Palaui Island's location
We arrived in Sta.Ana before 9am. Since we hired a van, we reached our destination faster, not to mention the convenience of having a leg room as well as the space for our bags. Anyway, we headed to the tourism center which is not far away from the wharf. Actually we're a little doubtful because the weather is not fair that day. But the staff gave us a go signal that it's safe to trek. Yes, trek. I've read that this trek could take up to 4hours so I was expecting we could ride a boat that can take us to Cape Engano and other beaches. Unfortunately, due to the notorious waves, we had no choice but to go there on our own feet.
standard rates / Palaui expenses for a group of 6
note: boat rental includes a short boatride to cross the island, and the complete return journey.
note: boat rental includes a short boatride to cross the island, and the complete return journey.
And so off we go. The short boat ride to cross the island was already scary (for them). The waves are huge, but I've experienced bigger ones so I think it's still tolerable. We reached the land safely and met our tour guides. Since we're 6, we were assigned two guides. I can really say their tourism is getting organized here. Guides have their official shirts. =)
Turismo Mismo at Palaui
sorry I forgot our tour guide's name. teka tanungin ko si Doni ^_^
sorry I forgot our tour guide's name. teka tanungin ko si Doni ^_^
Forest Trek
Okay, trek proper na talaga. For the first phase, we walked inside a forest. Refreshing. We realized we're blessed to have a gloomy weather that day, else the sun will burn us alive.
the long trek in Palaui starts here
one of the harder trails.
hindi kami jan sympre ^_^
hindi kami jan sympre ^_^
Sea Shore Trek
The trail lead us to the ocean. It was such a delight to walk inside the forest and now beside the ocean. The waves were really huge, we clearly understood now why we're trekking instead of riding the boat.
with Ivy, Sol, Doni, Peng, and Carla
refreshing walk in the shore
we passed by these rocks
and saw some snakes!
According to our guides, there are lots of snakes in the rocks. But there's nothing to worry as long as we dont touch or go very near them. (opcors!)
Muddy Trail
After a while, our guides lead us inside the forest again. We thought it would be as easy as the 1st one, but no. The muddy trail was very slippery. It almost break our slippers.
at first kinakaya pa iwasan ang putik
the mud made this trail harder
In no time, we made harmony with the mud. Wala ng arte arte.
Carla's mega muddy feet
And so we thought our agony in the muddy trail has ended upon seeing the green fields. Wrong. The agony doubled here. At that point, all of us removed our slippers and started to walk barefooted.
getting close to the green fields
We discovered the trail here was worse. Imagine hanggang tuhod na namin yung nakalubog sa putik. Haha It was still fun, but scary at the same time. Lumubog kasi yung ibang part.
..i see trees are green!
our barefoot trek has started
From time to time, we washed our legs and feet in the semi-clear waters along the way. You have no idea how thankful we are whenever we saw any water spots where we can wash up. Madulas masyado pag puro putik ang paa.
The challenge heightened when the trail became muddy + rocky. Not to mention some small tree branches that bruises our legs and feet.
Doni: kasalanan ni Ivy bakit ako sugatan! LOL
Finally after 3 hours I think, our group decided to have some snacks. Thank you so much Carla for bringing (hoarding) 24 pieces of Golidlock's butter slices. Super pantawid gutom.
butter slices + nutella
ang dudumi namin! haha
ang dudumi namin! haha
You might ask if there were restrooms in the area, opcors wala! Alam na kung saan kami nag-wiwi. ^_^
We continued our journey. We really cant be thankful enough for God has provided us gloomy weather - but it never rained. We reached this spot and upon seeing this, we knew we're somehow near our target destination.
are we there yet?
may energy pa magharot ^_^
Asan na ba talaga? Honestly, naiinip na kami. We've trekked for 4 hours but we havent had a glimpse of the lighthouse or the beach.
A few more minutes, we finally saw it. Malayo pa din pala sya inferness.
..the hills are alive!
and finally, a glimpse of the lighthouse
tuktok ng bundok
tuktok ng bundok
Like the former green fields area, this had muddy waters too - only deeper. May bonus pa, mga poopoo ng kalabaw at kambing. Haha We all swore we will take anti-bulate as soon as we go back in Manila. Lahat ng bacteria na-absorb na siguro ng paa namin. =)
The group became more serious on the last phase of the trek. We're almost there.
hingal lever - HIGH
From this spot, we could clearly see the rough ocean on the left side, the green fields on the center, and the calm beach on the right.
rough sea view on the left side
green fields in the middle
and the calm beach on the right side
Amazing, right? Breathtaking view x3!
deadma na kahit haggard! ^_^
We're extremely satisfied to reach the top even before we've seen the lighthouse. Afterall, the lighthouse was not spectacular as it may seem.
..and finally the lighthouse
Doni: eto na yun? 0_o
Me: haha, oo neng. yan na nga!
sorry tinamad ako mag-gather ng info sa lighthouse na yan
Doni and Carla on top of the lighthouse
Now the hardest part of this trek - getting back in Sta.Ana. We're so tired and exhausted. It was an excellent decision to hire a boat in advance. The boatman picked us up in the calm beach. ♥
i love you Carla for lending me your photos again + taking (stolen) shots of me
nabura yung mga pictures from my memory card. sayang. buti pinahiram ako ni carla ng pictures
nabura yung mga pictures from my memory card. sayang. buti pinahiram ako ni carla ng pictures
True enough, this was a humbling and fulfilling adventure for all of us.
It may not be according to what we've planned, but what we experienced was really way better.
Given the chance to do it again, we would still prefer to hike than to ride the boat. The overwhelming experience is actually on the journey itself.
Thank you Lord for giving us the weather that would be perfect for this adventure. Thank you for keeping us safe. Your creations are awesome. It may not be according to what we've planned, but what we experienced was really way better.
Given the chance to do it again, we would still prefer to hike than to ride the boat. The overwhelming experience is actually on the journey itself.
And thank you Sol, Carla, Peng, Doni, and Ivy for joining, I enjoyed your company. Next time ulit! ♥
66 responses:
i intentionally warmify the photos para may drama ng konti. too gloomy kasi yung original shots. =)
pero rest assured, the place is more awesome than these pictures. go to Palaui and see for yourself.
ang astig!! naka-aliw naman ang treking experience nyo.. haha.. I cant wait to conquer this island too, soon hopefully.
ang layo nito ha. parang mula apparri hanggang jolo lang ng EB. sayo naman, mula palui island hanggang tawi-tawi. =)
as always, great photos! sana makapag trek din ako. Katakot yung striped snake! A-tapang a-tao ka talaga Chyng..
natawa ako sa asan na ba talaga mong tanong habang nagtetrek kayo papuntang lighthouse, yan din ang tanong namin kina manong tour guide dahil ilang beses nyang sinabi na malapit na daw.
kakatuwa may uniform na rin pala ang mga tour guide doon. improving sila =)
Wow ang ganda. Sana makapunta din ako dito! =)
Aww ngayon ko lang napagtanto nag-enjoy pala ako dyan ^_^
namiss ko lalo kayo ♥
Ganda ng mga shots mo ha..nahiya tuloy ako magblog about Palaui Island haha ^_^
I think the hike is waayyy better than going to Palaui by boat :) Wish I could do that (hike) too if I can get my bum up there! Thanks for sharing.
Ang ganda ng PINAS! :D
-kol me empi-
@Mustachio,
exactly! Ü
ang ganda ng lugar! kahit matagal ang lakaran pero solve naman pagdating don...
ang gandaaaa!! Sana makapunta din kami diyan at makapagjumpshots! :D
nakakahingal ang pinagdaanan nio pero masaya yang trek basta may kasama ka :D
buti di kayo nasugatan sa paglakad ng walang slippers.
ganda ganda..! lalo akong na-excite pumunta jan... can't wait for June.. yun pong boat rental - wala na bang mas mura dun? hahaha.. goodluck samen, dalawa lang kami... thanks..
ANG GANDA LANG NG VIEW!!!
At nabasa ko na binabalak na naman ni Ivan na puntahan to. Sana makasama ako. Wahahaha.
Serious yung knee-deep putik? Baka naman mag rolling in the deep putik ako nyan pag natisod.
Pero bet na bet ko ang barefoot trekking! :D
The views are really nice. It think you guys are enjoying the place. It very adventurous. Sana makapunta rin ako dito.
Whoa! Breathtaking indeed! Those waves are scary.
Dream destination ko rin to this year.
waaaaahhhhh 1 hour walk pa lang di ko na kaya!!! grabe astig nyo!!!
Eew snake.
Wala, boat pa rin over trek hahaha
kung ganyan ba ang view kahit 4 hours pa na lakad okay lang.parang BATANES talaga less the gastos. at impressive.denidevelop na ang turismo.good yan.kabuhayan for the locals.:D
astig ng adventure nyo. halatang nakakapagod, and not to mention, dangerous pero ang ganda naman ng view after reaching the top kaya sulit ang pagod.
it proves na sa pinas pa lang madami nang magandang lugar na hindi lang naddiscover ng marami.
hangganda! sana makarating ako dyan soon. like ko yung mga mapuputik na trek :)
Ang tagal ng muddy trek ninyo ah! Looking at the photos, mukhang nakawala naman ng pagod ang magandang scenery :D
O, eh tayo kelan lalarga teh? :))
as always chyng, gusto ko ung mga photos mo. and thanks sa email. i'll follow your advice. hopefully makalusot ako sa immigration hehehe :)
i love this adventure. di ka mukhang pagod, fresh at beauty pa din. how many km did you walk that day?
Wow! Ang astig naman ng trekking adventure niyo :) It was probably super tiring, pero the view afterwards is so breathtaking! :) Btw as of this writing, nakikisilip ang makulit kong lil sis. Sabi niya, yung lighthouse daw sa Shake Rattle and Roll XD
chyng namiss ko bigla ang Palaui sa post mo =))
Ang hirap maglakad pag maputik ang daan. buti hindi maxado mainit ang trail nyo, yung samin sobrang init! sakit sa ulo. i love the view and the lighthouse too.
Parang di ko keri ang barefoot walking.. hehe :)
Ganda ng view! Amazing :D
ang ganda! the grass is so green! at parang ang sarap mag emo dyan!
naranasan ko na din umakayt ng bundok na super muddy at slippery. i had a near-death experience nga. at grabe, 7 hours ang trekking namin, each going ang going back!
Ganda naman ng view sa taas, galing din ng mga shots mo/nyo :) ang saya ng trip niyo!
we can imagine how exhausting that trek was..pero what an adventure! galing! =)
Trekking and hiking is fun! ^_^ Never heard of Palaui so thank you for blogging about it! I'm excited to set foot on it soon.
gusto ko ito! may hiking kasi..
grabe ang layo layo...kitang kita ko sa picture oh hehe....yehey! another travel guide..hehe...palaui sure looks good huh...at ang ahas!!! ganda ng views...puntahan ko na to bukas haha
Buti nalang at nag cooperate ang weather at pinayagan kayo ng staffs na mag trek...
good thing organized ba sila dyan at standard ang rates...
Wahhhh! bilib ako sa inyo, di ko kaya mag trek na naka-slippers... I have to use my trekking sandals kung hindi baka nadulas dulas nako at putikan na... hahaha! if ever, mag barefoot na din ako... hehe!
nice! pwede na mag boat pag pabalik na... 'luv et!!!
we booked a piso fare to tuguegarao but were not able to use it. now i realized that we really missed a lot. but am not really sure if id be able to endure the long trek :)
Ang ganda! The green-ness of the hills... parang tulad ng Batanes, sans the expensive airfare!
^ same sentiments! though i havent been to batanes, but based on photos - parang palaui ang batanes! =)
yes, the cheaper way!
Ngayon alam mo na ang hirap maglakad sa putik gaya ng mga magsasaka sa bukidd :) Magpa-appointment ka na agad sa Podiatrist tapos Pedicure at foot spa hehehe!
ikaw na ang reyna ng adventures, chyng. i won't be surprise if one day you decide to go to the moon. haha! :D
si maam carla, pumo-posing!!!
i love the shot of her mega muddy feet and i love more your caption of "wala ng arte arte".
God is merciful that He gave you a cool weather without a hint of drizzle.
ps : this line, "We realized we're blessed to have a gloomy weather that day, else the sun will burn us alive."....could have been,
"We realized we're blessed to have a gloomy weather that day, else the sun will burn us alive AND I HAVE TO USE MY EVER RELIABLE PAYONG!" *biro lang*
Ako din. Mas gugustuhin kong mag-trekking. At least, it's safer kesa sa boat. Hehe.
Ang kakalog din ng kasama mo Ate Chyng. Nakakawala ng boredom. :>
Astig at ang kulit ng mga pics!
Chyng parang tumaba ka:) wishing you the best of this year!
Thank u sa comment sa blog ko.. blog ko talaga? haha... true ba yung in 3months 200 lang views mo nun? so swerte pa pala ako sa views ko ^_^
Anyway, kaladkarin talaga ako pero hindi mayamang kaladkarin hehe
Baka makalimutan ko pa..napansin ko nasa blogroll mo na'ko... napansin? *kahit alam na* chos!
Isa sa mga pangarap ko yan.. Thank you! ^_^
kalurQui muddy-guang lakaran ever. btw i miss your chatbox ms chyng first time ko kasi magcomment dito hiya pa ako(char!) nagmsg lang ako dun sa cbox nun abt sa camera mo at sinagot mo naman ng bongga. lagay kita sa blogroll idol ha? :D
Chyng, your photos are already amazing! Kung mas maganda pa ang actual view, super sulit ang 4-hour trekking :-)
super ganda naman ng island na 'to, at ang gaganda ng mga pics, sana makapunta rin ako dito. :)
visited you from Gracie goes gaga
`The Pinay Wanderer
wow super exciting not to mention too muddY! hahaha.. sana makarating din ako dyan someday soon!!
and ganda naman na treking experience :)kaka ingit..
looks like your 2012 is off to a good start chyng. :)
thanks chyng for dropping by my blog :) flattered naman ako hehe- been stalking your travel adventures kasi at ke edcel and mica and gale. Pinapanntasya ko travels nyo and wish someday I could also do the same ;)
Parang old fortress yung lighthouse. Pero mukhang haunted. haha. next time magdala ka ng bota para iwas sa mega mud. hahaha
Kahit muddy yung nilakaran niyo, at least worth it naman kasi ang ganda ng place! :)))
yung hills, grabe! it's so beautiful at green na green tapos ang ganda din ng light house! :D mahilig kas ako sa mga old style/vintagy stuffs. ♥
xoxo,
http://spoonfulofstories.blogspot.com
Bawing bawi ang lakad sa ganda ng lugar! sobrang lupet! =)
hardcore chyng! i don't think i have trekked as hard as you've had!
Very nice ang place. Mapapa-Maria Von Trap ka nga. :)
Ganda ng mga nature scenery... worthy ang maputik na trip... Naku, yung sea snake na yan deadly - na-feature na yan sa TV 5 pero aatake lang sila pag-threaten other than that aloof sila sa tao.
WOW! Palaui! love the photos. I wanted to go here but when I saw the snakes, medyo I'll gather courage muna before I plan this. Buti na lang I was warned by your post. :)
Hi! Nice photos! :D
May I ask for your help, please? :)
We're going to Palaui next weekend, but we still don't have contacts on the local guides. May we know how we can find those tour guides / boat? The "Turismo Mismo"?
Thanks a lot!!! :)
^ hi heidz,
you dont need a contact beforehand.
1. you need to register yourselves in the tourism center
2. they will assign the guides for you
3. they will prepare the boat for you
there, rotation ang guides dun. everyone must earn. no need to contact a specific guide prior your trip.
sana mapuksa na ang mga bad elements.para makapunta nako dyan.next next frontier yan.Jewel ng Philippine tourism kung magkataon :D
nice blog ms chyng!... ill be there on June (solo) hopefully may makasama ako!.. Thanks for sharing!
i WANT to gooo! :) thanks for this. btw, pano ung trek, may akyat baba ba na mangyayari? Medyo lampa kasi ako kaya ndi ako masaya kung may climbing chuva. When we went to the underground river sa palawan some years back, we weren't also advised to ride a boat papunta sa kabilang ibayo coz of the huge waves so we had to trek for hours. Ndi nman mahirap coz they built steps pag may akyatang mangyayari. Nagkwento talaga ako?! Thanks Chyng :) I'm a fan.
-michelle
^ hi michelle!
the trail is long, pero hindi hardcore. kering keri nga kahit ng isang bata ^_^
Post a Comment