Apo Reef is a one of the most important centers of marine biodiversity. It is the world’s second largest contiguous coral reef system (“contiguous”: adjacent or touching; having a common boundary; adjoining; connected without a break - not to be confused with the second largest coral reefs which is the Belize Barrier reef in Mexico). Listed as a UNESCO world heritage site, it is located in the Mindoro strait of the Philippines and is a top destination for divers throughout the world. When I was working for an environmental organization in my earlier years (Haribon Foundation), Sablayan in Occidental Mindoro was one of the foundation’s project sites and I would hear how beautiful Apo Reef was from our marine biologists. It is the crown jewel of our sea and a source of pride on how amazing our country is. Getting here, was definitely a part of my bucket list. The road to Apo reef is not an easy one if you are coming from Manila. Nor is the logistics and accommodation, also an easy one. Being a protected area (and it should stay that way), it will only attract the type of traveler whose interest and priority is in nature and adventure, over their need for comfort. To give you an idea, here is the route and travel time to and from, as well as key logistics information to Apo reef. Manila to Batangas Pier: Bus (2.5 hrs) Batangas Pier to Abra de Ilog: Roro (2.5 to 3 hrs) Abra de Ilog to Sablayan: Van (2.5 hrs) (Alternative is to take the plane from Manila to San Jose, Occidental Mindoro and take a van to Sablayan) Sablayan to Apo Island in Apo reef: (2 hrs) To make the travel easy and enjoyable, I suggest working with a tour operator. I highly recommend Explore Occidental Mindoro (tour operator: Angelita Atienza) which we booked using the app Tripkada but you can also book directly (link to their FB page: https://www.facebook.com/Exploreoccidentalmindoro/). They will take care of all your needs from land/boat transportation, tours, accommodation and food). Things you need to know before heading to Apo Island in Apo reef:
Things to do in Apo reef:
Things to bring:
TIP: Travel outfit to Apo reef/island You will get wet at least knee deep going in and out of the boat when it docks on shore. Board shorts, or hiking shorts/pants that are quick-drying and rubber slippers or aqua shoes are the best clothes and shoes to wear. For valuables like money, cameras and electronic devices, keep them safe in waterproof bags. Enough with the travel info and let’s dive in and see pictures!!! Island PicsUnderwater Pics-End-
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Albay province is located in the Bicol Region, right in the center of the Philippine archipelago. It is famous for Mayon Volcano (the most active volcano in the Philippines) and Bicolano food (very spicy and usually cooked in coconut cream). This was our very first trip to the region and our itinerary entailed an ATV tour at the perimeter of Mayon, a visit to neighboring Donsol to spot a whaleshark and cruise the river to watch fireflies, and lastly a beach trip to Cagraray island. MAYON VOLCANO The view of Mayon volcano as the backdrop of Cagsawa church ruins is a textbook-famous landmark. You will see it printed in travel brochures and books. Daraga town, where the ruins of Cagsawa church is located, is only a short drive from Legazpi city (15-20 mins). It is a heritage site and the church ruins are a remnant from a major eruption of Mayon volcano during the 18th century as well as from Dutch pirates who burned it down back in the 16th century. Nowadays, aside from being one of the most pictured sites in the country, it is also the base of several ATV tour operators offering tours to different trails around Mayon volcano. We went with Bicol Adventure ATV as some travelers recommended and which we too, recommend. They offer a a handful of trails but we chose the Green Lava Wall tour which sounded like a scenic trail compared to the Black Lava tour. We rode through the foliage, villages, farms, rivers and hills and reached the lava bed at a high elevation where the wind was cool and the greenery was lush. During our time at the top, the summit of the volcano was a no-show. However, from what I've learned in our short stay in Albay is that in order to see the full view of Mayon, you really need a lot of patience. At times, the volcano's top is hidden among clouds but a few minute later, clouds do give way and you can see the summit peeping through. And then a few minutes later, the clouds will come back to hide it from view. So you need to look back from time to time, to check the view. I have also read about the Legend of Mayon volcano. Passed through oral tradition and now thanks to google and wiki you can read it on the internet, It is said that the mountain was a princess and the clouds was a warrior and her lover. Their love was forbidden at that time and their story was tragic. Now the clouds would descend on the mountain at a time they are together or whenever he feels jealous that too many eyes are gazing on the beauty of his princess. I think whenever you see clouds covering the mountain, you can learn to appreciate it too since it gives life to the legend. It's a nice story to believe in, in case it's too cloudy to see the summit. On our way downhill, nature obliged and gave us a small window to glimpse the volcano's summit for the very first time. The next few days we were in Albay, the weather had been better and we saw Mayon in it's full glory. BICOLANO FOOD Next thing I was really excited about Bicol, after Mayon volcano, is the food! I love to eat and I love to try local delicacies from different places. 1st Colonial Grill restaurant (Landco Pacific Mall branch) is one of the top recommended places to eat in Albay. They are famous for their Bicolano dishes and award-winning Sili (chili) ice cream. Imagine, a tutti frutti pink-hued gelato that tastes like molten pastillas and a whole lot of fire! The taste of the sili is prominent but is well-balanced with the creaminess of milk and (I'm only guessing) coconut cream and a hint of sweetness. Don't be afraid of the chili because you can choose the level of heat (level 1 -if you want a subtle heat; 2 -if you want it to have a kick; 3 - if you really like it spicy; 4- if you want a challenge). It really was so good and I'm warning you... very addictive! We did come back several times the following day and at the last minute just before our flight back to Manila, just to get our sili ice cream fix. Php89 for three scoops, Other must try best-seller are flavors: Pili nut and Tinutungan na bigas (scorched rice). I especially loved the combination of sili and pili nut ice cream together. Another dish I would like to rave about is another best-seller of theirs - Tinutungang Manok (Chicken in scorched rice). It is chicken and green saba (young plantain) slowly cooked in coconut cream and punctuated by lemongrass, ginger and of course, sili. Exotic, rich and well-balanced in flavor and ingredients, it is a one of a kind dish and a culinary masterpiece not just a Bicolano would be proud of, but a Filipino would be! We paired it with Pinangat (a savory and sharp-flavored vegetable side-dish made from layers of fresh taro leaves slowly simmered in coconut cream and topped with morsels of pork and salted shrimp) and Tinapa rice (salted and smoked fish toppings on white rice). WHALESHARKS AND FIREFLIES Just an hour and half away from Legazpi city is the town of Donsol in Sorsogon province. It is home to the biggest fish in the ocean, the Butanding (whaleshark). Starting December, the whalesharks come back to their usual spot here after the Amihan (season dominated by trade winds). They are prolific during the summer months (March to May) and start to wane by sightings in June. We were in Albay in July (the start of the Amihan) and we only took a chance going to Donsol, hoping we could see at least one whaleshark. However, we did not see any after trying to spot them for two hours at sea. We have seen whalesharks in Oslob, Cebu but we heard the ones in Donsol were bigger. They are magnificent gentle giants and hopefully next time we can come back to Donsol during the summer. For the time being, we just swam and snorkeled at the beach. Also in Donsol, is where you can watch thousands of flickering lights from fireflies at the river banks and mangrove trees. There are two places in Donsol that offer firefly watching tours, one is passing the highway near the tourism center and the other is at Ogod river. We went a little further to the one in Ogod where we heard the fireflies were more in numbers. Starting dusk, small boats take people on a river cruise for an hour. Take a powerful camera and a tripod with you to capture the fireflies at long exposure. BAYS AND BEACHES An hour's drive away from Legazpi city is Cagraray Island. It is where Misibis Bay, the finest beach resort in Albay is located. Passing mountains, gulleys and valleys, mangroves and rivers, fishing villages, farms and the sight of Mayon volcano, the drive to Misibis bay is one of the best scenic routes I have been on. Misibis bay is a private island luxury resort and a perfect hideaway to unwind from all the activities back in Legazpi city. I enjoyed our stay here. The food was exceptional and priced competitively. Our room (ocean view room) was beautiful and comfortable. The only thing not to my liking was that the swimming area at the beach is enclosed in a sea wall (I like a beach that's open and wild and with room to explore). However, they do have a separate snorkeling area called the "Marina" on a different side of the resort. The beach there is better so that's where we went to swim. Other places to explore in the island is Cagraray eco-park. It's just a short hiking distance (20 min) from the resort and has beautiful ocean and mountain views. You can walk (or take the shuttle) and enjoy the view here from the hilltop or from the church. Albay had been fun. Mayon volcano was majestic in real life. Cagraray island's scenery was gorgeous. I will forever crave sili ice cream and will now attempt to cook Tinutungan Manok at home. I hope you get to visit Albay soon and try the sili ice cream!
We arrived in the city of Chiang Mai at the start of the Loi Krathong and Yi Peng festivals. These festivals of lights are an important part of Thai and Buddhist cultures and takes place every year during the full moon of the 12th month of the lunar Buddhist calendar. The festivities last for 3 days, from November 13 to 15 of 2016 and during evenings, the city of Chiang Mai is lit with tens of thousands of lanterns floating on water and onto the sky. Colorful lanterns are hung as well in homes, temples and other important sites. To make it even brighter, an epic super moon, one that happens once in a lifetime, hung in the sky on the night of November 14. The festival is usually filled with fun activities like parades, contests, pageants, music, dancing, singing and fireworks. But that year, it took a more subdued and respectful tone, as the nation continued to mourn the recent passing of Rama IX, His Majesty The King Bhumibol Adulyadej. For three nights, waves of locals and tourists gathered outside the Old City gates and released their khom loi (lit lantern) from the bridges and beside river banks and floated their krathongs (illuminated basket offerings) at the Mae Ping river. These lanterns and baskets are adorned with silent or written prayers and wishes and this religious tradition dates back to centuries old. On November 14th, we attended a mass lantern release in Mae Jo University. Located 16 kilometers from the Old City, an estimated of more than 6,000 people converged to participate in the releasing of lanterns. There was a lot of local food, from pad thai to rice cakes, traffic jam, tour buses, and hordes of tourists and locals from different ages eagerly awaiting the highlight of the night – the release of thousands of floating lanterns all at the same time. It was a spell-binding and awe-filled moment you don’t want to miss. If you would like to catch a similar mass release but are not able to get a ticket for the event in Mae Jo, hang out at the bridges of the Mae Ping River, where a non-stop flow and ebb of people, fly their lanterns. This makes for a continuous procession of lights floating to the sky that last throughout the night. Just a tip, buy your lanterns before proceeding to the bridge. A lantern costs about 50 to 60 Baht each at the market. To get around, ride a songthaew or tuktuk but be prepared for the traffic jam. For shorter distances, you can walk or hire a bicycle. Another awe-inspiring sight to catch during the three-night fest is the ceremony of the monks at the Wat Phan Tao temple (inside the Old City; near the Three Kings Monument). A group of monks sit on a mound under the trees in front of Buddha, colorful lanterns hang on trees, flickering candles illuminate the scene and a still body of water surrounds them and paints a clear reflection of the scene. Photography enthusiasts flock the event to capture the other-worldly sight. While the festival of lights comes alive at night, be prepared to get little sleep because there are several activities that go about during the day. There’s krathong-making workshops hosted by your guest-home, inn or hotel, where you can learn to fashion your own krathong out of banana leaves and flowers, placed with small offerings and a candle. Chiang Mai has many ancient and important temples or Wat so hop on a bicycle and temple-hop. A couple of notable temples to visit are the ancient Wat Chedi Luang inside the Old City and a most sacred and main temple, the Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, situated at the mountain side outside the city. Thai cuisine is super fresh, fragrant and rich in exotic spices so go on food trips and try a bowl of Khao Soi (curry and coconut based noodle soup) and a glass of ice-cold Thai milk iced tea. You can visit the Elephants at the sanctuaries and have a meaningful day feeding, bathing and walking alongside the pachyderms. There are various companies that offer a “No-riding” interaction with the elephants. Please support these types of companies because they promote ethical and sustainable eco-tourism in Thailand. By supporting them, you provide a better quality of life and care that these noble elephants deserve. Aside from elephants, you can also visit the tigers at the Tiger Kingdom, where you can learn about tigers and meet these magnificent, albeit rather terrifying animals up-close in a safe environment. The Loi Krathong and Yi Peng festivals happen yearly so don’t forget to visit Chiang Mai in 2017 (November 3 to 5). We would recommend plotting a minimum of 4 day to a week’s trip to the city, plan and book ahead to avoid the rush, and to take Air Asia that flies to Chiang Mai from Kuala Lumpur for the best fares.
![]() Batanes is a nature-lover's top destination located at the northernmost part of the Philippines. Often compared to seaside Ireland (sans leprechauns) for its magnificent landscape and seascape views, Batanes, like a dancer, gracefully stretches its terrain of rolling hills and rugged cliffs under the skies and is enveloped by the West and East Philippine Seas. The changing seasons show two sides of her... In summer, she is warm, crisp and airy and is painted in the most vibrant blue and green one can imagine. But during winter, she is tempestuous and gray. Her dance is strong and quickens to the whipping beat of the strong winds and waves. Photos taken in Batanes Islands, Philippines (July 2016)
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AuthorI'm Anna and I will be sharing with you my Love for Three things - Fashion, Travel and Food. I hope you find this blog enjoyable as I feature Archives
October 2017
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