Western Pangasinan: Kicking-off the travel calendar

The first travel of the year was set to Western Pangasinan. Some of us in the batch formed a travel core group, which basically are people ready to go somewhere in a week's (or even just a day's) notice! Hahaha. This 2013 pilot travel campaign was joined by John, Jeff, and myself, a.k.a. the EDC boys but sans Kevin. :(

The plan was to visit the white beaches of Tambobong in Dasol and make our pilgrimage to the Hundred Islands National Geologic Monument in Alaminos. As geologists, it is important for us to go to these sacred grounds and experience the majesty of these phenoms. We only had the regular weekend allotted for this trip, and I guess it sufficed.

We left Manila on a rainy Friday night, worried that the same weather condition will prevail in the north. Luckily, the skies remained tame when we arrived dawn at Dasol proper. We had breakfast from the only open carinderia and then hired a trike to take us to Tambobong. Man, the trip was long and bumpy. We arrived at the resort at about 7 AM.

This accurate sculpture of a mermaid welcomed us.

After negotiations about accomodation, meals and boat rentals, we started touring coastal Dasol. First on the list was the shipwreck. It was not really a prized historic wreck like a galleon or merchantship. I think it is valued because it accents the coastal seascape of Dasol.

The shipwreck

Our boat then proceeded to a craggy limestone stack nearby. We were not yet in total appreciation, but it was slowly building. Anyway, we were having fun.

Looking for faults, as they always are.

Then we sailed to Culebra Island, so called because of its rumored snake population. I particularly enjoyed the ride, because the waves progressively got higher as we were going perpendicular to it. My innards loved it! Also, the water surface was surprisingly very calm that it acts like a perfect mirror. We were like gliding in a sea of mercury.

Upon reaching Culebra Island, we took a few minutes walking around. The island is small, vegetated by thorny bushes and a handful of coconuts. The sand was very nice, in terms of color and texture: soft like brown sugar but cream-colored. We were not able to swim because of the intense wave action but we sure had other ways to have fun.

we rollin'

John as Ariel. Ariel Rivera. lol

Jeff in deep thought.

We had our second breakfast here (haha) then headed back to the coast to the crags of Cabacungan, where we did some snorkeling (I did not have pictures). Then it was time to grab lunch at the resort. The rest of the day was spent on the fine, white, sandy shores of Tambobong.

Kids in rafts doing their cannonball stunts.

Chill under the palm trees

Rays penetrate through the braided palm roof

Hearty lunch!

These guys are wasting time on siesta!

We were initially planning on drinking on the shorefront that night but we were dead-tired plus it's high tide, so we just hit the sack. Early next day we left Dasol to head for Alaminos City. Of course there's a group picture before we departed.

We arrived at the Hundred Islands National Park plaza at about lunch time, and we were quick to charter our boat rides to some of the islands. Unfortunately, the rain clouds rolled in and it started drizzling just as we left for the islands. Strong waves met our small boat, which was both thrilling and scary. I was scared for my camera. Haha. Although the weather forbade us to do a wider survey of the islands, we were able to visit the popular ones.

Rain started to pour going to the Hundred Islands

A.k.a. Juaning and Botz

Huehuehue

Caves could be found in some islands. I changed my pants here. Hehehe

Snorkeling could have been perfect but the storm waves turned the water turbid.

The Hundred Islands National Geologic Monument

After a few more islands, we decided to head back to the mainland. We thought it was going to be a smooth conclusion, but then our boat suddenly hit a sandbar and the propeller came off. There was a quick moment of panic but it's cool. It just took our bangkero a few minutes to reattach it and continue our journey to the port. Then, it was time to ride the bus home.

It was a fun and cool trip. We are hoping to visit the rest of the National Geologic Monuments soon!

Paguriran Island

October 28, 2012 - Right after buying pasalubong, we drove to Paguriran Island for some recreation. Because this trip was unanticipated, I wore jeans and had to buy cheap shorts in ukay. That’s where I got this badass board shorts. Hahaha.

Paguriran Island is already in Bacon district, quite far from the city proper but readily accessible.

During my whole stay here in BacMan I promised myself that I would visit a beach. I already envisioned a long weekend spent in paradise, but with the deadlines haunting, I was not capable of reaching the notoriously beautiful ones. Still, Paguriran might be the only white sand beach in Sorsogon City. Most beaches are fine black because of the volcanic lithology. This one is quite far from Pocdol, so the sand is dominated by white, coralline material.

Paguriran Island is made up of a stack of craggy limestone rocks, separated from the mainland during the high tide. The tides were just about to roll in when we came, so there’s still ample time to observe curious creatures trapped in shallow pools of the backreef flats.

There is also a sandbar connecting the island to the beach. The place is teeming with sea grass too. It’s like having an underwater carpet. I wore my shoes though, coz you never know whether an urchin lurks somewhere.

Upon reaching the island, I was really surprised to find a lagoon inside! A few people were already there either swimming or taking shelter from the heat.

A short climb up the karstified rocks and you will behold the view of the lagoon and Bicol Region (Pocdol Mts., Mayon Volc., Rapu-rapu Isl.). I imagine that the lagoon will be a brighter turquoise at higher sea level.

The other side of the island looks like a good snorkeling site. The other stacks seem great for cliff-diving (or plain canon-balling) too, at high tide.

It would be really fun to explore every corner of the island, but these rock formations are proven favorable habitats for sea snakes. I don’t want to die within eight minutes. Not yet. I’m still to savor more sights like this. Hahaha

And that was my awesome Sunday. Many thanks to Kuya Randy for the company and much-needed tourist information. :)

In conclusion, Sorsogon is a fun fun collection of amazing geologic eye-candies, inhabited by warm and kind people who make the best creations out of pili nuts!

Dios mabalos mga tugang na Sorsoganon!

Pasalubong Hunting

October 28, 2012 - This is my last weekend in Sorsogon City. I was about to spend the whole of it buried in writing a geochemistry report. This last hurrah is devouring me so badly that I’m about to go nuts(pili nuts)!lol

Thank goodness I was allowed a trip downtown. This should be my breather and chance to buy pasalubong for the family and friends.

I have methods and measures when buying food take-homes or must-try’s. Google is a fine way to gather information, although it’s better to ask locals (workmates) what their special products are. I try not to miss out on a category by enumerating the food groups (candy, bread & pastry, liquor & beverage, meat, seafood, condiments, veggies, fruits, etc.). So really, having asked someone who has experienced both Manila and the province is a great advantage. I was lucky I had Kuya Randy, our driver, provide me satisfying information and bring me where the best pasalubong are.

I do not buy something that I can buy in Manila fresh and conveniently, although a typical monay but with a different shape might sell to me. Hahaha. There are exceptions, like vinegar, coffee, and tableya! As a tsokolate connoisseur, tableya is and WILL always be in my to-buy list. :)

Kuya Randy took me to a household for Bicol’s most famous nut and derivatives, pili nuts! Nimfa’s is a small house along the highway that makes and sells pili nuts at home and to peddlers. It was just not my luck that they are yet to make the pili sweets. They only got conserva, coated pili candies and salted pili nuts on shelf. [Later that day we came back and bought budin (pili tart without the pastry shell) and molido (ground pili candies)]

It was my first time, for all of my senses, to encounter conserva. Apparently, it’s the panutsa version of pili. Roasted pili nuts clumped and coated with hardened coconut sugar, wrapped in a big dried (inedible) leaf. I like that leaf-wrapping touch, I fall for that native-product marketing strategy.

It was also my first time seeing the pili NUT, the fruit. It looks just like the keychains. Aling Nimfa was also kind to give me some pili fruits, maybe to reward my curiosity about the pili nut and tree. You see guys, not only in kindergarten do you get rewards for asking questions. Hahaha.

But wait there’s more! She also gave me boiled pili to snack on for free! Wow. A lot of firsts huh. It tastes mildly, no earthy or nutty tones are present. It does remind me the taste of buto ng kalabasa.

With Aling Nimfa’s hospitality and kindness, and my satisfied curiosities, I ended up buying a few thousands worth of pasalubong from her.

Then we went to the market to buy dried seafood. It was my Mom’s kabilin-bilinan item. I bought daing, alid (dilis), danggit and dried pusit from a market stand. My, they have a huge variety of dried schools of fish!

So now my room smells of daing and pili. I am in quite a dilemma on storing them properly to ensure that they are untouched by ants until I fly home. Also, I realize I’m excess the baggage limit. Perhaps I’ll just leave some clothes behind. Clothes are not hard to find in Manila anyway. Hahaha.

Kasanggayahan sa Sorsogon!

October 17 was Sorsogon’s last day to celebrate Kasanggayahan Festival. This was a province-wide festival in honor of their natural and agricultural bounties. Since I arrived here in Bac-Man, I’ve planned to explore the lowlands during the weekends or such festivities. I only love fiestas because of the better food (number 1 reason!) and cultural experiences. It was a good thing that the company suspends work on local holidays like that. An elder officemate, Sir Manny, invited me to join him shoot the highlight event, Pantomina sa Tinampo. I agreed, although with anxiety on how to get to the city from where in the mountains I stay.

It was luck and diskarte that brought me to the lowlands just with enough time to get around before the parade starts. Downtown Sorsogon is small but it had some pretty interesting sights.

Shortly after lunch, the Pantomina sa Tinampo started.

Taking a rest in the background.

The dancing passes by the cathedral (with an oversized dome).

After the pantomina, I walked to the Rempeolas (Baywalk) to catch the sunset. Most people, especially teens, also decided to end the day there, chatting while snacking on fishballs, chips, and softdrinks in plastic bags.

This is the port. Supposedly you could also see Mt. Bulusan in the background.

The breakwater is the best place for barkadas to chat.

The city and Pocdol mountains. That’s where we work. Underneath Pocdol are vast geothermal resources.

Perfect ending!

I was so tired and drained from all the walking and the heat. But it was all worth it. It was a great, memorable day. Dios mabalos Sir Manny!! Dios mabalos sa indo mga tugang na Sorsoganon!!