Isla Gigantes: First Backpacking Experience Day 01

Absolutely NO itinerary, NO hotel reservation and NO bookings. Just a RT ticket, some clothes, some money, myself and a bunch of good friends. Experienced ultimate vacation: no cellular phone signal (as in!), no internet. Tahimik, walang istorbo.. That's what you call "The Life".

On a very normal office day, like I usually do, I checked out the website of Cebu Pacific and found out there was an on-going seat sale. With my mind and body itching to have another travel this year, I convinced my friends to go on another vacation. This time we decided to go to Iloilo. At first I was torn between whether to book for a flight to Iloilo or Bacolod, and so much searching for a good date, I ended up booking for a flight to Iloilo because there were no available flights to Bacolod that is good for 6 persons. What we booked that day was a one-way ticket only, Manila-Iloilo.

As time goes by, we almost thought of dropping the idea of travelling to Iloilo (this was due to umm – kung anu-ano lang  J ). Buti na lang, we decided to continue what we planned because if we did not, we have missed “half of lives”. Originally, we were supposed to travel by 7, but 2 of my friends decided not to go due to their personal reasons L. After so much discussion, we booked for our return flight via PAL.

June 29, 2012 04:30am, geared up for an early morning flight and arrived at NAIA Terminal 3 just in time for plane boarding and we left Manila by 05:00am. We didn’t have so much time for taking pictures but I managed to take some. J

Bakit ang lungkot mo She? J

Iloilo by Twilight

We arrived at Iloilo International Airport by 06:10am and we searched for the station where we can ride a jeepney going to Tagbak BusTerminal. Trip going to Tagbak Bus Terminal was a 20-30 minute ride by series of jeepneys and costs us about Php 40.00 each (Total 3 rides - Yung isang sakay kasi namin lumagpas kami, kaya ayun almost 20 yung binayaran J). We ate our breakfast at Andok’s Restaurant at the terminal. After eating, instead of the Ceres Bus, we chose to ride the L300 vans that are parked on the other side of the terminal. Those PUVs were bound for Estancia. Fare going to Estancia is worth Php 150.00.

She, nagf-FB; Irish & Juvie sleeping soundly.. J

Me & Rona

It was a 3-3.5 hour makamanhid tewup trip to Estancia and we had a one stop-over for bio needs. Below is the only shot that I got during the trip.

We arrived at another bus terminal and rode a tricycle going to Estancia port, which cost Php 10.00/each. At Estancia Port, we met up with Kuya Joel Decano, the tourism officer of Carles and also the resort owner in Gigantes Island. The pump boat going to Gigantes Island is scheduled to leave by 02:00pm and we arrived at the port at around 12:00nn, so he suggested that we take our lunch and take a rest at Pa-on Beach Resort. We rode a tricycle going to Pa-on Beach Resort, fare is Php 10.00.

Tricycle ride going to Pa-on Beach

The Pa-on Beach Resort is a nice place to stop-over before going to Gigantes Island. It has a very nice ambiance that will really make you feel that you are on a vacation. The best thing about Pa-on Beach is their very cheap but sumptuous array of FOOD! J

My Backpacking Buddies!  J

Pa-on Beach Resort interior

Pa-on Beach Resort interior 2

Pa-on Beach Resort Seaside

Our lunch, mura na, namit gid. Yum, yum! J

After the nakakabusog na lunch, we’re bound for Estancia Port but before that “Photo shoot” muna. J

We left Pa-on Beach Resort by 01:30pm for the pump boat trip going to Gigantes Island and then we left Estancia around 02:00pm. Another makangalay tewup 1 1/2 hour trip to Carles (The Gigantes Island) and fare is Php 80.00.

Loob ng Pump Boat

After almost 2 hours, we arrived at the port of Carles which is actually a semi-port because the place where the pump boat stopped is still a shoreline (most of its parts).  That time, the tide is low so di talaga naidaong yung pump boat. To get to the shoreline/island, we rode a “balsa” made of black containers. It was nakakakaba at first but it was fun! Padaong pa lang, adventure na agad! J

Almost there!

Juvie and my foot on the “Balsa”

The Balsa: 20 people actually rode on it

See what I mean? J

We were warmly welcomed at the port by Kuya Joel’s brother and friend. The inn is quite far from the port so we have to ride a motorcycle on the way to Gigantes Hideaway Tourist Inn. Fare is Php 10.00/each.

See how white the sand is! Man on the picture is Kuya Joel’s Brother.

Me and Sheryl while on the single motorcycle ride. First time ko! J

The rest of my friends on their motorcycle ride.

On our way to Gigantes Hideaway Tourist Inn

We were really surprised how the Tourist Inn looked like. The place seems like you were just on your own family house. We were also welcomed by a refreshing drink, a buko juice fresh from the coconut tree, really fresh!

Slurp! J

Kuya Joel’s brother toured us around the Inn and let us chose our room to stay in. You can actually choose any rooms they offer. You can choose between a whole house (which has 3 bedrooms, a living room, dining room, kitchen, and 1 restroom), Honeymoon Room (ideal for couples), and 2 Seaside Rooms. Fortunately, we were the only guests that that time so we were able to choose the whole house.

One of the 2 Seaside Rooms

Gigantes Hideaway Tourist Inn Entrance

The Inhouse Jacuzzi with the Honeymoon Room

The Big House we chose

Backyard beside the house

The Big House Interior

Posing a shot before we go on a sidetrip. J

After choosing our place to stay, we settled all our bags and geared up for a little sidetrip to the Gigantes Island Lighthouse. Kuya Joel’s brother actually gave us a little bit of the island’s rich history. Another 10 minute motorcycle ride and were on our way to the island’s lighthouse, fare is Php 40.00/each roundtrip. We reached on the rocky part of the way so we walked half of it.

Sheryl with Kuya Joel’s brother

Lakad kung lakad! J

Backside of the Lighthouse. An abandoned building, built 70-80 years ago. Amazing isn't it? J

It was only a short tour, but the experience was magnificent because we got to see the other beautiful side of the island. We were also thrilled with the idea of going up the lighthouse but unfortunately the caretaker of the lighthouse was not there (namimiyesta daw sa kabilang barangay. Urgh! J). Anyway, so much to our disappointment, we took lots of photos instead. J

This shells are from the waters of Carles

Nipa Hut decorated with colorful seashells.

Another photo op. J

Standing High: The Isla Gigantes Lighthouse

Trying to have a silhouette vibe… J

Just before leaving the place, 1.. 2.. 3.. click! J

After an hour or so, we left the place and headed back to the inn. Another walk back and rode again the motorcycle. See the smile on their faces; they really had a great time. J

This time, we freshen up and took some rest only to be surprised of what they have prepared for us! Its dinner time! Super-duper daming food (as in nag-uumapaw!). When we saw how dami it was, di namin alam where to start, basta lamon na lang! Hahaha. J

Star of the Night (atleast for Rona & Irish) Bleh! J

Freshly caught and boiled Scallops

Imagine this can be eaten pala? Sorry I didn’t know. I think it was cooked as Adobo. J

My personal favorite, barbecue scallops

I haven’t tasted one these, I am too lazy to remove the tiniks J

This one was a special request because I have friend who doesn't eat any kind of seafood. Bon appetit! J

See how dami it was? Just for the 5 of us? Wow! J

We tried to persuade our non-seafood eating friend, Juvie, to eat some scallops since it doesn't taste any fishy but unfortunately we failed. She tried her best to do so, but she just can’t and we understand. J

After eating, Kuya Joel’s brother advised us that they have prepared the videoke for us to use. We were so thrilled and immediately ran back to the house and freshen up a bit. We really enjoyed the night of non-stop videoke until we drop. We slept at around 01:30am, gearing up for tomorrow's trip to ultimate paradise.