Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Weekend Getaway: Cagbalete Island

Cagbalete Island 2013

Cagbalete is another jewel of the Quezon Province. Located in the Lamon Bay fronting the Pacific Ocean, it is another paradise in the province of Quezon surrounded by white sand that exposes during low tide.
This 1,640 hectares privately owned island is home to a diverse ecosystem. With unique variety of birds, rich marine life, and the abundance of unique species of plants, the island is a complete paradise for adventurers and nature lovers. Similar to Jomalig Island in Northern Quezon, a part of the Cagbalete’s beach is dotted with Agoho trees, a family of pine tree. 

source: wikimapia (http://wikimapia.org)


This is my personal itenerary going to the Island of Cagbalete in Mauban, Quezon.

Day 1:


2 AM: From Gil Puyat (Buendia) via Jac Liner bus at 2am going to Lucena Grand Terminal.- (Bus fare 209 php)

5 AM: Arrival at Lucena Grand Terminal, you can freshen up or rest for a while and then look for the NCR Bus going to Mauban. 

*personal note: public comfort rooms are available just ready your 5 php coin.

5:30 AM: From Lucena Grand Terminal to Mauban will take you approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. (Bus fare 54 php) 

*personal note: NCR bus is a non-air-conditioned bus so be ready with your jackets because it gets chilly traveling from Lucena to Mauban specially in the morning where the road is all covered in fog. 

7 AM: Arrival at Mauban, Quezon, you can get off the bus in the terminal and head for their public market to buy some stuff you need (Water, breads, fish, pork, spices and condiments, charcoal and don't forget the Booze).

*personal note: take all the time you have buying all the stuffs you need just make sure you arrived at the jetty before 10 AM, you can ride a tricycle 10 php per head.

10 AM: Arrival at the Jetty board to the boat and rest, take some pictures of the view or even kids swimming at the jetty. The boat usually leaves around 15 to 20 min or until all the cargoes and passengers have boarded, the travel takes 45 min to 1 hour going to Cagbalete Island (Boat fare 50 php). 

*personal note: there are only 2 trips going to Mauban to Cagbalete Island (10 AM and 3 PM) and also 2 trips from Cagbalete to Mauban (7am and 1 pm).

Mauban Jetty
Mauban Jetty
A man fishing
Kids diving at the boat
View of the town from the Jetty


11 AM: Arrival at Cagbalete Island, there is no jetty in the island so a small boat will carry you to the shoreline. Also there are a lot of resorts now in Cagbalete Island but we choose to stay at Pansacola Beach Resort. (for inquiries see website below). 



*personal note: some boats will offer you a ride going to your selected resorts for a fee, but you can also take a walk, a lot of the local kids are willing to be your tour guide.


The island of Cagbalete

This is the boat that will bring you to the shoreline.

My new found friend Billy Joe taking a dive at the boat when we arrived at the island. 

Life of Pi.
Cagbalete Island on low tide

Pansacola Beach Resort on a low tide


Summer? It's more fun in the Philippines!

Summer getaway

The electricity on the resort is available from 6pm till 12mn only so better charge your gadgets during the said time, better if you have powerbanks or like me a solar charger for your mobile phones.

You can also rent kitchen utensils at the resort.

We spend overnight on the island and returned back to Mauban taking the last trip (1 PM), rode a tricycle to NRC bus terminal headed for Lucena Grand Terminal and back to Manila.

There you go! Have a fun-filled summer guys! :)



Jac Liner website: http://jacliner.com
Pansacola Beach Resort website: http://cagbaleteisland.com/

Friday, March 22, 2013

Food Wars: Bagnet (a taste of Ilocos)

I've been to Ilocos and i've tasted most of their delicacies, one of them is the ever famous BAGNET.

I heard from one of my friend about the Bagnet Burger being served in one of the restaurants in BF Parañaque, craving for bagnet i've searched the net for the exact location of the restaurant and invited my friends to try it out. Rating their Pork Bagnet a 2.5/5 I can say not bad but the taste is far more different from the original Bagnet from Ilocos. Next time around I'll try their Bagnet Burger.

























Bhoying's Ilocos Pork and Chicken Bagnet

For the list of their menu's check out their website @ www.bhoyings.com

Food Wars: Shawarma

Looking for a place to have our lunch @ 12MN, originally we planned on eating on Bhoying's Bagnet (craving for bagnet) and to check if it really taste like the one's from Ilocos. Sad to say it was already closed (even tho at their website they say "Open till 2am"). So we decided to have our lunch at a shawarma joint in BF Parañaque.

I decided to order their Special Shawarma and it was humongous!

One of my friends ordered Shawarma rice, I also tried it and it was yummy (the rice was kinda cold) but still it taste good.



Their menu


Special Shawarma
Special Shawarma




Shawarma Rice


Monday, January 7, 2013

Food Wars: Longganisa

Being a foodie I just want to share two of my favorite Longganisa's.



1. Longganisang Lucban


Popular in Lucban, Quezon, this longganisa has a strong garlicky and spicy taste, made in ground pork and seasoned with oregano, basil and all other spices; pale red in color and is best dipped in vinegar when eaten.








2. Vigan Longganisa


From Vigan, Ilocos Sur, this longganisa is less garlicky compared to Lucban's , spicy, tangy and a little bit salty; yellowish in color and is best dipped in Ilocos Vinegar mixed with chili, garlic and onions.

Vigan Longganisa served with vinegar and sliced tomatoes.


The best way to cook these Longganisa is through a pan of boiling water with a little bit of cooking oil. Cook it until the water has dried up and fry it until it's a little bit toasted.

Both can be eaten any time of the day but is best served in the morning during breakfast together with fried eggs and garlic rice or plain steamed rice.



Kaun na ta!!

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Bell Towers: Parish Church of San Isidro De Labrador (Lucban, Quezon)

One of my favorite subject in taking pictures are lighthouses and bell towers from old churches, somehow it really has an effect on me like i am returning back in time when this architectures was still being built. 

My first bell tower is from Lucban, Quezon, known for their Pahiyas Festival and Longganisang Lucban.


Church of Saint Louis, Bishop of Toulouse







I wish I had the time to take shots inside the bell tower or even climb to the top.
Maybe one day I will.

Where the mountains meet the seas.. Antique

Road tripin' with my cousin from the town of San Jose to Casay with our motorcycles, an ass killing 2 hour drive, passing by mountains and coastal lines made our trip worth while..

It was at the perfect timing that the sun was setting that time and we had experienced the breath taking sunset that made our trip worth it.. :)


me and my couzin Juno
enjoying the view
Juno

coast line



National Road, Anini-y

feels like the movies.. rocky cliffs

just the right timing..
simply breath taking... :)

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Habagat, the aftermath..

Visiting my relatives after the wrath of Habagat, I set off to Meycauayan, Bulacan, the place where I grew up as a kid. it's been a while since I've returned to this place and i can't even remember the place and the streets. 

Welcome to Meycauayan


Meycauayan after Habagat:


Meycauayan Wet and Dry Market

Meycauayan Wet and Dry Market



My old elementary school covered in mud


Poor drainage system


Waste disposal problem