Puerto Galera eXperience!
It’s been three (eleven na!) days after we left Puerto Galera and up to this date, I can’t still have a grip on my experience there at the White Beach. It was only now that I’ve realized how I miss Puerto Galera. One day, I say to myself, we’ll be back.
Pre-Puerto
As planned, the night before we left for Puerto, we stayed at Toni’s house in Villamor Airbase. I met Rach, Jelline, Neal and Toni at SM Makati. Nag-grocery kami then we took out our dinner from Greenwich. While we’re eating, Chino called Toni and said that he’s at Gate 1 of Villamor. Toni asked if he’s on cab, sabi ni Chino: Hindi, nakikita ko na ang taxi paalis na. Katabi ako ng guard. Then all of us burst into laughter. We decided to have a walked and fetch Chino at the gate. There we also met Chel and on the way home, we saw Kathz getting off her dad’s car. Finally, all of us were together. Puerto mode na kaming lahat. Time check: it’s around 10pm. When we got home, PBB na so nanuod muna kami. Haha… Wala na silang tigil sa pagsasalita tapos ako busy watching.Oh I forgot to mention on how cool Toni’s dad was. Haha. He made a lot of kwento about Puerto Galera, on how we’re going there. On how it looks like. Maloko and super funny like what Toni has been telling us.
After PBB, we went upstairs na. Changed clothes, prepared to sleep. There were two rooms. I stayed on the other room with Toni, Chel and Chino while the others are on the other. In our room, humihilik na si Chino and Toni (Figuratively), while on the other room, sobrang non-stop ang kwentuhan and chikahan. Parang hindi na matatapos ang kwento at sobrang excited na for Puerto.
How can I forget noong tinakot ko sila. Haha. I told them na may mumu sa bahay ni Toni, mainly sa CR. I went there pa nga and went to bed beside them. Closed the lights. Then I suddenly heard a weird sound coming from the comfort room. When I opened it, the other door of the CR (kasi it’s accessible to both rooms) it moved. Whoala?! So without their understanding of pressure since naka-aircon both rooms, natakot sila lalo na si Rach. Tumakbo ako sa room namin and they followed. Actually si Rach lang. Haha… We made some kwento, until hindi na kami nakatulog, well, ako 30 mins lang ata super light sleep lang parang zombie. Nahirapan silang gising ako, as usual.
I took a bath, ate breakfast, rode the van and slept while Toni’s dad drove us to the Batangas Pier. Puerto here we come!
Puerto Day 1
At the Pier
We arrived at the Pier at exactly 5:48 in the morning. We were early kasi we’re planning to catch the 7:00AM trip of the Montenegro Mini Ship to Balatero, Mindoro. Take note that we didn’t ride the Gorgonilla boat na deretcho na sa Whitebeach kasi takot si Chel. Pero our trip at Montenegro, super fun. We sat on the side deck of the ship overlooking the mountain at the Batangas Peninsula. We even saw Dolphins racing with us. It was my first time to ride a ship and it was like heaven. So calm, relaxing, and for me, romantic. Awww.
We arrived at Balatero, around 9AM. Tapos we need to ride a trike to the White Beach. Tinataga kasi kami ng trike. They’re asking P150 for the one way trip to the White Beach. Tapos, si Mr. Tawad (Neal) came to the rescue and made his bid down to P80. Pero we settled it to P100 per trike para matapos na, mainit na rin kasi ang panahon.
We finally arrived at the White Beach! Yahoooooo!
Sun was up, it was steamingly hot, and we’re hungry and thirsting. Of course, we have to look for our place first. Marami kaming napuntahan pero we end up with the Blue Water Lodge since nakasabay naming yung may-ari, si Mr. Hau, sa Montenegro mini-ship, so medyo nakakuha ng discount.
We ate at a restaurant nearby. Tapos, diretso na sa beach! There were times that it drizzles pero sobrang umaraw. Ang saya! At first, malamig yung sea water, pero later on, ang sarap sarap! We took pictures here, there, made castle, buried myself in the sand, again, took pictures here, there, and everywhere!
The sun was about to set when I went to our room early. I was so sleepy. Nakatulog ko for 2 hours, exacto at natapos silang lahat maligo. And so I made my way to the comfort room. Oh, nagising pala ako dahil nag-iinuman na sila. They firstly drank the vodka, took a sip of the strawberry flavored vodka, ate ate ate.
IT was 7:00PM when we decided to go out and dine in somewhere for dinner. We went to the restaurant with videoke. Haha. Sing-along at the 2nd floor. Si Neal, walang tigil sa pagkanta, eventhough the foreigners were already staring and giggling on us. We ate a lot of grilled fish, squid and liempo. Sarap! Free juice drink nga pala kami since Mr. Sau suggested that restaurant.
We went back to our room. Stayed a bit. Suddenly, someone brought up the idea of drinking. Kami kasi ni Jelline, when we went to the grocery, marami kaming kinuhang drinks like Red horse, SMB in cans, etc. Toni and Rach bought the vodka’s. The Gilbey’s vodka, the one unflavored, unfortunately, nabasag. So the nasayang yung margarita mixer. Haha. So there, Jelline and I bought ice at the restaurant where we had lunch. Then we’ve thought of the idea of drinking at the shore. We brought everything, including Rach’s sarong. Haha. It was our bonding moment. We shared our 3-2-1, lots of revelations… etc. Haha. Then Rach and Kathz suddenly played on me, pinaikot nila ako. At first I thought, hanggang sa malapit lang pero grabe si Rach, tinulak nya ako diretso at malapit na sa tubig. Grabe, sa sobrang bilis, nakakain ko na ang buhangin. Grabe. Nagpaikot ikot din kami. Grabe ang saya. Then we went to Mikko’s bar.
Mikko’s Bar
We ordered a pitcher of Mindoro’s Sling and made our shots. Haha. It was drizzling kasi so we transferred to my favorite table, the Nipa hut table with high chairs. The eight of us were there, and there were only 6 of us who drank the drink. Si Chino kasi nagconvert na, and si Chel, hindi talaga umiinom. Good girl. Ang saya, we made our toasts… etc pero Chino, Chel and Neal went home na agad around 12midnight. So the Fab5 were left. Haha. Kwentuhan galore, shot ulet, shot shot shot.
The Fab 5!
Ang saya. Iyon lang masasabi ko. We were there, still continuing our shots hanggang sa maubos na iyung pitcher ng Mindoro’s Sling. So we opened the Redhorse cans. Dalawa lang naman. Jelline and I shared on it, kasi silang 3 hindi umiinom. It was only then that I have realized na super sarap pala ng redhorse and totoo nga, malakas sumipa. Nahilo kaagad ako.
Si Rach, haha, hindi na makausap. Super silent na. Haha, a guy called her fone and she answered in a very slow manner. “Baaaakkkkkeeettt kkkaaaa bbbaaaa tuuuuummmaaatttaaawaaag?” And we burst into laughter. Hahahaha.
Si Toni naman, una naming napansin, super tahimik na. Haha, asar namin: Lasing na!
Si Kathz, our dear yaya. Just kidding. Siya kasi kasama naming sa CR lagi. Nahihilo na kasi ako nun that time and they said na hindi na diretso ang paglalakad ko. Thanks to her.
Si Jelline, wala na rin sa sarili. Haha. Niloloko na ako. At ako naman, naloloko. According to them, which I don’t know if it’s true, sinasalinan daw ako ng drink n’ya. Kasi nagulat ako hindi nababawasan ang drink ko. Tapos noong nagreklamo ako dahil andaya ni Jelline, tumawa sila tapos hindi raw nila ako sinasalinan. Haha, weird pero inubos ko naman. Actually, when they went to the comfort room, ininom ko lahat ng drink sa glass ni Jelline kasi baka malasing sya, which I don’t want to happen, pero according to them ulet, ako ‘yong nalasing malamang.
Here are some of their and our kwento when we left the bar at around 2:00AM:
1. Hindi ko na raw sila marinig kaya wala raw ako maalala.
2. I was asking for a stick of cigarette from Jelline for me to try, mapilit daw ako. At na-touch ako dahil Jelline didn’t allow me, nagalit pa nga sya sa akin eh.
3. Sobrang natutumba na raw ako.
4. I pee-ed at the shore near the water. Nakakahiyang isipin. That was the craziest thing I did so far.
5. Humihiga na raw ako sa sand at sobrang lakas ko raw kasi hindi na nila ako kayang akayin.
6. We went to Kurt’s Room (Jelline’s friend), where Toni and Jelline or Kathz used the CR. Jelline or Kathz, Rach and I were left with Kurt and he took pictures of us, or just Rach. Shet, I can’t really remember. All I was saying daw was: Please stop taking pictures of her. Pero it’s no big deal. We’re still on our senses anyway. Haha.
7. On our way, Toni was accompanying Rach while Kathz and Jelline were helping me. In short, inaakay ako. Honestly, I can’t really remember what happened, basta inaantok na ako that time. Siguro nga I got drunk. It was only until when a stranger (or snatcher) attempted to snatch Jelline’s mini body bag, which contains our money and her celfon. Nagising ako bigla sa pagka-antok. Grabe, nagulat nalang ako at si Jelline nakaupo na sa sand, kasi we need to pass through an alley to get into our room and it’s dark so iyon. When I saw Jelline crying, I looked at the end of the alley, where two men were standing. Not really standing as-in like waiting, but there were just staring and making there way out. Parang takot sila. One was payat and wearing a white shirt, and the other, medyo chubby and wearing orange (sa akin) and red (based on Kathz). All that I have in mind that time is Jelline and the other girls security so inakay namin ni Kathz si Jelline and we rushed to the room. Jelline got wounded at the lower part of her neck, as in the strap parang bumaon. Yikes. Really painful and Jelline cried out loud. And of course, there I was feeling guilty.
Makulit daw ako. Sorry nang sorry. Pinapaligo na raw nila ako pero ako raw labas raw nang labas sa CR. At nonstop sorry. Well, super feeling ko kasi kasalanan ko. Yuck feeling ako. Kasi kung hindi ako masyado nag-inom, siguro hindi nila ako inakay and we we’re all upright so most probably hindi magtatangka si Manong magnanakaw. Oh well, pero sabi nila, it’s nobody’s fault kasi nag-aabang na talaga si Manong. It was dark pa naman so wala na rin akong nagawa.
Haha.I am very sorry for keeping you wait long. Haha, according to Mal, feeling ako. Haha.Kasi ba naman, I left for vacation the next day after I wrote the Day 1 of our Puerto Galera Experience. Then after 4 days, which is yesterday, I came back. Tapos, I got sick pa with colds so I need to rest the whole night and day. So eventhough I haven’t had enough rest, and since tomorrow’s the initial start of the Second Sem, I’ve thought of finishing it na. So without further ado, here’s the day 2 and day 3 of our Puerto Galera Trip:
Puerto Day 2.
I woke up dizzy. Yes, after the heavy drinks I drank last night. Time? It’s 9:00. Actually, I heard Neal waking us up at around 8:00AM pero I chose to go back to sleep kasi nga sobrang inaantok pa kami. Our task for today, well, is to look for another place to move in for safety’s sake. Pero goodluck kasi among the 8 of us, there’s one na super sarap nang tulog. You might suspect that it’s one of us, the ones who stayed until 2am and got drunk, but no! Si Chino yun. Hahaha. Tulog na tulog siya noong nagkakagulo kami last night kaya when he woke up, he started asking questions on what happened the other night. And there came Toni to the rescue, and started narrating everything. Haha, of course.
We packed our things up and then said goodbye to Mr. Hau. Honestly, ang bait nga nila eh. They even encouraged us to move out. Oh well. I remember Quiroga tuloy when Mr. Hau dialed a number on his celfon and said, “Hello Konsehal, this is Mr. Hau. Goodmorning…” with a chinese accent. Haha.
So we left Blue Water Lodge and found Nipa Hut. Yes, our place was just on the 2nd floor of Kurt’s room. We saw Michael having his breakfast at the nearby restaurant (Nipa Hut ata). We got it for Php1200.00 after the very long tawaran portion between Neal and Ate Maricel (the owner or caretaker?). It was supposed to be Php1500 kasi pero Neal’s insisting to lower it down up to Php1000. Pero naawa na kami tsaka inaantok pa, so we settled for Php1200.
The room was much bigger compared to the former although it was not as good as it. The heater disappeared, un lang and amoy kalawang yung tubig. Oh well. Wala ring exhaust fan kaya you know… Yikes!
Anyway, since we already got a room, we’re now ready to continue our adventure. Yahooo! Another day of fun and excitement! Well, first plan: Snorkeling but it was drizzling. Yes, and our katiwala (haha), si Rosien, is still locating our boat. Na-traffic ata sa dagat. So we waited long enough for us to decide to have our lunch first. And we waited ulit, sobrang tagal, kasi made to order pala yung restaurant. Haha. Who would mind ordering different dishes, isang beef sinigang, beef nilaga, chicken something… etc. As-in magkakaiba. Haha, nakuba na ata yung nag-iisang cook nila. Oh well.
Then finally, we finished eating and went back to the room and prepared for snorkeling. But Jelline decided to stay and sleep, after what happened to her. Sayang talaga. We went to the other part of the beach and tada!
Snorkeling
This was the best experience of all, for me. We went to a nearby shore, I meant to the other side of the island. I was feeling so cold then; actually all of us were shivering to death. We took pictures with the help of our tourist guide, Rosien. Haha. How can I not have his pic to show you? Argh!
Oh well, we left the boat, worn our vests and goggles, and that tube something which I do not know how to call, and made our way to the water. Swam here, float there. I saw lots of amusing corals, of different shapes, sizes, etc. Even fishes, yes, we fed the fishes with our baon na ube bread. Haha. Super fun. What can I say, if only I have a waterproof camera, tsk tsk , then I should have taken those God-given creatures. Aw.
We stayed there for 3 hours without noticing how fast the time had been but it’s not the only thing that we did there, we also did the stone-throwing-making-ripples. Haha, Well, I really don’t know how to call it. Haha, I’ve made consecutive good shots! Haha, pero Master Chino pa rin! Haha.
Anyway, while doing snorkeling, napadpad ako sa super taas na coral na halos lalabas na sa tubig. Gets? Sobrang na-trap ako at natuhod ko yung isang coral, tapos nasugatan ako. Oh well, up to now, sobrang nangangati pa sya and malaki ang scar. Ang weird kasi maliit lang naman ang sugat pero ang laki ng scar. Oh well.
Pero ang nakakatawa, kasi sinamahan ko si Neal na lumayo from the shore kasi nga nahihirapan siyang makakita, unlike Toni na naka-contact lenses pa (Na-take mo?). Tapos, biglang naiwan namin si Neal at nung binalikan ko, feeling ko malulunod na ako kasi gusting-gusto ko nang tumawa, at i-open yung mouth ko at ma-choke hanggang sa pumasok na ang lahat ng tubig. Pero na-control ko. Haha. Kasi ba naman si Neal, kung maka-kapit dun sa mga corals na mababaw (dun sa nakakasugat) sobrang higpit at nasisira na ang corals. Para kasing petals yung hitsura ng mga corals na pinagkakapitan ni Neal at binabakbak. Parang wala lang sa kanya. Haha. Maninira! Kung ako nga eh sobrang ingat na ingat at halos daliri ko lang ang panghawak ko at hindi kamay tapos s’ya halos patayin ang tirahan ng mga isda. Hahaha. Tapos si Rach naman, mahilig mag-isa. When Toni, Kathz and I were having fun in the water, and Chino, Chel and Neal were having fun on the shore, si Rach, aba, loner at parang naka-freeze sa tubig. Parang may kinakausap ang mga isda. Ewan ko ba. Pero sabi nya, she’s enjoying naman daw. Oh well.
Time’s up. We went back to our room tapos dali-dali naman kaming nagpunta ulet sa shore for BANANA BOATING!
Banana Boat!
Sobrang saya rin nito. Haha. Andun ako sa harap ng banana boat, next to me is Kathz, then Toni, tapos Jelline, at tapos may isang mama, si Kuya. It cost us P130 each, P20 under the usual P150. Ang saya saya, pati yung mga driver ng speed boat. Nag-eenjoy. Pero pinakagusto ko yung kapag hinuhulog ka sa water. Para kang tinatapon sa dagat. Ang saya talaga. Hay… Just look at the pictures nalang.
By the time we came back, aba, biglang sumakit katawan ko. Kaya naisipan ko na ring magpa-massage kahit hindi ako mahilig, at never in my life na inisip ko. Hay ang sarap.
Massage… Si Ate M.
Ang sarap. Nakakakiliti pero understandable kasi baguhan lang ako. Nakakainis lang at muntik na ako makatulog nang biglang umambon, kasi we were laid on the sand while they’re massaging us. So we moved dun sa parang cottages pero mukha kaming ewan. Pero okay lang kasi madilim na noon. Ang sarap pero ayoko pa rin magpamasahe kapag hindi masakit katawan ko.
We went back, at tamang tama, dinner na. Masarap din ang food kahit may pineapple yung ulam naming ni Jelline (kasi kami yung share). Ang swerte ko nga eh, si Jelline hindi masyado matakaw. Haha. Object kasi ako ng kasungitan. Haha.
Tapos, they went to shopping. Ako naman, dahil tapos na ako, nanuod nalang ko ng TV. Then I saw the Prisoner of Azkaban being shown on HBO, parang ayoko nang lumabas pero wala na akong nagawa. Inuman time!
Back to Mikko’s Bar.
We all went to the bar. Michael approached us and offered his table. Kasi promise n’ya yun sa girls pero hindi nagpatalo ang daddy naming si Neal, kaya we enjoyed the night with each other. Kaso umulan, so lipat kami sa kubo like my fave spot, pero occupied. Actually and honestly, I was not feeling well na nga that time so ako naman, lahat ng utos sinusunod ko kahit bumalik pa sa room at kahit malayo. Makapaglakad lang ako. We ordered Mangyan-Mangyan, a heavy drink or it’s just heavier than the Mindoro’s Sling last night. We made our shots and noong half-full nalang, we transferred na to my fave spot kasi sa wakas umalis na yung mga tao. Tapos naubos na ang Mangyan-Mangyan. Then, I took out the beer cans that we bought from the grocery, SMB Strong Ice and Light. Ayaw namin ng normal pero grabe, wala pa ring sinabi sa Red horse. Ang dami ko nang nainom pero walang epekto. Oh well.
Tapos, Michael and Kurt approached our table. I won’t dwell onto the issue with them kasi nga may kinakarir sila. Haha. Sa atin lang ah, si Michael, kay Rach tapos si Kurt, kay Jelline. Tapos dumating pa yun friend ni Kurt na ala-Lucky Manzano raw, at yun yung kay Kathz. Ay onga pala, by the time we transferred to the new table, Toni and Chel left na. Kasi ba naman si Toni, after 5 consecutive shots of Mangyan-Mangyan, namula ng sobra. At si daddy Neal naman, to the rescue! Pinaghilamos si Toni. Haha. Nakakatawa sobra, kasi sabi ni Neal: Wag lang ganyan (parang wisik wisik) kundi dapat sa buong mukha, hilamos! Tapos si Toni naman, todo hilamos. Hahahaha.
Anyway, iyon. The girls were making chikka to their boys, I was talking with Chino na hindi pa rin umiinom. He just ordered the Apple shake na sobrang sarap at type ata nung barista na si Heart, kaya ayun, hindi nasama sa bill. Naawa na kasi ako at mukhang bored na bored na si Chino tapos walang makausap kasi si Neal, busy sa kakachikka kay Heart at sa iba pa.
Ah onga pala, we miss the bar girls (?). Our favorite, si Tanya. Then, there’s Heart, Paula, and Cristine. Tama ba? Basta sila. At mukhang favorite nila kami kasi nasa table namin sila lagi. Nakikikain. Haha. Kasi ang bait namin, todo offer. Tapos, nagshowdown pa nga sila at halos magiba na ang kubo dahil pinaglalambitinan ni Heart. Hahaha. Kita na panty niya. Haha. (Hirit ni Tanya, nagmadali kasi sya kaya nakataas na ang super iksi na skirt nya… Haha… Nagmadali!)
And they taught us the expression: WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! Parang wiwi.
We’re really not giving up, not raising the white flag to how late it was during that time. Walang iwanan sabi nga ni Kathz (our finale toast last night). Cheesssy! Haha. Tapos, bigla sa kabilang table, na-shock ako. Ako lang kasi ayaw ni Kathz tumingin pero ako tumitig at sila Rach naman, hindi nakita.
I saw the wild girls.
Wild Girls
I never thought that witnessing such tremendous and horrible scene. This is what happened. The people on the other tables began to stand up and dance. Party’s up na siguro. I’ve heard people from nearby bars dancing the PBB theme song. Yikes. Tapos, a girl suddenly invited her bf to kiss her. Yeah, they kissed, FK. Well, that took them around 4 seconds. Talagang inorasan ko ha. Haha. Then, her friend approached her and said: Kayo ah, you’re trying to make out here ah! Tapos sabay kissed sa girl. Yes, girl to girl. According to Kurt, kasi nga doon sya nagstay sa room nila, nakaTIRA raw yung mga girls ng shroom ata, and that made them act so wild and crazy. Hindi lang iyon, at the bar table, na may barista sa gitna, aba, there’s this unknown guy teasing the girl’s girl friend (iyong walang Bf) by saying that he’s gay and stuff. So si girl, parang ewan, naniwala and they made, not the FK thing but worse, I don’t know how to call it pero they were like doing a tongue-to-tongue thing. Yikes talaga. Saan kaya babagsak yun, hmm, hindi ko na inalam.
It was already 3:00 AM when Neal suddenly approached me and said that he wanted to sleep na. So I said, sige hatid ko na kayo ni Chino, kasi inaantok na rin sya. Tapos we discussed several things about what happened that night. Then he went to sleep na. Tapos si Chino, sinamahan pa rin ako pabalik sa girls. On our way back, nasalubong na namin sila, with their boys. Haha.
Tapos, we finally came back to Nipa Hut. We had this farewell talk among ourselves and finally went upstairs, to our room. Night is up!
Puerto Day 3: The Finale
I woke up late. We were to catch the 10:00AM departure of the Montenegro Ship back to the Batangas Pier. We all didn’t take a bath except for Jelline who swam to the beach and had shower after. I fixed my things then, and thanks to Rach coz I ate her Sneakers chocolate bar as my breakfast. Sarap!
We were able to catch the 10AM trip kundi magagalit si Chel sa amin, since she needed to be home asap in the afternoon. We arrived at the Pier past 12 noon. Then we had our lunch at Robinsons Lipa, Patty’s mall.
Robinsons in 6 minutes.
We ordered two bucket meals at KFC but while they’re waiting, Toni and I made our tour in the mall. Toni told me that in 10 minutes, malilibot nanamin yun. But no, we were able to pass by each store, to stay and look at the movies, to wait while the escalator brings down, for only 6 minutes. And that made our day. Haha.
Going back to Manila... sad
The Exorcist!?!
LOL!
The van dropped us to the LRT station in Katipunan, and each of us made our way home.
Whew. Seven-paged experience.
This is the Ultimate Block Outing.
4:25 PM
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
At the Pier
The Fab 5!
The Exorcist!?!
LOL!