THE BEST ALTERNATIVE RESORT WHILE IN LIMASAWA ISLAND

Location: Brgy. Lugsongan, Island Municipality of Limasawa, Southern Leyte, Philippines

The enticing beach front of Dak Dak Beach Resort

Note: This is a part of my May 2 - 8, 2015 Samar-Leyte-Biliran-Mactan-Cebu Trip which includes: Capul Island, San Antonio Island, Dalutan Island, Sambawan Island, The Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Shrine, Ciriaco Hotel, Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral, Other Calbayog tours, San Juanico Bridge, MacArthur Landing Memorial National Park, Limasawa Island

My grand vacation in Limasawa Island last May 6 - 8, 2015 was such great because Dak Dak Beach Resort made a difference. The beach itself is so clean. The whole place is nestled at the foot of a densely forested area which describes best what a tropical paradise is. This resort is owned by a US-based Norman Lambot but is managed by her very enterprising mother, Nucresia Olojan Lambot.

The resort's main building

Nanay Nucresia has really a heart for her guests as she personally attends to them. She would ask what food they prefer to eat for a meal which are normally seafoods accompanied with meat and vegetables. Viands are served into three kinds, unlimited rice with dessert where all these package only costs P150 per meal per person. Not bad. In dining, they are given the liberty to have it either in the main building dining hall or right beside the cottages along the beach front.

The Diving Board with a pull-on raft: My favorite hangout

With my 3-day stay in this beach resort, I really had completely recharged. But mind you, I was not just there to rest and relax. In fact, I did swim from time to time and I love to stay on its diving board with a pull-on raft. My companions as we were all nine in the group vary in age from 16 to 54 years old and we all enjoyed hanging out in this diving board and raft.

How to reach the diving board through the pull-on raft

Heading to the diving board is highly physical through the pull-on raft as you have to pull yourself through a rope. But it did not matter as the prize of being there and to enjoy diving is quite rewarding. We did this from early in the morning, before lunch, late afternoon and even early in the evening.

The 16-year old Daniel Manalad heading to the diving board

Using the pull-on raft heading to the diving board was our routine for the 3-day stay we had in the resort. There was one time that we had our breakfast in the diving board because it was on its maximum high tide level. Our feet were refreshingly soaked to the sea water while we were eating.

Cynthia Manalad, Daniel's mom in her turn for the raft ride

Since the resort is located in an isolated place, it is not crowded with the locals. This is the reason why the guests can enjoy a sort of exclusivity while enjoying their stay. When there are groups of guests who visit the place for a day swim, Nay Nucresia would notify us so that we will be aware that there are other guests around.

The refreshing porch of the resort's main building

The porch in the main building is such inviting for the guests as it is overlooking the beach front where they can view the dramatic sunset. On the other hand, it is also a place where guests stay to do the texting or call through their mobile phone. By the way, the whole island provides a good signal for all networks like Globe and Smart Communications.

The P1,300 airconditioned room

The resort's main building has two big rooms where one is an air-conditioned one at P1,300 overnight with a maximum capacity of 3 persons. The other one is just the same in size but just with a fan at P1,000 with the same capacity. An excess of one is allowed for a family of four but with a minimal charge.

The dining hall of the resort's main building

Dinner can also be served in this Filipinized ambiance dining area. Guests feel at home dining here as Nanay Nucresia and her staff enthusiastically serve them with delightful meals.

The spacious living room of the resort's main building

The living room is the place where guests spend their time to watch TV as they have a cable connection and charge their gadgets. The whole island has a supply of electricity from 1:00 P.M. to 1:00 A.M. With good network connection and presence of electricity, staying in the isolated island of Limasawa will not literally mean guests are isolated as they can still be connected to the internet.

Where cleanliness is the resort's doctrine

Noticeably, cleanliness is maintained in the resort whether in the rooms, cottages or the beach front, too. I just noticed that the staff has continuously been cleaning the beach front to be free from floating leaves and other seaweeds. Thus, it is not at all itchy when you stay long for a swim. The well-maintained grass for instance which is a part of the greening landscaping are always freed from dry falling leaves of the trees. The whole place is such just an absolutely clean haven of relaxation.

The adjacent living room and the porch

The cool and tropical interior design of the resort is just as inviting for a great relaxation and to unwind from a such a hustle-bustle life from the city. The guests' stay become more worthwhile with the hospitality that Nanay Nucresia and her husband Elias extend to them. One thing more that I like in this resort is the unlimited supply of water. You don't have to pay P20 per pail for your water consumption. I for one, was enticed to wash my clothes there. What the guest will pay is only P20 for one day which includes the entrance fee, use of facilities, charge gadgets and use limited supply of water. Of course, the accommodation and the food have their corresponding charge, too.

Truly an enticing white sand beach front stretch

Who can tell that prior to its operation on September 18, 2010, this part of the island was just a dirty stretch of coast line grown with unfriendly cogon and talahib grasses. It was only when Norman Lambot, Nanay Nucresia's son, purchased this piece of real estate property that they turned this into a haven of vacationers as they cleaned up the whole area and constructed cottages and other resort facilities.

The closed-type cottage for overnight guests

There are two kinds of cottages, namely: the closed-door type cottage for overnight stay at P500 and the open type at P250 for those who wanted to stay for a day in bigger groups like 10 to 15.

The resort's convenience store

Since the resort has an isolated location, it opened a convenience store where basic necessities can be bought like rice, canned goods, spices, seasonings, shampoo, bath and laundry soap, downy, assorted candies, junk foods, wine/liquors, canned juices and even bottled water. But mineral water can be bought from Padre Burgos on its 6-gallon container at P35 for the water refill but the container has to be bought at P150. This is cheaper than buying a 500ML bottled water.

Another visual proof how clean the place is

ideal for a morning and afternoon walk or jog

During high tide, the water level is just inches away

With me in the photo is the Lambot Family(from left to right): Gay, Me, Nanay Nucresia, Tatay Elias and Jona

In a Filipino parlance, the term "Nanay" means mother while "Tatay" is father. Gay, is one of the daughters of Nanay Nucresia and Tatay Elias while Jona is their youngest offspring, a barangay councilor in Barangay Lugsongan.

The following are farewell shots while our boat was leaving the resort:

At approximately 15 meters away . . .

At approximately 50 meters away . . .

At approximately more than 2 kilometers away . . .

For booking, you may contact Nanay Nucresia Olojan Lambot, being the Operations Manager at +639155203660.

HOW TO GET THERE:

There are four options going to this place, namely:

FROM MANILA TO PADRE BURGOS MUNICIPALITY OF SOUTHERN LEYTE

By Air from Manila to Tacloban City Airport. Then by land from Tacloban to Padre Burgos for 158 kilometers or 2 hours and 30 minutes travel. However, the above is just an approximation. Road conditions, diversions, weather conditions, traffic, etc. will affect driving distance and also the total travel time.

By Air from Manila to Ormoc City Airport. Then by land from Ormoc to Padre Burgos via Maasin, Leyte for 136 kilometers and 20 minutes. However, the above is just an approximation. Road conditions, diversions, weather conditions, traffic, etc. will affect driving distance and also the total travel time.

By Air from Manila to Cebu-Mactan Airport. Then take a ferry ship from Pier 4 of Cebu City to Hilongos Port of Southern Leyte for 6.5 hours. From Hilongos, take a service bus provided by the ferry ship for an hour to Maasin City. From Maasin City, take a jeepney to Padre Burgos Port for more than an hour. However, the above is just an approximation. Road conditions, diversions, weather conditions, traffic, etc. will affect driving distance and also the total travel time.

By Land, take a bus from Manila to Maasin, Southern Leyte for 928 kilometers which includes a ferry boat crossing from Matnog, Sorsogon of the Bicol Peninsula to Allen, Northern Samar through the sometimes rough and turbulent seas of San Bernardino Strait. The availability of the ferry may depend on the number of vehicles boarding the ferry boat. During the peak season, buses and vehicles can fall into a line as long as 1 kilometer or more delaying the buses to cross to Samar island. Then, with the same bus, it will cross the majestic San Juanico Bridge connecting the islands of Samar and Leyte. Then, from Tacloban, the travel continues to Padre Burgos municipality. With this, the road travel may reach until more than 1 and a half days.

FROM PADRE BURGOS PORT TO LIMASAWA ISLAND

Take a chartered boat from Padre Burgos Port to Dak Dak Beach Resort for almost an hour. Non-chartered boats will not take you directly to Dak Dak Beach Resort as it will take you to the different barangay ports of the island of Limasawa.

BATAD RICE TERRACES

Location: Brgy. Batad, Banaue, Ifugao, Philippines

Batad is one of the 18 barangays of the Municipality of Banaue. Banaue, on the other hand, is one of the 11 municipalities of the province of Ifugao of Northern Luzon. Batad is famous for its majestic rice terraces. These rice terraces of Batad along with Bangaan (both in Banaue), Mayoyao Rice Terraces (Mayoyao Municipality), Hungduan Rice Terraces (Hungduan Rice Terraces) and Nagacadan Rice Terraces (Kiangan Municipality) were inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site under the collective name “Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras.” In 1995.

The majestic Batad Rice Terraces

Like any other rice terraces in Ifugao, Batad Rice Terraces was also built 2,000 years ago equipped with strong stone walls by means of primitive tools and early methods in order to maximize the use of land space.

The first rice terraces which can be viewed 5 minutes before Batad proper

“Historically speaking, the rice terraces of the Cordilleras, including that of Batad, are the only monuments in the Philippines that show no evidence of having been influenced by colonial cultures. Owing to the difficult terrain, the Cordillera tribes are among the few peoples of the Philippines who have successfully resisted any foreign domination and have preserved their authentic tribal culture. The history of the terraces is intertwined with that of its people, their culture, and their traditional practices.”(Wikipedia)

A closer look of the tribal village in the middle of Batad Rice Terraces

Indeed, visiting Batad is such a prized event as it is regarded as the most beautiful rice terraces not only in the Philippines but also with those of Cambodia, Indonesia and Thailand not to mention its unique culture and being endowed with such a cool climate all year round.

The expansive Batad rice terraces scenery from Hillside Inn Restaurant (Model: Cynthia Manalad)

Being based in Metropolitan Manila, I traveled by airconditioned bus for a distance of 355 kilometers or a minimum of 7 hours with the Ohayami Bus Liner as my choice of transport from its Sampaloc terminal on its last trip at 11:00 P.M. for a one-way fare of P450 (As of this posting).

While at the second highest terraces viewpoint

The following day, at around 6:00 A.M., I arrived in Banaue to have our breakfast at Halfway Lodge and Restaurant. Food is affordable at a minimum meal of P85. It was also there that we contracted a jeepney to be chartered at P150 per head for one-way. We were given our tour guide (which requires one guide for every 8 persons) in the person of an accommodating and honest Joenel Dumar with +6399973467275. By contacting him, he can arrange for your transportation going to Batad. He was our tour guide for 2 days from Banaue to Batad and vice versa for an amount of P1,000.

Still at the second highest viewpoint of the terraces

We had a 50-minute jeepney ride from Banaue to the junction of Batad. From the junction, we had a downhill trek of 30 minutes going to the saddle and another 40 minutes from the saddle to Batad proper. Five minutes before Batad proper, we happened to drop by at a shanty store with a background of rice terraces and an erected marker of Batad which revealed that the Batad Amphitheater Rice Terraces is at 1,100 meters above sea level. We bought some cold drinks there to quench our thirst. Fresh buco fruit was also available at P35 per piece.

A wider angle of the rice terraces amphitheatre

Upon arrival in Batad, our tour guide directed us to pay for an environmental fee of P50 per head and we registered our names there with some personal information in their logbook. Then, just a few meters away, we trailed down concrete stairs of 25 steps if I can still recall to Hillside Inn where we were booked earlier. We paid thru Fredelyn Addug Sanchez in her BDO Account No. 3940677609 where we communicated thru the inn's email address at hillside_inn@yahoo.com. We are charged for P250 per head per day. Our accommodation were simple rooms with two single beds with no amenities to enjoy. No TV and the comfort rooms are common which can be found separate from the main building. There is one comfort room and bathroom with automatic hot shower. We were at the second floor while the restaurant was on the third floor and there are still accommodation at the fourth floor.

The rice terraces in more rich green color

Batad generally has no signal connection with all networks though there is electricity. However, there are no outlets in the guests' rooms. Charging the cellphones and other gadgets are done in the restaurant's counter where each gadget costs P25 for charging.

A closer shot of the rice terraces

As to food, there can be good choice of menu to choose from even at the Hillside Inn. But you can also go to Simons for their great-tasting pizza. Meals starts from P120 and above. Hot water during breakfast charges P5 per glass or cup. Visiting Simon’s View Point Inn and Pizza Restaurant, we learned that they also charge P250 per head for their accommodation with an option to have a double-bed or a single room. There is a large outside verandah with great views over Batad from which to enjoy your meals or drinks. The verandah feels a bit like a construction site which is the only negative. Their menu is extensive and the food and service are good. All bathrooms are common. Electricity is also 24 hours. To place a reservation for accommodation, you can contact its proprietor, Ezereel Illag Immotna at +639305077467 and +09192176986.

Trekking down the terraces leading to the tribal village

Accommodations in Batad is called homestay with no amenities to enjoy. Aside from the Hillside Inn and Simon's View Point Inn, there are also: Batad Pension and Guesthouse, Rita’s Mountain View Inn and Restaurant, Ramon Homestay, Gilbert Homestay, Foreigner's Inn, Cristina’s Main Village Inn and Restaurant, Waterfallside Lodge, Samson Inn and Batad Kadangyan Lodges. For more information, you can search the link of Batad Accommodation Guide.

Joenel Dumar - a native of Batad and our very honest guide

Guides are a big help to the guests as the former can help save time in locating places with accuracy considering that you need to trek uphill and downhill in very narrow rice paddies of the rice terraces. Falling from stone wall paddies may not be a good experience as they have an average of 3 meters high and rice fields are wet and the clay is sticky. Who would get you down and pull you up from the dirty clay with sucking leeches abound. To save time, you better have a guide for non-athletic people may find it difficult to be trekking long due to being lost to their desired destination. Guides can even tell you which foot of yours to step first to avoid being out of balance.

An invitation to the hanging bridge

On the first day of our tour, our guide toured us to the second highest viewpoint of the terraces. The weather was perfect and the paddies were dry as their was no rain, the fact that it was summer time. At around 4:00 P.M., my companions wanted to go back to our accommodation at Hillside Inn for they got exhausted trekking through the terraces with downhill and uphill variation. So, I decided to have a different route alone since I really wanted to go the tribal village in the middle of the terraces. It was a good experience to see them and the way they live and their culture as well.

The hanging bridge

As I am about to go back to Hillside Inn, I saw a directional board going to the hanging bridge and I was so excited to see the place. I asked a couple of villagers around where I can find the place and I assumed that one kilometer was really just the distance I have to trek down. As I went along, I realized it was not really one kilometer because as per Mathematical distance computation, there are 1,000 meters in a kilometer but my calculation has exceeded far from that distance. I trekked through the long and deep trail going down to the river. The sound of a rushing water which I knew was of a river has even stirred up my adrenalin. I almost ran down and just to find out that the place was really hidden. It was far really far and there was nobody to address my query. Anyway, I was then determined to reach the place and I did it. Well, as the whole placed unfolded to my eyes, I realized my effort was really worth it. As I took pictures, a native suddenly appeared from nowhere and I asked him to take me a couple of shots and he just disappeared in the thick bushes then. As I climbed back the almost steep trail, I was running like a marathon gasping for my lost breath for it was getting dark and as I kept on counting the elevated concrete stairs leading to my accommodation where it was like at 792 not to include the flat surfaces which I have to take by my long strides of steps.

The cultural down at Mang Ramon's Homestay: the dancing guests with the native dancers

After our dinner at Simon's Viewpoint Pizza Restaurant, our group proceed to Mang Ramon's place to watch a cultural show where it was organized provided the guests can raise P3,500 which will be paid to Mang Ramon. The show has two parts, the first one is the introduction of dancers and their traditional costume: who wears it as in a social class, the name of the costume and its materials and followed by their cultural dance around a bonfire. The second part is the guests will dance along the native dancers and the donation box will be passed for the guests to donate. Earlier, however, the audience guests were able to raise P2,100 just for the show to push through.

Taken at Hillside Inn restaurant balcony while having breakfast (Model: Teresa Santiago)

The best thing I like staying at Hillside Inn is when I am dining on its restaurant for a meal since the total picture of Batad rice terraces will really be yours. Early mornings and late afternoons are the best time of the day to view the rice terraces as it is on its most greenest color. It really feels good experiencing such.

Just about to cross the terraces leading to Tappiya Water Falls

Heading to Tappiya Water Falls was really a challenge as one has to cross the entire expanse of Batad terraces from end to end and down to a very deep gorge. Really so deep that going up is a tenfold challenge. But experiencing the said water falls is a priceless experience that one should have in his lifetime. It has its own charm as compared to other water falls of the Philippines and Uganda where I was able to visit already.

Descending the terraces and heading to the Waterfalls Jump-off Point

It is advisable to visit Tappiya Water Falls early in the morning as it is so hot crossing the open fields of the terraces. To avoid being dehydrated, it is advisable to carry with you enough water. Anyway, the tour guide can carry your food and water as part of their service. And would you believe that we passed through a water source where it can be safe for drinking. It has been tested to contain very high percentage of alkaline. In fact, I have been getting my drinking water from this source the Day 1 we arrived in Batad.

The terraces taken near the Waterfallside Lodge (Model: Ana Christina Sison)

Batad Rice Terraces can be taken from different angles. And I endlessly experimented which can be the best angle shot that I can get. The photo above was taken at 2:30 P.M. just as we had a long rest after ascending the deep long gorge coming from Tappiya Water Falls. The pictures of Tappiya Water Falls is featured in another post in this blog.

Last glimpse of Batad Rice Terraces

I wish Batad is just one short ride from my residence so that I will always have the opportunity to unwind where just by mere looking on its amazing features, you become refresh and all emotional residues are relieved. By next time that I return, I will scale to its highest point where I can take a total picture of the terraces without any structural barriers.

While Batad has its own charm, I suggest that you also consider Sagada-Banaue-Bontoc-Benguet Tour which will definitely be another vibrant and exciting travel experience.

The following is the summary of my expenses in Philippine Peso. One US Dollar to Peso has an average foreign exchange of P42:

SN	Particulars	Amount
1.	Round Trip Ohayami Airconditioned bus fare from Manila to Banaue at P450 for one-way (Contact Number for Reservation - +639276493055)	900
2.	Accommodation for 2 days at Hillside Inn at P250 per day	500
3.	Round Trip jeepney fare from Banaue to Batad Saddle at P150 one-way. This is a per head computation since the entire jeepney was chartered by our group with 14 of us	300
4.	Environmental Fee - Batad	50
5.	Two meals in Banaue at Lunch at Day 1 and Dinner at Day 3 at P85 per meal	170
6.	Meals in Batad: Dinner at Day 1, Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner at Day 2 and Breakfast at Day 3 for P120 each meal. Extra rice which is organic brown rice is P25 per order. With this, I did not order extra rice anymore	600
7.	Hot water for Hot chocolate for Breakfast in Hillside Inn for two at P5 each	10
8.	Mobile phone charging fee at Hillside Inn for two times at P25 each	50
9.	Buco Fruit at resting stops for two stops for P35 each	70
10.	Share for the tour guiding services which availed from Day 1 to Day 3 where we were in a group of 14 though the agreed price was only P1,000 and the excess was given as tip. Guests has the option to ask the guide to render porter services for one backpack at P150 for one way only	100
11.	Share in Mang Ramon's Cultural show	100
12.	Various grocery items for snacks, mineral water and other necessities	650
13.	Comfort room usage fee during bus stops on board for Banaue and going back to Manila for P5 each	10
14.	Lunch while at Hapao Trip with extra rice	80
	TOTAL	3,590

Tour Guide Contact Number

JOENEL DUMAR Mobile Number: +6399973467275

Facebook Account: https://www.facebook.com/laprise.dumar

HOW TO GO THERE

Although there are some tour packages for Batad, this one will be in case if you are in DIY

Board an Ohayami Bus Liner from its Sampaloc terminal on its last trip at 11:00 P.M. for 355 kilometers or 7 – 8 hours travel just timely to reach Banaue at 6:00 or 7:00 A.M. for P450 one-way trip fare.

From Banaue, look for the jeepney terminal of Batad. If you are in a group, you can charter the trip but the fare per person is P150 for one-way which will take you an hour travel. You need to walk from the jump-off point. Better to get before hand a tour guide, so he can arrange for your transportation and accommodation.

OTHER TOUR OPTIONS

If you are in Batad, don't settle just with it. There are other options where you can enjoy. Take the Banaue-Bontoc-Sagada-Benguet package tour. From Sagada, you can take a Baguio trip. Enjoying all these tourist destinations can be in a minimum of 8 days.