Showing posts with label snorkeling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label snorkeling. Show all posts

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Unforgettable Coron (Sangat Loop)

It's our third day in Coron (view our 1st day here, and 2nd day here). But before we have our island hopping, we need first to transfer to Darayonan Lodge for our last night accommodation. Darayonan Lodge is a 10 mins. drive(by a tricycle) from Coron Reef Pension House. 




We were in the tricycle when the driver asked:

Manong triclycle driver: Ma'am, gusto nyo ng arroz caldo? Libre lang, birthday kasi ni Mayor.
Us: Cge Kuya.
Manong triclycle driver (stop the tricycle in front of Mayor's house): Bigyan nyo ng lugaw yung mga bisita natin.
Us: Salamat po. Happy Birthday Mayor..!!!




We felt we're part of Coron town because the people there were very hospitable to their guest. And the arroz caldo taste really good.



enjoying the arroz caldo

We checked-in in Darayonan, and place our luggages in our room, then we headed to the port for our island hopping. And said goodbye to Zeline because she needs to go back to Manila that day. 



tricycle in coron is big. 8 people can fit in it not including the driver :o

Our tour for the day is called, Sangat Island Coral Garden and Shipwreck. We got our tour from Coron Galeri for only 750php(lunch included). It's around 9am when we sailed off to Sangat Island. It would take an hour and a half going there. The views are very relaxing that you won't get bored. 


First Destination: Sangat Coral Galden


It was hard to snorkel in this coral garden because the current is really strong. But it has beautiful corals and fishes.  





Second Destination: Sangat Hot Spring


This is my favorite. To reach the hot spring, you must swim or walk in a tunnel of mangrove. It's a bit scary because the mangrove is known for snakes and other scary animals but our guide lead the way to make sure we're safe. The Sangat Hot Spring is located on the edge of the island. It is a small pool made of rock. If it's high tide, the sea water overflow to the pool of hot water which makes the water luke warm.





I said it is my favorite because the place is very peaceful and very relaxing. You'll feel your secluded from the world. I could stay there for hours but my friends doesn't like the place very much so we went on to our tour.


Third Destination: Sangat Beach


Time for lunch, so we went to the beach near the shipwreck. 




For our lunch we had crabs, grilled tuna, seaweed salad, grilled chicken and rice. And as I said in my previous post, the food was cooked in the boat, which makes it fresh and super yummy.










After we ate our lunch, Joy, Jhoanna and I went to the side of the beach for photo shoot. As I walked in a knee high water, I felt pain in my right leg. In a matter of seconds the pain worsen. 


Me(walking towards the shore): aray.. aray.. aray.. (then I look at my leg, I saw a violet-brownish thing, which I thought was a leech)

Me: ARAY... ARAY.. KUYA ARAY..!!! ARAY.. KUYA ARAY!!!
friend and boatmen/guide: (just looking at me with a puzzled look)
Me: ARAY... ARAY.. KUYA ARAY..!!! ARAY.. KUYA ARAY!!!
friend and boatmen/guide: (still looking at me with a puzzled look)
Me: ARAY... ARAY.. KUYA ARAY..!!! ARAY.. KUUUUUYYYYAAAAAYAAAAA ARAAAAAYYYYY!!! (screaming so loud)

Then, our guide runs toward me carrying a bottle of vinegar. Saying I was sting by a jelly fish, and vinegar is the first aid for it.



After the tentacles was removed


Fourth Destination: Gun Boat Ship Wreck


Though my leg still hurts so much, I would never be left out of fun specially if it's to-see tourist attraction. (kaya tiisin ang sakit!)


Gunboat
We snorkel above the shipwreck and saw that the ship was deteriorated already(of course!haha..) and there were some corals and sea plants in it. You can also see lots of fishes in the area. 

Fifth Destination: Decalve Reef

Our last destination was another coral garden. 


Decalve Reef has a shallow water that even in the boat you can see the corals and fishes already.


The guide who rescued me from the jellyfish sting helps me to navigate in the garden by pulling me while I am holding the round floater. I told him I want to see Nemo and indeed we found a family of Nemo(so happy!). 



mommy, daddy and baby nemo :D

We headed back to Coron town. We arrived around 4pm which gave us enough time to buy pasalubong. 


We rented a tricycle for only 210php (35php per person). We went first to Coron Harvest. It was famous for its cashew product like sun-dried cashew, roasted cashew, etc. 



with the Aling Lita Escarda, owner of Coron Harvest

Next we went to dried fish stores to buy dried danggit. Then to Coron Souvenir and Gift Shop. This souvenir shop sells keychain, t-shirt, ref magnet and other Coron products. It was a bit pricey here, so we went to Coron Market to buy t-shirts and key chains. 



Coron Souvenir and Gift Shop

When we were sure we already bought enough pasalubong for our family and friends, we walked back to Darayonan and call it a day.





Darayonan Lodge
132 National Highway, Brgy. Poblacion 1
Coron, Palawan
09152976426; 09087732964
darayonanlodge@yahoo.com
http://darayonan-coron.weebly.com/index.html

Calamian Expeditions Travel and Tours
# 11 San Agustin St. Barangay Poblacion 3
Coron, Palawan
Philippines 5316
+63 915 254 3246 
+63 917 55CORON
http://www.corongaleri.com.ph/

L. Escarda’s Coron Harvest

Bgy. Tagumpay, Coron, Palawan
(0928) 2693-998 (Lita Escarda)
escardacoronharvest@yahoo.com

Coron Souvenir and Gift Shop

Barangay Polacion 5, Coron, Palawan
0920-2030302



Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Unforgettable Coron ( Coron Loop)

People in Coron woke up very early. We know because the room next to ours was occupied by the owner of the pension house. And you could their commotion at 4 in the morning. But we didn't get off the bed until 7am. (click here to view our activities on our first day)

We had our breakfast of rice, lamayo (marinated danggit), egg and loganissa. Coron Reef breakfast cost 100php is actually good for 2 person.



our breakfast
Our tour for our second day was Coron Island Ultimate Tour. We got it from Coron Galeri for only 650php including lunch and entrance fee.

They pick us in Coron Reef at 8:30am. The port is 5 to 10 minutes walk from where we are staying. 





picture first before we sail off

Coron Loop is less than 30 minutes from the port. So while enjoying the views, we had some photo op. :)


feeling models lng

First Destination: Hidden Lagoon

Hidden Lagoon had a mixture of salt and fresh water.  And the amazing thing about this place is that the water temperature at the bottom is warm. When swimming in this lagoon, you can feel warm water passing on your body.


Hidden Lagoon


Second Destination: Twin Peak Reef 

Twin peak reef is a snorkeling site. You could see lots of fishes, corals, sea urchins and sea snake.Yes, sea snake, Kuya Edward saw it near our boat, and I am so thankful we were some distance away from it and was not able to see it (so scary!).


twin peak reef

Third Destination: Bulungan Beach


Bulungan Beach
Bulungan beach is in a small islet. It has cottages, perfect for our lunch. As I said above, the tour includes our lunch. I thought the foods were already cooked before we sailed but  we were surprise that they were cooking our food in the boat. Talking about fresh foods. :) 


grilled fish
While waiting for the food, we had some photo shoot in the islet. (haha!)



lunch (grilled tuna, porkchop and seaweed salad)

what was left of our lunch
A fisherman paddled his small boat to the Bulungan beach with a big talakitok fish. He's selling it for only 400php. The fish weigh 4.5 kilos. We bought the fish for our dinner that night.


Fourth Destination: Kayangan Lake

To reach Kayangan Lake, you have to trek 75 steps going up and 75 steps going down. Our guide told us that some time ago, the natives of the island believe a spirit was dwelling in it.  And they performed a ritual to transfer that spirit to the another lake so that Kayangan Lake can be opened to public. 


kayangan lake
On our way back to our boat, we went to see the famous view of this destination. The place was actually just a cliff with a small cave adjacent to it. But beyond the cliff you'll see this:


my own version :D
On to our next stop. Coral Garden. When we reached the place, it was already raining. The rain really poured out so we decided to go to the beach that was near that place. 

Fifth Destination: CYC Beach

When we reach this place, the heavy rain turned to drizzle. So we go down the boat and swim.  


CYC Beach
When the rain already stop, we asked our guide if we could go back to the Coral Garden. They said we could (yey!)

Sixth Destination: Coral Garden

Our last destination. And we were glad we were able to see it.


fishes

sea urchin

We call it a day and head back to Coron Town. 

For our dinner, we asked the pension house kitchen if they could cook the fish for us. They said they could, it's not for free of course, paluto fee is 100 per kilo. We asked them to divide the fish in to 3 dishes. Sinigang, inihaw and pan-fried.

While the food is being cook, we went to the market, 5 minute walk from where we are, to buy some pasalubong.




dried fish: one of coron's main product
We bought dried fish and head back for dinner. 


sinigang na talakitok

For dessert and internet connection, we went to Ice Valley.

ice valley

menu

our order: mix fruits



After we finished our mix fruits and checked our fb, we headed back to our rooms to sleep. Need to recharge for another island hopping tour.


On our third day, click here.



Calamian Expeditions Travel and Tours
# 11 San Agustin St. Barangay Poblacion 3
Coron, Palawan
Philippines 5316
+63 915 254 3246 
+63 917 55CORON


Ice Valley

National Highway
Coron, Busuanga, Palawan, Philippines