Getaway To The White Sands of Puerto Galera
My friend, my officemates and I decided to explore the white sands @ Puerto Galera for a 2 days vacation spree. We left Manila on Friday night of September 1, 2006. We made side trip at the Mall of Asia to fetch my friend and had our dinner at the French Baker. We had fun taking pictures at the mall ground before heading to the bus station at 12:00 AM.
We boarded JAM Bus bound to Batangas pier at the Buendia-Taft terminal @ 1:00A.M., this cost us 146.50. Taking the bus ride to the port alongside the dawn breaking while the rest of the city lies asleep is already our getaway into the real. The bus driver took us to a hell ride on our way to Batangas from Buendia recklessly beating all the traffic lights as we passed by unmindful of the dangers that lies ahead. We were treated to an airplane like bus ride reaching Batangas port for just 1 ½ hours travel time. I was agitated while traveling as I felt the pressure brought on by the speedy travel had blown my ears.
We arrived @ Batangas pier @ 2:30 A.M. and decided to have our dawn breakfast @ the Rocks Café – a local version of Starbucks in Manila inside the port upon our arrival. We had a superb breakfast complete with Barako Coffee (where Batangas is famous for) while waiting for the ferryboat’s arrival. Boarded MV Brian bound to White Beach Resort @ around 6:30 AM and left the port @ 7:30 A.M.., the cruise cost us 180.00 inclusive of 10.00 pesos terminal fee. We took pictures of all majestic views as we cruise the bluish sea on our way to White Beach. Picturesque Pandan Island is a sight to behold.
There is something sublime in taking off, in getting away, in journeying. Whether motoring in a JAM Bus on the South Luzon Expressway, winding down highways, cutting through the Batangas Star Tollway or cruising the waters of Mindoro in a 50-passenger motorboat, the rhythm of traveling fuses with the beat of your pulse. Even the rough waves at midday roll and rock to the throb of drums and cymbals until the boat riders erupt into cheers at the sight of land-"Beach, ho!"
We made it to the White Beach @ around 9:00 A.M. full of Mindorine grime and feeling very third world. As we disembark, our feet land in deep impression on the white sands of Puerto Galera that will last through the next sojourn.
We arrive in search of a brief paradise. , only to be greeted by hawkers they were trying to get away from-selling anything from prepaid cards to beach bandanas.
It seems like we wanted to stay for life at Puerto Galera, the picturesque postcard perfect view of the island was enough to fascinate me. The place was also breathtaking, and quite laid back where lifestyle is so simple. Everyone was all in a positive mood, since we all went there for a vacation. There were no idle moments; upon our arrival we were able to find a room for 500.00/day with 2 beds and shower room. After we have settled our baggage we decided to set foot on the water and enjoy the cool sand and peaceful sound of the waves. We ate lunch at Marina’s Restaurant @ around 1:30 pm. We had a sumptuous lunch of rice, pork nilaga, chopsuey, barbeque chicken, pansit bihon and coke. Our lunch cost us 695.00 where we shared 140.00/each. The food is plain and there isn’t much variety. Everyone serves grilled food. The food is generally cheap however the service is terrible. We had to wait for about 30 minutes for our lunch to be served.
Afternoon is filled with more ways to spend youthful energy: beach volleyball, jet skiing, snorkeling, sand sculpting and bikini ogling. We spend the whole afternoon walking around the beach, taking pictures of everything. We went around the stretch of souvenir shops. I got mesmerized with all the choices and cheap prices. I bought a t-shirt for my friend for only 95.00. I also bought bag for myself for only 100.00. I was able to buy mobile accessories for my officemates for 35.00/each. I also bought anklets/weaved bracelet for 10.00 pesos 3 pieces. I bought native bracelets for my officemates for 25.00 and was able to buy bead necklace for 10.00 bucks a piece. We were able to haggle Batangas candies for 100.00 4 pieces courtesy of Jay (who hails from Mabini Batangas).
We waited for the sunset as I am always enthralled by this view. Every time I set foot to a new place I always ended my travel taking pictures of the sunset. I believe that the best way to spend a day at the beach is to rise with the sun and go down with the sun.
In between, we race to raise our sandcastles before our fantasies are swept away by the sea. We stamp our footprints on the sand, meditating on a holy note even as the prints will soon get buried in oblivion by the invading horde. At dusk, we lie on a bed of sand in awe and wonder of the Divine Artist painting a canvas of blue, then lavender turning purplish, now a tinge of tangerine here, and a dab of golden yellow here. While waiting for the great vermilion orb to go down in an awesome splash on the horizon, comes a meditative moment telling us that we all are many rays of a single sun
We ended our day having mami Mindoro version for our dinner for 35.00. Jay introduced this to us. He was successful in convincing the group to tried this mami Batangas look alike cooking. After dinner we decided to enjoy the salty waters again and enjoy the cool sound of the waves and spa like sand bathing.
We figure that the best time to enjoy Puerto Galera, the beach, is at daybreak, when the crowd takes a rest, so we decided to heed to our rented room to take a rest. However Angie, Jay and my friend Fe decided to go on drinking spree and tried the Mindoro Sling (punch-like version of Puerto Galera). We agreed to wait for the sunrise the following day (Sunday) and take pictures of the rising sun. But it is quite a feat to get up early after barely sleeping through the raucous night. We woke up 7:30 AM already and decided to push through with our agreement to try the Banana Boat ride. This was probably the highlight of the entire trip. I was even thinking of not joining but I decided to anyway everyone else was going Banana Boat ride. We rented the boat for 500.00 for about 20 minutes ride. We enjoyed the ride at first not until the speedboat driver overturned the boat on his fourth attempt; the weather was good also, well at least good for me, Fe and Razel. It was drizzling but it wasn’t strong enough to hinder us from boating. What becomes apparent is that, devoid of urban invaders, White Beach cove is an artist's landscape. The stretch of sand, while not so fine, is creamy white, and underneath the beach water lays a bed of pebbles that have witnessed the constant ebb and flow of the waves. Rocks that jut out bound the cove to sea from both ends.
On the rocks where you stare out to sea, you recall history. Puerto Galera was a docking port for galleon ships during the Spanish era. It was also a site of sunken ships, which launched many diving expeditions for sunken treasures, the most recent of which is a treasure trove of artifacts. Today the other cove is a favorite diving site for exploring whatever remains of its past. Puerto Galera is a destination as far as any bakasyonista can get out of Luzon.
Away from the madding crowd, we find our peace saluting the sun rising out of the misty blue yonder. Above us, only sky. Nothing comes between heaven and us now.
Even as the images are fleeting the vacation is real. You get back to city life but you still taste the salty sea breeze, still feel the sun’s power energizing your sun-screened body. Only your tan and color photographs serve as proof of the sand bites and sunny disposition you take with you.
But what makes those getaway moments real is the discovery that in the frenzy of getting a life, we forget what we are getting away from. We find that there is nothing to get away from, only a whole lot of living to get into.
We boarded JAM Bus bound to Batangas pier at the Buendia-Taft terminal @ 1:00A.M., this cost us 146.50. Taking the bus ride to the port alongside the dawn breaking while the rest of the city lies asleep is already our getaway into the real. The bus driver took us to a hell ride on our way to Batangas from Buendia recklessly beating all the traffic lights as we passed by unmindful of the dangers that lies ahead. We were treated to an airplane like bus ride reaching Batangas port for just 1 ½ hours travel time. I was agitated while traveling as I felt the pressure brought on by the speedy travel had blown my ears.
We arrived @ Batangas pier @ 2:30 A.M. and decided to have our dawn breakfast @ the Rocks Café – a local version of Starbucks in Manila inside the port upon our arrival. We had a superb breakfast complete with Barako Coffee (where Batangas is famous for) while waiting for the ferryboat’s arrival. Boarded MV Brian bound to White Beach Resort @ around 6:30 AM and left the port @ 7:30 A.M.., the cruise cost us 180.00 inclusive of 10.00 pesos terminal fee. We took pictures of all majestic views as we cruise the bluish sea on our way to White Beach. Picturesque Pandan Island is a sight to behold.
There is something sublime in taking off, in getting away, in journeying. Whether motoring in a JAM Bus on the South Luzon Expressway, winding down highways, cutting through the Batangas Star Tollway or cruising the waters of Mindoro in a 50-passenger motorboat, the rhythm of traveling fuses with the beat of your pulse. Even the rough waves at midday roll and rock to the throb of drums and cymbals until the boat riders erupt into cheers at the sight of land-"Beach, ho!"
We made it to the White Beach @ around 9:00 A.M. full of Mindorine grime and feeling very third world. As we disembark, our feet land in deep impression on the white sands of Puerto Galera that will last through the next sojourn.
We arrive in search of a brief paradise. , only to be greeted by hawkers they were trying to get away from-selling anything from prepaid cards to beach bandanas.
It seems like we wanted to stay for life at Puerto Galera, the picturesque postcard perfect view of the island was enough to fascinate me. The place was also breathtaking, and quite laid back where lifestyle is so simple. Everyone was all in a positive mood, since we all went there for a vacation. There were no idle moments; upon our arrival we were able to find a room for 500.00/day with 2 beds and shower room. After we have settled our baggage we decided to set foot on the water and enjoy the cool sand and peaceful sound of the waves. We ate lunch at Marina’s Restaurant @ around 1:30 pm. We had a sumptuous lunch of rice, pork nilaga, chopsuey, barbeque chicken, pansit bihon and coke. Our lunch cost us 695.00 where we shared 140.00/each. The food is plain and there isn’t much variety. Everyone serves grilled food. The food is generally cheap however the service is terrible. We had to wait for about 30 minutes for our lunch to be served.
Afternoon is filled with more ways to spend youthful energy: beach volleyball, jet skiing, snorkeling, sand sculpting and bikini ogling. We spend the whole afternoon walking around the beach, taking pictures of everything. We went around the stretch of souvenir shops. I got mesmerized with all the choices and cheap prices. I bought a t-shirt for my friend for only 95.00. I also bought bag for myself for only 100.00. I was able to buy mobile accessories for my officemates for 35.00/each. I also bought anklets/weaved bracelet for 10.00 pesos 3 pieces. I bought native bracelets for my officemates for 25.00 and was able to buy bead necklace for 10.00 bucks a piece. We were able to haggle Batangas candies for 100.00 4 pieces courtesy of Jay (who hails from Mabini Batangas).
We waited for the sunset as I am always enthralled by this view. Every time I set foot to a new place I always ended my travel taking pictures of the sunset. I believe that the best way to spend a day at the beach is to rise with the sun and go down with the sun.
In between, we race to raise our sandcastles before our fantasies are swept away by the sea. We stamp our footprints on the sand, meditating on a holy note even as the prints will soon get buried in oblivion by the invading horde. At dusk, we lie on a bed of sand in awe and wonder of the Divine Artist painting a canvas of blue, then lavender turning purplish, now a tinge of tangerine here, and a dab of golden yellow here. While waiting for the great vermilion orb to go down in an awesome splash on the horizon, comes a meditative moment telling us that we all are many rays of a single sun
We ended our day having mami Mindoro version for our dinner for 35.00. Jay introduced this to us. He was successful in convincing the group to tried this mami Batangas look alike cooking. After dinner we decided to enjoy the salty waters again and enjoy the cool sound of the waves and spa like sand bathing.
We figure that the best time to enjoy Puerto Galera, the beach, is at daybreak, when the crowd takes a rest, so we decided to heed to our rented room to take a rest. However Angie, Jay and my friend Fe decided to go on drinking spree and tried the Mindoro Sling (punch-like version of Puerto Galera). We agreed to wait for the sunrise the following day (Sunday) and take pictures of the rising sun. But it is quite a feat to get up early after barely sleeping through the raucous night. We woke up 7:30 AM already and decided to push through with our agreement to try the Banana Boat ride. This was probably the highlight of the entire trip. I was even thinking of not joining but I decided to anyway everyone else was going Banana Boat ride. We rented the boat for 500.00 for about 20 minutes ride. We enjoyed the ride at first not until the speedboat driver overturned the boat on his fourth attempt; the weather was good also, well at least good for me, Fe and Razel. It was drizzling but it wasn’t strong enough to hinder us from boating. What becomes apparent is that, devoid of urban invaders, White Beach cove is an artist's landscape. The stretch of sand, while not so fine, is creamy white, and underneath the beach water lays a bed of pebbles that have witnessed the constant ebb and flow of the waves. Rocks that jut out bound the cove to sea from both ends.
On the rocks where you stare out to sea, you recall history. Puerto Galera was a docking port for galleon ships during the Spanish era. It was also a site of sunken ships, which launched many diving expeditions for sunken treasures, the most recent of which is a treasure trove of artifacts. Today the other cove is a favorite diving site for exploring whatever remains of its past. Puerto Galera is a destination as far as any bakasyonista can get out of Luzon.
Away from the madding crowd, we find our peace saluting the sun rising out of the misty blue yonder. Above us, only sky. Nothing comes between heaven and us now.
Even as the images are fleeting the vacation is real. You get back to city life but you still taste the salty sea breeze, still feel the sun’s power energizing your sun-screened body. Only your tan and color photographs serve as proof of the sand bites and sunny disposition you take with you.
But what makes those getaway moments real is the discovery that in the frenzy of getting a life, we forget what we are getting away from. We find that there is nothing to get away from, only a whole lot of living to get into.
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