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Published: February 21st 2008
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Valentines is Valerie's day.
Valentines day or Val’s day for short. My wife, Valerie Navarrete and I celebrated it at White Beach, Puerto Galera. This coincided with IBM Daksh, my new company’s outing the next day. I took a leave a day earlier than the team building activity to celebrate with my wife.
We arrived at White Beach at around 2:30PM after a 2hour bus ride from Manila to the Batangas Pier and an hour ferry ride to Puerto Galera. We stayed at Mendelluke’s Suite - this has become my favorite due to its reasonable room rate and excellent location. A beachfront room, near Coco Aroma on the left side of the beach (facing the sea). The nicer beachfront resorts and more upscale restaurants are here. We had a casual dinner beside the beach, it was an experience we missed since Val’s departure for the U.S. Cool sand beneath your feet, the waves gushing, the smell of grilled pork cooking, sharing a bottle of soda by the beach is a new Valentine experience. We talked for hours, admiring the beautiful experiences we have, our frustrations and anxieties in life. We also look forward to the new challenges we are
about to face us as we plan our migrating to the U.S. Can we leave the beautiful things our beloved country can offer? Life is hard but this country with its alluring places, people and culture is so hard to depart from. But then again, the quest for new discoveries is there and its what makes life more interesting. Speaking of which, the next morning we decided to explore an uncharted terrain for us.
Tucked beneath this hard to walk paths on the left side of White Beach, are bigger resorts with beach fronts, the largest among it is Tamaraw Beach resort. The prices of the room is relatively the same - P1500 per night so compared to the White Beach area, the difference is its seclusion and variety. White Beach, though, has more restaurants and bars. You might be compelled to patronize Tamaraw Beach's resto but I checked the prices and its quite the same, I don’t know about quantity though. Food meals also range P150 - P200. I would bet the White Beach would not be that appealing during the summer season. It’s going to be a lot more crowded. Bookmark this location for this would be
the secret
secret no more... a great escape if you want to avoid the peak season crowd. Here we experienced sun basking without any disturbance. Not too many peddlers pestering us offering cheap massages or selling us pearl necklaces. No boats docking in intervals disturbing your swim, no crowd whisking dust on your sun soaked skin. We found peace in this side of Galera. I even enjoyed snorkeling. Within just a few meters from the beach, I was able to see a baby sea snake, which was not at all threatening. I also saw a dogfish and yellow and blue colored fishes swimming in schools. I’m starting to wish that I have an underwater camera. Exploration indeed widens our horizons.
At around 130 PM, we were already hungry and headed back to White Beach through the rocky trail. We came across Pizzeria Italia, also named Papera Rock Bar and Restaurant. The view here is spectacular, it gives you space away from the bustling food establishments down there. The pizza was good as well. I used to think it's best eaten with TV but pizza beside the beach is also a perfect combination.
Val wanted to have some rest from the rocky hike, so
she headed back to the room as I joined my officemates for some team building activities. We had games like egg relay, tug of war and a very extreme activity of climbing the cliff on the south side of White Beach. This was really tough and not everybody succeeded. A lot of us suffered aching foot injuries climbing the almost vertical rocky cliff barefoot. We struggled to carry our weight hanging on to dear life on old tree roots. The rewards is another uniquely isolated side of the beach, you can’t swim through this area though, tempting but dangerous due to the strong water currents and the sharp boulders beside you. I’d would rather suggest the Tamaraw side of White Beach to be experienced.
As Saturday afternoon passed by, we were ready for dinner and to try once again the Mindoro Sling (Rhum and Four Seasons juice). We all met up at Coco Aroma, the only place with live band music playing reggae and upbeat musical instrument completing the laid back soothing effect of alcohol in our already aching bodies from the tiresome climb.
The next morning, we were all for our last breakfast before heading back to
Manila. We ate at Sea diver resto just beside Pizzeria. Just 3 mins away from our room in Mendelluke's Suites. It was very convenient for us, we savored our last breathless view of the beach, we viewed boats docking on the beach imagining the excitement of the new arrivals, the chaos of bookers convincing them to get their room, we remember ourselves on our first day. We also realize that we have to go back to our normal routines of work and the uncomfortable public bus ride we would have to go through again. But still the soothing look of the aqua green water near the beach darkening towards the deeper seas, and the breeze and the sound of water is what you would want to remember. A picture, a videocamera to make a moment last forever.
Budget Breakdown:
P153.50 1- way Bus Ticket MLA to Batangas Pier
P340 Two way Ticket Father and Sons Line, highly recommended, bigger boats are more resistant to waves, so you won't get too dizzy. Slower time to leave the docks due to 200 seating capacity.
P1500 / night Mendellukes Suite
P100 -150 per meal per person
Total P6500 budget for Two
persons, 3 days and two nights at Puerto Galera
EXTREME CAUTION:
Traveling by public transportation like the bus (JAM Liner ) is indeed cheaper, the disappointing part of the travel is the bus bathroom stopovers which are really unsanitary and disgusting. Unfortunately, I don’t think they are allowed to stop at more popular locations like Shell Select Gas Stations with more decent restroom facilities. A very important tip, upon arriving on the Batangas Pier from Puerto Galera, I suggest that you reenter the Batangas Terminal by just paying the Terminal fee of P10 again. This would be the cleanest toilet facilities you could get once you ride the bus, and buy your supplies here as well. There is a Mcdonald’s Take out, Donuts, Red Ribbon, Greenwich Pizza and other more popular brands and food choices. After this you would have to bear with the foodstalls and sari-sari stores to serve your needs.
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Paul Najera
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A different side of Puerto Galera
In all my travels in the Philippines I have never to Puerto Galera yet although I have heard of it often even while I was working as a young man in Ayala, Makati, a different Makati then in years gone by. I enjoy reading your stories. Next time I come to visit I will try the Coco Aroma's Mindoro Sling in Puerto Galera. I wonder what the liquor (?) is made of. . Paul, Toronto, Canada