Sunday, May 28, 2017

Las Casas Filipinas


Welcome to Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar


This is a Spanish era inspired resort in the shore of Bataan.

It will take 4 hours to get here from Manila.
The current fare is P200.


There are a lot of buses bound to Bataan.
We took the Genesis bus liner along the EDSA Cubao.

You can just tell the driver to drop you in the Bataan junction
where you can ride a local bus bound to Bagak or simply to Las Casas, 
locals know it.

From the Bataan junction to Bagac, the fare is P35.
The travel time is around 20 minutes.


Day Tour is P1000
It includes a Kalesa ride around the resort and the swimming pool use.

1 night accommodation is around P3500.


That building from the other side of the river
is a restaurant.

There is a food stall beside this pool, too.
They serve cofee and local desserts.

Ah.. no food allowed from outside.


The owner purchased all these Spanish era houses and buildings around the country.

They renovated them and turned into room accommodations.


This was a birthday celebration of my love friend.

Cheers to Ann Jhan 😙


There is a river connecting to the sea.

You may rent a gondola to tour around.


Or hitch in this jeepney for free.


And, breath.


Side trips:
1. Dambana ng Kagitingan
2. Spend the night in one of the nearby beaches

To travel back, you can go back to the same route or ride in the local bus bound to Olongapo.

We did the latter.


Total expenses: P2000 each.

As we spent the night in a nearby resort.

**For comments and questions, please send me a message here or on Facebook.

Thursday, May 11, 2017

Mararison Island


Welcome to Mararison Island


Malalison or locally known as Mararison Island

This is a small island across the peninsula of Panay Island.


It will take 4 hours from Iloilo City to Culasi, Antique.

Then, another 10 minutes boat ride from the main land to this island.


We took the van in Molo Bus terminal in Iloilo City.
The fare was P200.
There are Ceres Buses bound to San Jose and Culasi for a lesser fare
and longer travel time.

You can arrive to this destination from Kalibo 
taking the bus bound to Culasi or San Jose, Antique,


I was with my friend ReeYu and we left Iloilo City around 8 pm.

There was no Ceres bus available at that time, so we took the van, instead.
It was comfy and fast travel than usual, arriving Culasi at 11 pm.


We stayed in the hostel near the main road.

T'was Lanai Inn, we just asked the local for the near hostel at that wee hour.
It was P600, each.

There are cheaper hostel somewhere but, I was too sleepy to asked
and too lazy to research prior to travel.


We had our breakfast near the port.

Then, proceed to the Tourism Office which is just around the corner.
We have to register and pay the Environmental fee of P20 and Terminal fee of P10.


We have also to decided whether to rent a boat for P700 round trip
or
share the boat ride with other people and pay lesser.


We decided to wait for few minutes.. like 10 minutes.

We shared the boat with other tourist.

The boat capacity is 10-15 passengers.
Our fare was P200, each. Round trip.


There are cottages near the beach side.
We agreed to stay with the locals, specifically our boat man.

Our home stay was P200, each. Good for 1 night and 2 days.
There are no restaurants but there are **karinderya.

**home cooked meal served in modest home style resto.


It is a must to hire a tour guide for P200, a day.
Though, it is a small island. This helps their livelihood.


The road to happiness... to the hills.


The first view.


The view on top of the hill overlooking the beach side of the island.


Going down to see the other side.


The clear waters.


The grass land that looks like Mt. Pulag's atmosphere.


The pitcher plant that scatters everywhere.
No picking allowed.
It is rare for this insect eating plant to be here.


This is another beach and there is a cave on the left side of it.


The Nablag Islet during the low tide.


We swam on the other side of the islet as it was low low tide.


Sunset watching with Nablag Islet.


This is the highest hill of the island
and
the best place to watch the sun setting, I think.


Over night and early morning swimming in the front beach filled the missing gaps..
and naps, too.


Total expenses: P1800
Companion: 1

Please send me an email or message me in Facebook if you have further questions.


Cheers!