Bantayan and Malapascua Islands

This trip to Northern Cebu's charming islands of Bantayan and Malapascua is a variation from my usual knee-pounding activities of mountain climbing and running.  A much needed variation that helped my body relax and recover.  A variation that gave me a little peace of mind. A variation I enjoyed from the start until the end.  

In this trip are my outdoor buddies Rosalyn and Adrian with the latter planning everything.  Together we made the most out of the very short time we had for the trip.

Bantayan Island

An island located on the western side of the northern tip of Cebu.  This is the biggest island of the Bantayan group and administratively divided into three towns namely Sta. Fe, Bantayan, and Madridejos.  Popular to both local and foreign tourists because of its good beaches.  We had a nice swim at the Ogtong Cave Resort and walk at the sugar beach.  While most beach resorts and beach activities are in the the town of Sta. Fe, touring the other towns of the island is also worth a try.  On a motorbike we visited the century old church, Carlito's fried and roasted chicken house and the heritage houses of Bantayan and chased the sunset over Madridejos baywalk.       

Getting there

From Cebu North Terminal, AC and Non-AC buses are plying the route Cebu-Hagnaya Port. Fare is 160 for AC bus and 135 for Non-AC bus.  Travel time is approximately 3 hours.  Bus leaves as early as 3:30 am with the last trip at 5:00 pm daily.  From Hagnaya port in San Remigio a public ferry is servicing the transportation need of the island.  It will take an hour ferry ride for 170 pesos plus 10 pesos terminal fee.  Entry point is at Sta. Fe.  The ferry departs Hagnaya port as early as 7 am and the last trip at 5 pm everyday.          


Accommodation

In Sta. Fe where the most resorts are concentrated, there are a wide range of choices for budget travelers  and for those willing to spend for comfort.  Beach front, non-beach front, fan and fancy rooms are available.  We stayed in an AC twin bed room at Sta. Fe Beach Club for 1800 a day.  The booking at Sta. Fe Beach Club, gave us a free entrance to Ogtong Cave Resort.  Both resorts are owned by a single person.

Sta. Fe Beach Club
Alice Beach, Sta. Fe, Bantayan Island
Contact #: +63-32-4389090/+63-32-4389107
http://www.stafebeach.com/



Getting around Bantayan

Motorbikes and bicycles for rent are available on most resorts.  We rented a motorbike for 250 a day. This gave us the opportunity to roam around the island.   Motorcycle and motorbikes are the main mode of transportation in the island.  There are also multicabs plying Sta. Fe - Bantayan and Bantayan - Madridejos but on a limited trips a day.   

Food

Most resorts serve meals for their guests from breakfast to dinner.  However, those in tight budget may find this a bit pricey just like in our case.  We opted to look for other options in the poblacion.  There, we find an eatery by the road that is affordable and delicious.  

Going out

Public ferry leaves from Sta. Fe as early 6 am with the last trip at 4:30 pm everyday. Fare is 170 pesos plus 10 pesos terminal fee.  Most resorts offer free transfer to the port.   


Malapascua Island

I had the opportunity to visit Malapascua when I was just starting to explore the country. The trip was one of my very first.  I was awed and instantly fell in love with its beauty then.  I can vividly remember how emerald green its waters, how quite the island, how beautiful the coconut trees lining up on its coasts, how white the sand in Bounty beach.   To me, Malapascua is a tropical paradise.   That was five years ago!  When I learned that it's going to be included in our itinerary, I can't hide my excitement. I've been yearning to go back to this island I once loved! 

It's a gloomy afternoon when we arrived in Malapascua.  So much has changed from five years ago. There is a proliferation of resorts, dive shops and households.  The island was not also sparred from the wrath of typhoon Haiyan.  Only few of the beautiful coconut trees lining on the coast remain standing.  Though efforts exerted to replace them, but it will take years before another beautiful coconut trees.   However it's good to know that tourism is very much alive.   Local and foreign tourist flock the island.  

After finding an accommodation and taking our late lunch, we wasted no time and indulged in our activity for the afternoon.  We go for swimming, snorkeling, and cliff jumping.  I wasn't able to do these during my first visit.  Diving has to remain in the list due to budget constraint.  The cliff jumping was a surprise to me.  I did not expect it to be 32 feet high(accdg. to our boatman) .   Upon seeing how high it is, my confidence level dwindled to its lowest.  When we get to the top it's more scary.   Honestly, I think of not jumping and just go down. Thankfully, after a couple of minutes I mustered the courage.  With my knees shaking, I jumped, and into the water I plunged.  I resurfaced after a few seconds and realized I did it and I'm alive!  All of the three of us jumped.  It was an experience I'll surely not forget.   

We did not catch the sunrise the next day.  We wake up late, perhaps due to the long ride and the activities we had the day before.  It was a sunny day.   An ideal day for another snorkeling and swimming but we had to leave the island.  Watching the sunlight beams into the white sand and emerald green waters, I realized that Malapascua is still a paradise.  It is still beautiful.  It has not lost its charm and appeal to me.  I still love it!  

Getting there from Bantayan Island

From the port of Hagnaya, ride a bus going to Cebu City and alight at  the junction of Cebu North Hagnaya Wharf Road and Bogo-Curva-Medellin-Daanbantayan-Maya Road. Landmark is Staroil Gas Station.  Fare is 10 pesos for non-aircon bus.  Ride another bus with Maya signboard.  Fare is 35 for non-AC bus and travel time is approximately an hour and a half.  The last stop of the bus will be the port.  From the port of Maya, public boats are available.  Boat ride is an hour and fare is 100 pesos plus 20 pesos for small boat ride during low-tide.  Boat departs from Maya as early as 6:30 am and the last boat trip to the island is 3 pm.  If by chance you were not able to catch the last trip, you can charter a boat for 1000-2000 pesos depending on your haggling skills.  


Accommodation

There are a number of resorts in the island offering accommodation on a wide range of choices depending on your budget.  For budget travelers like us, we opted to stay on a P600/night fan room good for two at BB's guesthouse.  The owner was kind not to charge an extra fee for an extra person.




Activities in the island

Malapascua is known for diving but it's not the only the activity in the island.  One can go swimming, snorkeling, cliff jumping, sunrise and sunset viewing, strolling, and sun bathing.  We did snorkeling and cliff jumping and charged P400/head for boat rental.

Food

There are a number of restaurants in the island offering varieties of food choices.  In our stay, we usually eat at Ging-Gings restaurant.  Nothing especial about their food but so far the cheapest in the island.  Main dish starts at P60.

Going out from the island

Public boat departs from the island as early as 7 am.  Boat fare is P100 plus P20 small boat ride during low-tide.

  







              




  

My 2014

Year 2014 has been another great year for my outdoors.  It was an action packed year filled with adventures, excitement, and happiness.  I had been to different places, done many firsts, met and gained new friends, crossed out a number from my bucket list.  To sum up, I had 20 climbs, ran 293 kilometers, done 1 solo backpacking, 2 beach trips, 1 adventure race, and a number of food trips and cultural immersions.  Though I haven't blog about most of these, but looking back, here are my top eleven most memorable adventures of 2014.

1.  Mt. Kinabalu
I always thought it is expensive to climb Mt. Kinalabu until I found out that a dayhike is possible and permitted.  A one day climb would mean less climb expenses as there is no need to stay overnight at the overpriced guesthouse above.  After learning all these, without second thought, I booked a flight to Kota Kinabalu.  Joined by my friend Adrian, we found ourselves on a fine late morning of September 2014 at Mt. Kinabalu park's visitor information center convincing and begging the park's officials for a dayhike to no avail.  It turned out a blessing in disguise however, as the weather would turn out awful every afternoon during our stay.  Luckily, even though we settled for the two day climb we still spent less than expected.  Thanks to the newly built Lamaine guesthouse!  Climbing Kinabalu is easier said than done.  While the trail is wide and established, the elevation gain and the thinning air poised a challenge.  The biting cold on day 2 added more challenge to the summit assault.  All pain and hardships however are worth it.  The mountain is beautiful and the view at the top is simply breathtaking.  At 4,035 meters above sea level, Mt. Kinabalu is so far the highest mountain i ever climbed.

at the summit

2.  Mt. Rinjani
I never heard of Mt. Rinjani before until a glitch in the ticketing system of an airline led me to this beautiful active volcano, standing at 3,726 masl in the island of Lombok, Indonesia.  Together with friends Ian, Annalene, Rosalyn, and Adrian we embarked on a guided/$105 worth/all provided three days climb, May of 2014.  Over all, I enjoyed the experience from the trek on the sorrow hills, to the cold night at the Pelawangan base camp, to reaching the summit, to the camping at the crater lake, to the hot-spring bath, to my companions, to the unlimited coffee and tea!  If there was a tough challenge the entire climb poised that was the summit assault on day 2.    The trail leading to the summit is a loose gravel, so loose that for every 3 steps, 2 is forward and 1 is backward. It was exhausting and frustrating at the same time.   Adding to the challenge was the freezing dawn temperature.  But with sheer determination, we made it all to the summit!

at the summit

3.  El Nido
Each time I hear good reviews and see beautiful pictures of El Nido, my desire to visit this place just continue to grow.  Actually,  this is on top of my list of the places in the country that I want to visit. When finally I had the opportunity last Nov. 2014, I did not think twice.  From one lagoon to another lagoon, from a hidden beach to another secret beach, from one island to another island, from a waterfall to a twin beach to the top of a limestone cliff.  El Nido is a place where my dream of a paradise became a reality.  It was just beautiful!  The trip was even more memorable co'z I was with someone so dear to me.  

at Matinloc viewdeck

4.  Soleus Trail Valley 50K Challenge
Doubt and fear always prevail every time I entertained a thought of an ultra run. I have ran a number of marathons but never an ultra marathon.   July of 2014, I finally mustered the courage and took my running a notch higher by joining this event.  My 50 kilometers journey from the starting to the finish line was never easy.  Running through the fields of Nuvali under the unforgiving heat of the sun almost had me giving up.  Luckily, my guardian angels never left my side that day.  I had strength barely enough to sustained me to the finish line.  It was a nice feeling finishing the run but the experience had me thinking if I'll do it ever again.    

towards the finish line      (C) RP

5.  Solo Backpacking Tawi-Tawi 
The country's southernmost province and an off-the-beaten track for travelers.  Peace and security concerns are what holding back most travelers and tourists from visiting this province rich in culture, tradition and natural resources.  I'm not afraid of going there but I didn't expect it to happen anytime soon.  August last year, I found myself on a plane bound for Tawi-Tawi confident and with no trace of fear.  With excitement, I toured Tawi-tawi's capital and neighboring towns on a motorcycle and on my second day I hiked on it's sacred mountain, Bud Bongao.   I met some locals and they were all friendly and even generous to offer me durian which I gladly accepted but didn't like the taste.  During my two-day stay, never did I feel unsafe being alone.  In fact, I enjoyed the experience from sunrise to sunset! I'm hoping to go back to do island hopping.    

Tawi-tawi's Provincial Capitol

6.  D2K
I've been into mountaineering for more than two years already but I have never tried climbing solo. Some accounts of people who did a solo dayhike on D2K got me interested in doing the same.  It took a while though before I finally decided.  I'm fully aware that the two mountains are among the country's highest.  Physical and mental preparations must be considered. Banking on my running and mountaineering experiences, I tried the D2K traverse dayhike, Sept. of last year.  It was easier said than done.  While the mountains were beautiful its trail were challenging.  I couldn't be more proud however, upon finishing it.  It was worth all the long travel, cramps, and exhaustion.   

the mossy forest

7.  Milo Marathon
As I mentioned above, I have ran a number of marathons last year but what made Milo marathon memorable from the rests was that I clocked my personal best at 5hrs. and 19 mins.  In all of my marathons this is my strongest finish so far.  

approaching the finish line  (C) PHOTO-OPS

8.  Mt. Bulusan
When I was just starting out in mountaineering, Mt. Bulusan was one of my dream mountains.  I would often read accounts of those who made it there and would ended up full of eagerness and excitement.  Came the first oppurtunity June of 2013, but unfortunately a series of bad luck prevented me.  When I arrived at the bus station, it was already empty. I ended up in a coffee shop lonely.  Came another chance June of last year.  This time around I see to it that I'm not gonna be left behind.  I filed a vacation leave the day before and left for Sorsogon ahead of the group.  Our climb was blessed with good weather most especially during our summit assault.  We had a good clearing that we even saw Mayon volcano from a distant.  I would like to commend the admin of Bulusan natural park for a very organized climb from the permit processing, to the climb proper, to the post climb activities.  My Mt. Bulusan experience was one of the bests.

at the crater summit

9.  Mt. Kanlaon
On a valentines day last year, joined by my college classmate Ronie, we embarked on a climb at Mt. Kanlaon, an active volcano and Visayas highest mountain.  Accompanied by a cool guide famously known as "Kuya Boy", together with traversed the Guintubdan-Wasay trails.  The mountain from its rivers, to its crater summit, to its mossy forest, to its lagoons, to its century old trees, and to its rolling hills is certainly one of the best climbs in the country.  

at the crater summit

10.  Lost at Pico de loro to Marami
 We came back armed with a new strategy, a supposedly correct trail map we downloaded from an account of a mountaineer who did the traverse, a GPS, and tons of courage.  But these artillery of ours were not enough, mother nature tricked and denied us.  We got a glimpse of Mt. Marami our final stop, after a long trekking and bushwhacking, but we can't seemed to find the right trail despite the aid of the map and the GPS.  The many trails were complicated and confusing. Time running out, we had to backtrack to Mt. Pico until we ran out of battery and the night fell on us.  We were lost!   We continue to scoured the forest hoping to find the right trail to no avail.  Worried and also to conserve our energy, we decided to end our search by 9 pm if the trail will still be elusive.   An hour and a half to go before 9 pm, we continued our walk until we came by an open area and what seemed to be a campsite.  I was able to recognized it and I was certain that it was the Palay-palay campsite. From there, I already knew the way out.  We're all thankful that we did not sleep under the trees with empty stomach that night. That very day of November 2014, Rosalyn, Adrian, and myself were humbled and reminded of a lesson to never under estimate a mountain.  

in one of the rest stops

11.  The long road to Fang-od
Before the year ended, my friend Adrian invited me to visit Fang-od,  Joined by friends Rosalyn and Sherelyn, together we journeyed the long road to Buskalan, Kalinga.  Apo Fang-od is said to be the oldest and last surviving hand-tap tattoo artist in Cordillera. Obviously the reason why we will be visiting her is to get a tattoo.   I really don't have any intention of getting one.  All I wanted was to visit Kalinga.  While on the trip enjoying the beautiful sceneries, I think about the idea over and over but still ended up undecided. When we reached Buskalan and when I finally saw her I changed my mind.  The realization that she is not just another tattoo artist helped me decide.  In her work is a culture and tradition passed on from generation to another generation.  And if it's true that she is the last surviving hand-tap tattoo artist, it would be an honor to be inked by her.    

Apo Fang-od in action

I'm looking forward for another action packed 2015!  I'll still have a lot to cross-out from my bucket list.  I still have a lot of dream mountains to climb.  I'll still have a lot places I'd like to go to.  I'll still wanna run. I'll still have a lot of things that I want to try and experience.  I'm all for happiness, excitement, and fun.  While I'll still can, my adventures will continue!  Join me?!