Summer 2008: part 1

I started the Summer of this year by heading off to an Island known for it’s white sands, crystal blue waters and fresh seafoods – Bantayan Island. The Bantayan Island, as far as I’ve known is the only island (aside from Boracay) celebrates the holy week partying on the beach front. It is also known for having been allowed by the Vatican for its people to eat meat during the lenten season. A brief history of the Island is etched somewhere in their centuries-old church. Well, the trip was dated March 1-3 and everyone had a great time.

A little less than 2 weeks later, we were headed off to a beach on the southwestern side of Cebu – Moalboal. Although the sand is not as fine as the one from Bantayan but the weekend was still great.

And then just recently, I went to Pilar, Camotes Island. Well, this trip was entirely different from all other trips because we had to endure a really long but otherwise enjoyable trip. On a Saturday morning, I had to go home early to pack my things up but due to a colleague’s convincing power I had to accompany him to a early beer drinking session. This was 6am. By 830am a few of my colleagues joined the session. They had to keep pouring beer into my glass just convince me not to leave for the Camotes Island weekend but in the end I was the winner. The first batch of my friends had to go on without me because I’m already late. I had to be on the next trip to Ormoc, Leyte. Although, I’m already tipsy I still managed to pack my stuff and headed to the Pier. I was just in time for the boarding. I had to endure 2 and a half hours on a fast craft going to Ormoc, Leyte. It was almost 6pm when we docked at Ormoc City. Our friends were already waiting at a local department store. This was our first in Ormoc, Leyte. Though the city was small we still have to ask a couple of people for directions to the department store. A few minutes of traversing the city’s narrow streets, we finally found to the store. We few minutes later, we’ve found ourselves making a scene on a grocery aisle. Hugs and Kisses, as if we haven’t seen each other for a long time. It was almost 7pm when we were on a van going to another town in order for us to board our chartered pump boat. We had to settle ourselves on a narrow seat and made ourselves comfortable while we were on our way to the neighboring island – Pilar, Camotes Island. The boat ride took us through a starry night with calm waters. It took us more than an hour to reach the island. It was already 9pm, we’re all hungry from the long trip. We ate three roasted chicken brought all the way from Ormoc, Leyte. Finally, we called it a night.

We started the next day (Sunday) as early as 530am. We changed into our swimming outfits and we’re all ready for the beach! We took our hearty breakfast by 630am and by 7am we’re on the waters. We’re all in the waters with the sun high up. Well, I couldn’t believe that although I brought Sun Block Lotion with SPF 70, I was careless enough not to put it on. We soaked ourselves until the sun was mid sky. We were about more than a kilometer away from the shoreline and though the water’s really deep, we can still see the sea-floor and it’s amazing coral. Too bad we don’t have any underwater camera. We swam back to shore by 11:30am. Sunburn. We had such a great time though. The lunch was great too. Kinilaw from the newly-caught fish by the local was amazing. We settled into a tree house overlooking the sea. We even had a great time on the videoke. It was almost 5pm when we decided to swim back but this time it’s on another beach. We had to walk for 15minutes before we reached the beach. We were on a camwhoring mode so we took a lot of pictures. It was sunset when we finally went back to the resort. The Sunset was awesome. We took another dive and this time it was high tide and the waves are getting bigger by the minute. We had to change wash up and prepare for dinner. Dinner was at 7pm and as expected it was a delicious. The night wasn’t complete without alcohol. We settled back to the rooms by 12midnight. We woke up 530am and we’re all set to head back to mainland cebu. By 730am we’re full from another round of breakfast. It was already 8am when we settled into a very small pump boat headed off to a nearby, Poro Island. It was a 45 minute boat ride through the deep waters beetween Pilar and Poro Islands. We docked at Puerto Bello Port and headed off the Poro – the town proper. At the Port of Poro, we had to wait for an hour before boarding a very light ship. It was nearly 11:15am when finally we left the Island. Along the way to mainland Cebu, we were greeted by Dolphins. It took us nearly three and a half hours before we docked in Ouano Wharf, Mandaue City. The weekend was great. Nevermind the Sunburn. Life is amazing.