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If you are lucky you might see one of these
Mambukal Resort, a perfect daytrip for the whole family
Mambukal is home to several rare bat species for example the endemic giant golden-crowned flying fox and the Philippine tube-nosed fruit bat can be seen in the area. These, along with other resident bat species, are estimated to number between 7,500 to 8,000.
Facts
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Onuk island, the last frontier of the Philippines?
And by the way: Onuk Island (can also be spelled as Onok Island)
And hey! Don’t miss to watch the video clip at end!
How about the safety?
Malaria
There have been Malaria outbreaks in the mountainous Mainland Balabac but for now it’s considered safe to be out in the Balabac archipelago. But bring mosquito repellants because there will be tons mosquitos hunting for your blood after sunset.
Crocodiles
A minor concern are the saltwater crocodiles but they are only present in the Mainland Balabac. Which means out in the archipelago it’s safe from crocodiles.
Weather
The weather can be unpredictable. The dry seasons of April and May are the best times to visit the Balabac archipelago since the sea is perfectly calm on most days during these months. You may also visit Balabac during the months of December to February where it is fairly good. However, these months can the waves be particularly rough on the beaches.
Bandits
But hey! Balabac islands are located in the Sulu sea. Hmm wasn’t that the place where the Philippine army battle bandits? Yes, that’s right. But that’s on the other side of the Sulu sea at Jolo. There are no bandits in the Balabac archipelago.
On our way to Rio Tuba we passed by beautiful landscapes of Palawan
Sometimes you must eat right? The bus made one stop for lunch.
We arrived late after sunset in Rio Tuba. We were lucky the Pring Pension House had an available room for us. It’s just very near the terminal by the way.
Early morning at Pring. We paid 1200 PHP for a small Aircon rom without breakfast. Breakfast was available for 100 PHP.
Facts about how to get to Onuk island
- Public bus from San Jose Terminal (Puerto Princesa) going to Rio Tuba. Fare 350 PHP per person with Aircon bus. The trip takes around 7 hours so better start early in the morning. Expect to stay overnight in Rio Tuba. In Rio Tuba there are a limited selection of restaurants. But Sizzling Republic is recommendable, click the link to see the review.
- Ferry from Rio Tuba to Balabac Island. (Mainland Balabac) You need probably to take a tricycle to the port 100 PHP. Be there around 7 am to buy tickets. The trip takes 4-5 hours depending on the weather. Fare 450 PHP. At Balabac island you have to take a tricycle from the pier to Balabac town 60 PHP. Expect to stay there overnight. In Balabac town it’s even more limited when it comes to restaurants and shops. There are Sari Sari stores where you can buy the the essential and the best two eateries are located next to each other opposite of the police station.
- Ask around and rent a boat for going on island hopping. The price would be around 2000 PHP per person for the boat with lunch included. For Onuk island there will be an additional entrance fee of 1500 PHP per person. At Onuk island there are no shops so be sure to bring everything you need.
- For the time being it’s not possible to stay overnight at Onuk island. But things can change so ask around if you are interested to do that.
- If you for some reason need to extend your visa you can do it in Balabac town. There happen to be an immigration field office there.
The port in Rio Tuba. Here you must report to the coast guard that you are going with the ferry
Our ferry which will take us to Balabac island
Safety first. Before departure the coast guard inspects the boat and that everyone wear a life vest.
Sometimes you get sleepy of all traveling
My fellow traveler had brought two hamsters with him to give to his family for Christmas
Now it begins to look nice. A short stop at Bancalan island
Finally the pier at Balabac island
Balabac port
Balabac port and from here you take a tricycle going in to town
We stayed at MLK Lodging house. A basic room with fan. No breakfast available. 600 PHP night.
Yes there are saltwater crocodiles here at Balabac island (Mainland Balabac)
A nice sunset at the main road in Balabac town
There are no Starbucks here. But it’s still possible to get your cake and coffee with some slight modifications though. But if you don’t want 3 in 1, which for me is too sweet, bring coffee stick and creamer with you. Here at one of the two eateries located opposite the police station.
Finally on our way out to Onuk island. 1-2 hours boat trip depending on the weather. The sound from the engine was totally deafening so a friendly advice is to bring some kind of ear protection.
Before it was possible to stay overnight at Onuk island. It was just recently they changed their policy. The accommodation was very basic in those sheds. Nevertheless I was very disappointed not to be able to experience a 24 hours stay here.
The water was crystal clear and the sand white and soft. You couldn’t hear a single sound except from the waves and the sea breeze. So relaxing for a stressful mind.
The total silence together with the endless sea resulted in a magic ambience of timelessness which had a great impact on me...
The beach was very clean and surprisingly not full of plastic waste which sorry to say is common these days.
Low tide at this moment
Snorkeling
The final thought
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Yes, there are sunsets here at Punta Ballo Beach
The main entrance to Easy Diving Resort
Down at the beachfront
Come as guest leave as friend
It was very quiet here
The restaurant comes with sea breeze and ocean view
The bungalow was very fresh
I really like the idea of bedside tables with lamps
The bungalow had no AC instead it had two fans which suited me much better!
It was very clean everywhere
To fight the plastic pollution you could buy an aluminum bottle for 500 PHP with free refill of service water
The restaurant where you could enjoy Easy Diving's delicious food. They also accept walk in guests.
In the evenings they had mosquito coils so I was spared from mosquito bites
The food heaven
Oh my! I could die for this tuna steak with spicy wasabi sauce and garlic rice
My second love, tuna steak with creamy yellow curry sauce...
My secret lover forever! Pancake filled with fresh mango served with ice cream and chocolate sauce
Bicol Express, a famous spicy dish from the region of eastern Philippines, Bicol
As delicious as it looks, the crispy bangus (fish) with rice and egg. So so Philippines!
After a night of stargazing you need a real breakfast, so what can be better than hash browns with bacon and egg??
A delicasy for the most demanding taste, spicy shrimps fried with chilli and garlic
Easy Diving has lots to offer
One of the many stairs at Easy Diving
The friendly hotel dog taking a nap in the reception
Video clip
Conclusions about Easy Diving Resort
5 Location
5 Sleep Quality
5 Rooms
5 Service
5 Value for the money
5 Cleanliness
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The prayer room at the highest peak of the complex.
Cebu Taoist Temple and a date with the dragon
One of the many dragons which are protecting the area
Pray and make a wish
The entrance to the temple is a replica of the Great Wall of China. ( This is not the entrance though )
The temple includes a chapel, a library, a souvenir shop and a wishing well.
Amazing view from here
On a clear day you can spot the islands of Mactan and Bohol from here.
Unwind for a while
There are 81 steps in the stair... (representing the 81 chapters of Taoism scriptures)
My friends were enjoying the visit to the Taoist temple
A friendly fisherman. You were not allowed to throw coins in this pond.
Any place is good for taking a selfie!
The wishing well
The view is spectacular
The dragons
Chinese dragons stand on the temple’s roofs like protectors and sentinels of the site
The dragon is a symbol of power, strength, and good luck for people
Reminders
- Don’t wear sleeveless or shorts if you wish to enter it’s altar
- Don’t snap photos inside the prayers and temples (you can allowed to take photographs of every other part of the temple complex)
- Stay in the temple for just 30 minutes to an hour
- Observe silence
Going back to downtown
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Some friends were here today
Lively neighborhoods of Cebu
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Adventure for free, well at least almost for free!
Highlights: Sand reef, fresh sea urchins and comfort room!
Note! Click on images to see slideshow and captions!
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Balinsasayao Twin Lakes Natural Park
My two friends from Sweden were also impressed of the views on our way up the mountain
Before we arrived at Balinsasayao Twin Lakes we needed to register and pay at the visitors center. After registration we needed to drive for additional 5-10 minutes to reach the actual park.
Sometimes when going up in the mountains you can see the effects of landslides
If you don't have your own transportation you can ride a habal habal, a motorcycle taxi. Room for 4 passengers and a driver!
Behind the visitors center...
A small fishing boat
Fishing net
Picture picture time!
The lake was like a mirror
Walk or rent a boat
One of the twin lakes, the Lake Balinsasayao. Depth 90 m and around 850 m above the sea level. From here you can rent small boats for roaming around in the lake.
Off we went on the trail! Not advisable to walk here when it's wet, then it will be very slippery for sure!
The winding trail made the distance felt longer than it actually was...
View over Lake Balinsasayao along the trail
The ants were marching smoothly up the tree
The watch tower
They were also admiring the view over Lake Balinsasayao, but they came by boat
This is the bigger lake of the two, Lake Balinsasayao
This is the Lake Danao, the smaller lake.
This little guy was very curious on me and likewise I was curious on him
When we came back after our walk we saw these two guys fishing... I didn't see them catching anything though.
Facts:
Balinsasayao Twin Lakes Natural Park is a natural park surrounding Lake Balinsasayao and Lake Danao in the province of Negros Oriental, 14.5 km west of Dumaguete. Lakes Balinsasayao and Danao are two small crater lakes separated by a narrow mountain ridge. They are located on the eastern slope of the Talinis mountain range which are volcanic in origin. Lake Balinsasayao has maximum depth of around 90 metres (300 ft). The smaller Lake Danao, on the other hand, has a maximum depth of around 58 metres (190 ft).
Entrance fee
The entrance fee to the park is P100 for foreigners and P50 for Filipinos.
A restaurant also
At the Lake Balinsasayao there is a restaurant that offers variety of dishes at an acceptable rate.
To get there:
The far most convenient way is to have your own transportation. Beware of that the road going up the mountain is very steep at some points, means slippery when it's raining. It's possible to drive your own car all the way up there but motorcycle is preferable.
Public transportation
With public transportation you can go by bus or jeepney to the Lalaan junction for Twin Lakes, 7.5 km from the Sibulan town or 13.5 km from Dumaguete. Around P10-15 per person. From the Lalaan junction take a habal habal up the mountain an additional 13 km until you reach the Twin Lakes. You find the drivers at the junction. Standard rate is P300 for a solo passenger and P400 for two back and forth. You will probably need to pay the entrance fee for the driver as well since after registration there is an additional distance to cover before reaching the lake. The driver will wait for you until you like to go back.
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Breakfast before hiking
Danica prepared the breakfast, means she went out and bought it.
Noodles, veggies, chicken liver, some pork meat, soup and all served together with rice of course
Now happy with a full stomach Danica was ready to go
Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary
We were not allowed to talk loudly or use the flash on the camera
Our guide showed us the way through the dense vegetation
The tarsier is very shy but we spotted several of them.
After tarsiers then hiking
Hmm just follow the trail...
We were relieved when we spotted the first signage but hmm... we were heading for viewing deck one and this was viewing deck two (!)
We decided to walk in the opposite direction of viewing deck two and 10 min later we finally discovered something on the ground...
Yess we found the direction to viewing deck one! So yes... easy peasy just follow the signs!
The trail was slowly getting steeper and steeper...
When we approached the viewing deck the trail become even more steep
The rewarding view
Ohh the view was really rewarding!
Snack time! But we had ran out of water so be sure to bring some extra bottles of water
The mandatory picture picture time!
Finally before it got dark it was time to go back!
Facts:
How to get to Corella
Via public transport: From Sikatuna Jeepney Terminal, (This is right infront of Island City Mall) get into a jeepney bound to Sikatuna via Corella. This jeepney drops you off at Philippine Tarsier Foundation. Fare is P17.00. Tell the driver of the jeepney that you are headed to Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary in Corella. Upon arrival there is a huge signage and rough road, take it and walk for 300 meters to the research building.
Going back, just take a jeepney headed to Tagbilaran. And yes it is safe to hitch hike here. Fare is P15.00 for jeepney.
If you have your own motorcycle it's very easy to go there, just follow Google maps.
Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary and the Sikatuna Tree Park
Comfortable shoes and water
Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary is worth a visit
Click this link to see other posts about Bohol:
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A real Filipino breakfast is never wrong!
Salty bangus (fish) fried to crispy perfection, scrambled eggs, rice together with spicy sawsawan sauce
Why are mangroves so important?
Welcome to the Oboob Mangrove Eco Park
The Eco park has a bamboo walkway through the mangroves which makes for a refreshing stroll with good photo opportunities
Oboob Mangrove Garden/Eco Park
We had a short briefing about the Eco park
Our guide who showed us around and helped us with some picture picture!
Along the walkaways there were spots suitable for picnics, not visible on this pic though
The Eco park is relatively big and this is the utermost tip towards the ocean
Dannica is pointing a finger... hmm
A walkaway back to land
Park Entry Fees:
How to get there:
Students and Children – 20 pesos
Kayaking – 150 pesos
Boating – 350 pesos
After additional 2 km The Mangrove Eco Park will be down on your right.
Tropical storm Basyang
In the afternoon we really felt the weather was changing
Later on in the evening the wind increased in strength
Stranded
In Bantayan Nature Park and Resort we had no tv... but here at Adelaida Pensionne we had so someone was very happy for that!
After a few days the tropical storm faded in strength and the sea became calm again
The ferry was resumed
It was like a meeting point at the Boulangerie Francaise for the french speaking guys on the island... I wanted to join but my french was too bad
The driving went awkward
After Barili we soon reached the coast again and the road got straighter with less traffic. Around 11 pm we arrived at Lucci Pension house where we spent the night.
A quick coffee in the morning before saddling up on our scooter again.
We had our lunch break at Dulot, an eatery with true Filipino food. No fancy Jollibees or McDonald's in sight here... Hey we were still in the province after all!
Nutritious and healthy fish soup, full of good Omega 3 fats!
Back to Dumaguete
Road trips are fantastic!
The guidelines:
2) Don't drink and drive and always wear helmet
3) Don't drive fast and furious, better to be safe than sorry
3) Avoid driving in the dark. You don't want to collide with a stray dog...
4) Plan ahead, out in the province it can be far between the nice places you want to stay at
5) Don't bring too much stuff, travel light and easy is part of the freedom!
Related links
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A day at the beach
Below the surface
Facts:
Review of Allegre Bar and Restaurant
Red Rock Hot Spring, Valencia Dumaguete
Going to La Verna with the girls
Happy birthday Jas
Sexy mama
The Japanese Shrine
Shopping spree
Apo island the pearl of the Visayas
Outing with the girls
Baslay Hot Spring in Dauin
Road trip to Sipalay
A day of exercise
The fine art of eating an ice cream
Review of GK Coffee shop in Dumaguete
Review of The Tres Bistro in Dumaguete
Review of Chapters Café in Dumaguete
The Christmas House in Dumaguete
Tarbush, a story of love
The boulevard in Dumaguete
Review of 2Story kitchen in Dumaguete, Negros
Review of Gabby's Bistro (Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Philippines)
Review of Fish 153 Korean Restaurant (Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Philippines)
Review of Mooon Café Robinsons Place (Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Philippines)
Review of Café Mafioso (Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Philippines)
Review of Atong Kamalig Restaurant (Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Philippines)
Review of San Rival Bistro (Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Philippines)
Review of Sta Teresa Restaurant (Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Philippines)
Tierra Alta Residential Resort, Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Philippines