CORON, NORTHERN PALAWAN – APRIL 11-14, 2008
I. The First Trip to Coron
We got to the airport very early- around 4 am to be exact, considering that our flight was at 7:20 am. We boarded our 4 turboprop DC-3 and departed on time as we began our 1 hr flight to Busuanga. A van from our resort picked us up from the airport. We arrived at Busuanga Island Paradise- our resort- after a 30 min. ride. We checked-in, unpacked and got ready to depart for our tour of Coron Town.
We got to the airport very early- around 4 am to be exact, considering that our flight was at 7:20 am. We boarded our 4 turboprop DC-3 and departed on time as we began our 1 hr flight to Busuanga. A van from our resort picked us up from the airport. We arrived at Busuanga Island Paradise- our resort- after a 30 min. ride. We checked-in, unpacked and got ready to depart for our tour of Coron Town.
II. Tour of the Town
We left at around 2:30pm. Our resort was 20 mins. Away from town. Our first stop was at one of the best souvenir shops in town. We spent an hr. or so there buying, well, um, souvenirs! We passed by a market too to buy water and snacks. Next on our agenda was going up Mt. Tapyas. The fact that there were concrete steps leading all the way up made it easier but there were 719 of them. To our relief, there were benches and resting spots every few meters up the mountain. We reached the summit with aching feet but a breath-taking view greeted us at the top. We took many pictures there. From the view of Coron Island to the islands surrounding Coron Bay, all was spectacular. Oh, did I mention how similar Coron Island looks to Jurassic park! It almost seems the movie was shot there. We went back down to our van and headed for Maquinit Hot Springs, perfect for relaxing or aching feet. Maquinit is a natural hot spring of course, and a mangrove forest surrounds the area. We returned to the resort at around 7:00pm. We ate dinner, watched a few rented VCD’s and slept, ready for another day.
We left at around 2:30pm. Our resort was 20 mins. Away from town. Our first stop was at one of the best souvenir shops in town. We spent an hr. or so there buying, well, um, souvenirs! We passed by a market too to buy water and snacks. Next on our agenda was going up Mt. Tapyas. The fact that there were concrete steps leading all the way up made it easier but there were 719 of them. To our relief, there were benches and resting spots every few meters up the mountain. We reached the summit with aching feet but a breath-taking view greeted us at the top. We took many pictures there. From the view of Coron Island to the islands surrounding Coron Bay, all was spectacular. Oh, did I mention how similar Coron Island looks to Jurassic park! It almost seems the movie was shot there. We went back down to our van and headed for Maquinit Hot Springs, perfect for relaxing or aching feet. Maquinit is a natural hot spring of course, and a mangrove forest surrounds the area. We returned to the resort at around 7:00pm. We ate dinner, watched a few rented VCD’s and slept, ready for another day.
III. Our First Island Hopping Experience in Coron
We woke up the next morning ready for our island hopping trip-day 1. our breakfast was at 7am and we left the resort at 8:30am. When we got to the place where bancas docked, we boarded ours called the “Travel Impact”. Our first stop was Kayangan Lake in the limestone-covered island of Coron. We hiked through 100 uneven steps surrounded by sharp and sometimes scary limestone formations. The lake, of course was fresh water and, instead of corals more limestone was to be seen beneath the surface. We boarded the Travel Impact again going to our next destination, Banol Beach. We ate lunch on Banol and we swam in the crystal clear waters nearby. Topped off from lunch, we proceeded to Skeleton Wreck, one of many sunken Japanese ships ambushed by the Americans in WWII. It was great having to see my first shipwreck. It was a great habitat for fish and corals since it is one of the shallower wrecks around. We went to Twin Lagoon next. From the name you can already point out there were 2 lagoons but one is fully enclosed. The only way to get to the other one is through a cave 1 and a half meters long. But the problem is that when high tide comes, the time we were there, the whole cave is fully submerged. On our banca, we just passed by, and took pictures of Twin Rocks. Our final destination that day was “Siete Pecados” one of, if not the most pristine place to see corals in Coron. So many fish call Siete Pecados their home. A single piece of bread is enough to make the fish scramble to you. There is also a current which passes through Siete Pecados, and where the current goes, the jellyfish go too. We saw enormous jellies the size of my head! (I’m not sure if they were that big since I didn’t want to put any of them beside my head for comparison). One of the boatmen even picked one up (avoiding the tentacles, obviously) so we can better see how they look. Instead of setting it free, he killed it and threw it back in the current-disgusting! After that, we called it a day. We took the banca to town, and the van back to the resort. We lounged around in the pool before dinner too. I rented the movie “300” and only watched half of it before going to bed.
We woke up the next morning ready for our island hopping trip-day 1. our breakfast was at 7am and we left the resort at 8:30am. When we got to the place where bancas docked, we boarded ours called the “Travel Impact”. Our first stop was Kayangan Lake in the limestone-covered island of Coron. We hiked through 100 uneven steps surrounded by sharp and sometimes scary limestone formations. The lake, of course was fresh water and, instead of corals more limestone was to be seen beneath the surface. We boarded the Travel Impact again going to our next destination, Banol Beach. We ate lunch on Banol and we swam in the crystal clear waters nearby. Topped off from lunch, we proceeded to Skeleton Wreck, one of many sunken Japanese ships ambushed by the Americans in WWII. It was great having to see my first shipwreck. It was a great habitat for fish and corals since it is one of the shallower wrecks around. We went to Twin Lagoon next. From the name you can already point out there were 2 lagoons but one is fully enclosed. The only way to get to the other one is through a cave 1 and a half meters long. But the problem is that when high tide comes, the time we were there, the whole cave is fully submerged. On our banca, we just passed by, and took pictures of Twin Rocks. Our final destination that day was “Siete Pecados” one of, if not the most pristine place to see corals in Coron. So many fish call Siete Pecados their home. A single piece of bread is enough to make the fish scramble to you. There is also a current which passes through Siete Pecados, and where the current goes, the jellyfish go too. We saw enormous jellies the size of my head! (I’m not sure if they were that big since I didn’t want to put any of them beside my head for comparison). One of the boatmen even picked one up (avoiding the tentacles, obviously) so we can better see how they look. Instead of setting it free, he killed it and threw it back in the current-disgusting! After that, we called it a day. We took the banca to town, and the van back to the resort. We lounged around in the pool before dinner too. I rented the movie “300” and only watched half of it before going to bed.
IV. Second Day of Island Hopping
Our second island-hopping tour was on a Sunday so we had to wake up extra early to go to Mass. The Mass ended at 9am and the van took us to our banca. Our first destination was Culion Island, a main island like Coron. We docked at Culion town and toured the town on foot. We passed by the hospital where many lepers were treated. We also went to Culion Church, which was old but most of it was restored in 2003. We went up a few flights of stairs to a view deck where you can see the nearby islands. On the deck, there were 2 old cannons probably used in WWII. We felt a bit lazy so we took a tricycle back to our banca instead of walking. Soon, we were off to our next destination, Lusong Wreck. That wreck was even shallower than the previous Skeleton wreck. We were there during high-tide, but during low-tide, the boatman said, a small bit of the wreck pokes the surface. That wreck is beside Lusong Island, hence the name, Lusong Wreck. It lies on the edge of the shallow waters near the island right before a drop off, common in the other islands too. Many corals grow in the wreck because of its shallow depth. There are very nice corals, not just on the wreck, but in the surroundings too. We again climbed out of the water and cruised along in our banca to a place called Coral Garden. Coral Garden was a vast expanse of light blue, shallow water beside another island. There were less fish then usual there though. Unlike in Siete Pecados, only a few fish nibble at a piece of bread after throwing it overboard. After that, we decided to go to a small islet called CYC. We took a break in CYC’s pool-like water. That was our last destination. We arrived at the resort at 4pm so we can rest and refresh ourselves before leaving for our trip home. We took a last dip in the pool and ate dinner for the last time in Busuanga Island Paradise, one of my favorite resorts from now on. I finished watching “300” and finished 2/3 of “Titanic” before leaving for the port at 9:30pm.
Our second island-hopping tour was on a Sunday so we had to wake up extra early to go to Mass. The Mass ended at 9am and the van took us to our banca. Our first destination was Culion Island, a main island like Coron. We docked at Culion town and toured the town on foot. We passed by the hospital where many lepers were treated. We also went to Culion Church, which was old but most of it was restored in 2003. We went up a few flights of stairs to a view deck where you can see the nearby islands. On the deck, there were 2 old cannons probably used in WWII. We felt a bit lazy so we took a tricycle back to our banca instead of walking. Soon, we were off to our next destination, Lusong Wreck. That wreck was even shallower than the previous Skeleton wreck. We were there during high-tide, but during low-tide, the boatman said, a small bit of the wreck pokes the surface. That wreck is beside Lusong Island, hence the name, Lusong Wreck. It lies on the edge of the shallow waters near the island right before a drop off, common in the other islands too. Many corals grow in the wreck because of its shallow depth. There are very nice corals, not just on the wreck, but in the surroundings too. We again climbed out of the water and cruised along in our banca to a place called Coral Garden. Coral Garden was a vast expanse of light blue, shallow water beside another island. There were less fish then usual there though. Unlike in Siete Pecados, only a few fish nibble at a piece of bread after throwing it overboard. After that, we decided to go to a small islet called CYC. We took a break in CYC’s pool-like water. That was our last destination. We arrived at the resort at 4pm so we can rest and refresh ourselves before leaving for our trip home. We took a last dip in the pool and ate dinner for the last time in Busuanga Island Paradise, one of my favorite resorts from now on. I finished watching “300” and finished 2/3 of “Titanic” before leaving for the port at 9:30pm.
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V. The Journey Home
Our original plan was to take a ship called “Our Lady of Good Voyage” back to Manila, but a few difficulties led to a change of vessel. Our new arrangement was with SuperFerry 1. We arrived at the port at just before 10pm and we waited longer then suspected since our ship arrived pretty late. We lined up to board the ship. They checked our bags for security then we proceeded to our cabin. It was air-conditioned, had a TV and was actually pretty cozy. As soon as I lied down, I switched off like a light bulb since it was past 12mn. I woke up at 7:30 the, um, same day and went ahead to breakfast. Their corned beef was juicy. After eating we went to the upper sun deck of the ship and strong winds whisked by with enough strength to throw you off balance if you weren’t alert. After a few hours, our ship passed by Batangas and we were able to see Tali Beach, the cliff, Punta Fuego and Hamilo Coast, Pico de Loro-all places we’ve been to in Batangas. A few more hours passed before they announced we were nearing Manila port. We packed our stuff once more and got ready to dock. As soon as we did, we slowly got out of SuperFerry 1. We met with our driver and we got in the car and headed home.
VI. An End With New Beginnings
I had mixed emotions in the end, glad all went well and relieved we were finally home but on the other hand, I felt sad we couldn’t stay in Coron longer. I guess, well, all good things have an end. But we are going to more wonderful places as awesome as Coron. More places where we can experience the true beauty of nature and of God’s blessings. ‘Til next time!
I had mixed emotions in the end, glad all went well and relieved we were finally home but on the other hand, I felt sad we couldn’t stay in Coron longer. I guess, well, all good things have an end. But we are going to more wonderful places as awesome as Coron. More places where we can experience the true beauty of nature and of God’s blessings. ‘Til next time!
