BachelorGirl

So today we talked about our third monthly getaway... and we decided to go to Anawangin where we initially planned to go a couple of months ago.

Can't wait to take pictures! Which reminds me that I need to have my digicam fixed before the 1st of October. Did I mention that I broke it when I fell off a platform in Galera?

I can't wait to go out of town again.
Believe it or not-- I have never gone camping... so I can't wait to experience sleeping outdoors in a tent.

So it's been more than a month since my last entry.
And now I'm writing another because we just got back from our second monthly getaway.

Because of Aaron, from Calaguas or Canton Island in Camarines Norte, we changed the destination to Puerto Galera. Seven of us planned to go but last Saturday Sweet and Aaron backed out so only I, Kel, Tutay, and Rey went backpacking.

I thought it's not gonna happen. For the past few weeks it's been raining like crazy and they have been saying that it would be risky to go to Puerto Galera. We have come up with plan B-- go to a resort in Batangas. We're on a budget so they've looked for inexpensive resorts.

Come Sunday the weather was nice. Rey, Tutay and I agreed to meet at McDonald's Buendia (along EDSA) at 4AM. I arrived first and had breakfast with Rey. Tutay took a cab from Marikina to Makati and she picked us up on her way to the Ceres bus terminal. The bus left around 5AM and we arrived at the pier around 8AM.

We took a ferry to the island. We bought roundtrip tickets for Php450 per pax. While waiting for the ferry a couple of ladies approached us asking if we already have a place to stay at. Tutay knew an inexpensive inn called Nautilus and we were able to get a room for only Php800 a night and that's good for four people.

When we got there a lady was waiting for us. Then we were escorted by a man who offered an island hopping package to us for only Php1500. He said we will go to three islands and we can also go snorkeling. We rested for a a few minutes and had lunch at the White Beach Resort Bar and Restaurant.

Because we are on a no-rice diet, Tutay and I had Cordon Bleu (Php150).

This was the view from where I sat and had lunch.

After lunch we rested for a couple of hours and went swimming. The waves were so big that I almost drowned taking in what seemed like gallons of salt water.

Tired from fighting with the current we dozed off. I got up around 8PM and had coffee with Kel by the shore. A cup of warm water and a pack of Nescafe 3-in-1 mix costs Php20.

We had dinner at Food Trip. Tutay and I shared a plate of bacon and eggs for Php175.

We had a pitcher of Mindoro Sling before hitting the sack. We went back to the room around 1AM because we had to get up at 6AM for the island hopping.

We had lugaw for breakfast for Php50 per bowl. We bought bread to feed the fishes. The water was calm and we headed to the coral reef. When we got there they offered activities like snorkeling and going to the underwater cave for Php200 each. We're on a budget so we haggled. They agreed to bring us to the underwater cave for only Php150. I'm glad we decided to check the cave out.

We had to crawl our way in. I forget and stood up a couple of times scratching my back against the rough rock ceiling.

After taking pictures in the cave (which was not really underwater because the opening was at the side of a big rock) Kuya Onin offered to go fish feeding for only Php100. We agreed to go snorkeling and feed the fishes.

After feeding the fishes, the manongs took us to Bayanan Island were we enjoyed the clear waters. We took some pictures and headed back to White Beach. We didn't get to check other islands because of the big waves. So we really didn't go island hopping...

We had lunch and slept all afternoon.

On our last night we had two pitchers of Mindoro Sling at Mikko's Bar. We had a blast... I woke up to a beautiful morning. Again, I had coffee by the beach, this time with Tutay. The sky was painted with a rainbow.

I didn't expect much from Galera because of what people have been telling me and that's why I had so much fun... and I love PG.

The original plan was to go to Anawangin until Sweet mentioned that Kat and her friends are going to Potipot Island in Zambales. Tutay and I asked if we can tag along, Kat said yes so we decided to cancel the Anawangin trip and go to Potipot instead.

We left Manila at ten in the morning. It was a good thing that we rented a van because it was a seven-hour drive. The driver was nice and he is an ex-celebrity. He's one of the Sunog-Bagà Boys in Home Along the Riles. The van was not well ventilated but we managed to have fun singing along with music videos. We also watched My Amnesia Girl. I'm not into Filipino romantic films but I really love this movie. I even cried the first time I saw it. Its cheesy lines made me giggle and smile... and one line told me that I'm not cut out for true love because Ang true love ay para sa matatapang na tao lamang. Boooo!

So we arrived in Dawal Resort at around five in the afternoon. We booked two Houses w/ Garage for a night. The room rate was Php2,200 but they had an ongoing promotion so we had it at a discounted rate. The others went to the palengke (wet market) to buy food for the island trip on the next day and I stayed in the room to catch up on my sleeping.

They woke me up a few minutes past 7 P.M. to have dinner at the Dawal Restaurant. Tutay and I had Pork Sinigang and Inihaw na Liempo. The food was okay but I wish we ordered Cordon Bleu instead. The restaurant offers a wide variety of dishes and you can find the menu on their website.

We spent the night at the resort, drinking by the pool. The pool is only open until midnight so we had to head back to the house and finish the drinks (that I mixed) at the porch. We took some silly pictures before hitting the sack. They said I was so intoxicated that I talked nonstop until I dozed off. LOL.

I got up at around six in the morning. We had cup noodles so Kel and I asked for hot water from the restaurant. We ate the noodles by the beach, with the island in sight, while waiting for the food. We had them cook the luncheon meat, corned beef and rice for us (for a fee). Check out time is at noon and they charge Php200 for each additional hour. Because we intend to spend the entire day in the island we decided to check out early and leave our things in the van and use the common shower room when we get back from the island.

It took us about 15 minutes to get to the island. The boat rent was Php500 for a maximum of six pax and the island entrance fee was Php100 per head. The island has a lot of trees, fine sand, wooden tables and benches, a tree house (that you can rent for Php10,000), little huts (for Php500), and clear waters. We were so amazed that we had to say Ang ganda ng tubig! over and over. Sweet called it swimmable. The island is perfect for a sweet escape from the concrete jungle.

We had grilled chicken, pork and fish paired with itlog na pula (salted eggs) with tomatoes for lunch. The ex-celebrity driver did the grilling for us. (Didn't I tell you he's nice... and he was on a diet too)

We walked around the island (we literally walked around it as it is a fairly small island), took pictures and spent the entire day soaked in the sun. The others played frisbee while we enjoyed the clear waters. There were other visitors in the island so for a few minutes we sat under one of the trees boy watching.

One of the highlights in the island trip and one of the good things the island has to offer is the poso (artesian well)! We had a lot of fun playing with the cold water from the poso. We were like kids with big smiles on our faces while we wait for our turn to hold the tabo (water dipper) and splash cold water with it.

We left the island an hour before sunset and headed back to Manila.

It's a two-day trip but if you come to think of it we only spent a day in Zambales.
We were on the road for about 14 hours yet it was all worth it. I had a great time in Potipot.

Can't wait for the next lakwatsa with the gang.

This blog is inspired by a goal me and my newfound friends have set—a monthly getaway.
We agreed to explore the archipelago. *Fingers crossed*

Last month we went to Potipot Island in Zambales. For August, the initial plan was to go to Calaguas or Canton Island in Camarines Norte. But today, because Sweet and I have never been to Puerto Galera, we decided to go there instead.