This is just really a photodiary because my friend/officemate planned everything in this hike.
All I know is:
Major jumpoff is in Brgy. Wawa, Rodriguez, Rizal.
To get there: From Diliman, we rode an FX (can also be jeepney) to Litex Market in Commonwealth Avenue/ IBP Road Intersection, Q.C.
Ride a jeepney bound for Montalban, Rizal
Alight at Eastwood, Montalban; wait for jeep or hail a tricycle to Wawa Dam
Register at the barangay hall
Pay the entrance and environmental fee and the officials on duty will assign a guide; then you’re ready to get tired and rant along the way, JK.
We arrived at the barangay hall at 5:00 in the morning when everything is still dark. We were the second group in there. We had most of the “picture-stop” by ourselves and we couldn’t be much happier.
Chasing the sun rise, it is.
We went there for the sea of clouds. It didn’t fail us.
I was with my coooool former officemates/ friends.
I did another solo-backpacking trip back to Palawan, but this time, I went to El Nido.
As usual, guys, I cannot remember the places I’ve been to, all I know is that from Puerto Princesa airport, there are people offering van rides to El Nido. It costs Php 500-600, depending on how you haggle.
Although I suggest that you coordinate with the people from whom you are staying, they offer a cheaper price. I got mine for Php 600 for one-way because I did not listen to the one I was talking with. I stayed in Nido Friendly Inn for 3 days and 2 nights, for 500 pesos a night, owning a room good for two, with AC, electric fan, and even its own bathroom! I know, it’s soooo cheap! Others were offering me 800 pesos for a single room with shared bathroom. NO. And I also had free breakfast for two days!
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The island-hopping tours:
I got Tours A and C for Php 1000 each, yehesss! Tour A is originally Php 1, 400 while tour C is Php 1, 200. I saved Php 600!
On my first day, I had the tour A. Island-hopping included Small Lagoon, Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon. Shimizu Island, and 7 Commando Beach. Because I was alone, I obviously sat at the back side of the boat but then an amazing family “adopted” me for the day.
The twist? I was with them the whole trip, they even paid for my Kayak ride at the Big Lagoon, I ate with them, laughed with them, shared good stories about the Philippines, President Duterte, and of course UP. Apparently, three of them graduated from UP and they are all doctors in the United States! The other one is a foreigner and is a teacher. I learned a lot from them, of course!
They were so nice to me, very happy to be with, and very down-to-earth. I wish I had their Facebook accounts.
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More annoying photos from my GoPro:
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Food is free and it’s lunch at the shore with a very beautiful view!
On my second day, I booked Tour C. We went to Helicopter Island, Matinloc Shrine, (another) Secret Beach, and Hidden Beach. We were not able to go to Star beach because we set off late.
Boat rides set off at 8AM from El Nido but we left the proper at around 9:30 which had the foreigners I was with angry and disappointed. Apparently, the propellers of the boat broke. The Italians were asking to refund their money or just get an extra boat but the “captain” of the boat was so stubborn, even shouted back to the angry foreigners.
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We still pushed through, though.
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I took more than three hundred photos but most shots are blurry. I bought another case for my GoPro now. Too bad I didn’t see it before my trip to Palawan. Here are some annoying sariling sikap photos.
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El Nido is a paradise, no questions asked. The beaches are crowded but not as crowded as Boaracay. Clear blue waters, beautiful mountains, and amazing people are there. I could not ask for more.
But that solo trip back to Puerto Princesa apparently led to this:
But I would go back, even that goes without saying. xx
When you have equally impulsive workmates/ friends, booking a flight falls under the discretion of the most spontaneous one– (Hi, Feye!). A flight to HongKong was confirmed even before one of us asked when.
Three months before the trip, we have already paid for our hotel room which only cost us Php. 2400++ each for three nights and three days. Cheap find, yes! The power of AirBnB comes in handy nowadays.
As for the itinerary, what better way than to leave it on the hands of our geographer friend (Hello again, Feye)?
Our flight was scheduled at four in the afternoon. We arrived at the airport a little too early so we decided to eat our lunch first. Thinking that the check-in counter for HK was not open yet, we took our time eating our share of burgers. Little did we know that we had to run like we’re in a marathon just to catch our boarding time.
Amazing Race, NAIA Terminal 3 edition.
It was the worst (yet) flight I’d ever had because a tropical storm entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility the same day as our flight. We know, guys, we know.
We experienced countless turbulence; the crew and even the pilot told us to just stay calm. But who would stay calm when it was like the plane would crash in any given minute?
But we arrived safe.
After we left our bags in the hotel room, we found ourselves wandering the streets of HongKong late (11:00 PM). We found a local food hub (which most likely is a carinderia in the Philippine setting) and ate the famous Hongkong noodles.
Then we had a good night rest.
We started doing things early the next day. Because Shenzhen, China.
Judge us but we ate our breakfast in McDonald’s. Why?
Then the long walk and countless MTR rides began.
We applied for a Chinese Visa in the Chinese Embassy here in the Philippines but one of us unfortunately was not granted. We put our trust to Google because articles said that Nalie can also get a transit Visa in Shenzhen. It turned out that the Chinese consular no longer grants Visa to Filipino and American citizens. *Coughs territorial disputes*
With a disappointed and somewhat heavy heart, we still had to push through our plan of going to Window of the World without Nalie — whom we were not able to contact because obviously, we cannot use social media in China.
After long lines, broken English conversations, looking or clues on how to buy tickets for the transit train in China, we nearly gave up. Fortunately, a guard in the station assisted us. We arrived in the Window of the World with sweat – and haggard faces.
But it was all worth it because for a brief moment, we fooled our family and friends that we were in France.
..in Japan, London, USA, California, Macau, Rome, and even Australia. *evil laugh*
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This is my equally impulsive (and beautiful) friend/workmate, everyone..
We went back to HK at around 2:30 PM and met with Nalie who spent her day train hopping in HongKong. We ended the night with the Symphony of Lights (HKD$ 200) but we did not find it amusing. We could have spent our 200 dollars on a better show.
So that was our tiring but full of adventure first day in China. ~ I am so happy that for once, I’ve traveled with amazing people in an out-of-the-country trip.
Neyziellewanders 