Joining the Chinese in Spring Festival Tour of Dumaguete and Negros Oriental

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
February 5, 2017

                                          Whale shark up close and personal in Oslob Cebu


This post was unable to bike and post since Feb 1,, 2017.  I joined the family tour of Dumaguete and  Negros Oriental from February 1 till yesterday.

Our itinerary which set us back by a good 5 numbers consisted of the following:

Day 1 - Plane ride from  Manila to Dumaguete and checking in at the El Dorado Hotel and resort in Dauin, some 20 km from the City.   Most of its guests are foreigners who are divers at dive sites around the area where there is Marine Sanctuary and to Apo island, one of the top 10 dive sties in the world

Day 2 - Trip to Apo island.  We did snorkling to be with the pawikan, (big turtles) which are in a turtle sanctuary;  then trekking at view deck (it was very technical, very steep and with plenty of rocks)

                                      Disembarking at Malapatay Zamboanguita

                                             Globe signal is strong at Apo Island

                                        Fresh tuna, 18 kgs in all for kinilaw and belly dish

                                       MB Gigi  leaving Malapatay port

                              Destination, Apo Island, one of the top 10 dive sites in the world

                                     Note the clear bluish water

                                           Look like twin buddies rock formation

                            It is low tide and the moss could be slippery

                                        The DENR regulates the island and collect fees;
                                              (I hope that Sec Lopez does not close this soon)

                                       Plenty of boats await their guests (ours GIGI did not and was
                                        abusive;  our travel guide censured the boatman)

                                      Ragged rocky seashore, you have to be careful

                                                Broken sharp corals make walking difficult, you
                                                   have to wear booties

                                           Foreigners dominate the island; outnumber locals 4 to 1

                                    Snorkling to see the pawikan

                                             Edible birds nest inside a house, they say the swallow
                                                 bring luck to the house owner

                                                     Bakawan - endangered species

Travel biking in Batanes from LooLoo insights

Wheels of Happiness

Travel by Loo Loo insights

How to tour Batan Island by bike  I was here last January 26, 2015 (the day of the Mamasapano massacre)

Yes you can tour to Batanes on bike.  Find out how

Photo study of typical Ivatan Homes - Batanes tour report by #Jorgeustraveler (?)

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines   |  January 31, 2015

            Atypical 2 storey  Ivatan house near the church at Savidug

It is 3 days now and I am not finished posting/reporting the travel we had in Batanes for 4 nights and 5 days.  I must have taken 500+ pictures.  Thrice, my camera battery went dead.

The following are pictures of Ivatan homes, with most of them 80% intact at Sabtang island namely at Savidug and Chavayan communities.  There are some at Uyugan, Ivana, and even in Basco.

Chavayan and Savidug missed being World Heritage spot because there were many homes that were remodelled.

At Savidug

                  See the smooth wall with lime mortar

                   Trying  gimmick shot;  the ceiling/roof is low

                     The last typhoon did the roof down

                    The roof is protected by net to prevent wind and birds from destroying the same.

                  The cogon roof

               
 The Ivatan homes alley is lined up with electric poles

#HonestyCafe at Ivana - part of #Batanes tour report by Jorgeustraveler (?)

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines  | January 30, 2015

From Poor Traveler - Honesty Coffee Shop

Ivana Church and Honesty Coffee shop from Ironwulf

One of the interesting features of our sojourn at #Batanes was the  visit to the  #HonestyCafe at Ivana, in front of the San Joseph the worker church facing the #Radiwan Port.

It is quite interesting because there are no sales clerk personnel or manager. Take what you buy (which are price marked) and you deposit your payment in a box (exact amount only please.  The store says that the "Lord is her security agent/guard"


Honesty Cafe You tube video: (by Jay Antonio)

 x                     Signage at the cafe explaining the concept behind the Honesty Cafe

Tour of Bugarin with Orrin Jethro Garcias group

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines

We had rendezvous with the Tour of Calabarzon group of Orrin Jethro Garcias Group yesterday. They arrived albeit quite late at Bugarin at 11 am.  We were there at 9 am.  We waited for them at the Sacred Heart Church at 6:30 and then at Simples Lugawan at 7:30  (they were supposed to be at MoA) at 6:30 and then we waited at 8 to 8:30 at Pisong Kape.  And then we decided to ascend to Bugarin. There was supposed to be a contingent from Lumban .  It turned out to be lone rep:  Ms. Roseann Anonuevo, ( a relative of Peter) a 27 year old mom who used to be a real estate sales exec from Alveo and Filinvest.



Those who joined us were:

1.  Jess
2.  Abet
3  VM Jun Vic
4.   Edgar
5.  Papa Ric
6   Gerry Y
7.  Gerry K
8.  Alan
9.  Angel
10.  Joel

Those who joined us at Pisong Kape but later left early:   Secx Noe, Engr. June, and Master E

Thank you guys for joining the rendezvous and waiting.

Post by Jorgeus Biker.