A Time for Everything

Baby Dieciseis with much love from your auntie

A Time for Everything

There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under the heavens: 

a time to be born and a time to die, 

   a time to plant and a time to uproot, 

a time to kill and a time to heal, 

   a time to tear down and a time to build, 

 a time to weep and a time to laugh, 

   a time to mourn and a time to dance, 

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, 

   a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, 

a time to search and a time to give up, 

   a time to keep and a time to throw away, 

a time to tear and a time to mend, 

   a time to be silent and a time to speak, 

 a time to love and a time to hate, 

   a time for war and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

photo: www.muralsforkids.com/images/MASanglbyBoy

Bohol Countryside

Commonly called the "countryside tour" by most tour operators. This activity takes the entire day driving into several towns with at least eight stops.

entrance to Hinagdanan cave

inside the Hinagdanan cave is a pool of saltwater

another one of those Loboc river ferries

one chocolate hill turned viewing deck

the chocolate hills are green than chocolatey this time of the year

preserved butteflies at the conservatory

a welcoming hut inside the butterfly conservatory and garden

this lady at the highway bound by the Man-made forest

no entrance fee in this spot, just a donation

the smallest primate in the world

so sorry to stress you out but I cannot help myself

one of the biggest and largest phython in captivity

one of the oldest churches in the country, Baclayon church

*Wish I had a photo of the Blood Compact site. A sculpture said to be made by Napoleon Abueva.

Countryside tour fee costs Php 1,800.00 for a car that can fit a maximum of four persons.

Add-on expenses:

Hinagdanan Cave

Php 15.00 - entrance fee (adults)

Php 15.00 - parking fee

Loboc River Cruise

Php 300.00 - lunch buffet, eat-all-you-can

Php 100.00 - "terminal fee" goes to the LGU

Chocolate Hills

Php 50.00 - entrance fee

Php 10.00 - parking fee

Butterfly Garden

Php 30.00 - entrance fee

Tarsier at Rio Verde

Donation

Prony the Phython

Php 10.00 - entrance fee

Go travel Bohol from Bacolod!

Travel durations are estimates only. Senior citizens get discounts on public transport fares.

Trip date:  28 December 2010

See also Panglao, Bohol

Puting Buhangin (Lukang Beach)

Puting Buhangin in Pagbilao, Quezon is a wonderful discovery. We used to rack our brains silly when we had the beach itch because of two considerations: budget and travel duration. An over the weekend beach getaway requires short travel time and must be easy on the pocket. Thanks to Dubs for suggesting that we check out this place and thanks to Claire of lakwasteradeprimera for blogging about Puting Buhangin.

Town of Pagbilao, roughly 35mins away from Lucena GT

If arriving early in the morning at Lucena Grand Terminal, take an ordinary bus headed to Unisan (AB Liner). From Lucena GT, trips to the nearby towns via jeep or van start at 7am. Tell conductor that you are getting off at Pagbilao bayan. Fare will cost you Php12. Your landmark is the town's welcome arch and a Catholic church just across the road. Ask the locals for the Polo terminal. It is just a short walk from the main road and is near the market place.

Fare matrix from Pagbilao to Ibabang Polo

First trip headed to Barangay Ibabang Polo leaves at 7am. Full capacity or not, the trip leaves as scheduled. This was a pleasant surprise after what we have experienced in Palawan going to Sabang.

Ibabang Polo, or simply Polo, is the last stop of this ride. Get off in front of the Power Plant gate and take a tricycle going in to the Lukang property. Going into the beach is roughly a 30-minute hike. A local volunteered to bring us and we gave him a hundred as thank you which he accepted only after we insisted.

first part of the hike is by the perimeter of Team Energy

then the rocky shores

and a bit rocky downhill nearing the entrance

take a shade under the trees instead of renting a cottage

coconut trees and cottages past the shore

coconut trees

one end of the shore

the stretch of beach 

sand quality

the other end of the shore, Kwebang Lampas 

Kwebang Lampas entrance

inside the cave

view of Puting Buhangin from inside the cave

view of Kwebang Lampas at the sea

took the banca on our way back to the jeepney terminal

had our late lunch here

highway crossing

Team Energy landmark

A banca ride on our way back to the jeepney terminal is roughly a 20-minute ride to the daungan at Sitio Gapalos then a short tricycle ride to the main street where the terminal is at. If you want to grab a bite try Cherry's Restaurant just across the terminal. Again, the jeep does not wait for a full load before leaving the terminal. It leaves as soon as another jeep arrives. The trip takes about 45 minutes to an hour and last trip leaves Brgy. Polo at 5pm.

This little piece of information is shared to everyone with a little hesitation. For as much as I want everyone to experience Puting Buhangin I'd rather have it remain a natural, uncommercialized beauty.

Plan your trip to Quezon and explore Puting Buhangin before everyone flocks there for the summer. Lastly, share with me your adventure. Enjoy and halong!

Expenses at Quezon

Day 1
Travel expense from Kamias, Quezon City to Pagbilao and from Pagbilao to Padre Burgos
   Bus with ac Kamias Terminal to Lucena Grand Terminal                            Php 218
   Bus ordinary from Lucena Grand Terminal to Pagbilao bayan                     Php   12
      (get down across the church and walk to market place)
   Jeep from Pagbilao market to Ibabang Polo, Pagbilao                                Php   35
   Tricycle from gate of power plant to Lukang property                                Php   20
      (walk from Lukang property to the beach front)
   Gratuity tip to the local who served as guide during the walk (100/3pax)     Php  33
   Lukang beach entrance fee                                                                        Php   50
   Banca from Lukang beach to Sitio Gapalos daungan (100/3pax)                Php   33
   Tricycle from daungan to jeep terminal                                                       Php   10
   Jeep from Ibabang Polo to Crossing                                                          Php   25
   Bus ordinary from Crossing to Padre Burgos bayan                                   Php   15
   Tricycle from Padre Burgos bayan to Vista Playa restaurant                      Php   10
Accommodation Expense                                                                            Php 250
   Rented space from the locals

Day 2
Travel Expense
   Banca from Vista Playa to Borawan & Dampalitan beach (700/3pax)      Php 233
   Entrance fee at Borawan                                                                         Php   20
   Entrance fee at Dampalitan                                                                      Php   30
   Bus ordinary from Vista Playa to Lucena Grand Terminal                        Php   35
   Bus with ac from Lucena Grand Terminal to Kamias                               Php  218
      (from Lucena Grand Terminal to Magallanes Php 204)
                                                                           Total                           Php 1,247