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Published: October 14th 2008
Beautiful Bantayan
Bantayan Island is simply beautiful and relaxing. It's located in a very small community of Sta. Fe with laid back atmosphere and nice stretch of beach to enjoy.11:00PM 09/18/2008
Leaving the Office
I left the office on the night of Sep19 and hailed a cab going home. Fortunately, i got an MGE taxi and while the driver was driving me home, he asked if I was in a hurry. I told him "a bit", and mentioned that I have a flight at 4am going to Cebu with my girlfriend. He asked me if I want to be picked up, I said "Yes", please pick us up between 1:00 and 1:30am.
I stepped in our condo and saw that my girlfriend was still sleeping. She was a bit frustrated that I wasn't able to join her for dinner together with her previous officemates at JGS because I was so busy with work. She was having a bad headache so I let her sleep while I pack all our stuffs in 2 backpacks.
1:30AM
Leaving Dreamcatcher behind
We left the condo(aka Dreamcatcher) and went straight to NAIA3. Our fllight was with Cebu Pacific (budget airline) at 4:15am. We got two roundtrip tickets for only 4,500 ($100) which I booked 2 months in advace while they still had the 0 fare promo. We also had to pay 200Php each for terminal
Cebu Pacific Air
Cebu Pacific has the youngest fleet in the Philippines and in Asia! With the historical retirement of our last DC9 last July 26, 2006, Cebu Pacific now operates a 100% brand new Airbus fleet with 18 Airbus (10 A319 and 8 A320) and 2 ATR 72-500 aircraft. Check out www.cebupacificair.com fee.
3:30AM
Cebu Pacific NAIA3
We started boarding the plane and at exactly 4:15am we were burning the runway. We reached Cebu at 5:30am crossed the street and got a cab. This is my first time in Cebu, but not for my sassy girlfriend. My first cab experience in Cebu didnt go out as expected. The driver wanted us to pay 250 PhP (almost $5) but we told him that he should just run the meter. And so we argued inside and guess who won? Ofcourse, my girlfriend. The driver brought us to Cebu North Bus Terminal and we payed him 120 Php (almost $3) - half the price.
6:00AM
Finally reaching Cebu North Bus Terminal
We were lucky to catch the airconditioned bus going to Hagnaya Pier. We payed 130Php each (roughly $3) and reached north after 2.5 hours. At 9am, we bought 2 ferry tickets (50 PhP or less than $1 each) going to Sta.Fe port. And so our sea travel began at 9:30am reaching Bantayan Island after an hour or so. We didn't have any room reservation in any resort. We ended up checking in to Marlin's resort for one day. And planned to stay in Kota
Ceres Bus Liner
Take an air conditioned bus from Cebu North Bus Terminal going to Hagnaya Pier. This is a two and half to 4 hour trip (depending on the traffic) so it's best to have air conditioning rather than what they commonly have which is non AC. Fare is 130Php each or $3 each one way. Beach Resort on our second day. And this is where the fun starts:
12NN
Marlin's Beach Resort, Marlin's Beach Bar,
We were supposed to check in to Kota Beach Resort but their credit card machine is not working. Marlin's is the only resort that accepts credit card payments so there we stayed. By 12nn we already checked in and headed to the beach bar to order our lunch. We ordered chicken curry, spicy shrimp and rice as recommended by their staff. A cold coke and mango shake soothed our thirst. I didn't like their food but I discovered something funny. "Fish sauce DOES NOT EXIST in Bantayan". Lunch was about 600Php or $15 good for 2 - definitely not worth it. After eating lunch, we went back to our room and slept until 6pm.
6:00PM
D' Jungle Eat All You Can Restaurant
We woke up hungry again, that made us look for the famouse D' Jungle Eat All You Can Restaurant. We were greeted by Robert - the owner, and had a little chit chat with him before hitting the buffet. Food was plenty and tasty. I had my time with the crispy pata and bicol express - 2 thumbs
LCT Island 1
This is the ship that ferried us from Hagnaya Pier to the port of Sta Fe. The ride was smooth compared to our ride back home. Fare is 50Php each which is almost a dollar and a dime. up!!! For only 240Php or $5, it's definitelt worth every penny. Before heading back to the resort, I dropped by the Portugese resto since it was just accross the street. I saw an ad of a boat for rent for only 700Php courtesy of Yooneek beach resort. Thinking of going to Virgin Island the next day, I asked if they knew the rates. Sadly they did not. However, they invited me to eat there tomorrow since they will serve buffet and promised to give me a discount.
9:00PM
Sharing the night together
We went back to the resort and since we were not yet sleepy, we stayed at the beach front of Marlin's drinking beer and juice. It was a dark cloudy night as we saw thunder and lightning across the horizon. I wasn't so sure that time if there was a storm coming or it already left. I just hoped that tomorrow will be a nice sunny day. We stayed there for a while sitting on reclining beach chairs, enjoying the night...enjoying each other's company.
7:00AM 09/20/2008
Waking Up Early
I forgot what time we went to bed last night. We agreed on waking up early so we can
Marlin
AC Room Rate: 1300Php. No cable TV. Food is expensive and not very good. Accepts credit card. eat breakfast and transfer to Kota Beach Resort then head off to Virgin Island. While waiting for our food (cornedbeefsilog and dangitsilog) we had a photo opportunity so I hurriedly went back to the room and grabbed nikkie (Nikon D40X). I remembered our photo op in Potipot Island and took some similar shots. After a number of clicks, the food arrived. Food is still not that good, or not as we expected it to be. For the price of 400Php or $9 it's not worth it.
10:00AM
Kota Beach Resort
This is the place to be. Cottage#1 (Beachfront) Kota Beach Resort. If you are planning to go to Bantayan Island, you shouldn't be in any other place but this. Cottage#1 (Beachfront) Kota Beach Resort. This is the closest that you can get on a beach. See pictures attached. The original price was 1700Php or $40 but we haggled and lowered it down to 1300 Php or $30. By the way, our airconditioned room in Marlin's was also pegged at 1300Php but it was in no way at par with our Nipa house in Kota. The caretaker, we just called him "Manong" was so kind and accomodating. He asked us what
D' Jungle
Two thumbs up!!! They are famous for eat all you can in Bantayan. Food is superb and service is excellent. I recommend Crispy Pata, Bicol Express and all kinds of barbecue. Owner is warm and hospitable. we want and told us that he will drive us to the pier tomorrow when we leave. I told him we want to go Virgin Island (a small offshoot island southeast of Bantayan). He briefed us on how to get there and told us to buy fresh meat and fish at the local wetmarket so we can have it barbecued on the island. He also offered us a boat for a cheaper price. It was 800Php in Yooneek so he gave it to us for only 700 Php or $17 including snorkling goggles. Great Deal!
11:00AM
Virgin Island, South of Bantayan Island
After buying fresh fish (90Php or $2),pork liempo (180Php or $4) and rice (40 Php or $1) from the local wetmarket, "Paquito" our assistant that "Manong" lent me, carried all our swimming stuffs to the boat and in no time were we hitting the waves. Before arriving at Virgin Island, i took a nice sweet pic of my girl on our banca. As soon as we got there, Paquito started the barbecue while I and Mayee started swimming and taking more pictures. It's a bit wavy. I am not sure if it's always like this or is it
Sharing the night together
At the beachfront of Marlin's where the breeze was cold and so was the beer. Just enjoying the night in each other's arms. just this time of the year. For sure, I don't like big waves. It's not that big, I was just expecting that it was calm like the waves in Potipot. Nevertheless, we enjoyed swimming together and a little later Paquito was done barbecueing. It was a hefty meal, probably one of the best meals I had for some time now. We ate with bare hands and boy did we enjoy this less that $10 feast! It's nice to be alone on an island like this. I think this is already a private property because we had to pay (150Php or $3) to use the island. There are more people here that in Bantayan Island itself. Weird. Maybe it's because it's off season.
2:00PM
Back to Kota
After swimming at Virgin Island, we went back to Kota earlier than planned because the skies were turning grey. The waves are also starting to get bigger. We didn't want to be caught in the middle of the sea when a storm arrives. When we arrived, back to our cottage, i paid the boat and gave Paquito a tip - 100+Php or $3. We realized we were tired then so we dozzed off for
Waiting for breakfast
Relaxing vacation. While we wait for our breakfast, we took the opportunity to snap some shots off nikkie. a while.
6:00PM Portugese Restaurant Eat All You Can
We must be enjoying this new hobby. Looking for restaurants serving All You Can Eat. For 400Php or $8 they offer a lot of food choices. I think my girlfriend enjoyed eating here as she literall pounded on so many clams, oysters and sea food. I dont think the food here is Portugese by taste, they are more Filipino than Portugese. Maybe the owner is Portugese? Hehehe.
10:00PM By the Porch
After eating dinner, we bought beer at a store and brought it to our house in Kota. Opening my portable, we played music while drinking beer and enjoying the night. The mood was sweet as we were alone in front of the beach, listening to good music, sharing stories, having fun, and simply... enjoying each other's company.
11:00AM 09/21/08
Leaving Bantayan
We ate at a local canteen by the market before leaving Kota. After 30mins, Manong drove us off to the pier. Super Shuttle was giving free ride from Sta.Fe port back to Hagnaya port at the mainland of Cebu. It was a big ferry so we felt safe. We were thinking that there is a trade off why they
Kota Beach Resort
This is the place to stay. Cottage#1 Beachfront Kota Beach Resort. If you are planning to go to Bantayan, book this! give free trips to passengers. Maybe yes, maybe no. It was an hour trip to cross the channel and just after 20mins, we started hitting big waves. This was so scary that my girlfriend was shivering beside me. The big waves were just hitting the sides of the boat causing the ferry to tilt every 10seconds. We were so afraid thinking we might drown and die. I grabbed her hand and we prayed. The sea was calm 2 days ago when we crossed the same channel. There was no rain now but it was windy. After a gruelling 1.5 hours, we finally arrived at Hagnaya pier. People were just in a hurry to leave the ferry. Some were even throwing up during and after the experience. Going down the stairs and about to get off, we saw an oil trailer getting off the same ferry we rode. Shoot! If that went off, we would have been barbecued before drowning.
4:00PM
Magellan's Cross, Cebu City
We arrived at Cebu after 3 hours on a non airconditioned bus. I insisted on visiting Magellan's cross before dusk breaks loose. We hailed a cab and wasted no time. Finally I saw the cross, that's
Shores of Bantayan
The long stretch of powdery white sand makes this beach somewhat close to Boracay. Water is not calm as we expected or maybe it has got to do with the weather? it. But Mayee suggested we also go to Fort San Pedro since it was just on the other block. When we arrived at the gate, we payed their entrance fee and then the rain fell. So much with paying $1 each. I took some pictures then told her that I'm hungry. We went back to SM Cebu and ate at Oh Grille!
9:00
Flight back to Manila
We were at Mactan International Airport come 7:30pm. We wanted to stay a little longer but my leave was only for one day and that was last Friday. The flight was smooth and by 10:30pm, we were back in Manila.
11:30PM
Home Sweet Home
At last, we were safe home. We were still a bit shaky everytime we remember our rough sea experience. But at least we can add to our vows, "in rough and calm seas" :P
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jb
non-member comment
thanks
thanks for the very informative writeup! very helpful :)