Patrik Lord Travel Blog

Life begins where WIFI is weak
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Japanese Shrine in Valencia

This historical monument called the Filipino – American – Japanese Amity Shrine (Fil-Am Japanese Shrine). It stands on a sacred battle ground where an encounter during the World War II actually took place. It was built to remember the many lives taken by the vicious war.
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The Japanese shrine is beautifully situated and well worth the effort to visit

Erected 1977

The pillar has three angles, making it appear 3 sided similar to a triangle. These three sides represent the three countries: Philippines, United States of America and Japan. In 1977 it was erected and unveiled by the war veterans, the surviving families of the water veterans, and the descendants of those who marched and died in the same war.
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The view from the shrine is really amazing

We hiked there

We hiked from Valencia proper heading in the direction of the more well known Casaroro Falls. After roughly 4-5 kilometers the road divides and there is clear signage, Casaroro Falls to the left and the Japanese shrine to the right. After the signage the road soon gets rough and it’s more suitable for hiking rather than driving unless you are an experienced driver. Going from Valencia to the shrine and back is around 14 kilometers.
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The road uphill to the shrine offered nice views over Dumaguete

Hot and sweaty

It was hot, sweaty and tiring to hike uphill. On our way up and down we encountered amazing views, barking dogs, the pure sound of the jungle and people singing karaoke.
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I am sure many men have encountered themselves in this situation...
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Crystal clear water

Already from the ferry we spotted those nice fabulous beaches with white sand that we had read about. This was really promising. Even in the port in Santa Fe the water was crystal clear. In fact many of the big resorts are located close to the port.
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Bantayan Island is surrounded by many pristine beaches with crystal clear water and white sand

Bantayan Island Nature Park and Resort

Most places were fully booked the day we arrived at Bantayan island. But on the fly we had managed to get a cottage at Bantayan Island Nature Park and Resort. On the map it looked close to Santa Fe and the port. But the reality turned out to be different. The distance was 6-7 km and the road going there was partly very bad.
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Happy to have reached the destination or hmm just hungry?

Simple accommodation but nice

When we finally arrived there someone was very hungry. We ordered lunch and ate it in their open air restaurant. The accommodation was simple but nice with private bathroom, AC and fan. I really liked the place because the whole resort was surrounded by lush forest vegetation but with a nice view over the sea.
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The food was good but maybe a little bit pricey

Remote location

Due to the remote location of our resort, we were really dependent on our scooter, without it we had been stuck there. But every time when we were going back from town after darkness it was an adventure. Not so much for the traffic more on negotiating bad roads and watching out for stray dogs.
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Two beauties posing together

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Driving in the darkness was all ways adventurous!

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We never ate at Tristan’s despite the nice location by the sea

Food market in Santa Fe

The Food market is an area big as a few quarters where most restaurants and bars are situated. Are you looking for nightlife, then it’s here you should be. Many times we went all the way from our remotely resort in to the Food market for our dinner.
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One small part of the Food market

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Those kids seemed not mind to be photographed

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Cge naah! ( come on! )

Our favorites

One favorite was the French bakery, he had super delicious cheese cakes and baguettes. Another fabulous place was the Tiki bar which had very yummy food, specially their hamburgers which were both big and tasty. Outside the central of Santa Fe we sometimes ate cheap at small eateries and barbecue places.
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Did I hear the word food??

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The French baker guy made nice cheese cakes accompanied with real strong and good coffee

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The reason why we became valued customers at Boulangerie Française

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Here they had the delicious Tiki hamburger with egg and bacon

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At the local barbecue place

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Fresh barbecue sticks for the people!

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Digging deep in the pots here

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Back to basic, barbecued chicken with rice!

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To be continued...

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A walk downtown Dumaguete... and who said a mum can’t be sexy?
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A longer road trip this time

Inspired from our previous road trip to Sipalay we decided to go for an even longer one this time. So why not make it big and go roughly 600 km back and forth, like from Dumaguete to Bantayan island!

The need of travel light

When you are two persons on a regular scooter you need to travel light. There are many considerations you need to think about and one thing is not to bring too much clothes.
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Someone really needed to rethink the amount of clothes to bring

Go with the flow

We hadn’t made any detailed plan for our route. Our motto was to be spontaneous and go with the flow. We took the ferry from Tampi over to Bato to Cebu island.
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The ferry over to Bato on Cebu island went smoothly

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We took our lunch here and witnessed a motorcycle accident. A reminder for us to take it easy. By the way no one was hurt except maybe for the self esteems.

Overnight in Malboal

Our first stretch was not that far. We arrived in Malboal when it started to be dark so we realized we had to stay there for the night. Some consultations among the booking sites and we ended up at the T Breeze Coastal Resort which was nicely located by the sea.
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Life could be worse

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Breakfast was not included in the price but at least the view was for free

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Doing FaceTime with the daughter

Hit the road again

The T Breeze Coastal Resort was really a nice place but we were bound for Bantayan island after all, so we had to hit the road early the next day.
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A friendly hotel dog accompanied us at certain moments (when we were eating) at T Breeze

Buko juice

Aside from dogs, buko juice is the man’s best friend when it comes to drinks. Refreshing and healthy at least if it’s fresh and comes without sugar. Strangely enough it’s sometimes hard to find fresh buko juice... despite there are so many coconut trees everywhere here.
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Buko means young coconut in Filipino

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I have this weird thought that one day someone will chop the hand off while preparing the Buko juice...

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The buko stand had many satisfied customers

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Gathering energy for the next stretch on the scooter

The last stretch to Bantayan island and our first lunch at the Bantayan Island Nature Park and Resort

Tuburan city

It took longer than expected to drive so we had to stay overnight at Tuburan city. Still around 80 km from where we would take the ferry over to Bantayan island. Tuburan hadn’t much to offer but we found a hotel and a 7/11. That’s all we needed!
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Tuburan was a sleepy little town which hadn’t much to offer

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We were lucky, we found the only hotel in town just in time. It offered a simple accommodation and a nice sunset from the balcony.

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Breakfast was not included in our hotel stay but we had a 7/11 just nearby.

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First time ever I had breakfast at a 7/11 and to be honest the sausages are warmly recommended

Tired of driving

The next day we started early after breakfast. This last stretch up to Hagnaya port went fairly smooth. But I started to feel tired of driving so I wanted us to reach the ferry as soon as possible.
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Here we took a short break

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Hey I just want a small ice cream... cege nahh...??

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Finally at Hagnaya port where we took the ferry

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Someone was seasick again

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Finally Bantayan island in sight!

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Something special

Since we had two friends from Sweden visiting us here in the Philippines we wanted to show them something special. So we decided to go to Pamilacan island.
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A beautiful house with an astonishing view located inland on the island

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And of course there were amazing sunsets here as well

Boat from Baclayon

At Baclayon we met with Mam Elvie who had arranged our stay at Enas cottages. The weather was good and the sea looked calm. Mam Elvie told us that it normally takes 45-60 min to go by the boat to Pamilacan.
Going from Baclayon to Pamilacan island
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Someone was still seasick after the boat trip

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Free coffee was included in the room rate

I wanted to extend

After an hour or so we reached Pamilacan. The sea was calm in the beginning but later on it became quite rough. Nevertheless we made it and as soon as I sat my foot on stable ground I realized I wanted to extend our stay to two nights instead of only one night. Hey, it’s not everyday you pay a visit to the paradise, right?
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A visit in the paradise

Accomodation

The accomdation at Enas cottages was simple but nice. No AC, tv or hot water. But a fan, a mosquito net and a private toilet with a bucket of cold water were available. This accommodation is not for everyone but it was good enough for us. Three meals per day were included in the price.
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Pancakes with coco jam for breakfast

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Bonding with the guys

Snorkeling

The main activity here at Pamilacan is snorkeling aside for just unwinding and contemplateing about how good life is after all. You have at least two beaches where you can swim and snorkel freely. Then you have the Coral garden and the Marine sanctuary where you need a guide to accompany you. We did both the Coral garden and the Marine sanctuary. We were more lucky with the Coral garden since the weather was better and the sea was more clear.

Highlights

We also did dolphin watching in the morning. It was a long ride with the boat but the only thing we managed to see were the tails of a couple of dolphins. We were also supposed to see sea turtles just outside Enas cottages but we didn’t see any. My highlights were the spectacular sceneries of the island specially under the water and the quietness at night time.
The highlights of our trip to Pamilacan island

Facts

Boats are available from Baclayon on Bohol. Expect 60 min to go with the boat to Pamilacan. We paid 300 PHP per head one way. Inquire at the pier in Baclayon.
Accommodation was 850 PHP per head and night with three meals included at Enas cottages.
Snorkeling guides 250 PHP per hour. 150 PHP for renting snorkeling gears.
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Another breathtaking sunset

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One night became two nights

At first we were supposed to spend just one night here at Pamilacan but I immediately felt that I at least needed two nights to satisfy my cravings for the touch of paradise. Pamilacan island is the perfect getaway from the bustling city to ease down and just enjoy life to the fullest.
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There are only simple accommodation here at Pamilacan... ;-)

Snorkeling

Obviously you can do snorkeling here. There are the Coral garden and the marine sanctuary where you need a guide to accompany you. We paid 250 PHP per head and hour for the guide. We went out in a small paddle boat and did the snorkeling from the boat. There are other beaches also where you can do the snorkeling for free and with easy access from the shore. If you are lucky you can see sea turtles here but we didn’t.
This our experiences from the snorkeling. The clips are mainly from the Coral garden.
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Alona Beach where everything happens

Alona beach together with Chocolate hills and the Tarsiers might be the most popular tourist attractions here in Bohol. If you come to Alona beach you can expect many restaurants, lively nightlife and many other tourists to bond with... and of course a white sand beach.

And hey, don’t forget to watch video at the bottom!
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Kids playing in the sand

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There are palm trees here also

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You are always welcome at the Outback Grill

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Which one would you like to have for dinner?

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Sometimes it’s hard to find parking

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If you don’t like to walk and if you don’t have your own motor bike you will probably end up in a tricycle.

An afternoon when we visited Alona Beach
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Going to Apo island

​When you get visitors all the way from Sweden, what can be better than show them the little pearl of the Visayas, Apo island. Apo island is probably most famous for its sea turtles. Wednesdays is a good day to go there because it's market day at the Malatapay market just near the port for Apo island. There will be many locals going back and forth Apo island and the market so it will be easy to get seats on a boat. Facts about how to get there, fees etc see here >>>
Sea Turtle, Apo Island, Philippines © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

Apo Island is known for its many sea turtles.

The Rollin Pin, Dumaguete, Philippines © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

It was empty at the Rollin Pin today where I had my breakfast.

Knives, Malatapay market, Apo Island, Philippines © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

They have everything at Malatapay market...

Dried fish, Malatapay market, Apo Island, Philippines © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

Dried fish

Livestock, Malatapay market, Apo Island, Philippines © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

Here the livestock market. 5 PHP to go in there.

Fisherman with his catch, Malatapay market, Apo Island, Philippines © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

The fisherman with his catch

A short clip showing the lively livestock market

Never sit under a coconut tree!

Instead of hiring a boat we had arranged a transfer through Liberty lodge where we were going to stay. We shared the boat with two other tourists and some locals. We were waiting over an hour for the boat to show up and get ready for the trip back. When we patiently were sitting there waiting we suddenly heard big THUMP! A big vicious coconut had fall from the palm tree and hit the woman in the striped t-shirt. She was very lucky since she wasn't hit in the head. The woman fainted by the shock and was carried away by some helpful people. Obviously she missed the boat but I guess, at least she survived the incident with just the fright and some minor bruises. 
The port, Apo Island, Philippines © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

A few minutes after this pic was taken the woman in the striped t-shirt was attacked by the coconut!

The port, Apo Island, Philippines © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

Unloading and loading our boat.

On our way to Apo island, Philippines © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

Finally on our way and I managed not to get sea sick!

Liberty Lodge, Apo Island, Philippines © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

Liberty lodge and our room was at the very top of the building.

Liberty Lodge, Apo Island, Philippines © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

We had to climb many stairs to get to the Top 1 room.

View from our room, Apo Island, Philippines © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

Our view from the room was not bad. We paid 3700 PHP for one night with the extra bed included.

We were lucky, we swam with the sea turtles

We arrived at lunch time so we had the afternoon for snorkeling with the famous sea turtles. At first we didn't see any of them but later on we were lucky. That time of the day it was relatively many tourists and the snorkeling guides were busy towing around tourists who were not able to swim and snorkel by themselves.
A video clip showing the sea turtles

Life is wonderful

In the afternoon most of the tourists went back to mainland and only those who would stay over night were still on Apo island. After dinner we went up to the lighthouse at the top of the island and enjoyed the sunset. At 10 PM the electricity was shut down in order to conserve energy and the whole island got totally quiet. It was an almost surreal feeling to sit there on our balcony star gazing and contemplate about the all the wonderful things in life.
Going to the lighthouse, Apo Island, Philippines © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

350 steps something and 600-700 m to walk to the lighthouse.

Lighthouse, Apo Island, Philippines © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

The lighthouse and the new construction at the top of Apo island.

Sunset, Apo Island, Philippines © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

The view from here was very rewarding.

Sunset, Apo Island, Philippines © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

Sunset at Apo island.

A compilation of pictures from our trip

Don't expect to sleep long in the morning

At roughly 4 AM the first rooster was calling good morning. Even the dogs were still sleeping at that time. 30 minutes later all roosters on the whole of Apo island were calling good morning together with the dogs which were barking. I guess they were also awakened by the roosters. 6 AM the boatsmen started up their boats. The good thing was that we took an early breakfast and plunged in the sea snorkeling before all the tourists were coming from the mainland. Time goes fast when you enjoy so already at 1 PM it was time to take to boat back again. 
Going home, Apo Island, Philippines © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

After 24 hours on this beautiful island we were heading back to mainland.

The budget

The budget for us on this trip was:
​A double room with an extra bed at the Liberty lodge 3700 PHP with three meals included.
600 PHP per head back and forth with the boat, ask Liberty for the transfer.
100 PHP an environmental fee upon arriving to Apo island.
28 PHP with bus from South Terminal in Dumaguete going there.
​20 PHP with jeepney going back to Dumaguete.

Not included in our budget, but available if you need it: Rent of life vests (when snorkeling), renting a table ( to put your stuff), snorkeling gear and snorkeling guides. 

​Going there:

Take a jeepney from Dumaguete city centre, around 20 PHP. Tell the driver to let you off at the Malatapay Market in the town of Zamboanguita, around 40 min from Dumaguete. Go down to the shore and rent a motorized boat that will take you to Apo island. The round-trip boat ride costs 2500 PHP (good for 4 passengers), 3000 (good for 6 passengers) or 3500 PHP (good for 8 passengers). Solo travelers may join other groups, and share the costs for the boat rental.

​Or you can let the lodge arrange with the transfer as we did on this trip.
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An afternoon at Sans Rival in Dumaguete

At a Sunday afternoon, what can be better than taking the girls for an outing. Bonding, having a nice time and relaxing... oups maybe someone will not agree about the last statement hehe. Well check out the short video clip at the end and you will see what I mean...
Outing with the girls, Dumaguete, Philippines © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

The beautiful ceiling in Sans Rival

Outing with the girls, The Little Cookie Monster, Dumaguete, Philippines © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

The cookie monster

Outing with the girls, Caffe Latte, Dumaguete, Philippines © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

Cutie overload

Outing with the girls, Dumaguete, Philippines © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

Someone gets lot's of attention

Outing with the girls, Dumaguete, Philippines © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

The mothers helping hands are always there

Outing with the girls, Dumaguete, Philippines © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

Sometimes the attention can be too much for someone