Tacloban Leyte...My first ever Solo Travelling...

Everytime I saw a s plane or pag pumupunta kami sa house ng sister ko near Multi-national Subd. in Paranaque passing thru the airport, lagi pumapasok sa isipan ko na one time sasakay din ako sa eroplano. One time, isa rin ako na maghihintay ng announcement sa waiting area ng airport for the airline ready for boarding. 

Early 1990's when I first try to ride a plane. And would you believe, Tacloban is my first destination via airplane. Para lang akong bata nuon na gustong sumakay ng ride sa isang carnival. Umalis ako ng Manila early morning then bumalik din ako at that same day ng hapon...O, diba para lang akong pumunta sa Cubao or sa Star City....hehe! Wala akong nasa isip nuon kundi ang magkaroon ng experience na sumakay ng eroplano...Di ko pa rin nuon alam na it can also consider it as a solo backpaking...malay ko ba sa ganun nuon!....Pero siguro nga, ito talaga ang isa sa destiny ko...to travel and be a Solo Traveler...Kaya nga ang lakas ng belief ko sa saying na...."what your mind conceived your body will achieve"... Try nyo kaya....nothing to loose...folks!

Again, nag plan ako to have a Solo Travel...And upon searching a destination on my computer, I came accross to the site of Pinoy Solo Traveler / Pinoy DIY Travel, http://pinoydiytraveler.wordpress.com/2012/04/12/tour-invitation-09-08-12-digyo-island-inopacan-leyte/ Since this is an open invitation, naglakas loob ako na mag-join sa grupo. Natutuwa ako kasi sa Tacloban ang first experience ko na sumakay ng eroplano, and dito rin nangyari ang first time ko na maglakwatsa with other people na di ko talaga kilala. Tacloban ang dami mong binigay na magagandang memories sa akin....And to add those good and memorable experience, here are some of them happy to share with all of you guys....

Arriving alone at Tacloban Airport around 11:30am, my priority is to see the well known San Juanico Bridge on my first day. Since I only have 3days and 2nights to stay in the place, I made a lists of my must to see places aside from the main objective to join with Owen's invitation (Pinoy Solo Traveler). Upon texting him that I already touch down Tacloban and planning to proceed to the famous bridge, he replied that they are also going the same place and we arrived the same time...pagkakataon nga naman. Palagi na lang akong sinuswerte...Ano pa nga ba, sumabit nanaman ang lola mo....hihihi! They are 3 in their group Owen, Ime and Melo. They are all very friendly and easy to go along with...Nice meeting you guys!

It took us more or less 1hour ride to reached the bridge. People it's true...the part of the bridge which is on Samar's side, looks like letter "S" talaga. And while you are on the Leyte's side naman it looks like letter "L"...nakakatuwa. Ang galing-galing! Feel mo talaga na yumu-yugyog yung tulay kapag nasa gitna ka ng bridge. Other says,
nakakatakot but for me its realy funny and exciting. Ang ganda-ganda pag nanduon ka sa pinaka mataas na part, the one with the metal frame. This is really an amazing man-made structure that can be seen,  have memories and stories to tell about.

Some interesting views to get some pictures....Though I am not a professional photographer, I really love to take pictures of those beautiful scenery. Haay...as I told my daughter, this is the good memories that I can really treasure. Love it....
And looking down the bridge you can see some fishing boats, others are shouting at you to take some pictures of them.

San Juanico Bridge tour is done, the next destination in my list is the Sto.Nino Shrine. Separating from Owen's group, we decided to go to our individual accommodation. They will go directly to Baybay City where is nearer to Inopacan, our meeting place from where we will ride a motor boat going to Digyo Island. While me, I go first to my reserved accommodation in Welcome Home Pensione to drop of my laguage so that I can easily roam around Tacloban City.

Front view of the Sto. Nino Shrine

After refreshing up, I went to Sto. Nino Shrine. One of Madame Imelda Marcos' creations. This was only 15mins ride from Welcome Home. Got some pictures. Doing some point and shoot churva....The place was so huge and all the things inside and out are obviously old and very expensive furnitures. Here are some of my favorite spots.

The front view of the Sto. Nino Shrine. Looking outside of it feels like you really must to see what is inside.

This is one of the many rooms inside the shrine. The Firefly Room....the guide told us that this was so called Firefly Room because of the lights design on its ceiling....yun lang! Oo nga naman...parang mga alitaptap and design ng ilaw...may punto ka teh! Walang kumokontra...

The Firefy Room

Imelda Marcos' Room

Imelda Marcos' Bathroom

Next is the Imelda Marcos' Room. Grabe ang laki ng kwartong ito. Para talagang prinsesa ang natutulog dito. Ang ganda! Pati yung powder room at comfort room, mamamangha ka sa laki at ganda....Powder room pa lang kasing laki na ata ng apartment ko. hihi....May narinig nga ako sa isang kasabay ko na mga turista, dito ba ginastos ni Imelda ang kaban ng bayan? Well, up to you to judge....

Haay...nakakapagod man, happy ako kasi nasunod ko ang itenerary ko to go and follow my must to see places on my first day. Got to go back on my place to get some rest and eat my dinner. Whew! Tiring day pero kuntento...ang sarap ng feeling! Ups... wait my phone rings....its Gina of Gfootsteps https://www.facebook.com/Gfootsteps... we had the same choice of accomodation. Hi, sissy! Meet her downstairs...what a very awesome first time meeting. Para kaming matagal ng friendship. She was very nice and pretty. Of course very sexy...

Second day, early wake-up, about 4am. We, Gina and friends, Yeye and Dennis, both vey nice guys decided to leave the place around 5am. So lucky kasi yung sasakyan naming van going to Inopacan is just accross Welcome Home...the Daptours van. It took us almost 3hours ride to Inopacan, Leyte. Ang nakakatuwa on our way to Inopacan while riding a van, Gina and I talking about kung sino-sino and kasama namin. And When we start talking about Anjo and friend (another joiner), the man sitting infront of me ask me. Si Gina ka ba ng Gfootstep? And I answered him back, hindi po, siya po. Pointing out with Gina. And he introduced himself that he is Anjo and with him is Mhon. And we laugh out loud....napasabi kami ng..."Waaah, buti na lang we did not say any negative comment" hahahaha....and a very warm conversation starts....

When we reach Inopacan, andun na sila Owen and the rest of his group. He already arrange the motored boat na sasakyan naming lahat. Sumakay na kami agad sa banca na naghihintay sa amin. We were late on our call time. Guess why? Naligaw kami....lumagpas kami sa jump-off place namin. hahaha...what a funny experience.

I was so happy, kasi at first, hesitant ako dahil wala talaga akong kilala kahit sino among the group. Some of them have their friends with them. Actually, we are only two girls who are really solo joining the group, me and Anjie who just follow us in Digyo Island. Meeting Anjie was also nice. At first I thought Anjie is also purely Manilenia, but when an old woman approach us, she speaks the local dialect very fluently....taga duon pla siya sa Tacloban. Sabi ko pa naman nung naiwan siya ng banca, baka maligaw din yun nag-iisa pa naman. Yun pala....hehehehe!











Touching down Digyo Island was really very exciting. Malayo pa lang ang island, nakikita ko na ang ganda nito. The water was very clear and its powdery sand adds the beauty of the place. You can also do camping on the island and para siyang Anawangin na maraming pine trees. Dito puro puno naman ng nyog na perfect to tie your hammok. Kumain muna kami ng early lunch before we explore the island. I saw Owen's group was very excited to wear their snorkling gear.  Gusto ko sanang ma-experience how to do snorkling na di nakakapit sa katig ng banca. hahahaha....which I did on my very first time to wear gaggles...hahahaha!


Waaah! Inggit ako.... Kaya I promised Owen and to his group na next time I will be joining with them in snorkling....basta tuturuan muna nila ako and I ask Owen to be ready as may kapitan...hihihi!

Ups! As I always do....I must leave the Byaheng Jologs mark in Digyo Island, Inopacan, Leyte... meaning...I did it again...exploring Pilipinas the Byaheng Jologs way....

Again, after a very nice and exciting adventure in the island, time to go back to our accommodation. My second day was also tiring, pero talagang sulit na sulit. Pwedeng-pwedeng ulitin. I hope you too can see this place also.

On my third day, di ako papayag na di ko makikita ang very historical place sa Palo, Leyte. Ang famous na Mc Arthur Landing Park. Pinilit ko pa ring mapuntahan ito inspite of having an 11am flight to catch. Luckily, I did it!... May bonus pa na time to buy pasalubong Binagol and Sumang Tsokolate. It is one of the local delicacies in place.

End of my Tacloban, Leyte stories and experience, but for sure, my Byaheng Jologs will not stop from here....

Start traveling and share your own experience...Build your memories and show to others the Ganda ng Pilipinas!



Special thanks to my new found friends...Owen of the Pinoy DIY Travel, Gina of Gfootsteps, Ime, Melo, Anjie, Anjo and Mon, Yeye and Dennis. Hope to join you again in some other future travelling. Happy travel everyone!!!