Jay-ar: leisure

CAMIGUIN

Visiting the Camiguin Island is always in my bucket list, and it’s been quite a while before I finally call it as an experience. The moment I had a chance to schedule a trip, I always consider this place as my priority of destination since a friend lives in a nearby city, Cagayan De Oro. But scheduling is not that easy, considering the time, the buddies, and the budget. And it takes us third attempts before we push through the travel. And to tell you, this first travel to Camiguin will and forever lives in my mind.

It was a day before holy week of 2010, the day we push our long overdue travel a reality. Alex and Cathy were my buddies from Davao and Cheng from Cagayan De Oro. We first plan to ride by bus going to Cagayan De Oro that night at around 11:00PM or earlier, before we run out of bus for which it’s the scheduled time for the last trip. We then set our minds to be at the waiting station by 9:00PM. Since Alex has his business itinerary in Davao, he picks up bicycles to be retailed in his area. So the second plan was made, we decided to take the schedule of the delivery truck in to consideration. We have these options; option number one, to take a bus if the bicycles were picked up at an earlier time; option number two, to ride by means of delivery truck if the pick-up time is beyond last trip by bus. Plan B was our option. Why? It’s obvious; it didn’t come before the scheduled last trip by bus. Our ride through the delivery truck was never easy, but we at no time run out of reasons to make our ride memorable and blissful.

that blue Pajero

look at how far we were

We arrive Cagayan De Oro at around 9:00AM Holy Thursday. We headed to our friends house Alex for a meal and rest awhile before heading to our main destination. We were surprised to know that we are using a blue (my favorite color) Mitsubishi Pajero on our way to Camiguin, courtesy of Alex’s brother Dindo.

12:300pm, on our road to Balingoan, we planned to freshen ourselves the moment we touch the island. To our dismayed, we stock on waiting to be onboard the shuttle ferry. We’ve been waiting for hours, as in hours, from almost 3:00PM we got onboard at around 11:00PM. But we never let the waiting ruin our trip and it was good that we had foods with us like, chips, breads, nuts and the famous lanzones. We also made it as a destination of initializing friendship with the rest of people who were also waiting. Until we touch Camiguin, it was 1:00AM and almost everybody was very tired. We all fix ourselves to rest.

church I have visited

station of the cross

First day, church visit and in the afternoon we climb this mountain to honor the Stations of the Cross. I was amazed with the churches built in the past centuries. There you will notice how religious the people of Camiguin island, with it’s not that large area, there are “hhhmmm” I’m not so certain about it, I think it’s around 13 – 15 churches built within the island. Then the way to cross, we had this bad experience while unloading from the car, the policeman demanded our attention for a no parking/no unloading violation. But everything was settled by the use our charm. On the way to the cross, station by station, we were experiencing the sincerity of its purpose and enjoying the views amazingly landscaped by nature.

the beautiful white island

enjoying the island

that beautiful clouds

tattoo

one way ticket

the mountain along the sea

the big tree

the cross that reminds the cemetery

Second day, resort hopping and come what may schedule. We had white island visit, cold spring, hot spring, falls, historical landmarks and even this weirdo backpacker’s inn, we all finished these in one day. The white island visit really stocked my mind, the white sands, the blue waters, the waves and everything that was present in the island was great. I even remembered having my arm and face tattooed. I also remember just dropping by a boulevard for a picture because of its view that is amazingly lovely. We set our cameras, had our best pose and done, we’re good to go again for our next destination. The church ruin landmarks where we were able to experience our pictorial in a giant tree, this church was ruined by a volcano eruption and now considers as one of their treasured landmarks. Oh! How will I forget the sunken cemetery where you can find the very popular cross amidst the sea? It was fun watching people crossing from shore to the cross with excitement and I guess frightened knowing that it was a cemetery before.

the pose

so cold in here

the weirdo

Having these experiences will somehow complete my journey in life, enjoying the bounty of nature, its sceneries, calmness and loveliness. The food was readily available at a low price, it’s just like ordering from an ordinary restaurant, unlike some resorts with prices as high as three to four times higher than its suggested retail price. To add the persons who stand as our foster family / host. Ate joy and her family, the De La Riarte’s, there hospitality and generosity is beyond expectations. Because of these, well, the beauty of Camiguin Island is not in question, it is a fact. These made my Camiguin island experience even more unforgettable.