apple.  By complicated I mean lots of farangs (the older kind) flirting with the local girls and vice versa.  Especially so at night.  Not so much the case down at Blue Ribbon.  But I didn't linger long at Big Apple's bar area - not my kinda scene and I don't want to be mistaken as a local pinoy. 

 

Went back to the restaurant in Sabang town for dinner again.  Same old place.  The other restaurants/bars look too shady... The same waiter served my food and he said he recognized me!  Yea right.. I just have the face.

 

Diving wise, PG is good for micro diving.  No big fish or exciting BIG marine life to shock you, but beautiful corals underwater and small things to discover.  It's not the most exciting dive sites and definitely one of the good ones!  And every dive sites is close by to the shore so no long commute!  The town itself is shady, and quite dead.  You don't see younger people there, full of old farangs/old folks.  So if you are looking for some party, go there with friends or you will be sorely disappointed.  Unless you don't mind partying with the local pinoy girls at the pole dancing bars.  Not many single travellers except for older folks. Who knows, maybe most younger divers are parked somewhere else?  Never been to White beach, only Sabang beach, so maybe it's more of a party town there!

 

The return trip was non-eventful which is good!  And I just found out you actually have to pay for the boat ride back to Batangas!  Now how did I ever managed to get a free ride the other time?? The 1st time, I barely made it to the departing boat and just boarded the boat when I saw it docked and about to leave. And nobody asked for my ticket.  And there I was thinking maybe I pay the boatman, then when it didn't happen, I thought maybe it IS FREE!  This time, I got there ahead of time, and everyone bought ticket.  They even check your ticket before you board the boat!  Doesn't matter if you just came out of nowhere! 

 

Would have loved to try the Verde Island day trip but that would definitely have to involved being in PG for at least 3D, counting the day of arrival and departure. Which means a weekend trip would not allow that, and I think mostly Verde trips are made on weekdays. 

Mabuhay Philippines - Bohol and Boracay!

 

Onwards travel to my next 2 destination.  So I hereby introduce once again my travel buddies - The Fins!  Yes, initially I was supposed to go Bohol the day before but because of the disco party, I delayed my trip for 1 day, and left for Bohol on the same day as Hanna and Mikko!  So we travelled together!  Because of the long travelling to Bohol (~5H bus to Cebu + ~2H ferry to Tagbilaran + 30min to Panglao), we left for the 1st ferry out of Malapascua at 630am.  Good for us, the ferry left pretty much on time and we got onto the bus out of Maya around 730am.  The ride was smooth and not crowded (163P) and we got into Cebu close to 12.  Taxi hop over to Pier 4 (20mins) for the ferries.  Pier 1 has one ferry to Tagbilaran, while Pier 4 has 2 ferries.  Of course all the ferries run at scheduled timings, about 3 departures per day - morning, afternoon and evening.  We took Weesam which left at 2pm (earlier ferry leaves at 1130am).  700P for return ticket (7days validity) for Non-aircon seats.  Good enough for me cos I prefer natural wind! 

 

Smooth ferry ride and about 2H later, we arrived at Tagbilaran ferry.  3 of us hopped onto a car for 400P to Alona Beach.  Tricycle is about 250P, but good for maximum 2 pax.  Took us about 30min to get to Alona Beach, and time to find accomodation.  Good tip from fellow diver to ask Bohol Divers for the cheap rooms.  Yes, they don't tell you about the cheap rooms!  When I asked if there are any rooms, they said they were fully booked, until I specifically asked for the cheap rooms!  Then she told me "Yes, we have 1 500P single room available".  So that was how I got mine!  Hanna and Mikko had to walk and search further.  But apparently, Bohol Divers had twin room for 600P available cos they moved into Bohol Divers the next morning!  Dinner was a quiet and nice affair by the beach with the Fins!  What a coincidence bumping into them through the night.

 

Booked myself 2 dives to Balicasag with Genesis Divers (2960P for 2 dives).  45min boat ride to the dive sites and off we went!  Dive was between 18-22m, and lasted for close to 1H, which was fantastic.  Weather was not good though, windy, cloudy gloomy and really cold after each dive.  Went to Ricos Wall and Black Forest.  Black Forest was where we saw 2 schools of jack fish, which was amazing!  Met Tom and Allan, really nice and sweet Danish guys!

 

The next morning, time to ditch the water and conquer the land!  Took the jeepney (25P 1H) to Tagbilaran, and hopped onto a bike (150P return) to Tarsier Sanctuary.  Of course I could have taken local transport, but given that I still needed to make a trip to Chocolate Hills, spend a little more to cut down the time!

Those Tarsiers are really cute little gremlin-lookalikes! They are only palm sized big nocturnal animals.  Each morning, the keepers have to go around the sanctuary looking for them, and once they are spotted, they stay there for the rest of the day only moving at night to hunt for food.  During the day, they can't see us, only hear us approach.  Their eyes are gigantic! Cute or terrifying?  Depends on how you see it :)

 

You looking at me??

After I got back to the bus terminal, hopped onto the Carmen bound bus to Chocolate Hills (60P 2H).  It was when I alighted that it started pouring rain!  Had to wait out a little before proceeding uphill to the Chocolate Hills.  Only about a 15min slow walk up, and a really nice one, especially if it was not raining.  It was a nice view. Though raining, but it gave Chocolate Hills a mystically feeling.  Climb up the hundred or so steps to the viewpoint and you get a better look at the entire area.  Quick photo stop and off to catch the bus back to bus terminal and catch the jeepney back to Alona Beach.  Apparently there is a last jeepney to Alona Beach that ends around 4pm, but when I got onto mine close to 4pm, there were still other jeepneys waiting to depart.. So go figure!

 

Booked myself 3 more dives at Balicasag the next day with Seaquest (1500P per dive), joining Hanna and Mikko.  The 3 dives were even more amazing! We went to Ruckus Wall, Black Forest and Diver's Heaven.  Diver's Heaven was where we saw a really big school of jackfish upon descend.  Cool!  We saw lots of other creatures - frogfish, leaf fish, huge octopus etc etc.  Really good dive, but sucky weather.  Rained the entire time we were out.  Last night in Bohol, had a beer with the Fins and bumped into the Danes for dinner.  Funny story - Misheard the location and went to a different Italian restaurant only to turn back (it was a 15-20min walk away). But still I made it and it was a lovely dinner! 

Frogfish couple

Octopus couple

 

Bohol was a little more happening as compared to Malpascua, but still not the big BOM BOM BOM every night.  The beach would have been better had the weather been sunny!! Diving was good!

 

Next day off to Cebu to wait out the flight to Boracay the following day.  A day of doing nothing and just relaxing in my free hotel room.  Small world! Bumped into the Danes @ the mall!

 

Next day, uneventful flight to Boracay by Cebu Pacific.  No delays. But the interesting part comes next! No delay, but when we were approaching Caticlan, we were told we couldn't land and re-routed to Kalibo!  When we landed in Kalibo, we were told to stay in cabin and 15min later, the air stewardess started to get us buckled up and the plane moved again! 5mins into the runway, captain announced the weather in Caticlan deteriorated again and we will turn back to port.  Another 15mins wait, finally we were told to get off and got onto the free shuttle to Caticlan.  Phew!  What an event!

 

@ Caticlan port, bought the fast ferry for 30P and add on all those stupid environment fees, terminal fees (175P in total) for the 15min ride to Boracay.  Once there, took the shared Tricycle for 20P to Station 3.  Ask to share the tricycle else you will have to fork out 100P for 1 to yourself.  Asked around for accomodation and lucky for me, Anita from one of the dive shop took me to her friend's place where I got a nice room (with fan, TV which I didn't use, ensuite bathroom and big bed) for 1900P 3 nights!  Haggered down from 2100P. Not much of a discount but I put up a good fight! Almost got it down to 1800P.

 

Decided to ask about diving just to try out the famous Yapak and walked around for a bit, eventually ending up by the beach, lying in the sun and swimming a little.  Of course, at sundown, it was beer by the beach as I watched the sun sets.  And walked through to station 2 to soak in the bustling Boracay.  Really bustling as you walk from Station 3 to Station 2, and quiet down a little as you walk towards Station 1.  Slept rather well that night.  Oh without the sound of the cocks at 3am in the morning (In Malapascua) and the pouring rain, it was a good night's sleep!

 

Next morning, breakfast by the beach and headed off for a plane wreck dive with Dive Gurus.  I would recommend them.  Nice small establishment.  June Ern (Korean) was the one who left a good impression when I asked about diving the night before and she recommended that I do a try out dive before Yapak.  Small group of us went out to Tri-Bird for the dive.  Diving in Boracay is a standard 1600P include equipment everywhere. 

 

Deep dive down to 27m.  The dive was alright, frankly speaking.  Small wreck, nothing like Coron, but still ok.  Just a small penetration. and nothing else much to see outside.  After the dive, walked over to Bulabog beach for a different taste of Boracay.  A really different beach - quiet and very windy.  No tourists suntanning or playing in the water, strictly for the kite and wind surfers plying in the waters.  Real nice though.  Then walked to Mt Luho (30min from Bulabog) where you pay 120P to go up to the highest point in Boracay.  View up there was nice though but it started to rain which kinda ruined it a little.  Then it was a long walk back to White Beach where once again swam a little and relaxed a little.  Evening time was sitting by the beach watching volleyball match while the sun sets.

 

Next morning - Yapak!  No expectation whatsoever but just wanted to try the pride and joy of Boracay!  Negative entry dive and apparently the current wasn't that strong! Was a bit of current towards the end but really rather bland dive.  After the dive, walked the entire stretch of white beach to Din-iwid (where I bumped into the Danes again!) beach hopped onto a tricycle (15P) to Puka Shell Beach.  Nice quiet beach in Boracay!  Though not as nice as Koh Tarutao, but still widest stretch of sand! Relaxed there for a fair bit before heading back to White Beach by tricycle (35P). 

Divers from Dive Gurus

Star jumping Edwin!

 

At Puka Beach

I was!!

 

Met the the Fins for our last drink and dinner (my last night).  Talked abit with June Ern and got ready for big party at Cocomangas and Paraw.  The group of us from the dive shop (Brandon, Sam, Edwin etc etc) metup at Cocomangas for the big party!  3 others joined in - Dino and 2 French girls.  Fun night dancing partying and drinking!  And once again, early morning return to bed with not much sleep before I departed.  Seems like I have an affinity to staying up late the night before I'm due to depart!  Happens ALL THE TIME! This time, I can't change my travel plans!

Party Bring it On!!

 

With 3H of sleep, travelled to Kalibo airport (200P for ferry+van) for my noon flight.  Which I thought would be on time given the 11am flight went off on time (Zest Air).  But the trouble begins at noon!  I should have known! 3 times on Zest, 3 times delayed! THis time, it was delayed for 4H, so I was at the airport waiting for 6H! Ended up missing my connection flight, but luckily was able to rebook a later flight back home.  Phew, I would'nt want to stay in Manila.  The ground staff at Zest wasn't much of a use either. Just said this and that and this and that but nothing gets done.  YOu just have to sit and wait.  Why was the flight delayed? No idea!  What plane change what conjestion I don't know.  There were only 2 planes in Kalibo, what conjection!!  But I made it back!

 

How was Boracay?  Party island, unless you stay in the more remote beaches.  Yes, nice beach, but i guess you get better beaches in some parts of Thailand (Koh Lipe is nice) and Philippines.  Really crowded! And really expensive!  Food is expensive (no 200P meal!! Unless you survive on just hotdog buns for 150P) and not exactly the nicest.  Unless you stick with those 270P buffet tables which were totally unappealing.... Maybe McDonald's would be a safe bet!  But still it has some nice chill out places to have a drink and watch the crowd and listen to life music.  And if you are into partying, they have some really cool clubs and bars!  Cocomangas and Paraw were great fun!  And yes, the place is rather flooded with Korean and Chinese Tourists cos they have direct flights to Kalibo.  But of cos, if you are into kite or wind surfing, Boracay would be fun.  Not a cheap sport though.  Apparently a 4D course would be onwards of 20,000P per pax.  Of course you can do 1D but it would do you no good.

 

And so my vacation came to an end.  Happy ending? Yea I bet!  Nice trip, great diving, saw great things, had great fun, met great people! That's what travelling is all about!  Interesting unexpected things happen that make the trips worthwhile and memorable!

Mabuhay Philippines - Oslob and Malapascua

Once again I embarked on a last minute 2 week solo trip, this time to the Philippines.  Idea really materialized while I was vacay-ing in Thailand over Xmas and NY, thinking why not use my remaining vacation days over CNY and do something really fun! I've always wanted to go back to Philippines - The islands mind you, and Feb seemed like a good time to go!  So a vacaton was born during a vacation! And planning started when I got back home.  It was easy to choose places since I'm a diver, so beaches/islands where there are nice diving! And some partying! That was how these 3 places came about - malapascua, bohol and boracay.  Of cos I swore to myself if I didn't see whale shark in Thailand, I would go over to Philippines.  Donsol first came into my mind, but then travel was a headache and finally decided Oslob, which is in Cebu.  4 places in 2wks, it's not really a lot of time!!

 

With my lonely planet, I read through the places and rough idea of things to do, and just booked my flight and off I went.  Nothing else done! And I was off from the 1st to the last day of CNY!!

 

Flight to Cebu went smoothly on time, landed on time.  Once in Cebu, off to the Southern bus terminal for the bus to Oslob (3H and 155P).  Funny how air-con and non-aircon has only a 5P difference, yet many more locals flocked to non-aircon.  Am I missing something?  It was after 7pm when I arrived in 'ghostly' town of Oslob where whale watching is big business.  Precisely why it's a ghost town after 1pm cos whale watching is only 6-12noon.  Someone from the whale watch shop came over to offer me accomodation once I arrived and got myself a room in a boatman's house for 300B.  Basic but just1 night, it's absolutely fine!  Bad thing - no food at the hour of 730pm.  So just survived on cup noodles for the night and early lights out for the 6am whale watch.

 

Small bangka sailing off coast to see whale sharks

Easy peasy - head over to any place, they all charge the same.  1000P if you swim/snorkel with whale shark or 700P if you just watch from the boat.  Of cos you have to go under to get the action!  Even at 6am, there were already 3 or more whale sharks.  And you don't sail out far, it's just off the coast! The fishermen feed them every morning 6-12 without fail so you are guaranteed to see them!  And these are baby whale sharks!  Still they are HUGE 6-10m! Imagine if you actually see an adult one!  We got 30mins with them whale sharks but I think being early birds, I was in the water for much longer.  Boatman was kind enough to take photos for me, and it was tiring!  The current was pretty strong and I was instructed to swim under, go under continuously for 10min without resting.  So down up down up down up just for good photos.  Worth it!  Now, you are NOT supposed to use Flash, splash around them, wear sunblock, and stay 4m away from them.  But the boatman kept asking me to "Get closer" and i was literally an arm's length away from whalie!!  Dream fulfilled! Showered off and caught the next bus back to Cebu and rush off to Malapascua!

I was this close to the whale shark

 

Cabbed to North bus terminal for the long ride to Maya, gateway to malapascua.  163P for the ride.  Gota make it to Maya before 5pm to catch the last boat over, else be prepared to pay private rates for boatman to get you over.  80P for the ride, and 20P each way for the small bangka to get you to the big bangka during low tide.  30mins is all it takes to get you to Malapascua, the so-called Boracay of the old.  Interesting story - After I purchased my 80P ticket, a boatman 'offered' me a private rate of 200P to leave immediately instead of waiting for the next boat which according to him was cancelled and don't know how long more to wait.  Of course I declined!  He tried on another passenger and got declined.  5mins later, we were off to go! No special rate!  Turned out, they had to leave because of the supplies they wanted to bring over! Scam!!

 

Upon arrival, time to find accomodation.  I sorta made a tentative enquiry to book 1 night over Internet with Purple Snapper, but wanted to try my luck with other cheaper options but none was available after walking the entire Bounty Beach.  Turned back to Purple Snapper and guess what!  They screwed up my booking!  The owner apologized and found another place for the night - 900B at a very far-out deserted place north of the island where there is no place for food or anything else!  Still nice for a quiet night of sleep.  Met a lovely Finnish couple on a 3 month honeymoon trip - Hanna and Mikko who were in the same plight as me.  Lo and behold, it was not to be our one and only chance meeting!! More on that later...

 

Next morning woke up refreshed and energized for a day of exploring the tiny island of Malapascua!  Started with a walk to the Lighthouse, where the view was alright.  Wanted to go up the lighthouse but the captain, who has the key, was not in the village.  Bad luck.  Then walked to the edge of the northern side where people head over to do cliff jumping.  Had to pay a 25P entrance fee cos apparently, I'm walking past a resort.  Oh whatever!  The view there was real nice but of course I didn't jump!  There was no way of getting back up once I'm down...

 

On top of the hill!

Still no guts to jump yet....

Then followed by a long walk to the other side of the island.  It is really just a small island, probably takes you under 2H to explore. But it was a nice day!  Finally checked into Purple Snapper, at 800P per night it is actually not that cheap!  Room was alright, with shared bathroom.  But the place is quite cool!  And tada! Bumped into the Fins again! Tried to lay by the beach to do some relaxing but the sky decided not to cooperate.. Turns out, there was a typhoon in South Mindanao which affected the weather.  And that was why I got shitty weather in the following days...

 

One of the nicest sunset during the entire 2wk trip!

By a chance encounter at a dive shop, I was recommended to eat at Kiwi, a local eatery.  Took me a while to find the little shack in a dark alley.  And when I arrived, only 1 table of travellers was there.  I decided to take a separate table cos I had a 5am dive the next morning and if I joined, I'll be fucked! Haha.. As i sat quietly at my own table, the conversation from the next table became really interesting and piqued my interest.  Time passed, 45mins later, still no sign of food.  I was finally invited to join them in waiting and drinking for food  Turned out they have been waiting for much longer!  Our food finally arrived 2H later.  Why? Because there's only 1 lady cooking and everything done from scratch! Even the coconut had to be bought upon order!  But it was a good wait with those people!  Funny, cool and interesting bunch of people!  When the food arrived, totally worth it!  Delicious and cheap!  Highly recommend it, if you can find it!  Of cos, I ended up in bed only after 12.  For the threshers, I will survive on 5H of sleep.

 

Next morning, though tired, but excited cos Threshers! Off we went at 5am, and down we went at 6am.  All was quiet and still until - DUM DUM DUM! We spot the 1st glimpse of the giant! 1, 2, 3 no 4!!! They were just swimming, minding their own business like we don't exist! Holy crap they are huge with those whipper tail!  One of the most amazing moments, just sitting down there, watching.

Hello Mr Thresher!

Caught in action!

Went for another dive in the mid morning, which was pretty cool too.  I thought I needed a nap, but damn those threshers must have given me energy cos no nap required, and I met those group of people for dinner again! This time - Ging Ging, another local eatery much bigger scale.  Still a long wait for food but still good food worth waiting for!

My hilarious newly made friends from Taiwan!  This is called the Lindsey stacker

Did I mention about the Fins? Oh they are very much involved in my trip! Yes, the next day we were on the same dive trip out to Gato Island! Booked it the day before with Fun and Sun dive.  Thought just the 3 of us in a group, ended up another German DM (Gordon) joined us.  Fun!  We had a great group!  The dive was nice, saw some cool stuff - worth mentioning 4 cuttlefish fooling around. My night ended once again with the same group of people from Taiwan, with drinks and being serenaded by a local guy at this really cool cushion place by the beach.

 

Eve of V day - being serenaded felt nice!

What do you have to do on V day? Of cos climb a coconut tree!!!

On Valentine's Day, I bid good bye to my friends from Taiwan, went for a crappy dive and just lazed around doing nothing much.  Went for a sunset by the lighthouse which wasn't really good.  Oh did I metion happy hour? 2-1 really great deal.  My life on vacation - Happy hour after 5 everyday!  Enroute to dinner (was planning on just a quiet dinner then off to bed cos I was planning on hoping to Bohol the next day which meant early morning), bumped into the German guy and another traveller.  Ended up having dinner with a bunch of people and heading to the local village for their Mr & Ms Valentine contest and the disco after!  It was actually LITTLE Mr & Ms Valentine! Haha but yea, dico dancing was fun and ended up back home at 4+am, which totally wrecked my plan to travel.  So one more day in Malapascua! But definitely Bohol the next morning!

My Partners in crime at the disco dancing arena! 3H non-stop dancing. Hey I'm still not too old!

I would say Purple Snapper, though not the cheapest, is a really cool place to stay and hang out.  The owner is a very nice American.  The diving there is not the cheapest but they are pretty ok.  Heard from the Fins that dive society (the yellow brick building) is pretty good too!

 

Malapascua is a really small island.  Boracay of the yester year? I don't know and can't compare.  It is much smaller than Boracay though. But definitely quiet place.  No discos or clubbing, ust nice relaxing chilling bars (a few only) along the beach.  Other wise the place is pretty dead at night.  Of cos diving is the main activity here! But I'm sure snorkelling is pretty alright! Or if you are not a diver, just relax by the beach and do nothing!  Yes, there's basically NOTHING you can do on the island.  NO hill or viewpoint much to explore or hiking to do.  Or you can try hiring a bangka out to far out island like Calanggaman to just chill.  But you really can't miss out on the Thresher shark dive (if you are a diver) Worth the early morning!