From Cannes to Cannestanduanes

PINOY MIXX

It is quite true that, when God closes a door, He opens a gate.  Disappointed over the Cannes Film fest trip last month due to lack of personal funds, despite the invite, I just decided to take on a trip to Virac, Catanduanes.

My first time to go to this typhoon path region of the country, I never expected to see such a bountiful and nature blessed province of the Philippines.

Accompanied by two colleagues, we ventured and took on an 18-hour bus and boat trip to Virac.

The bus trip was far from the comfort of a business class plane ride but somewhere near the ease of an economy class plane trip sans the luxury of a washroom in the bus.

The only thing that made up for long trip was the majestic Mayon volcano that greeted us in the bus as we passed along the highways of Albay province en route to Tabaco port

After the 15-hour drive from Manila, we reached the Tabaco Port in Albay Province, to take a 3-hour trip to a Catanduanes port where another 30-minute drive is required to reach the capital city of Virac.

The threesome party had no specific itinerary, only the gut feel of just exploring the place and readying ourselves for fun and surprises in store for the adventure.

Upon reaching the city, we checked in at the hotel called ADSCI Corporate Inn. An NGO (Non-government Organization) owned property, a modest but clean hotel.

We had our first decent lunch (lunch at the stop over are mere “pantawid gutom” (palliative aid to hunger)) at the Sea Breeze Restaurant.  Located by the beach, the restaurant offered a menu of local dishes.

After our splendid lunch of native delicacies, we went to the bus terminal to get our return tickets to Manila. To my dismay, there is only one trip per day available and trips were all booked for 4 days.

A local guy told us to try our luck with another bus ticket outlet in the port, which is 30 minutes away from the city. And so we did.

At the jeepney terminal going to the port, the wait was almost 45 minutes each trip. The jeep leaves only until its 20-seats are filled up.

So we looked for another mode of transportation, and we saw a tricycle. After a quick negotiation of a round trip and an assured return ticket to Manila, we boarded this trike driven by a cool dude named, Oliver. He became our local tour guide with his “4-wheel drive mean vehicle.”

In the evening on our first day in Virac, we drowned our tired bodies with several bottles of beer and native appetizers as we called it a night to prepare for the next day’s exploration of the island.

Day 2 in Cannestanduanes

Trying to figure out where we should go first, Oliver told us to go to Puraran Beach. The trip is an hour away from the city via Oliver’s tricycle.

Unmindful of the scorching heat, we breezed through the province’s idyllic sceneries with sporadic view of beaches and mountains.

The cool and fresh air made us oblivious to the sweltering heat as we draw nearer to Puraran Beach. When we reached the entrance gate, a breath taking view of the beach’s expanse greeted us. Golden sand kissed by the blazing sun intermittently caressed by the blue roaring waves: a surfers’ delight.

The place is scarcely populated, so we practically had the place to ourselves. There are a few locals who stay in Puraran Beach who are mostly surfer instructors willing and able to teach new learners in surfing.

We ordered lunch from the beach’s kiosk that served fresh seafood. After which, we spent the whole afternoon just gazing at the magnificent view, communing with nature’s best gifts and enjoying the tranquility of the place.

Day 2 and 3 in Cannestanduanes

The second day of our Catanduanes trip was devoted to just lazing in bed the whole day, after the shaky, rattly, rolly ride in a tricyle for an hour going to Puraran beach, our muscles and joints need to rest. I’m no longer a spring chicken after all.

But on the third day, we made sure that it’s going to be another day of fun and adventure.

They say that when you are immune to something, a higher dosage is in order. True enough. We thought we already had an adequate exposure to the island’s beach. We were wrong!

Our destination is another beach. We never had it too easy though when we went to Batag.  In spite of the good road, one of our tires went off. Notwithstanding the 30-minute drive that became 45 minutes, the trip and the short delay were well worth it when we arrived at Batag.

Batag beach caters to those who just want to take a dip as they swim their cares away. It is a piece of paradise on earth, populated only by the locals who are caretakers of natures’ best gifts. The yellow sand sparkles under the blazing sun, but the vast expanse of clear and crystal clear water and fine sandy beach compensates for the day’s intense heat

I felt that God answered my heart’s desire to commune again with nature in a place far away from the city’s pollution, distraction and frivolous recreation.

The food that we bought from the city’s public market was still fresh that filled our hungry tummy for the day’s lunch.

Our beach craving has become insatiable when Oliver, our tour guide, offered to bring us to another beach nearby, Balete beach.

Half an hour away from Batag, Balete beach is found inland from the main road. Embraced by different species of trees, the beach is an expanse of kilometric yellow fine sand undisturbed by humans.

The shallow portion of the beach extends as far as hundred meters with pristine water. While the beach does not provide amenities for shower and cooking, tent and outdoor routine would be perfect for this place.

Our last destination for the day was the Maribina Falls. One of the province’s attraction, the three-tiered falls is a favorite destination among the locals.

Day 4 in Cannestanduanes

The fourth day was our last day. Woke up at 7 am, had breakfast and packed our things ready for a bit of culture and history and cave adventure prior to final boarding at the port.

We dropped by the Catanduanes Museum and saw artifacts that the province had gathered to prove the province’s historicity.

After the museum, just a few minutes from the port, we passed by the Luyang cave. Since I am claustrophobic, I did not bother to enter the cave. My two companions were brave enough to explore the cave full of bats.

Along the way to the port where we shall be taking the ship designed to carry wheeled cargoes including our bus.

This type of trip is called the RORO (Roll-on/roll off) typically used for inter-island trips.

As we arrived at the port, we had a quick lunch at one of the carinderias (small eateries) around the port and boarded the ship.

Now in hindsight, if anyone would ask me to choose between going to Cannes and Catanduanes, I would still opt to go to Catanduanes.

Cannes may boast of its glamour, glitz and grandeur, but, nothing beats the magnificence, majesty and magnanimity of our nature’s abundance and bounty.

It’s more Wow in the Philippines.  Cannes you beat that?