Conquering Fear in Water...Binukbok View Point, Bauan, Batangas

Have you ever tried snorkeling in your life?

 Maybe yes....but for me, it is my first time and I never tried even once ...kasi nga I got fear on water especially duon sa malalim na di maabot ng mga paa ko...And how deep is that? Given that I am only 5ft. tall so kailangan hanggang mga 3ft deep lang. Di kasi ako marunong lumangoy....hahahaha!...Kung minsan nga pag may swimming event ang family namin, kadalasan mga bata ang kasama ko sa gilid ng pool or hanggan shore lang ako ng beach....pero dito, feeling ko narating ko ang kasing lalim ng three story building or more...katakot talaga!!!

But how did I conquered this fear of mine?....well, this is how it began...

When I first joined the DIY travel tour of Mr. Owen Ferrer in Digyo Island, Tacloban City ...talagang inggit mode ako sa kanila kasi naman ang gagaling nilang mag snorkeling...

Me about to ride on a motor boat going
 to Binukbok View Point

Jump-off place, Brgy. Balete
 to Binukbok View Point

Me, Myself and I

Binukbok View Point

Then, I was again invited by this group in Binukbok View Point in Brgy. San Pablo,Bauan, Batangas.  And this event was merely snorkeling adventure...they are willing to teach how to do snorkeling.....And with no hesitation I said YES... This is one of my adventure that I called, "basagan ng takot mode" The place was so perfect to all the beginners who wanted to learn scuba diving or simply snorkeling. The water was so calm and clear. Yun nga lang...di siya katulad ng ibang beach na may fine sand na pwede kang mag-jogging along the shore. But for those who loves nature and  underwater species...this place is perfect!

Binukbok View Point

Kaya nga ba I always believe in..."what your mind conceived, your body will achieve"...O diba, sa kagustuhan kong matuto mag-snorkeling at upang makita ko ang isa sa mga kagandahang taglay ni Inang Kalikasan, heto at nagpilit matuto...in just a day, natalo ko si fear...ako pa rin ang nagwagi...hehe! Galing talaga ng instructor ko! The best.....I highly recommend his upcoming event...sigurado mag-eenjoy kayo...

Binukbok View Point

Di nila (sir Owen and mam Ime) talaga ako tinigilan hanggang di ako natututo. Grabe tyaga nila para sa katulad kong matigas ang ulo at sobra takot...hehe! Ngayon isa lang masasabi ko...snorkeling is for everyone to enjoy to the max! Ganun lang pala yun...takot lang talaga kalaban mo.... Mahirap pa yung mag-aral mag bike kesa mag aral ng snorkeling....hahaha may yabang na konti!!! Imagine in just one day...nakaya ko...and kung kaya ko, kaya mo rin! Sulong! Snorkeling na tayo!
It's more fun in snorkeling....  

Sir Owen taking his first shot of me

My very first encounter with the beautiful under
water creatures

My first fish feeding experience underwater...ako yan! ako yan! 

And while on the island...may mga bonus views pa ako na nakita that I cannot resist to take a pictures...frustrated photographer nga diba...?hehe... Love to share this with you guys!!

This boat attracts my photographer
instinct..kuno!

A hotel in an islet?

A very special thanks to Sir Owen, http://pinoydiytraveler.wordpress.com who patiently teach me how to doggie...este I mean snorkeling pala...hehehe... And for sharing his pictures, kasi naman jologs nga eh noh...walang pang underwater camera kaya naki-piktyur na lang ako....hahaha!

Beware: 

To all beginners, don't get too much astonished when a bunch of fish approach you....you might get too happy and excited like me....nakalimutan ko na may goggles pla ako at napasigaw ang lola nyo...eh di sangkatutak na tubig dagat tuloy nainom ko....nyahahaha!

Really more fun underwater!

Budget Tour in Iloilo and Guimaras -- Day 2 (Iloilo)

We spend our 2nd day budget tour in Iloilo City....

First, we decided to take our breakfast in Ted's La Paz Batchoy....and we wanted to eat on their original branch where it was first served.... that is in La Paz, Iloilo. And it took us just 1 ride on jeepney from Ong Bun to reach the place (Php7.50). We ordered their super special batchoy(Php65.00) and a bottle of water(Php20.00). Whew! It was really a delicious and heavy breakfast for that day....Sarap talaga! Sira ang diet pag nasa byahe....

Super Special Batchoy

 Having a heavy meal, we decided to have some walk, and catched our attention by  this Museo Iloilo, for only Php25.00 we were able to see some rare artifacts inside the museum but unfortunately cameras are not allowed...Jose! Beside the museum is the Iloilo Provincial Capitol....along the way, we saw some old houses and structures that captured my attention and eagerness to point and shoot my Jologs digicam...hehe...Feeling photographer nanaman.... 

Then, after an hour of walking, we decided to proceed on our major itinerary....visit some famous churches in the area. Again we rode a jeepney bound to Miag-ao.(Php40.00) It took us more than one hour ride before we reach the famous UNESCO World Heritage Site...... The Miag-ao Church one of the "Baroque Churches of the Phils."

Taking so many pictures of this church means, that I was very amazed and admired the place....Grabe talaga ang pagkakagawa! Or maybe I was really fascinated with old structures which most of our churches had.  Haaay...hearth warming talaga pag nakakakita ako ng ganito....Ang sarap magpipindot ng camera....kahit jologs....urgh!

Mama Mary wearing Baro't Saya

                          Our next destination is the Miag-ao Cemetery, which is also established during 18th century. From the church, we ride a tricycle(Php100 round trip) about 15mins. away. But when we reach the place, we saw nothing much interesting but an ordinary cemetery.  What we saw is the chapel inside which collapse during the earthquake. According to the caretaker, it was destroyed last August of this year.

Chapel inside Miag-ao Cemetery

Next in line is The San Joaquin Church. From the church, we again ride a jeepney to San Joaquin(Php15.00). About 30mins. we reach the jump-off point and walk for about another 5mins. 

This is another wonderful and picturesque church. Thought some of its part was already renovated, the bell tower is still on its original look, as my estimation, almost 40% of the total structure was partially renewed. Unlike the Miag-ao which preserved almost everything.

After praying and lighting a candles inside the church, we decided to go back in the city. It was almost 5pm by then. We arrived in Iloilo City around 7pm. We ride again another jeepney (Php7.50) going SM City - Iloilo. Outside the mall we saw the Biscocho Haus. We bought some pasalubong like Piyaya and of course biscocho....hehe....

That was a very tiring day. But we had a big smile on our face. We go back to our hotel, eat our dinner have a good and pleasant sleep. For tomorrow morning is our flight going back to Manila. We don't have much pasalubong, but we have lots of good memories and experiences to share with....

Another successful backpacking by Byaheng Jologs!!! To God Be the Glory!!! 

Actual Expenses For This Day Tour in Guimaras:

Transpo to Ted's                --       Php   7.50/person

Breakfast (Ted's)               --              85.00/person

Entrance Museum               --              25.00/person
Transpo to Miag-ao             --               40.00/person 

Transpo to Miag-ao cemetery --             35.00/person(service round trip)

Miag-ao to San Joaquin          --             15.00/person  

Lunch-carinderia                     --             50.00/person

transpo return to City              --              60.00/person

City to SM                              --                7.50/person

Taxi - SM to Ong Bun            --               90.00/3person

TOTAL expenses for the day ---------Php 355.00
           
              Expenses on day1--------       897.00

              Expenses on day2 --------      355.00

              Accommodations(2dys)--     1,440.00 / 3person(480.00)
              Airfare- round trip --------       782.50

TOTAL expensed for the whole tour --------------------------- Php 2,514.50


Special Thanks To: 
Mr. Jc Sabio http://readyjcgo.blogspot.com/ for helping me search the cheapest accommodation.

Budget tour in Iloilo and Guimaras -- Day 1 (Guimaras)

As my belief is concern, "travelling is for everyone"....And this is one of those travels with a very minimum expenses that can afford by an ordinary individual earning Php300 a day.

As a traveller, we always wanted to catch the cheapest fare as possible. And the good timing was given to us by Tiger Airways via Seair. I immediately invite my two travel buddies who really wanted to experience how to ride on a plane but hesitant due to high cost of airfare. Last September, the said airline offers their very low fare. We got our ticket to Iloilo City for only Php782.56 round trip. Isn't it amazing?

Then, last October 2, 2012 our amazing adventure begins....

Around 4am, we depart from our house to catch 6:30am flight schedule. I can't resist looking at the face of my companion Angela. I can't explain her facial expression. Though I know the feeling of riding a plane for the first time, but still, I felt the same giggling. All I wanted of course is to see what Iloilo can offer to us, but my major concern then is to let my friend experience how to travel and make the most of it even though she's not that wealthy as other travellers. We arrived at Iloilo International airport around 7:30 in the morning.   We went immediately to our accommodation to secure our reservation at Ong Bun Pension House http://www.ongbun.com/pensionhouse-iloilo/rooms/. Thanks to Jc Sabio of http://readyjcgo.blogspot.com/ for helping me find this very cheap accommodation. While riding on a cab to Ong Bun, I interviewed the driver how can we go to Ortiz Wharf which according to the blogs that I read,  it is the jump-off to Jordan Wharf in Guimaras Island. But with a very "malambing na tono ng boses" (soft tone voice) which is natural to Ilonggos, he told us that it is better for us to go directly to Parola because there are more boats available in that area going to Jordan Wharf.

After we confirmed our reservation(Php720/day for 3pax), we walked about 2 blocks to catch the jeepney (Php7.50) bound to Parola. We just buy our packed breakfast at McDonalds(Php79.00) From there, we rode a motor boat(Php14.00) which I estimated around 20 to 30 person capacity. Touching ground to Jordan Wharf, you can easily see their Tourism Help Desk for registration and also they will recommend a service (tricycle or multi-cab) for your day tour.(Php1,200 for 3pax) much cheaper if more than 3pax riding in multi-cab. And our big adventure begins...

Our first stop is the Smallest Plaza....smallest? Yes it is!....smallest as you can see the picture....

The Old Guisi Lighthouse

The New Guisi Lighthouse

Second is the Guisi Lighthouse....This was Built during 18th century

way to Guisi Lighthouse

nice place to take a rest along the way

Picturesque view from the top of the Lighthouse

Remains of the old buildings around the lighthouse. Seeing this structure may catch your attention just to take pictures......This is the price of being a traveller....I really like this place...

Feeling photographer ako dito...lahat ng nasa paligid mo ang sarap kodakan....hehe!

Our third destination Raymen Beach Resort (Php25/person entrance fee plus Php20/person shower)....from here the receptionist of the resort arranged the boat that we will be needed for our island hoping.(Php500/hr. plus Php150/hr. in excess for 3 pax)

Some beautiful views that we've seen during our island hopping. 

The views are awesome....the water is so clear....Di namin mapigilang di maglaro sa tubig....were like kids laughing, playing with the waves...taking pictures everywhere... Sad to say....we don't see any turtles in the island...The caretaker of the island told us that the DENR representative got the turtle an hour before we arrived...huhuhu...di ko man lang nasilayan si Haring Pawikan...

The  Turtle Island

Next is the Trappist Abbey Monks Monastery.......Upon arriving in this place, Father Peter S. Patiño welcomes all the visitors with a pleasant smile...he talks about the monastery and humbly ask to write a prayer request and some donations. This place is so solemn....going here makes me feel so happy. And believe it or not, my prayer request is partially answered the day after I wrote my request....God is really good in so many ways!

 


To those who had been in Trappist Abbey and willing to help and ask for  prayer requests, here is Father Peter's number and address.
Fr. Peter S. Patino
Trappist Abbey
San Miguel, Jordan
Guimaras
CP# 09053014599

Looks yummy huh!....Grabe talaga....I'm not fun of eating too much pizza, but for this one, I think I can eat the whole 10" size of it....uhmmmm! This pizza is made of ripe mangoes with lots of cheese and bell pepper. To those who had tasted this, I bet you missed this by now....Every time I saw this pics, Gusto ko bumalik dun para lang sa pizza ng The Pitshop.....Haist talaga.....!!!

And this is the end of our Byaheng Jologs Day1 in Guimaras Budget Tour.
Watch out for our exciting Day2........Iloilo City.
Peace People!

Actual Expenses For This Day Tour in Guimaras:

Breakfast                          --                      79.00/person

Transpo to Parola             --                        7.50/person X2

Boat to Jordan Wharf       --                      14.00/person X2

Tricycle(wholedsy service)--                 1,200.00/3person

Lunch(incl.driver)carinderia--                   180.00/3person

Entrance Guisi Lighthouse  --                     10.00/person

Entrance Raymen Resort    --                     25.00/person

Shower fee                        --                     20.00/person

Boat Rental (island hopping)--                  600.00/3person

Pitshop (Snack)                  --                  450.00/3person

TOTAL Expenses for the day --------Php 987.00