2016 has been a remarkable year for me, so much blessings and a lot of “first-times”; an amazing roller coaster ride if I should define it. There were ups and downs, different challenges along the road yet still a marvelous year. I have achieved a lot of personal goals which I’m really very thankful of. 2016 has passed but it’s memory and the lessons learned remains and I’m glad to have recorded my journey through this blog. Here are the top 6 of my 2016 travel experiences:
It was my first outreach program for 2016 which was organized by our company. Charity works is always something that I want and love to do. We went to an Elementary School in Baraz Rizal where we treat the kids with fun games, feeding program and provided some giveaways. It was indeed a fulfilling and one of a kind experience. An awesome way to start 2016.
It was my first tripout of the country. I planned it since 2014 and it has only been made possible last year. I explored different beautiful places in Hong Kong and experienced how it feels like living abroad. Indeed, it was very memorable and amazing.
My first out of 6 Disneylands in the world, 5 to go 🙂 . This was one of the highlights of my 2016’s travels. It was a day full of magical and amazing moments, a day that will forever be in my heart, a memory that will never be forgotten.
My 2nd trip to a foreign land last 2016 was in Macau – the Las Vegas of Asia. It was such an overwhelming experience – visiting different huge casinos and hotels. A combination of past and present culture, Macau has indeed a lot to offer. One of my unforgettable Macau experiences was when we walked from Senado Square to Wyn Hotel until we got lost in the city looking for our way back to the Ferry Terminal.
Home of the Best Island in the world (www.travelandleisure.com ) , Palawan is one of my top pick destinations in the Philippines. It is probably every beach lovers favorite destination. Palawan is also home to the longest navigable underground river in the world and is one of the World’s Wonders of Nature. I would never forget of how amazed I was when we boat through its limestone’s caverns.
Kalanggaman Island is also in one of my top pick Philippine destinations. Located off the shore of Palompon Leyte, Kalanggaman Island boasts it’s long sandbars that stretches from both ends of the island with its powdery white sand and crystal clear water. It was my first camping experience and also my first time sleeping in a tent.
Indeed, 2016 has been an awesome year. It has opened a lot of opportunities and brought me to many beautiful places. It has been the launching point of my travel goals and I’m looking forward to more travels this 2017.
So how’s your 2016? Share your experiences and travel achievements and inspire others!
Kalanggaman Island is undeniably a must-go destination in the Philippines, no wonder why it is probably in everyone’s bucket list. Long sandbars that stretch from both ends of the island with white and powdery sand and crystal clear water…perfect summer getaway or soul searching, barkada bonding and family holiday place.
It is said to have gained international exposure last 2013 when MV Europa Cruise Line stopped over in the Island and brought around 400 passengers and stayed there for a couple of hours. Since then, different pictures of Kalanggaman Island circulated around the internet which makes it one of the top destinations in Eastern Visayas.
If you’re planning to go to Kalanggaman Island and personally witness its picturesque view, I hope this travel guide, tips and other good to know information will help you.
How to get to Kalanggaman Island
Kalanggaman Island is located off the shore of Palompon in the western part of Leyte. From Palompon, it is around 45 minutes to an hour boat ride. You can reach Palompon either from Tacloban or Ormoc.
From Manila: There are daily flights from Manila to Tacloban or Ormoc, both are in Leyte.
If you are coming from Tacloban Airport (like what we did, we didn’t realize that Ormoc is much nearer to Palompon than from Tacloban)
Ride a jeep from the airport going to the new bus terminal, the driver will drop you off exactly at the new bus terminal.
Take either a van or a bus bound to Palompon.
Jeepney Fare: 50 pesos per person
Van Fare: 150 per person
Travel Time (to Palompon): 3 hours
If you are coming from Ormoc Airport
Go to Ormoc City Bus/Jeepney/Van Terminal (just ask the airport staff on how to go to the terminal)
Ride a van to Palompon
Fare: 110 per person
Travel Time: 1-2 hours
From Cebu: Take a boat or a fastcraft to Ormoc City. You can also go to Kalanggamana Island directly from Malapascua Cebu.
NOTE!! All tourists are required to register at the Palompon Tourism Office. It is located in front of the Liberty Park, walking distance from the Market and Terminal.
Rental and Entrance Fees
Boat Rental Fees
Php3000 – 15 Pax Maximum Capacity
Php3500 – 25 Pax Maximum Capacity
Php4000 – 30 Pax Maximum Capacity
Php5000 – 40 Pax Maximum Capacity
TIP: You can save money if you are travelling in a group, you can divide the boat rental fee depending on how many you are in a group. However, if you are a solo traveler or a group of 2 or 3, you can inform the tourism officer that you would like to share a boat with other tourists so they can arrange it for you. You can also talk to other tourists and share a boat with them. The same boat will fetch you back to Palompon so don’t forget to ask the boatman for the return trip time.
On the boat to Kalanggaman
In our case since we were only 3, we asked the officer that we would like to share a boat ride with other tourists. We shared with a group of students from Tacloban, they were around more or less 20 pax so we only paid Php500 (500/3=167 each,rounded off).
Entrance Fees (Day Tour)
Php500 – International Tourists
Php150 – Local Tourists
Php40 – College Students
Php30 – High school Students
Php20 – Elementary Pupils
Php120 – Senior Citizens
Entrance Fees (Overnight)
Php750 – International Tourists
Php225 – Local Tourists
Php60 – College Students
Php40 – High school Students
Php30 – Elementary Pupils
Php180 – Senior Citizens
Cottages
Php250 – 15 Pax Maximum Capacity
Php500 – 25 Pax Maximum Capacity
Pho700 – 30 Pax Maximum Capacity
TIP: Palompon limits the number of guest in the island so if you want to have a smooth travel, prior reservation is required. However, walk-ins are allowed but be there as early as possible (when the Tourism Office opens) to secure a slot. According to what I have read they only allow 100 tourists in Kalanggaman Island. I forgot to asked the officer about this. I will update this info as soon as i will be able to confirm the allowed number of guests with Palompon Tourism Office. Anyways, just be there early (wink emoji).
We tried to contact Palompon Tourism Office for reservation and we called multiple numbers we got from different bogs but all seemed to be not working. Luckily, we were able to obtain one working number and we were able to reserve a slot. You can try to contact this number: 0926-816-4005.
Where to stay in the island?
There is no resort in the island so your gonna have to either rent a cottage or a tent. You can also bring your own tent if you have one. Tent rentals are available in the Tourism Office. We rented a tent good for 5 pax for Php350. Tent rentals are also available in the island but to be sure just rent one from PalomponTourism Office.
Our humble maroon tent! ^_^
Update: There were ongoing constructions in the island. There were construction guys in the area and they were building a convention hall. We also found out that they are building small cottages for those who wants to stay overnight and other infrastructures in the island. It is somehow a good thing as it’ll provide comfort and convenience for the tourists but I hope the local government would not go beyond that and over commercialized the area. I love how it is right now, plain natural and simple.
These are the cottages that they are building.
Tree House under construction
Where to eat?
There is no restaurants, karenderya or sari-sari store in Kalanggaman so make sure to bring enough food for a day or overnight stay. Grilling stations are available in the island in case you want to grill some fish, meat or hotdog.
Grilling Station
Is there a potable water in the island?
No. There is no potable water in the island so you’re gonna have to bring your own drinking water. Bring plenty of water as you can. You don’t wanna ran out of water in the middle of an island so bring enough water that you can consume.
Is there a CR or dressing room in the island?
Yes. There are restrooms and dressing rooms in the island. But don’t expect too much, the facilities are very basic, just enough to serve your needs. There are no faucet so you’re gonna have to fetch yourself a water, using a pail, from a big water container / water pump ( tubig poso). By the way, the water from the water pumpis from the sea, no fresh water (wink emoji).
Dressing Room
Water Pump “tubig poso” just right outside the comfort room
Activities in Kalanggaman Island
Swimming
Snorkeling
Kayaking
Scuba Diving
Camping
Friendly Reminders and Good to Know Information
Bring sunblock, shades, cap, umbrella or anything that can protect your skin from the direct heat of the sun.
Bring an insect repellent.
There is no electricity in the island so make sure all your electronic gadgets (cellphones, cameras even power banks) are fully charged. Bring an extra battery or a solar power bank if you have one. You might see a couple of light there at night but that’s for the care taker/island personnel and it’s powered through solar panel.
There is a police station in the island for the safety of the tourists.
The boatman provides a container of fresh water to the tourists, but it’s just enough for freshening up.
Two trash bags will be provided to each tourists/group, one will be for the biodegradable trash and the other one is for non-biodegradable trash. The boatman will collect the two trash bags upon your return trip to Palompon.
Start your boat-trip early in the morning if you want to have a smooth sailing. Also, dolphins sometimes show up in the morning.
Do not travel during bad whether conditions.
Bonfire is not allowed in the island.
Swimming at the sandbar area is prohibited due to the rip current which is very dangerous.
Swimming on the other part of the island (rocky part) is not allowed.
Where to stay in Palompon
PACCI House
Address: Rizal Street (walking distance from the Market and Tourism Office)
Amenities: Function Hall, Telephone Service, Internet
Contact Number: (053) 338-2880
We stayed here for 1 night. All regular rooms were fully booked so we stayed in there dormitory type room with 3 double-deck beds, en-suit CR and air condition. There were no TV and the Wi-Fi can also be used best at the lobby. Good thing smart has a strong reception in the area so updating your social media posts isn’t gonna be a problem :).
Whispering Beach Mini Hotel
Address: P. Del Rosario Ext. Brgy. Guiwan I
Amenities: Function Hall, Telephone Service, hot & cold shower, Catering services
Our recently concluded Leyte
adventure is one of my many unforgettable vacation experiences. No itinerary,
no accommodations made before the travel, no plans…a total adventure.
Nevertheless it was still successful and memorable. We survived a 3-day DIY Leyte
Tour – with an endless road trip and challenges in looking for a place to stay.
Looking for a place to stay is
one thing that I always do first when traveling and our Leyte tour is the only
exemption. I guess we were too busy at work that we somehow forgot to
plan our travel. Well, we tried looking for a travel package and let them
arrange everything for us but we were too late. We started looking for a travel
agency just few days before our tour hoping that we could still book a slot but
I guess luck wasn’t favoring us that time. Next time, we will check online
booking sites like Traveloka.com so that at least we would have our
accommodations covered. Less stress, more savings in hotels.
So our last option was a DIY
tour. We started reading blogs to gather information on what to do in Leyte,
where to go, how to commute and best and affordable places to stay. We read
different posts and we decided to copy some details from Travel With Maria’s blog post. We also get some ideas from Out of Town Blog and Blessed not Lucky’s blog post.
The highlight of our Leyte Tour
is Kalanggaman Island, so we decided to have an overnight stay in the island on
our first day and spend the remaining 2 days in Lake Danao in Ormoc, waterfalls
chasing in Biliran and touring in Tacloban City. We just actually came up
with this plan a day before our flight. Luckily, we were still able to reserve
a slot in Kalanggaman Island when we called the Tourism Office. Let me share
with you our 3 days DIY Leyte Tour.
Day 0
12:40 PM : Arrival at Tacloban
Airport.
· Take a jeep from the airport and tell the driver to drop you off
at the New Bus Terminal.
01:30 PM : We reached
Tacloban New Bus Terminal and took a Van bound to Palompon.
· Travel Time from Tacloban to Palompon is roughly 3 hours.
05:00 PM : We arrived at Palompon
Jeep/Van Terminal.
After arriving in Palompon we
head straight to PACCI House where we stayed overnight. It was just walking
distance from the terminal and right beside the highway so finding it wasn’t a
problem. The only room available was their Dormitory Type Room which costs
Php4,000 good for 6 persons. Since we were 3 they gave it to us for Php1200
(1200/3=Php400 per person). It was like a standard room with 3 double-deck
beds, air con and in-suite CR but has no TV. There’s free Wi-Fi but could only
be used best in the lobby. We would only be staying there for a night anyway so
we took the room. Besides, it was raining hard that time so we didn’t have a
choice to look for anywhere else to stay.
I personally recommend to stay
here as it is very accessible and it is walking distance from the tourism
office, market, convenient stores and it has an ATM. There are 3 banks in
Palompon proper. Metrobank, PNB and Landbank, all have ATM’s.
06:00 PM : We had our dinner at
the PACCI House’s cafeteria.
06:30 PM : The rain stopped so we
decided to go out and roam around the area.
08:00 PM : We head back to the
PACCI House and had some rest.
Day 1
06:00 AM : Woke up, freshened up
and had a morning stroll at the port.
It was probably one of my most
relaxing morning moments, walking around the market with the overlooking sea
and a breath of fresh air and also, I must say that they have the cleanest and
clearest water in the port compared to other ports I have seen. The water is so
clear that you can see the bottom, which has lots of starfish and different
multi-colored fishes. Some locals are even fishing just right there.
Look! The water is so clear that you can see the starfish at the bottom. Take note, this is in the port.
07:30 AM : We went to the market
and bought food and supplies that we will be needing in our overnight stay in
Kalanggaman Island.
08:00 AM : We went to the Tourism
Office for the registration (entrance fee, boat and tent rental).
The boat ride costs Php3000
good for 20-30 persons. Since we were only three and we don’t want to pay that
much for a boat ride we decided to wait for other tourists so we can share a
ride and pay less. Day tour and overnight stay has a different entrance fee
rate. You can also rent a tent or bring your own. There is no potable water in
the island so bring enough water. I will be posting a different article about Kalanggaman
Island tips and good to know info’s.
11:00 AM : We depart from
the jump off point in Palompon to Kalanggaman Island. We were with a group of
students who also stayed overnight in the island.
12:00 PM : We reached Kalanggaman
Island.
Stunned! Yes I was stunned with
its amazing beauty and crystal clear waters. It was one of the most beautiful
islands I have ever seen. I have been to Boracay and Palawan and they were
amazingly beautiful in their own ways. Kalanggaman Island is known for its long
sandbar stretching from both ends of the island and a crystal clear water
surrounding the area.
We spent the whole day enjoying
the natural beauty of the island. Photo ops, swimming, photo ops, eat and photo
ops again, haha. Watch out for my next post about our Kalanggaman Island
experience.
Day 2
11:00 AM : Boat ride from
Kalanggman Island back to Palompon
12:00 PM : Lunch in Palompon
01:00 PM : Went to the terminal
and took a Van bound to Ormoc
Our next destination was Lake
Danao in Ormoc. We were in fact a bit behind our schedule coz the boat who
fetched us from Kalanggaman was late.
02:00 PM : We arrived in
Ormoc Public Terminal
A tricycle driver was offering
us a ride to Lake Danao for Php1500, it was too expensive so we didn’t take it,
only to find out that the multi-cab going to Lake Danao already left. According
to the locals one last ride will be at 4:00 PM but there’s gonna be no ride
back to Ormoc until the next morning. We were not sure if there’s any place to
stay in Lake Danao and we didn’t have a tent so we decided not to go and just
head back to Tacloban for our city tour the following day.
So if you guys want to follow
our itinerary you now know what to do. Leave Kalanggaman Island as early as
possible, probably around 7 or 8 AM. If there’s one thing that I learned about
our Leyte Tour it would be to allot ample time for the road trip.
06:00 PM : We reached Tacloban
Since we didn’t have any
accommodations made, we spent around 30 minutes looking for a pocket-friendly
place to stay overnight. We check a couple of lodges and inns but they were all
fully booked , thankfully we found one lodge with an available room. We took
the basic air conditioned room with twin sized-bed, small TV and an
in-suite CR. The room costs Php750 for two persons plus Php80 additional since
we were 3.
We had our dinner at the
nearest fast food and then we headed back to the lodge to rest from a tiresome
road trip. So literally, we spent our second day on the road, lol.
Day 3
06:00 AM : Woke up, freshened up,
and packed our things.
We decided to rent a tricycle
for our Tacloban City tour and we were lucky to have a nice and friendly
tricycle driver, his name is Kuya Omer. We agreed to pay him Php500 for the
tour, so he became our personal driver and tour guide for 4 hours.
· We also visited the ship which ran aground in Tacloban during
typhoon Yolanda
· Leyte Park
· Kuya Omer also brought us to where we can buy pasalubongs
· Sto. Nino Shrine
12:00 AM : End of city tour.
Since our flight back to Manila
was scheduled at 5:30 PM and we still had 5 hours to kill, we decided to go to
the Robinson’s mall and watch a movie, lol. So we had our lunch first and
watched Doctor Strange . It was cool coz we got to watch Doctor Strange for Php195,
haha. We would have spent Php270 or more if we watched it here in Manila.
02:00 PM : Went to the airport
for our flight back to Manila.
We still rented Kuya Omer’s
tricycle as our ride to the airport. We paid him Php150. He was nice,
accommodating and helpful. He was also a Yolanda survivor and he told us his
story and what really happened when the typhoon struck Tacloban. We were glad
that somehow we were able to help him even in a simple way. If you will be in
Tacloban and plan to rent a tricycle for a tour, you can look for Kuya Omer.
Too bad he doesn’t have a cellphone so there’s no way to contact him. If you
happen to be staying in Leos Lodge he is usually there, you can ask for him.
This is kuya Omer, a yolanda survivor!
No plans made, no itinerary
made but we were able to pull off our Leyte Tour. It was indeed an adventure. There are still a lot of beautiful places in Leyte that we haven’t covered on our 3 day tour. Next time around I will surely plan my trip properly and honestly, I’m really not good in DIY travels, lol, or maybe I just need to get the hang of it.
Stay tuned for my upcoming Tacloban City Tour and Kalanggaman Island Experience posts.
