Sunrise in Bantayan

Day 2 in the island.

CEB-MNL Water, land and air trips

There weren’t that much to do in Bantayan actually – sleep, eat, swim, lounge around, nakatanga, people-watching, watch sunrise and sunset, tour their “bayan” in less than 30 minutes, blah-blah…actually, it’s more than enough activities to last us for 3 days there. After the frenzy of MM traffic and AAP/FMB hectic schedules, this was what we need to do – do nothing.

Lovella ended her blog with the third day in Bantayan. I will continue our story with our trip back to Cebu, then a late night flight to Manila on Monday (which we all hoped to be a holiday – but was not, unfortunately).

Ferry ride from Bantayan to Hagnaya pier was uneventful. When we arrived at Hagnaya, we had no choice but to ride the non-aircon bus direct to Cebu City. Uneventful huh? This is where the real adventure started. We choked on all the dust on our way amid the scenery, and running on a more than 100kph-bus. The driver was a madman. At the rate Manong Driver was going, we’d surely be in Cebu by 1 PM – an hour earlier than the ETA.

Bachelor! Bachelor! Ceres, non AC.

Cebu City beckoned to me like Manila. We were dropped off at SM, and lo and behold, traffic was terrible. And it’s reality all coming back – back to the hassle and bustle of city life. I could scream “Ibalik ko ninyo sa Bantayan!”. Finding the perfect kilawin was also a perfect test of endurance (it was after lunch time already, and di pa kami kumakain) and patience (how come almost all Cebu restos are closed after 1 PM?!). After watching a Cebu special on Q11, I was more than resolved to the idea that I SHOULD eat at Neo Neo Restaurant. So holding off our hunger till 5 PM, we went to Sto. Niño Church and Mactan Shrine, and nagpakabanal muna. After that, picture-taking time again. We even passed by this amazing beads shop. Ah, a beader’s haven indeed! With P600, we were able to buy some unique carabao beads, glass beads, wooden beads, and of course bangles and bracelets for ourselves. More designs to work on during the long Holy Week vacation.

Sto. Niño Church in the afternoon.

Under construction: Cross ni Magellan.

Trippin' in Cebu City.

Finally, Neo Neo was open when we got back around 5 PM. Late lunch and early dinner for us. We made up for starving to death with a very heavy meal. At last, I finally ate kilawin – but with a twist, with gata. Lami!

Merienda Cena of Lechon Kawali, Bamboo shells and
kinilaw at Neo Neo.

Malling was the next thing in our agenda, as we came back to Ayala Center to get our things. We got a call from Cebu Pacific informing us that our flight will be delayed – good thing, not cancelled. More shopping time for us, until mall’s closing hours. Had coffee at Coffee Dream, with the “cute” owner (amidst the glances from the passers-by). Pasalubong-shopping (i.e. dried mangoes, turrones, etc). And we even managed to snag a pair of Levi’s for only P500! What a bargain really! We hopped to our taxi, feeling exhausted with all the shopping and extra luggage in tow. Kapoy!

Hay, we were back in Manila by 1130 PM. I had colds so it was a struggle for me on that 1-hour plane ride. And how I dreaded going to bed, knowing that I’d be back to the chaotic jungle the next day….hay talaga!

`STF

Beaching at Bantayan

ad tI can't get enough of the Bantayan Island experience. The very early morning flight to Cebu, the rush to the Cebu North Terminal and almost -"naloko ng taxi" in Mactan airport to the eternal Air Supply album being played in the bus while seated in a extension seats (read: monoblock stools in the aisle)...to the first sight of Bantayan and the sighs you get to hear from first time visitors (Shirl and I, included).

Shirl and I were bloated, sleepy and a bit cranky an hour after we boarded the bus to Hagnaya in San Remigio. We were seated in the extension seats which I realize upon my butt cheeks touched that monoblock stool that the trip ain't very good.

Save for the ocassional cries of the kid in front of me, the Inday who sang with Air Supply, the lolo who seemed senglot, the urge to ask manong driver "are we there yet?!" and the uneasiness of sitting in a stool for 3 hours - the trip went smoothly.

Upon reaching Hagnaya, we trooped to Fast Craft which leaves at a later time but travels faster (reminiscent of TAR, maybe?)...so we had an early lunch of grilled hotdog, barbeque and puso.

The island from the Fastcraft was a sight to behold. White beaches on our left...and on our right. When we set foot on the pier, all we could muster was "Wow!"

We rode a pedicab to Kota Beach which is a few minutes from the pier. Take note, di napagod si Bernie sa kapapadyak. The scene while traversing the narrow road reminds one of home. Rustic with the fiesta feel. Well, it will be the island's 425th anniversary on the 25th. FYI.

One can't get enough of the awe of the view in this side of the beach. For the next three days, we soaked up the sun, frolicked in the beach, took lots of fotos, talked with the locals and everything in between.

Was the almost 7-hr air-land-sea trip worth it? Every single nanosecond of it...and a whole lot more.

P.S. To do things in Bantayan


1. Ride the pedicab.
2. Read under the coconut trees.
3. Lounge...Lounge...Lounge...
4. Drink that 30 peso-buko.
5. Dangitsilog!
6. Buy bibingka from the lil store on your way to Ogtong Cave.
7. Walk on the sandbar.
8. Beach resort hopping.
9. Kayak at Sta. Fe Beach Club.
10. While at Sta. Fe, admire the view on top their TREE HOUSE.
11. Visit the Ogtong Cave and swim with the fish.
12. Swim at Sta. Fe's pool.
13. Eat at Sta. Fe's ultimate tambayan - the only barbeque stand in town!
14. Visit Bantayan town.
15. Say a little prayer at the Sts. Peter and Paul Church - the oldest in the island.
16. Walk through history at the town's musem.
17. Listen to the amazing mixed dialect of the locals.
18. Walk around the main street of Sta. Fe at night.
19. Lie in one of the benches facing the beach and listen to the waves.
20. Walk around the sandbar and GATHER shells.
21. Eat mangoes with your hands.
22. Feel the sand.
23. Ride with the waves.
24. Watch the skimboarders doing their thing.
25. Wake up early and watch the sunrise.

sO ExCiTeD

I'm so excited, and I just can't help it!

'Nuff said. Bantayan, here we come!

`STF

Sleep No More

2 tulog na lang and off we go to the Queen City of the South. AKA Cebu. After an estimated 7 hours of travel by air, land and sea, we'll be stepping foot (for the first time!) in paradise. Not Bora, obviously, but Bantayan Island!

Cool. We haven't packed yet. But who needs packing? We'll just bring a couple of beach and essentials (which might fit in my Kanga backpack) at solb na.

I can't wait to take pictures of the oldest church in the island. Swim at white beach of Kota. Walk around the sandbar. And eat ice cream at the plaza. And buy lots of danggit.

I just can't wait.

And I just can't sleep.