GUIMARAS TRIP 2011

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This trip is dated April 4 - 5, 2011 which is a part of my March 31 - April 5, 2011 Iloilo-Boracay-Guimaras Trip. It started when we left our host's house in Janiuay at 8:29 A.M. and through a chartered jeepney, we headed to Ortis Seaport of Iloilo and arrived there at 9:14 A.M. We waited and finally we boarded a boat for Guimaras Port in Jordan at P20 each with travel duration from 10:17 to 10:30 A.M. We chartered for a jeepney going to Sitio Bulan-bulan in Brgy. Santa Teresa in Jordan and stayed in our host's house there.

In the afternoon, we had a swim in Raymen Beach Resort located in Alubihod, Nueva Valencia, Guimaras at P10 entrance fee per head. We stayed there till 6:00 P.M.

Back to our host's house, we enjoyed their hospitality and had a sumptuous dinner. We watched a graduation ball in a nearby school plaza till midnight.

The following day, we enjoyed the country side and rested and left Guimaras at 1:00 P.M. On our way to Iloilo International Airport, we dropped by in the Original Biscocho House to buy for pasalubong. We were so early in the airport at 3:20 P.M. and waited for our flight which was at 7:10 P.M.

BORACAY TRIP 2011

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This trip is dated April 2 - 3, 2011 which is a part of my March 31 - April 5, 2011 Iloilo-Boracay-Guimaras Trip. It started when we left Cabogao Gamay Island at 7:41 A.M. and arrived in Gigantes Island to transfer to a bigger boat at 8:11 A.M. We waited till 9:00 A.M. where the boat left Gigantes Island and arrived in Estancia Feder Port at 10:25 .AM. From the Port, we boarded a tricyle for P10 per head to Bayuyan Estancia Bus Terminal which was 10:58 to 11:02 A.M. We chartered to vans from Estancia to Roxas City where the travel was from 11:07 A.M. to 1:13 P.M. We chartered an 18-seater van from Roxas City to Caticlan with the travel lasted from 1:35 to 4:50 P.M.

From Caticlan Jetty Port, we arranged our trip to Boracay Island where we paid the following:

Boat fare - P25
Environmental fee - P75
Terminal Fee - P50

We boarded the boat from Caticlan to Boracay Port which lasted from 5:30 to 5:38 P.M. and finally, we checked in at Travellers' Inn in Station 3 which is a beach front though we have to board a tricycle from the Boracay Port to our resort with travel time took from 5:46 to 5:55 P.M. at P20 per head.

It was not really an exciting Boracay Trip for this is not my first time. I wanted to sleep early since I was so tired with the whole day travel transfers. We enjoyed shortly the vibrant night life of Boracay.

The following day, the only activity we had was a very short swim in the beach front and the rest was in the Helmet Dive costing P500 per head. However, recuperating from my ear infection, I did not join the helmet dive for it might aggravate my physical condition and severe my ear infection.

I did not enjoy the swimming because I cannot submerge my head in the water to avoid the entry of water in my infected left ear.

It was too hot in Boracay and there was Frisbee Competition with Derek Ramsay around and some celebrities which I did not bother to check. Korina Sanchez was there also to feature the Number One SPA in the Philippines.

We left Boracay at 4:39 P.M. and was in Caticlan Port at 4:48 P.M. We had a chartered 18-seater van from Caticlan to Iloilo City's Tagbak Bus Terminal with the travel duration from 5:19 to 11:18 P.M. From Tagbak Terminal, we chartered a jeepney going to Janiuay Municipality of Iloilo with travel duration from 11:28 P.M. to 12:16 Midnight where we settled for an overnight in Farida Sedillo's uncle's house.

GIGANTES ISLANDS GROUP BEACH AND ISLAND HOPPING

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This trip is dated April 1, 2011 which is a part of my March 31 - April 5, 2011 Iloilo-Boracay-Guimaras Trip still consisting of 19 but we are still based in Cabogao Gamay Island. This is a beach and island hopping of the beaches of Gigantes Island along with two other nearby islands, namely: Bantigue and Cabogao Daku Islands. Bantigue Island prides its sandbar and clear water beach strip.

The beaches of Gigantes Island included: Tugbungan Beach with a cave, Puting Baybay Beach and Antoniya Beach Strip. The Tangke Lagoon is also located in Gigantes Island which is already a part of Brgy. Lantangan, Gigantes Sur.

I happened to visit the community of Gigantes where our guides and boat operators: Mark Timothy, Joshua James, Leoner and Enrico reside.

Joshua James B. Bolivar, one of our Cabogao Gamay Island Trip guides, assured me to be our guide in climbing the Bandiraan Peak of Gigantes highest peak and the limestone ridge called "Boulevard" this coming June 17-20, 2011 when we go back to Gigantes.

I was so happy to be in commune with the people especially the children in Gigantes Islands. There are also stores there in Gigantes and basic grocery items and cheap dried fish and pusit are available.

However, it is advised that the drinking water should be bought from Estancia Water Stations which requires a deposit of P205 per container with the water of 5 gallons costing P25 only. Fish in Feder Port in Estancia is cheaper and raw meat are also available there. Estancia Public Market is big and some restaurants are also available within the area.