Oboi Laboy goes to Baler for the Surf & Music Festival 2011!
Friday, October 28, 2011
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Adieu Puraran
It’s our last day in Puraran. I was awake as early as four thirty. Sunrise was still obscured by the clouds. Today was more cloudy that yesterday. I’ve been disconnected from the rest of the world unmindful that Typhoon Quiel was battering Northern Luzon.
Under the Sea in Puraran
Puraran is not just all about surfing. Another good activity to do here is snorkeling. The perfect time to snorkel in Puraran is during low tide. One can spend hours marveling at the beautiful creatures underwater.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Day 2 in Puraran Beach
Woke up at 5 a.m. the follow day hoping to catch the sunrise. But clouds were covering much of the horizon. I was a wee bit disappointed because of that. I lingered on the beach hoping the clouds would clear up.
As I patiently wait by the beach I noticed a number of locals are starting to gather at the beach not far from where I am. A fishing boat soon came on shore and offloaded some fresh catch of the day. The locals were there to buy some of their catch.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Day 1 in Puraran Beach
The other passenger that rode with us in the tricycle from Baras town owns Putting Baybay Beach Resort. His wife manages the resort and she’s very nice and accommodating to us. We pitched our tent near one of the beach side shed that they own. She only charged us P50.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Low Tide at Puraran Beach
This is Puraran beach during low tide. No waves just still waters reflecting the beauty of the Puraran. It's also best time to explore Tibo Rock - the rock outcrop in front of the beach.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Top Loading to Baras
There are two ways to get to Puraran in Baras town via public transport from Virac. One may take a bus going to Gigmoto and get off at the junction going down to Puraran Beach or take a Baras bound jeepney and take a tricycle from Baras to Puraran. Jeepneys and buses bound for Baras are located along the boulevard near the Port of Virac.
Bus, Jeepney & Van Terminal in Virac
There isn’t much option for my cousin and me since we missed the last trip going to Gigmoto that day. It leaves around 11 a.m. everyday.
Monday, October 17, 2011
P35 Lunch in Virac
When I do backpacking everything is on a budget. I was glad to find this eatery right across the jeepney terminal in Virac, Catanduanes.
Fried Galunggong (Mackerel Scad) + rice + soup + bagoong (fermented shrimp/fish paste) for lunch.
There are three kinds of bagoong to choose from!
Sunday, October 16, 2011
To Catanduanes and beyond
After putting off the trip to Catanduanes for several times I finally decided to make it happen on September 28. Getting to Araneta Center was a breeze since traffic was light from Parañaque all the way to Quezon City. Upon arriving at the bus terminal in Cubao I headed straight to the ticket booth of RSL Transport.
I was hoping to catch one of the regular buses (non-aircon) of RSL bound for Virac, Catanduanes. At the ticket booth I was told that the last regular bus of the day has already departed. Had no choice but to take the aircon bus that will depart at 6 p.m. Regular bus would only cost me P560 but since I had to take the aircon bus I had to shell out P825. The bus will arrive at the terminal at 7 p.m. due to the number coding scheme.
Having plenty of time to kill, I went to National Bookstore in Ali Mall to buy an EZ Map of Camarines Norte and replenished some meds at Watsons.
Came 7 p.m. and I was boarding the bus bound for Virac. Twenty something minutes later we left Araneta Center to pick up the rest of the passengers waiting at the other terminal of RSL along ESDA also in Cubao.
Traffic was moderate until Magallanes and travel was a breeze from there on.
The bus made stops in Calamba, Laguna and in Tiaong and Calauag in Quezon Province.
Stopover in Calauag, Quezon Province
At 5:30 a.m. we were at the Port of Tabaco, Albay. The clear early morning sky greeted us as we got off the bus. I boarded M/V Calixta 5 after paying for the ticket and terminal fee. The ferry will take us to San Andres, Catanduanes.
At the deck of M/V Calixta 5 the picturesque Mayon Volcano looms over Tabaco City. I’m in luck. Mayon is without any clouds hiding her beauty.
A perfect backdrop - Mayon Volcano
Kids diving after the coins thrown by passengers
Past 7 a.m. the ferry departed the Port of Tabaco. The sea was calm and the sky was sunny. I was expecting the weather to be gloomy since tropical typhoon Quiel is approaching Luzon.
A ferry heading to Tabaco City
Two and a half hours later we disembarked M/V Calixta 5 at the Port of San Andres. We boarded the bus and twenty minutes later we were in Virac, Catanduanes. I took my backpack and got down the bus. Can’t wait to see the famed Majestics of Puraran, Baras.
The coastline of San Andres, Catanduanes
Disembarking M/V Calixta 5
Port of San Andres
Bicol = Mayon Volcano
Ask anybody what do they know about Bicol and the first thing they'll think of is Mayon Volcano. :)
Friday, October 14, 2011
Project Bicol: Catanduanes, Caramoan, Camsur Watersport Complex and Calaguas
This is the map of my seven day journey in Bicolandia. By far, this is the ultimate backpacking trip I ever did. I hope this is not the last of it. In that seven days I crisscrossed the provinces of Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur and Catanduanes.
10 hours on the bus, 4 hours jeepney ride, 2.5 hours on board the ferry, 8.5 hours aboard 4 different pumpboats, 1 hour of tricyle and motorcycle ride, 9.5 hours spent mostly sleeping on board the Bicol Express train from Naga City to Metro Manila and a total of 3 hours of trekking the hills from Caboon to Mahabang Buhangin in Tinaga Island in Calaguas Group of Islands, Vinzons, Camarines Norte.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
The (Re)Birth
I had an epiphany to get back to blogging while en route to the town of Paracale in Camarines Norte. The boat was in the midst of the sea with rain pouring hard when I had that realization. I felt the urge that I should be sharing once again my adventures and misadventures.
October 05, 2011 at 9:40am became the moment of oboi laboy's inception.
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