Category Archives: ACTIVITIES

Exploring Dimakya Island and its Environs

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View of Isla Walang Lang-aw from Eagle’s Nest

The next day, I made an early morning, lung-busting hike, with many rest stops, along a trekking trail to the island’s highest point called Eagle’s Nest.  Along the way, I was on the lookout for wild boar (baboy damo) and wild chickens which, the resort staff said, hid in the woods. 

The resort as seen from my vantage point at Eagle’s Nest

Upon reaching the top, I got a panoramic eagle’s view of the surrounding islands including nearby Isla Walang Lang-aw (Island Without Trees).  A treehouse and a viewdeck is located here.  For a brief moment I felt like Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe.  After about an hour, I retraced my way back down to again be part of Swiss Family Robinson. 

After lunch, we, together with other guests, booked ourselves on an island-hopping tour (US$20 per person).  Our boat ride took us past numerous islands with thickly-vegetated, sea-and-wind-sculpted limestone cliffs and white sand beaches.   We stopped over on 3 of these islands (Tapadyan Island, Liatui Island and Isla Walang Lang-aw) were Tellie and I went swimming and snorkeling and did some trick photography.

Trick photography at Isla Walang Lang-aw

Back at the resort, we, as well as the other guests, were treated to another boat ride, this time a sunset cruise on board the resort’s 55-ft. long trimaran (with its all-convenient toilet).  We sat at the spacious front area, sipping drinks as we awaited the sun’s setting .  We weren’t disappointed as the sun set on the horizon, amidst a clear, cloudless night sky.

On board the trimaran
Sunset at paradise

Upon our return from our sunset cruise, we returned to our cottage to freshen up and were served dinner by candlelight, albeit in a different setting: by the beach.  The restaurant’s tables and food were set up along the beach and, while dining, we could hear the sound of the waves hitting the shore.

Dinner along the beach

On Our Way to Coron (Palawan)

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The DOT-accredited Club Paradise Resort, on the idyllic Dimakya Island, a beautiful 19-hectare rock island paradise on the northwest coast of Busuanga Island in Palawan, offered a low, 4-day vacation package of PhP11,500 per person, inclusive of airfare, accommodations, food and complimentary use of some of its facilities, and I, together with my youngest sister Tellie and my 69-year old mother Carol decided to avail of this.  This would be our first visit to Palawan.  We left Manila early in the morning of February 23, on a 80-min. Pacific Air flight to Busuanga, and arrived a little past 10 AM at Busuanga’s Yulo King Ranch (YKR) Airport.

Landing at Yulo King Ranch Airport

At the airport, we transferred to a passenger jeepney for a 30-min. leisurely drive, along a dirt road, to a mangrove forest.  Here, we made a 15-min. walk, along a 300-m. long wooden boardwalk lined with mangrove trees.  At the end of the boardwalk was a pier where a motorized outrigger boat awaited us to take us to the island.  The boat trip took all of 45 mins. and we reached the resort at just about noon.

Boat ride to the resort

Pulong Laki (Calapan, Mindoro Oriental)

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The next day, All Saints Day, Jing again packed us some lunch (including beer) for our excursion to Pulong Laki (Big Island), one of the 3 Baco Islets, the others being Pulong Munti (Little Island) and Pulong Gitna (Middle Island).  All have white sand beaches.  We espied these beautiful islands during the ferry crossing from Batangas City to Calapan.  Ronnie also brought along his fishing rod.

On our way

Jing also chartered a boat very early in the morning for our use as, if there are no charters, their owners usually leave early in the morning to catch fish for a living.  From Ronnie’s home, we walked towards the nearby beach where our motorized outrigger boat and the boatmen where waiting for us.  Once on board, we were soon on our way.  The trip was smooth, usual for the morning and, after about an hour, we made landfall on the island.

The island’s coarse sand beach

The island had a broad, coarse sand beach, with vegetation and shade some distance away.  This didn’t matter much to us as we savored our first dip in a Mindoro Oriental beach.  From the beach, we also had a panoramic view of a couple of islands.  We were the only excursionists on the island that day.  I guess that most Calapenos were visiting their dead while most local and foreign tourists were in Puerto Galera.  We had this beach to ourselves.  

Doing some trick photography

Ronnie went fishing  and sunbathing while the rest went swimming or shell hunting.  Ronnie caught a couple of small fish that day which he cooked.  By mid afternoon, we all left the island, upon the boatman’s suggestion,  to avoid the high, late afternoon waves.  Back on the mainland, we again had supper at the house of Ronnie and Jing’s aunt.    

Tour of Calapan (Mindoro Oriental)

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From Calapan port, we all boarded tricycles which brought us to Ronnie’s 2-storey house which is located by the sea. Upon arrival, we were welcomed by Ronnie’s elder sister Jing and their other relatives.  

At dining room with Ronnie (left) and Jing (center)
The porch overlooking the sea

Probably the only concrete house in the area, it had a spacious porch facing the sea (ideal for fishing and catching the sea breeze) and an airy roof deck where we had a panoramic view of the town, the sea and offshore islands.

View of Calapan Point
View of the town from the roof deck
View of offshore islands

After lunch, we all made a walking tour of the town proper.  At the town plaza, in front of the municipal hall, is a monument to a Mangyan youth.  There are also statues to our national heroes Jose Rizal and Andres Bonifacio as well local son Macario Adriatico, the first representative of Mindoro.

The town plaza

The Cathedral of the Holy Infant (Sto. Nino) is the seat of the Calapan Vicariate since October 3, 1951.  The original church, founded by Recollect Fr. Diego de la Madre in 1670, had two watchtowers.  It was torn down in 1959 to give way to the new cathedral. 

The Cathedral of the Holy Infant
After our sightseeing tour of the town center, we proceeded to the gray sand Aganhaw Beach which is located 4 kms. from the town proper.

Aganhaw Beach

After our sightseeing tour, we all proceeded to the house of Ronnie’s aunt where we had supper before returning home for a much needed rest.

My First Visit to Mindoro Oriental

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During the All Saints Day break, 8 year old Jandy and I joined Jandy’s TLC (The Learning Center) teachers Erwin Cifra, Glorain “Rainy” Canillas and Felipe Ronnie Martinez plus Rainy’s friends Lourdes “Lulu” Siguenza and Liezl Lumbao, on a tour of Mindoro Oriental, a first for both of us.  We plan to stay in Ronnie’s family home in Calapan, the capital of the province.  

L-R Erwin, Jandy, Rainy, Lulu & Liezl

From Manila, we all took the very early morning (4:30 AM) airconditioned  BLTB (Batangas Laguna Tayabas Bus) bus bound for Batangas City.  The land trip took just 2.5 hrs. and we arrived at Batangas International Port in time to buy tickets and catch the next RORO (Roll On Roll Off) ship to Calapan.

On our way

Aside from passengers, these ancient, ocean-going ships also carry wheeled cargo such as cars, trucks, trailers and buses that are driven on and off the ship on their own wheels.  They are so named for their built-in ramps and doors that allow cargo be “rolled on” and “rolled off” the vessel when in port.

One of the islands we passed

The boat trip, via the Verde Island Passage (one of the busiest sea lanes in the country) took a slow 2.5 hours.  Still, it was scenic all the way as our passed a bevy of islands.  Just out of Batangas Port, we were awed by the rugged cliffs and white sand beaches of the 8-km. long, thickly vegetated Verde Island.  Then, as we approached Calapan Bay, we passed the much   smaller but equally beautiful Baco Chico Island, Pulong Gitna and Pulong Munti.  We arrived at Calapan port by 9:30 AM.

Coral Island – Koh Larn (Pattaya, Thailand)

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After an early breakfast at the hotel, we prepared for a change of pace as we were scheduled to do an island tour, with lunch, of Koh Larn (translated as “Coral Island”).  Located about 7-8 kms. off the coast of Pattaya Beach, Koh Larn is about 4 kms. long and 2 kms. wide.  It has 2 villages (Ban Ko Lan and Ban Krok Makhan)  and a number of white sand beaches (Tonglang Beach, Tien Beach, Samae Beach, Naon Beach, Na Ban Beach, Ta Waen Beach, etc.) with clear, blue waters, mostly on the western side.  Koh Larn is part of a cluster of 3 islands called the Near Islands (the other 2 are Koh Sak and Koh Krok).

On Our Way to Koh Larn

From the Bali Hai Pier, we all boarded a cruiser for the 45-50 min. trip, across the Gulf of Thailand, to the hilly island.  Within sight of the crescent-shaped Ta Waen Beach (the most frequented beach), we all transferred to a glass-bottom boat so that we could view the marine life and offshore coral garden.

Glass-Bottom Boat Ride

Upon landing, we were assigned to a long picnic shed with other guests. As the beach was very inviting, the sun was out and the skies were clear, we all changed into our swimming attire.  The sand here was definitely much cleaner (and whiter) than in Pattaya Beach.

Koh Larn (Coral Island) – Ta Waen Beach

Salve and Tellie tried jetskiing while I donned  mask and snorkel and explored the island’s coral garden.  Come noontime, we returned to our picnic hut were a seafood lunch was arrayed before us. This we feasted on with gusto.  After lunch, we all went back to our boat for the return trip back to the mainland. Once on shore, we returned to the hotel, checked out and, by 4:30 PM, boarded our bus for the return trip to Bangkok.  Back in the city, we had supper at a MacDonald’s outlet along Sukhumvit Rd., then returned to our hotel.

Gems Gallery International (Bangkok, Thailand)

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After our tour of Wat Traimit and Wat Pho, we next moved on to the 7,200 sq. m. (1.8 acre) Gems Gallery International, an ISO certified gems gallery.  Open in 1987, it is said to be the world’s largest jewelry and gems center. Here, we watched skilled, in-house Thai artisans cut, polish and set each precious stone to create exquisite pieces of jewelry.

Gems Gallery International

Its eye-catching showroom also displays thousands of world-class natural gems (diamonds, sapphires, rubies, emeralds, topaz, etc.) mined from Chanthaburi and Kanchanaburi provinces; pearls as well as unique bracelets, necklaces, rings, bangles, earrings and other jewelry masterpieces.

Gems Gallery International – Showroom
Gems Gallery International: 198/23-24 Rama VI Rd., Samsen Nai, Phaya Thai, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.  Tel: 02-2710150.

Sentosa Island – Musical Fountain Show (Singapore)

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From Underwater World, we walked to Monorail Station No. 7 and boarded one of the 6-pax cars of the Sentosa Monorail that circles Sentosa and alighted at Station No. 1 (Sentosa Ferry Terminal). Here, we plan to watch the 7:30 PM Musical Fountain (also known as the Magical Fountain of Sentosa) show.

The Sentosa Monorail was closed in 2005 and most of the island’s monorail was dismantled, though parts of the original track structure still remain. The monorail was replaced by the red, blue and yellow bus lines.

Sentosa Monorail

Started in 1972 and opened, 10 years later, in 1982, the fountain show was designed by world-renowned fountain designer Yves Pepin.  The star attraction at the resort, it was just upgraded early in the year and the fountain is now Neo-Classical in look, with heavily decorated arches.  Its design was also themed to look like a nature wonderland, with small ponds, shrubs and  gigantic man-made waterfalls flanking the fountain grounds.

Musical Fountain and Fountain Gardens

The pool consisted of 25 million gallons of water which took 3 man-hours to fill and the fountain and could be shot up to 20 m.  It had more than 19 different water formations including the famous Phoenix flanked by waltzing “chorus-lines.

The Neo-Classical Musical Fountain

It was already late in the afternoon when we arrived at the amphitheater which could  accommodate 5000 people seated and at least 100 standing. The 7 seating zones in the arena were themed after the colors of the rainbow.  The 3 minute and 36 second fountain display show we watched was said to have been inspired by the synchronized dance of the Fountains of Bellagio.  The show capped our visit in Sentosa.

The Musical Fountain underwent a major restoration and upgrading project in 1999. In 2002, Yves Pepin replaced all the musical fountain shows with the Magical Sentosa Show but this show did not last long. After operating for 25 years, it was shut down to make way for an integrated resort called Resorts World Sentosa . Its last show was staged on March 25, 2007 and was replaced by the “Songs of the Sea” show. The area once occupied by the Musical Fountain is now occupied by the Lake of Dreams, Hotel Michael and Crockford Tower.

Sentosa Island – Underwater World (Singapore)

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After our Pioneers of Singapore/Surrender Chambers Museum tour, we proceeded to Underwater World, Asia’s largest tropical oceanarium located on the western part of Sentosa.  Opened in 1991, this underground living museum has more than 2,500 marine and freshwater animals of 250 species from different regions of the world. Here, we befriended American couple William (Bill) and Ellen Smith.

Underwater World – Touch Pool

Upon entering, we encountered the “Touch Pool” where I got to feel starfishes, sea cucumbers, turtles and more. Further on is the Tidal Pool where we saw samples of multi-colored, living coral.

American Couple William (Bill) and Ellen Smith at the Perspex Tunnel

Next, we moved along a submerged, glass-windowed Perspex tunnel via an 83 m. long travelator, practically nose-to-nose with an array of marine life including a coral reef, stingrays, moray eel, turtles, sharks and other fishes and other fishes.

Underwater World – Schooling Fish Display

Enroute to Sentosa Island (Singapore)

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After our city tour and lunch, we again availed of another RMG Tours Pte. Ltd. tour, this time to the resort island of Sentosa (S$22 each). We were transported to the Mt. Faber Station where we boarded a 6-pax gondola of the Singapore Cable Car System (actually a bi-cable, detachable-grip gondola lift system), traversing 2 supporting towers and the World Trade Center & Ferry Terminal, to Sentosa.

Mount Faber Cable Car Station

Opened on February 15, 1974, it was the first aerial ropeway system in the world to span a harbor. Traveling the 1,650 m. distance at a speed of 4 m. per second, it took us about 12 mins. to get from Mount Faber to Sentosa, including the short interval at the World Trade Center.

World Trade Center and Ferry Terminal

Opened on February 15, 1974, it was the first aerial ropeway system in the world to span a harbor. Traveling 1,650 m. distance at a speed of 4 m. per second, it took us about 12 mins. to get from Mount Faber to Sentosa, including the short interval at the World Trade Center.

The Mount Faber Station has now been renamed as Jewel Box Station while the World Trade Center was renamed as the HarbourFront Centre in 2000 and its cable car station as the HarbourFront Station.

Sentosa