SIQUIJOR - MUST SEE

This is the map of Siquijor and as you can see it only got 6 Municipalities - Larena, E. Villanueva, Maria, Lazi, San Juan, San Juan and Siquijor. And believe it or not you can explore the whole island in just one day. 

Here are the must see places we visited during our day tour :

Lazi Church

 - One of the cleanest church I've seen and it's floor was made of wood. 

Lazi Convent
  - the priest still lives here according to some locals though it's old but still stands strong. 

  

Cambughayay Falls 

 - wish I had a guts to do the tarzan swing but just too afraid... the water was so cold and it's very refreshing

I wanna dive Ala Tarzan but im just too afraid to try it 

and yes, stairs stairs stairs..going down is okay but its a bit challenging for me to go up . This would take about 10 minutes

Cagusuan Beach

 - according to Kuya Joam, he just found out this beach couple of months ago and decided to include this on his Siquijor trip. The beach got a white fine sand and blue clear waters. But during our visit, the waves was too strong.

  

  

Salagdoong Beach 

 - one of the most visited beach in Siquijor but I'm not happy to see since it was already too commercialize and crowded. 

If only i can swim... jumping on this cliff won't be a problem 

Capilay Spring Park

- the atmosphere here was very relaxing, it's a good place family picnic

Century Old Balete Tree

- Free fish spa and I love it. The Balete tree was so huge and old - creepy..

Santa Maria Church and It's Black Maria

- the picture and stories of the Black Maria was very interesting and seeing it person was totally different thing.  I decided to include this on our trip even though I'm too afraid to see this image.  

Salagdoong Forest

- it was like man made forest Bohol but smaller.  It serves as a shade to those motorist passing by

Cang - Isok House 

- this is a century old house that still stands near the waters. They're also some people who actually lived here.  

HAPPY TRAVEL!!!

EL NIDO ITINERARY

HOW TO GET THERE?

Take a flight the lands in Puerto Princesa Palawan - From there, hire a van that will take about 6 hours.  Early booking is advisable which can lessen your time waiting and negotiating at the airport.  Fare was about 600php one way.  They have schedule trips everyday and you may wanna arrived early to maximized our time in El Nido. 

Here's the contact number: Fort Wally Van - +639172762875.

WHAT TO SEE?

They also offer tour packages in EL Nido and since its Low Season we probably got the best deal offered by Kuya Harvey Templado of Lagoon Tours (thanks to angel of http://www.lakwatsero.com/).

Here's the contact number of Kuya Harvey - +639263049680

This rates includes your lunch:

Tour A - Small and Big Lagoon, Miniloc Resort (Sight seeing Only) Simizu Island, Secret Lagoon and Seven Commando = 700php / head

Tour B - Pangulasian Island, Snake Island, Cudognon Cave, Cathedral Island, Lagen Resort (Sight seeing Only) , Pinagbuyutan Island - 800php / head

Tour C - Tres Marias Island (Sight seeing Only), Cagbantang Cove, Secret Beach, Star Beach, Matinloc Shrine, Hidden Beach - 900php / head

Tour D - Seven Commando Beach, Ipil Beach, Natnat Beach, Pasandigan Beach, Ubogon Cove and Helicopter Island - 700php / head

**again rates changes from time to time and to tell you honestly we really got a great deal since for two full days it was like a private tour for me and my best friend but we only paid the regular rate since we are the only visitors.

We got the most popular tour A and C, we only got 2 days to explore El Nido wish we had more time.

WHERE TO STAY?

Be simple as possible and you won't have a hard time finding a hotel suitable for you.  We just get a beach front fan room with 1 queen bed for about 700php per night.  

Here's their contact number :  +639167070393 - email :  og'spensionne@yahoo.com

WHERE TO EAT?

I would highly recommend the Og's Resto they really serve delicious food around 200 to 300php per meal.

The Alternative Inn - for a breath taking view rates are a little bit higher but worth it

HAPPY TRAVEL!!!

TWIN LAKES (LAKE BALINSASAYAO AND LAKE DANAO)

Well I decided to have a separate post on this mainly because I think it's worth it.  To see some of the most beautiful scenery in the WORLD sometimes you need to endure pain :) and so I did.  Going here was kinda painful on my butt, due to lack of time I  rented a motorcycle from Dumaguete City  ( got a flight back to Manila that afternoon) going to this place and it took us more than an hour to get there.  The road was half rough and concrete. So can you just imagine  if your not used to ride a motorcycle and then you have this.  I just told to myself that this should be worth it... 

My best friend who lives in Dumaguete helped me out on finding a motorcycle driver so i'll be safe and get a discount as well.  I paid 400php that already includes the gas.  Kuya Jun was really nice, he picked me up at my hotel, and drop me off at the airport.  He was my photographer on this trip. I just like the his service. And he never complained whenever I asked him to stop since I'm really not comfortable riding a habal habal (motorbike).

You will see a huge monument of Mother Mary - make sure you pay here a visit

We saw this church on the way to the lake and according to Kuya Jun - The sun dances inside of this church 

Do you know how this boulder of rocks get up here?  Kuya Jun can't answer me.

There's an entrance/parking fee that you need to pay (forget the amount but it's very minimal).  A little walk around 10 minutes to reach the lake. And then I told myself "YES IT'S WORTH IT!". What I'm seeing right now is the Lake Balinsasayao.  

The water was so calm and for a moment I just want to relax myself since getting here was not that easy.  After couple of minutes I asked the guide their how can I get to Lake Danao.  

He said I got 3 options: 

• 100php for the kayak rental
• 200php for the boat rental
• Walk for about 30minutes (depends on your speed)

I'm trying my best to spend less on this trip but I'm against time so I decided to take the fastest way to go there - Rent a boat - 200php damage on my budget -- Well I think this is indeed very expensive for a one hour ride.  Been to places and this rate was kinda high.  I'm not sure if you can split the payment with the other tourist but since I'm the only one there that time I got really No Choice at all.

The boat was manually maneuver by the boatman and Kuya Jun helped him out.   I asked why they don't have  a motorized boat. Well the response was very environmentalist "Gusto po kasi namin mapanatili and kalinisan ng lawa, ung gas po kasi nakakasira po un ng tubig" (We would like to preserve the lake, if we're going to use gas, it will ruin the water) CLAP CLAP!!!  Well I'm just happy to know that these locals was oriented properly on how they can take care of their environment.

After about 10minutes we are on the other side of the lake and from here we need to walk for another 5 minutes or so.  Kuya Jun reached the lake first and it was not as develop as the Lake Balinsasayao side but the water here was also calm.  

Kuya Jun

Going to the Twin Lakes was very refreshing to me.  After my Cagayan trip, I got this fascination on lakes and river.  And I'm so glad I pushed this trip to the twin lakes. It's WORTH IT!!!

HAPPY TRAVEL!!!