Technically, not the 100th.
This vacation, we went to our province in Alaminos City, Pangasinan. And yes, it is home to the National Park of the Philippines: Hundred Islands National Park.
By the numbers, it is composed of 124 islands during low tide and 123 if on high tide.
Since we are just a local and we cannot call ourselves completely tourists, we only explored one island which is Quezon Island.
Departing Lucap Wharf
Arriving at Lucap Wharf from Brgy. Alos, Alaminos City (near Alaminos-Mabini Boundary) at exactly 10:30 am, we board a chartered "large banca" with a maximum capacity of 15 passengers plus 2 crew and load. Total fee for the private banca for back-and-forth travel is 2,500 pesos.
En route to Quezon Island.
We chose to be privatized, so we are offered three choices of route going to the island. First choice is the "Normal Route". This route is the most common used when going to one of the three developed islands. This route will give you roughly 3/4 sighting of all the islands. From Lucap wharf, you will be entering a inverted "c" shape route thru quezon Isalnd which will traverse thru most of the islands. It is best for value.
Second is the "Circle route". Simply, you will be toured practically all of the islands. We didn't choose this. We are scared of high waves that time.
Then finally the "direct route". From Lucap Wharf, Quezon island is just dead straight ahead. Unlike the usual 20 minutes if going there thru "Normal Route", we arrived at Quezon Is. for about 12 minutes thru the direct route. Cutting off travel time drastically for nearly half. But is is not recommended for first timers because en-route you will only see 3-10 islands and then a "circle-to dock" method to quezon Is. port.
Arriving Quezon Is.. Straight-ahead from Lucap. Quezon Is. is at 11 oclock from the tip of the banca. The one with a red roof.
Past vs Present
Way back when we last visited Hundred Is. in 2007, there's not too much to do on Quezon aside from swimming and eating on the cottages. Today, I was surprised when I compared the one in the past and the one I recently visited. There are Kayak boat rentals, parasailing, glass bottom boats to see the giant clams below and near Quezon Is., there is the new zipline adventure.
We can take all of this adventure Hundred Islands can give us if my Mom would let us. Sadly, it's a big NO.
On the kayak. Me on the violet with the shades on.
If there are many attractions, there are a lot of tourists going there. I remembered last 2007, eating at the beachfront is strictly imposed. Also the littering around cottages were prohibited. But this time, it's different. There are piles of waste on every corner of the cottages area. Despite the presence of Garbage bins, trashes are at the side of it.
Useless bins.
On the way back
Yeah, I know you are excited to see the 100th island. I was excited to see that there too. Unfortunately, I can't show you the pic of the 100th island. Simply because it's too far.
But I've managed to snap the 124th island, the last island during low tide. At first I thought is was a shoal or an island with sands on it and a lagoon inside. But I was wrong when the driver of the banca ( I was told to call him driver instead of sailor or something, because he's steering on car wheels. Not boat wheel! ) told us that there is the last island.
The small bump near the center. Yes, that's it. The 124th island.
You only see this thing during low tide. Others don't see it because it's high tide or low tide but not this low. You only see the extreme tip when regular low tides. We are lucky this time. We've got low-low tide!
Arriving at the Dock.
After a total of 16 minutes traveling going to the docks. We are on earth AGAIN. It was a lengthly trip because of "bow waves", waves that are coming towards the front of the banca. And also the wind.
Arriving at the private dock. Steering thru 10 meter-high bamboo stick
After arriving Mom was headed to buy souvenirs. We are towards buying that can benefit our stomach. Ice Scramble and Kwek Kwek
And we love it!
And that's it for the Hundred Islands adventure and the 124th island.
I realized, "why I included my whole trip when my title is only for the 124th island?"
Anyways, I hope you like it.
REMEMBER!
>Bring SUN BLOCK! And don't forget to USE it!
>Bring WATER
>also ICE BLOCK. We want ice cold drinks. Ice is available at the city proper. So buy one there before you go ahead. 50 pesos for 1/2 block.
================
Posted in Manila
ORIGINAL TOPIC (c) 2011
ORIGINAL TOPIC (c) 2011 logo will be at the lowest part of the blog entry if that is an original text and picture from the author. Otherwise, if we copied a certain blog post from another blog, we will acknowledge the author of that post and post a direct link to the original one.
This vacation, we went to our province in Alaminos City, Pangasinan. And yes, it is home to the National Park of the Philippines: Hundred Islands National Park.
By the numbers, it is composed of 124 islands during low tide and 123 if on high tide.
Since we are just a local and we cannot call ourselves completely tourists, we only explored one island which is Quezon Island.
Departing Lucap Wharf
Arriving at Lucap Wharf from Brgy. Alos, Alaminos City (near Alaminos-Mabini Boundary) at exactly 10:30 am, we board a chartered "large banca" with a maximum capacity of 15 passengers plus 2 crew and load. Total fee for the private banca for back-and-forth travel is 2,500 pesos.
En route to Quezon Island.
We chose to be privatized, so we are offered three choices of route going to the island. First choice is the "Normal Route". This route is the most common used when going to one of the three developed islands. This route will give you roughly 3/4 sighting of all the islands. From Lucap wharf, you will be entering a inverted "c" shape route thru quezon Isalnd which will traverse thru most of the islands. It is best for value.
Second is the "Circle route". Simply, you will be toured practically all of the islands. We didn't choose this. We are scared of high waves that time.
Then finally the "direct route". From Lucap Wharf, Quezon island is just dead straight ahead. Unlike the usual 20 minutes if going there thru "Normal Route", we arrived at Quezon Is. for about 12 minutes thru the direct route. Cutting off travel time drastically for nearly half. But is is not recommended for first timers because en-route you will only see 3-10 islands and then a "circle-to dock" method to quezon Is. port.
Past vs Present
Way back when we last visited Hundred Is. in 2007, there's not too much to do on Quezon aside from swimming and eating on the cottages. Today, I was surprised when I compared the one in the past and the one I recently visited. There are Kayak boat rentals, parasailing, glass bottom boats to see the giant clams below and near Quezon Is., there is the new zipline adventure.
We can take all of this adventure Hundred Islands can give us if my Mom would let us. Sadly, it's a big NO.
If there are many attractions, there are a lot of tourists going there. I remembered last 2007, eating at the beachfront is strictly imposed. Also the littering around cottages were prohibited. But this time, it's different. There are piles of waste on every corner of the cottages area. Despite the presence of Garbage bins, trashes are at the side of it.
Useless bins.
On the way back
Yeah, I know you are excited to see the 100th island. I was excited to see that there too. Unfortunately, I can't show you the pic of the 100th island. Simply because it's too far.
But I've managed to snap the 124th island, the last island during low tide. At first I thought is was a shoal or an island with sands on it and a lagoon inside. But I was wrong when the driver of the banca ( I was told to call him driver instead of sailor or something, because he's steering on car wheels. Not boat wheel! ) told us that there is the last island.
The small bump near the center. Yes, that's it. The 124th island.
You only see this thing during low tide. Others don't see it because it's high tide or low tide but not this low. You only see the extreme tip when regular low tides. We are lucky this time. We've got low-low tide!
Arriving at the Dock.
After a total of 16 minutes traveling going to the docks. We are on earth AGAIN. It was a lengthly trip because of "bow waves", waves that are coming towards the front of the banca. And also the wind.
After arriving Mom was headed to buy souvenirs. We are towards buying that can benefit our stomach. Ice Scramble and Kwek Kwek
And we love it!
And that's it for the Hundred Islands adventure and the 124th island.
I realized, "why I included my whole trip when my title is only for the 124th island?"
Anyways, I hope you like it.
REMEMBER!
>Bring SUN BLOCK! And don't forget to USE it!
>Bring WATER
>also ICE BLOCK. We want ice cold drinks. Ice is available at the city proper. So buy one there before you go ahead. 50 pesos for 1/2 block.
================
Posted in Manila
ORIGINAL TOPIC (c) 2011
ORIGINAL TOPIC (c) 2011 logo will be at the lowest part of the blog entry if that is an original text and picture from the author. Otherwise, if we copied a certain blog post from another blog, we will acknowledge the author of that post and post a direct link to the original one.