Backpacking in Bicol: Budget to Donsol

For those who are planning to go to Donsol soon, here's a rough estimate of expenses:

TRANSPORTATION

Manila - Naga/Legaspi - P600-P800 (one way via bus)
Legaspi - Donsol - P60 (one-way van)
Donsol tricycle
to tourism office P30 (per trip)

TOTAL TRANSPORTATION: P1400-1700 round trip

FOOD (breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Budget Meals P100 per day
Medium Level meals P200 per day
Hotel Meals P350 per day

TOTAL FOOD - P 200-P700 for two days (overnight in Donsol)

ACCOMMODATION

Room 1 Double Bed P500-P1000
Room 2 Double Beds P1000-P1500

TOTAL ACCOMMODATION - P1000 (P250 per person) for one day

WHALE SHARK

Boat (7 Persons) P3500 (P500 per person at least)
Registration P100 (local)
P300 (foreigner)

Snorkel P150
Fins P150

Total: P900 (boat, registration, snorkel, fins) per trip

FIREFLIES

Boat (5 persons) P1250.00


Total: P250



ALL EXPENSES:

Transportation - P1400 P1700
Food: - P200 P350
Accommodation - P500 P1500
Whale Shark - P900
Fireflies* - P250


TOTAL BUDGET - at least P3000 (without fireflies)

*add some spare cash just in case you have to add money for paying the extra at the boat (sometimes, 7 people per boat is not filled so you have to pay extra)

BEST BET - P3500-P4000

c'mon! Let's Donsol na!

Backpacking in Bicol: Donsol

May 18, 2008 - After a quick lunch at the Legazpi Bus Terminal, we rode a van to Donsol for roughly 1 and a half hours. We got there by 2 in the afternoon. Donsol is, by far, the farthest I’ve gone in South Luzon.

I am really happy on how tourist-friendly the town of Donsol is. Most of the food remains to be close to the prices in Manila, sometimes a lot cheaper (particularly in their seafood). Tricycles don’t trick tourist by charging higher than the normal fare. Even the tourism office are friendly to tourist (duh, it's their job.LOL).They helped us find accommodation and people who would join in our whale shark boat.

Anyway, we headed down to the Donsol Butanding Information Office to get a boat for the whale shark watching, but we were told to wait the next day since the sea was too rough. We instead went directly to our place, Amor Farm Beach Resort. It was a nice resort since we are the only one of two guests in that place (our group and a group of 5 brits). The feeling of being pampered and having the beach all by yourself is worth it.It was also quite affordable.

After a quick nap, we headed to Ogud River to see some fireflies. For P1250 a boat, you’ll get a two hour river cruise. It was relatively inexpensive since we were able to share it with a group of 3 Lolas (“Gorgeous Lolas” from now on) bringing the cost to P200. The night was illuminated because of the full moon and it was rather early at night (around 7PM), so the fireflies were not visible from the boat. You have to go near a tree and shake it. I was not disappointed though, since the cruise was relaxing.

We woke up early next day for our whale shark watching. By 6:30AM we were already at the tourism office, we were again joined by the Gorgeous Lolas (Tita Coney, Tita Helen and Tita Cely) and aBritish backpacker, Nathan, whom my tita picked up from the town center that morning.

We waited for almost four hours before we had our first sighting. Imagine, 6-7 boats swirling around Donsol sea without any sighting.

So while waiting, I spent time talking to Nathan, the british backpacker. He inspired me to do backpacking trips around the world. He’s only 25 but he has been in more than 70 countries. That’s a feat! He started his first backpacking trip at the age of 18 to Egypt and since then he has been to Africa, North and South America and Asia. He just went to Donsol from Thailand and will go to India in a week’s time. Man, if I have money for trips like that, I’ll be more than delighted. He works for construction and earns US$3000 per month then takes months off to continue backpacking around the world. Well, I promised myself, I’ll try backpacking around the world, but first I need to save money. But where will I get the money? I have to get a job, but I’m still in school. Waaah. Anyway, promise, I’ll do that. For now, backpacking around the Philippines is a great option (and relatively cheaper).

OK, after four hours of waiting, our butanding guide finally spotted one So we were alerted by our guide for a dive. We were divided into two groups, one group will stay at the boat, then the other one goes to the water. Then, when a butanding goes again, they’ll be the ones who will be allowed to dive.

I went on the first dive. I managed to get a peek of the whale shark, roughly 1-2 seconds before it dived down. The sea was rough and because of excitement, I wasn’t able to follow to it further, but hey 1-2 seconds of whale shark interaction was well deserved. As I got back to the boat, there was a second sighting of a whale shark. The second group was lucky since they were able to see the whale shark for a longer period time. It was disappointing not going down the water the second time around and be able to see it longer. If only I have broken the rules, I would have seen it again. Why did I follow the rules?!?! Anyway, no regrets. It was still worth it.

Hahaha, as we went back to the pier, I left a little souvenir of Tapsilog (my breakfast) to the whale sharks (in short, I was seasick). Remember not to take heavy breakfast before going on rough sea unless you want to cut your trip short.

After the butanding interaction, we headed back to the resort to change and have lunch. By 2PM, we already checked out of the resort then took a trike to the town center. Let me just say that it was not the best time to get back to Legaspi since all vans were out because of the Donsol town fiesta. So we were forced to ride a jeep to Daraga, Albay (next town of Legaspi). Beeing adventurous and the seemingly big crowd wanting to get out of Donsol, I was forced to ride at the top of a jeep. Honestly, it was scary sitting only a small area while the jeep kept on speeding up especially on those sharp turn. I think that made my skin bad since I was under the sun for 2 hours.

In the end, Donsol remains to be an image of rural Philippines. Apart from occasional sightings of foreigners, you can see that tourism hasn’t change the town much like overcommercialized Boracay and Puerto Galera. It remains to be a small town still filled with ricefields, trees and relatively quiet resorts. That’s the reason I think why the whale sharks visit Donsol every year.

Well, as for the whale sharks, I promised them (?) that I’ll go back to Donsol soon (April) . Hopefully by then, I’ll see more of them and on a longer time. Now, I need to practice to swim.

Update this soon

I will update this blog soon...

Sarah made my day

haha.

I saw Sarah Geronimo yesterday!!!!!!!!!!!! Waaah! I'm a secret fan of Sarah Geronimo, haha. She graduated along with my sister yesterday and Sarah was seating two pews away from my sister. COOL! haha. she has a picture nga with Sarah on the background... haha.

Even when I'm in Angelicum, alam ko na na nandun si Sarah, but never saw her. And I was glad when I heard that she's graduating with my sister. haha. She sang our school hymn pa. haha.

wala lang. starstruck. nakakainis lang, ang daming tao dun which made the grad ceremony magulo.

pero still, sarah made my day (and the dinner buffet after, haha)

Watsons beauty kit fit for a queen. (my article from Business Mirror)

Haha. So OK, I have one week left prior to the end of my internship. And so far, things are going great. I will surely miss working with FH. Even riding the MRT too. But, I'll make the best out of my 1 week left.

Anyway, here's one of the articles that I wrote for them. It was published in Business Mirror last Wednesday. Then this article again was also published in Manila Standard Today. :)
Yee! haha. (I know, mayabang)

Of school and other ek-ek (posted 042107)

I'm glad that I was able to maintain my standing. Promise, I thought I'm gonna be punished for being so lax last semester. But at least, some of my hard work paid off. haha.COM-RES is finally over! and by the way, I got my first 1.0!!! I mean, it's not really a big deal for some, but for me, I'm glad that I got one finally. haha. I'm too GC.

Anyway, with my internship and all. I'm practically. eat.travel.work.travel.eat.sleep.

That's about it basically, so I'm finding excuses just to have relax. Last week, I practically spent school days with my college friends eating and walking around SM. Boring pero I need them. I also want to go to Quiapo and hoard DVDs. Heroes, Prison Break and OTH seasons will be over, so I should get their DVDs na.

Anyway, I finally got a DVD copy of EMPIRE of the SUN! It's original, not that expensive. Pero, I'm glad that I got one!

***
Avril has a new CD, I haven't checked the stores yet. But I'll get one, for sure. Once I have my credit card bill cleaned (which is actually impossible, haha)

**
Ang corny ng ending ng Sana Maulit Muli - wala lang. I got a glimpse of the ending yesterday. Ang corny. May plug pa ng jolibee. haha.

**
I'm actually learning Italian thanks to Learn How To Speak Italian Podcast. While in the MRT or walking etc. I know how to count to 100 in italian. uno, due, tre...

**
I'm also reading Chronicles of Narnia. I'm done with the first book. (sorry, slow)

**
I actually miss traveling abroad during summer. After graduation nalang.

Internship Update (posted 042107)

take back what I said about riding the MRT, it's HELL to ride the MRT every rush hour.

I'm almost two weeks in my internship andMore than half of the required hours needed in the course.

So how's work, you ask?

One word. STRENUOUS. Work load it's pretty much on the right terms. Work is actually what I've expected it to be. I'm normally in office from 8AM to 7PM everyday. Tasks are mostly on writing press releases, so far I did two and news monitoring. Their were some activities that involved going outside which I also enjoy. (sorry, medyo confidential yun iba)

Anyway, I enjoy working at Fleishman-Hillard. They really treat their interns well. We have nice bosses and practically a well-kept office. Food is overflowing plus we get to choose what food to pruchase. I enjoy the food, yun palang OK na.

They really offer challenging work which I really enjoy. So far, everything's OK.

The only think I don't like about this summer's internship is the travel to makati. I know, many of my friends express this sentiment. (check Vic's blog - http://www.bikoy.net) Travel time is 2 hours. I hate riding the MRT with lines that will take you 30 minutes just to move on the lines. Blessing ang STORED VALUE card. which actually cuts the time! Promise, for those who haven't one, GET ONE!

Basta, I'm considering taking the bus from Paseo to SM north, but it's not good naman. So, I'm pretty much stuck on the MRT for two weeks.

Haunting

Last Saturday night, we were having our Ambassadors' Night (one of AIESEC's event) at a place in Marina Bay Homes in Paranaque. (It's near Manila Bay).

We were having our socials event at a lot at the back of a vacant house. Before that night, we went to the place with one of the homeowners' association member of the village and she told us that the place has been vacant for months and the owners rarely visit the place. That's why we were allowed to have our party at the back of the house assuming that there's no one there.

So, there we were, having fun and having our usual AIESEC socials activities. Then some of the people noticed that the lights went on at the house's second floor. No one reacted since most of the people didn't know that the house was vacant. For us, we assumed that someone was there.

Then, we saw a shadow of a man walking left to right from the window. Then we heard the windows banging as if someone was so angrily moving them to and fro. And when I say bang, Bang talaga!

Then after, we all heard a loud scream saying GET OUT!. and it's so loud that everyone was startled. Then, the daughter of the homeowner assoc member screamed and told everyone to leave the place.

As in it was really really spooky.

Later that night, eva, daniel and I went to that house and we saw that it was bare with no furnitures what so ever.

The next morning, we talked again to the homeowner officer and she verified that there was no one at that house that night.

Chilly.

It was my first haunting experience ever.

Superpowers

iba na ang atmosphere sa school ngayon, elections na kasi. yup, pati sa UP, elections mode na rin. sa BA puno ng colorful pictures, iba talaga pag may funds. sa cmc, puro red at yellow naman. in fairness, di nalang isang party ngayon ang nasa CMC, dalawa na sila. dati parang yes or no votes lang at least ngayon pipili ka na talaga.

Pero ang dilemma, mahirap pumili. grabe, marami ako dun friends at marami din akong di kilala. haha. nga pala, dahil MCO ang hahawak ng meeting de avance, medyo dapat non-partisan ako. rule daw yun. kaya parang, yun mga orgmates ko di ko rin maikampanya, kasi nga dapat non-partisan. hirap kaya nun. bawal yun mga colored pins na corny na dinidikit pero natatanggal din. last year, puno yun bag ko ng mga kung ano-anong stickers. pero di ko naman sila binoto. haha. for design lang.

inisip ko tuloy kung tumakbo ba ako last year, ano na kaya nangyari sa akin? haha. baka tumatakbo na ako for chairperson ng CMC-SC ngayon or something. pero ayoko naman nun.

tapos ka-YM ko si wivi kanina, pinaguusapan namin kung paano kami magiiwan ng legacy sa UP

DISCLAIMER: Purely fictional lang po ito, haha. wag niyo gamitin evidence if ever na meron ngang mangyaring ganto.

Wivi: i have just one year left in UP....i have to leave a legacy!
Wivi: like i did angelicum
Jeck: maybe, someone will be shot sa council niyo
Jeck: or something
Wivi: if that happens it would be my doing

Grabe, tama bang i suggest ko yun? haha. It gets worse.

Jeck: only up student who snipered a council member
Wivi: now that's something!
Wivi: you gave me a great idea
Wivi: i'll leave my legacy in up years after i left it
Jeck: maybe you can
Wivi: death to UP!
Wivi: Wivi, a UP alumnus, caused the most embarassing demise of the University of the Philippines!

haha. so much for our love of our alma mater. oo na, evil na kami.

Grabe, i miss hanging with that guy. Iba pa rin talaga pag sa angelicum galing.

Speaking of angelicum, nakita ko si Paula Geron last thursday. Ang weird nga eh, yun hs friend ng college friend ko ay friend din ni paula.

Kim: Jerick, punta ka dito sa chocokiss, nandito classmate mo, section elizabeth
Jerick: Sino?
Kim: basta pumunta ka nalang...
Jerick: (calls Kim tapos sinagot ni pauie)
Pauie on phone: Jerick, di mo ako nakikilala, long lost friend mo ako?
Jerick: (clueless)

Pero, grabe na miss ko talaga si pauie and most of my hs friends. Grabe, nagusap kami the whole night. Na-OP nga namin yun mga barkada ni kim... Iba talaga pag taga-ange. Tapos naalala ko tuloy yun "past" ko. haha. aaaw. moving forward.

Ilang buwan nalang, tapos na ang second semester. Salamat naman.

Tapos internship na namin!

Mabuti naman ang paghahanap ng internship place. Medyo may dalawa ng nagreply. Dun sa isang diyaryo, medyo ok na, contract signing nalang. Tapos yun isang PR firm naman, may interview pa ako. Tapos dun sa mga iba kong pinasahan ko, medyo hinihintay ko na lang tumawag. Sigur, tawagan ko na sila. haha. sometime.

Pero, di muna ako tatatanggap unless sure na ako gusto ko dun.

Grabe, ang updated ko na sa heroes. thanks to mia and steph, napapanood ko na ang latest heroes episodes. So far, episode 16 na ako. hopefully mapapanood ko na siya. Grabe, dahil dun gusto ko ng magka-super powers.

shut up and listen

Keeping the mouth shut and listening are the best things for everyone to do now.