Camiguin

This entry is for ItchyWorm's request. This was posted in my old blogsite. I just did a little editing. In fairness ha, nakakapagod. Effort ito. Nawa'y ma-engganyo ka na pumunta sa Camiguin after reading this entry. Aba naman, kung hindi pa, ay naman!!! Hehe. Enjoy reading!

December 20, 2007

Second Day in Mindanao. When we got in to the Balingoan pier coming from Butuan City where Jay attended a conference, we were told that we need to wait for an hour until the next boat arrives. Tumakbo takbo pa kami pagbaba namin nang bus dahil akala namin, yung barko na nakita namin eh aalis na. Yun pala, sira siya. Hehe. So we waited inside the passenger's lounge.


Pagdating nang isang barko, sumakay na agad kami. Umupo kami sa gilid dahil gusto kong makita ang biyahe, yung mga islands na madadaanan, and the ocean itself. It's an hour and a half sea travel kaya in the middle of it, inantok na ako. Hehe. Pinahiga niya ako sa balikat niya para makatulog ako. Alagang-alaga talaga ako ni Jay. Gabi na nang dumating kami sa Camiguin.

Sumakay na kami agad nang jeep pagdating. Naghintay pa mapuno pero napaalis agad dahil may biglang nag-away na dalawang lasing. Good thing it happened. Hehe. In front of us are two girls na we felt are couple din. Kasabay namin sila sa boat at nasa gilid din namin sila at that time. Funny how are the passengers of that jeepney was. Mga 45 minutes din yung island travel.

Pagdating sa town proper, wala nang tricycle na maghahatid sa amin sa resort na pagstay-in namin dahil gabi na daw. So no choice but to ride a "habal-habal" or local motorcycle. Ang sakit sa puwet pero okay lang kasi nasa likod ko naman si Jay to support me. It was an experience as I am not used to riding those.

When we got to the resort, our aircon room was fine and the bed was inviting me to take a rest already. He arranged the payment while I fixed my stuff. Sobrang gusto kong magpahinga na after how many hours of travelling. From Cagayan De Oro, to Butuan, to Camiguin. Siyempre, ang Jay, walang pinalalagpas na pagkakataon, nag-woot-woot muna kami before we finally took some rest. Nakakatanggal nang pagod. Hehe.

December 21, 2007

We woke up early the next day because we have a long day ahead of us. Gusto ni Jay na makarating kami nang White Island to capture its beauty before the sun goes up. Nagpalit na lang ako nang panligo at umalis na agad kami. Nagdala na lang kami nang snacks for our breakfast. Nag-aabang na kasi sa amin yung kinontrata niyang bangka sa labas nang resort where we are staying at.


It's a private boat. I immediately put a life vest on me at siyempre takot ako baka bigla na lang akong tumilapon sa dagat. Hehe. Natatawa sa akin si Jay. Basta ako, walang pakialam basta gusto ko safe ako. Hehe. Ilang minutes lang ang boat ride then we arrived in this beautiful White Island. I was in awe when I saw it. Sobrang ganda. Hindi ko na pinalagpas ang pagkakataon and I took pictures agad.


Ang pino nang sand, ang linaw nang tubig, at very secluded from the crowd. They have some small stalls where some people are selling souvenirs and foods. I actually bought some pasalubong for my friends and family. I bought also a big coral shell para remembrance na ilalagay ko sa desk ko (which unfortunately hindi ako pinayagan sa Davao airport dalhin at ikinalungkot ni Jay nung nalaman niya).


Then, may mga dumating na din na ilang visitors. I had so much fun. Memorable ang island. Nung pagsikat nang araw, umalis na kami. Takot ako sa araw. Hehe. Pagbalik sa room namin, in-upload ko agad sa laptop yung mga pictures dahil may next adventure pa daw kami. He will bring me naman to Ardent Spring.


So konting moment sa room (actually nag-woot-woot uli kami. hehe) at umalis na din kami. Hindi na kami nagpalit kasi maliligo naman uli. Hinihintay na kami nang kinontrata naman niyang "habal-habal". We had a small tour of the island until we reached the spring resort. Ito yung resort na alam ko about Camiguin when I was still a child. And I couldn't believe it's in front of me already.


Naligo agad kami at nagbabad sa hot spring. Ang sarap! Walang sinabi ang mga hot springs nang Laguna. Sobrang relaxing. The water, the nature, the environment. May nakipagkuwentuhan pa nga sa aming nanay who used to visit hot springs in Laguna also. Mega-compare siya. Kami naman mega-sakay kay nanay. Hehe.


Before we left the resort, bumili ako nang magnet sa mga souvenir shops. Binilhan din ako ni Jay nang sando, remembrance din daw that we were there at one point in time. Aww! Unti-unti nang nahuhulog si TL noon sa kanya with all the things that he's doing and showing. But that time, I was taking things easy.


Pagbalik nang room uli, naligo na agad kami dahil pupunta naman daw kami sa Katibawasan Falls kung saan nagshoot ang movie na Ouija. Na-excite ako kasi ngayon lang ako makakakita nang actual falls. Hehe. Promise! We left around lunch time. Dumaan muna kami sa isang restaurant na kinainan namin nung gabing dumating kami sa city proper para mag-lunch. In fairness, ang sarap nang food nila. After, we went ahead at pumunta na sa Katibawasan Falls.


The falls was very overwhelming. Kami lang ang tao doon kaya super picture ang ginawa naming dalawa. It was fun being with someone who's enjoying my camwhoreness, and has an eye also to camera angles. Iba din pala yung feeling when you are closer with an actual falls. Very Refreshing!


I will never forget the feeling I had there. You feel so close with the nature. Not only refreshing but it was also relaxing and soothing pala. It's like your soul is being transformed in to another level. Nakakatuwa dahil for some reason, pareho kaming naka green ni Jay at that time. Tapos yung sorroundings, green din. Hehe.


Pag-alis namin doon, and while in the middle of our way back to the town, bigla kong naalala yung room key namin so I asked Jay if it's with him. Yun pala, naiwan niya sa falls pati yung shades niya (this was the second time na naiwan niya yung shades niya. First was at the hotel sa CDO when we left early in the morning). So we went back to get those stuff.


Tapos, dumeretso na kami sa famous Sunken Cemetery. While we're on our way to enter the area, biglang may road sign na "No Entry" dahil may quarrying na nagaganap. Jay was very disappointed as he was really wanting me to see that. Ako naman, gusto ko din dahil nga famous yung place na yun kaso wala naman kaming magagawa at bawal dumaan. I felt that he was really disappointed.


Bumalik na kami nang room to pack our things as we will be heading back to Cagayan De Oro. Doon kasi kami sasakay papunta naman nang Davao. Before we left Camiguin, bumili muna ako nang 12 boxes of the famous Camiguin pastel. Sobrang nakaka-adik ang pastel nila. Sobrang sarap. Pagdating sa city proper, wala nang mga vans papuntang pier. So no choice kami kundi maghabal-habal papuntang pier. Hassle!


In-anticipate ko na ang butt ache at mahabang biyahe iyon and with all of our stuff pa. Pero since kasama ko naman si Jay, go na lang. Sa kabilang pier kami sumakay nang barko. Fun yung ride kahit masakit sa puwet kasi I get to see most of the island's view. Pagdating sa pier, I felt some loneliness in leaving the island. Nakaka-attach ang Camiguin.


I will not forget that island. Very memorable ang experiences ko doon. Pagsakay nang barko, natulog ako sa lap ni jay. Sabi niya sa akin, first time daw na may natulog sa lap niya. It was a great feeling travelling with someone na lakwatsero din tulad ko. Camiguin was great. A very nice place to visit.