Once I've been in the islands, but the experience from April 7-8 gave me the chance to explore more of the area.
We got out of Goa terminal at around 7 in the morning and arrived at Sabang port by around 7:30. An overwhelming number of people, locals and tourists, waited patiently for the boats. At around 8:30, at last, the boat we're assigned to board on had arrived. Waiting in the port for an hour is just the start of your marshmallow test, for it's a 2-hour sea faring.
We arrived at the Guijalo port in Caramoan at around 10:30. Just in time to look for the place to stay in and have lunch. We stayed in an Archbishop's (of Virac, Catanduanes) house. We've been welcomed by a hospitable care-taker, who asked us as soon as we arrived if we're to go island hopping and asked her nephew if we can tag along. Unfortunately, her nephew's trip has gone earlier than us arriving at the area so we decided to just take our lunch first and inquire outside if we can find a tour guide and a boat to rent.
A canteen named Lutong Bahay was our destination. And there we took our lunch and asked people if they know someone who can help us visit certain islands. Asking helped us. People of Caramoan may be the most hospitable people I've ever known, next are Singaporeans. A stranger you may be but they will never give up until they've helped you.
Ms. Myra Roces, a tour coordinator happened to take her tourists in the canteen. She agreed for us to go with them, however, due to they were not expecting us, they only got a boat that's good for 7 people; we're the 8th and 9th. She proposed a work-around, if we're willing to pay for our extra boat, then we could go with her tour. And we agreed to that.
A service took us to Bikal port. Low-tide it is, so we have to ride a casco/kasko (a long slender boat without the balancing bars on the side, a small action will cause the boat to loose its balance) going to our tour boats. Large waves hit our boats; and there's the thrill and fun. It's like riding Rio Grande and Log Jam at the same time.
First island we got on was Lahos (means pass-through). It's an island with two large rocks on the sides and white sands in between. The water's so clear. What just made it to be boring are the rocks on the sea floor, so we're just dipping in the shallow area near shore. I have to bring snorkel next time.
Next island was Catbangawan. It's a smaller island in a cove with lesser rocks on the floor, finer white sand and warmer calm water, so I enjoyed it more. It's also across the Gota village where staffs of Survivor stay, just a few meters away.
An island across the Survivor's tribal council hut was our third island. However, as we were just starting to enjoy the beach when staff of Survivor US asked us to leave. Compare to the previous island, Catbangawan is better.
The last beach we're to go was a strech of fine white sands that is connected to the main island of Caramoan. That was the beach. And that is the perfect place to chill on after the long island visits.
We went back to the Bikal port. If on the time we departed from the place, the water is way to low that you can step on the sands without getting wet, it's the total opposite when we got back. The water's higher than the port's sea walls that we have to be careful on walking out of the port. The one-person path is covered by blury sea water; you have to press on a little before taking your full step, else you should know how to swim and you and your carried things will end up soaking wet.
The tour's service dropped us at Lutong Bahay where we're to meet Ms. Myra again to pay for the boat. If you're to travel to Caramoan and looking for a good tour deal, you may contact her at +63.927.400.7240 or +63.920.865.8937 or mail her at caramoan.tours@gmail.com. She can answer your questions, anything connected to the place, people, culture, politics, livelihood and environment preservation of the area; a person of intellect to talk to.
We then headed back to our house to stay in to wash the salt water and sands from our bodies and we ended our night by having dinner at a local bar.
The next morning, the care-taker of the house was going to church with us, since it's the Easter Sunday. We got up at around 3:30 in the morning for the 4 AM mass. The mass was in local dialect, Bicol. After the mass, processions of the Virgin Mary and the risen Jesus Christ was held and they met at a castle-like structure, in Bicol, that is called "sabat" and "salubong" in Tagalog. When they met, children dressed up as little angels were hanged on the ceiling of the castle structure, that's a tradition. The children are to sing and say the angels' message that Jesus's has risen. The event ends when the last or Easter Angel as they call it, removes the black veil (symbol of grief and sorrow) out of Mary's head.
After attending the mass, we headed back to our stay-in place and hurriedly packed our things, we don't want to go to the port late as there's a bunch of people's about to go out of Caramoan and we might end up waiting for boats until the late in the afternoon. But the care-taker asked us to stay and take our breakfast that they have prepared for she can ask someone to take our tickets in the port on behalf of us. Didn't expect the breakfast (fried rice, roasted chicken, coffee and bread) coming, for we only paid 300 pesos for our stay.
As we arrived in the port, there was that large crowd of passengers, but luckily the person asked to get the tickets for us got us on the first boat. We left Caramoan at around 8 AM and arrived at Sabang at 10, and there's still plenty of time for me to sun-bathe.
This morning, I bought my first Stored Value ticket, a hundred-peso multi-entry ticket that will save you time from queueing up to buy your single journey ones. This is it. I have to deal with the experience.
