We boarded a habal-habal to Maxima Aquafun. The trip costs PhP25 excluding a PhP10 fee for marine rehabilitation.
In Maxima, there are 2 packages. The difference is the sole addition of a Canopy Walk activity. This, however, was not available on weekdays so we ended up taking the other package which costs PhP200 and includes use of life vest, tables, chairs, diving board, trampoline and giant slide, and 15min snorkeling.
They claim to have the longest slide. We tried it shortly after lunch. We were first skeptical about wearing lifevests but when we tried the slide, we really deemed it fit to wear one. The point below the slide is claimed to be 120ft. I asked if it was natural and the staff answered it was. They offer taking your pictures while sliding (pretty much like Jungle Log Jam in Enchanted Kingdom or Space Mountain in Disneyland or any other roller coaster) and charges PhP60 for it.
After sliding, we swam to the diving board. It was scary because there appeared to be a rock right below you. Of course it was very far down but it was real scary just seeing it. I may have taken 15 minutes before I dived. :D
It was my first time to wear a lifevest while swimming and it was pretty difficult. I feel like I have no freedom since I am used to just swimming. My friend felt the same way as I and took off her lifevest. She ended up wearing it again because she got scolded. Haha!
There were about 50 other people but it didn't feel cramped at all. We transfered to another beach, however, because we wanted something with sand not cliffs. :)
Maxima Aquafun
Island Garden City of Samal
Maxima Website
Maxima on Facebook
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Davao-Samal
Destination: Samal
Date: May 21, 2010
We boarded a taxi for Sta Ana Wharf beside Magsaysay Park. This is where one can ride a bus to Samal.
I think there is only one bus, the Island City Express. It costs PhP32 for regular passengers and PhP28 for students like me from the Wharf to the Warehouse (Samal Central Warehouse Club). The trip takes about an hour including the very slow barge ride across the narrow body of water that separates Davao and Samal.
Upon arrival, habal-habal drivers flock around us to offer their services. This can get very irritating but it is wise to bring patience with you and just ignore their bickering when you are waiting for someone or heed to one and leave right away.
We bought supplies in the warehouse which has pretty much everything except sunblock. :D They have clothes, grocery, appliances, motorcycles and a Mang Inasal outlet.
Date: May 21, 2010
We boarded a taxi for Sta Ana Wharf beside Magsaysay Park. This is where one can ride a bus to Samal.
I think there is only one bus, the Island City Express. It costs PhP32 for regular passengers and PhP28 for students like me from the Wharf to the Warehouse (Samal Central Warehouse Club). The trip takes about an hour including the very slow barge ride across the narrow body of water that separates Davao and Samal.
Upon arrival, habal-habal drivers flock around us to offer their services. This can get very irritating but it is wise to bring patience with you and just ignore their bickering when you are waiting for someone or heed to one and leave right away.
We bought supplies in the warehouse which has pretty much everything except sunblock. :D They have clothes, grocery, appliances, motorcycles and a Mang Inasal outlet.
Cagayan de Oro-Davao
Destination: Davao
Date: May 20, 2010
From LimKetKai, we boarded a taxi to the bus terminal. Unfortunately, the 9PM airconditioned bus left already because it was already full. So we waited a couple of hours more for the 11PM bus.
We fell in line but when the bus arrived, the line was no longer followed and many people who came later than us were able to board the bus. We were the last ones who boarded the bus who were still able to grab some seats. :-| It was really unorderly. Good thing good samaritans exist like this lady who placed a bag on the seat beside her to let the others assume that there was someone sitting on it. When I passed by her, she offered it to me. :D There was also a nun who offered the seat beside her to my friend.
I told the driver and bus conductor n times that our stop is the market in Mintal. They mistook it for Matina so we ended up stopping in the bus terminal instead. We arrived a little before 6AM. The trip costs PhP550 for regular passengers and PhP440 for students like me. :D
Our phones were all battery empty so we crossed the street and asked if we could recharge. The boy charged PhP10 but since we stayed for only 15-30 minutes, he charged us PhP5 for the camera charger and cellphone charger. Good boy. :)
We boarded a taxi to Matina Town Square and should have eaten at TAPS but it was close before 7AM so we ate at nearby McDonald's, which is open around the clock. We went back to Matina Town Square and withdrew some cash from the BPI ATMachine.
Date: May 20, 2010
From LimKetKai, we boarded a taxi to the bus terminal. Unfortunately, the 9PM airconditioned bus left already because it was already full. So we waited a couple of hours more for the 11PM bus.
We fell in line but when the bus arrived, the line was no longer followed and many people who came later than us were able to board the bus. We were the last ones who boarded the bus who were still able to grab some seats. :-| It was really unorderly. Good thing good samaritans exist like this lady who placed a bag on the seat beside her to let the others assume that there was someone sitting on it. When I passed by her, she offered it to me. :D There was also a nun who offered the seat beside her to my friend.
I told the driver and bus conductor n times that our stop is the market in Mintal. They mistook it for Matina so we ended up stopping in the bus terminal instead. We arrived a little before 6AM. The trip costs PhP550 for regular passengers and PhP440 for students like me. :D
Our phones were all battery empty so we crossed the street and asked if we could recharge. The boy charged PhP10 but since we stayed for only 15-30 minutes, he charged us PhP5 for the camera charger and cellphone charger. Good boy. :)
We boarded a taxi to Matina Town Square and should have eaten at TAPS but it was close before 7AM so we ate at nearby McDonald's, which is open around the clock. We went back to Matina Town Square and withdrew some cash from the BPI ATMachine.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Plaridel-Cagayan de Oro
Destination: Cagayan de Oro
Date: May 20, 2010
In Plaridel, I boarded a tricycle to the bus terminal. The fare is Php20 and the trip takes about 5-10 minutes.
In the bus terminal, there were two buses, Super Five and Rural Transit. Super Five was almost full while Rural, the bigger bus, had no one in it. Naturally, I boarded the Super Five bus, which costs PhP200 to CDO.
From Plaridel to Ozamis, which takes about 2-3 hours, one has to get off the bus temporarily and purchase a PhP20 ticket and PhP3 terminal fee for the barge which takes you to the other side of the bay. The trip is about 15 minutes.
As the barge is approaching land, you have to go down to where the buses are and board your bus since all vehicles roll off as soon as possible. You might be left. Haha!
So from the other side of the bay, which is called Mukas, the journey to CDO resumes. On the way to CDO, the bus passes by Iligan where the bus driver stops for lunch. Vendors display their products by your window.
I caught sight of a thick rounded bread, which might be what it was centuries ago and which I later found to be called "Apang". I thought it was Muslim food, which might be what it really is. I tried it anyway because it was the first time I saw it. At P10, it was very filling and good too. It was like two pieces of pancake stuck together.
After the bus driver had his fill of lunch, the journey started once more. We arrived in CDO at about 3:30PM.
From the bus terminal, I asked my way to LimKetKai. The people told me to board a jeepney by the exit.
Date: May 20, 2010
In Plaridel, I boarded a tricycle to the bus terminal. The fare is Php20 and the trip takes about 5-10 minutes.
In the bus terminal, there were two buses, Super Five and Rural Transit. Super Five was almost full while Rural, the bigger bus, had no one in it. Naturally, I boarded the Super Five bus, which costs PhP200 to CDO.
From Plaridel to Ozamis, which takes about 2-3 hours, one has to get off the bus temporarily and purchase a PhP20 ticket and PhP3 terminal fee for the barge which takes you to the other side of the bay. The trip is about 15 minutes.
As the barge is approaching land, you have to go down to where the buses are and board your bus since all vehicles roll off as soon as possible. You might be left. Haha!
So from the other side of the bay, which is called Mukas, the journey to CDO resumes. On the way to CDO, the bus passes by Iligan where the bus driver stops for lunch. Vendors display their products by your window.
I caught sight of a thick rounded bread, which might be what it was centuries ago and which I later found to be called "Apang". I thought it was Muslim food, which might be what it really is. I tried it anyway because it was the first time I saw it. At P10, it was very filling and good too. It was like two pieces of pancake stuck together.
After the bus driver had his fill of lunch, the journey started once more. We arrived in CDO at about 3:30PM.
From the bus terminal, I asked my way to LimKetKai. The people told me to board a jeepney by the exit.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Tagbilaran-Plaridel
Destination: Cagayan de Oro turned Plaridel
Date: May 19, 2010
From Tagbilaran, I had to go to Davao. One easy option is to board a ferry to Cagayan de Oro (CDO) and from there, ride a bus to Davao.
Trans-Asia caters to the Tagbilaran-CDO route every Monday, Wednesday and Friday but it is always fully booked at around PhP600 for regular economy tickets and PhP750 for regular tourist tickets (Presidential suites are priced at around PhP1200). The boat departs at 7PM and arrives at 7AM the next day.
Super Shuttle Ferry offers Jagna-CDO daily at about PhP600 but at that time, their vessel was undergoing repairs and that meant no trips. Talk about luck. By the way, Jagna is a municipality in Bohol which is 60 kilometers from Tagbilaran City. And Super Shuttle Ferry leaves Jagna at 8AM and reaches CDO in the afternoon.
Paras Sea Cat also offers Jagna-CDO via Camiguin daily except Thursdays at PhP800. The vessel leaves at 1PM and reaches CDO before 6PM. Since it was 1PM by the time I knew about this, this option was crossed out as well. Talk about luck again.
I had two last options: Gothong and FJP Lines.
Gothong offers Jagna-CDO at Php750. The vessel departs at 2PM and arrives at 7PM.
Since I was in Tagbilaran, it was wise to cross out all my options here than leave for Jagna and eye Gothong, which may have canceled its trip for repairs or what.
Different ships link Tagbilaran to Dapitan, Plaridel, Ozamis, Iligan, Nasipit and etc. But, on a Wednesday, only the Tagbilaran-Plaridel route is available.
So I took it because I really had to be in CDO by Thursday afternoon.
FJP lines offers Tagbilaran-Plaridel, Misamis Occidental via Larena in Siquijor every Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays (Another shipping line, Lite Shipping, offers the same route every Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays). I got a tourist ticket for PhP400 at Student's Privilege. The vessel is notorious for not following its own schedules. It may depart Tagbilaran as early as 7PM or as late as 2AM. Luckily for me, it departed at about 8PM. I arrived in Plaridel at 8AM the next day.
Date: May 19, 2010
From Tagbilaran, I had to go to Davao. One easy option is to board a ferry to Cagayan de Oro (CDO) and from there, ride a bus to Davao.
Trans-Asia caters to the Tagbilaran-CDO route every Monday, Wednesday and Friday but it is always fully booked at around PhP600 for regular economy tickets and PhP750 for regular tourist tickets (Presidential suites are priced at around PhP1200). The boat departs at 7PM and arrives at 7AM the next day.
Super Shuttle Ferry offers Jagna-CDO daily at about PhP600 but at that time, their vessel was undergoing repairs and that meant no trips. Talk about luck. By the way, Jagna is a municipality in Bohol which is 60 kilometers from Tagbilaran City. And Super Shuttle Ferry leaves Jagna at 8AM and reaches CDO in the afternoon.
Paras Sea Cat also offers Jagna-CDO via Camiguin daily except Thursdays at PhP800. The vessel leaves at 1PM and reaches CDO before 6PM. Since it was 1PM by the time I knew about this, this option was crossed out as well. Talk about luck again.
I had two last options: Gothong and FJP Lines.
Gothong offers Jagna-CDO at Php750. The vessel departs at 2PM and arrives at 7PM.
Since I was in Tagbilaran, it was wise to cross out all my options here than leave for Jagna and eye Gothong, which may have canceled its trip for repairs or what.
Different ships link Tagbilaran to Dapitan, Plaridel, Ozamis, Iligan, Nasipit and etc. But, on a Wednesday, only the Tagbilaran-Plaridel route is available.
So I took it because I really had to be in CDO by Thursday afternoon.
FJP lines offers Tagbilaran-Plaridel, Misamis Occidental via Larena in Siquijor every Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays (Another shipping line, Lite Shipping, offers the same route every Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays). I got a tourist ticket for PhP400 at Student's Privilege. The vessel is notorious for not following its own schedules. It may depart Tagbilaran as early as 7PM or as late as 2AM. Luckily for me, it departed at about 8PM. I arrived in Plaridel at 8AM the next day.
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