Strolling Around: April 2014

Puerto Galera offers beaches and waterfalls plus other spots that we can all visit.

Tamaraw Falls

White Beach

Aplaya

Hanging Bridge

How to get there:

Take a 2 to 3-hour bus ride (bus bound to Batangas Pier.) I always patronize those Ceres and Alps buses (located in Araneta, Cubao near Gateway, Shopwise, and Expo). Bus ticket is less than Php 200. From Batangas Pier, find those booths that sell ro-ro (ferry boat) ticket (Entry Points: Muelle, Sabang, or White Beach). Boat ticket is around Php 200.

Ceres Bus, Ferry Boat (Minolo Shipping Line)

Beach bumming/beach activities - better get a resort accommodation in White Beach.

White Beach is full of life at night, too.

Henna Tattoo

Cocktail/Dinner/Party Time

Fire Show

It offers water activities – swimming, island hopping, jet skiing, etc. White Beach resorts offer different packages.

Sabang has a lot of resorts with diving centres. Perfect place for diving or bar hopping (not swimming).

Dinner at Tokos (Sabang) – Food’s delicious. Service’s okay. Ambiance’s nice.

Explore Puerto Galra, beach bumming and diving (all-in-one), Muelle Port is the best entry point.

Badladz Adventure is among the resorts at Muelle Pier. They have their own diving center. Just bring your own flashlight in case you may need to go out at night.

Badladz Beach Resort on the other hand is 10 minutes away from the Adventure Resort. Guests from the Adventure Resort can also visit the Beach Resort. Beach Resort is bigger and they have their own swimming pool.

No need to get an expensive tour package if you want to see some of those Puerto Galera’s tourist spots ( Tamaraw Falls, Mangyan Village, and Aplaya Beach). A lot of tricycle drivers are waiting outside the resort. Simply hire them. Rate usually starts at Php 800 (max is at Php1,500).

Just get a tricycle whenever you want to go to Sabang or White Beach. Get their number and ask your driver to fetch you at a certain time. One way – Php100-Php150 only.

Another beautiful resort – Blue Crystal Beach Resort. It’s quite far from Muelle Pier, but the place is relaxing. They have their own swimming pool. Beach front (although you cannot swim. For your eyes only. Strolling is okay). Delicious food (but a bit expensive). Very nice service. Ask the person in charge to get you a tricycle who can take you to White Beach, Sabang, Tamaraw Falls, etc. Tricycle rate is slightly higher, though.

Pool and Rooftop Restaurant

Room

More Photos

Aplaya

Hanging Bridge (View)

Tamaraw Falls

Both Badladz and Blue Crystal can give you a more convenient tour. Besides beach bumming, you can also have a jungle-like adventure, island hopping, hiking, visit to shooting range, etc. However, for solo or budget travelers, availing their packages is not recommended.

It was freezing. My first international trip and my first visit to Japan. Not in Tokyo, but I still got to see some of Japan's amazing places. I met new people, I had my actual learning experience (Japanese culture), and I had that opportunity to have what other kids with typical family life have.

I actually do not have this typical family where mom and dad live in the same house with their kids; where mom normally wakes up early in the morning to prepare breakfast, then dad goes to work and the children to school. And on a weekend, the entire family goes out - perhaps have a picnic or go out of town.

I had those things for the first time way back in 2007. It was my Christmas vacation and I was about to graduate from college. I spent a few weeks in Japan with my mom and with my Otosan. Otosan is the Japanese term for dad. He's just my stepdad, but on that day at Narita, people would think there's just this young girl at the airport and her parents were fetching her. Otosan wasn't a stranger. Just before my arrival, he had already told his friends that his daughter's coming home.

Just like any other family, we also had several out of town trips.

Sky Garden in Yokohama. Perhaps the tallest tower in Japan with a super fast elevator. Great view, but it is more beautiful at night.

Hakone Lake. S-U-P-E-R COLD! I was the only person who managed to stay in that place for a long time. It's not everyday that you'll get to an indescribable God's creation.

Now, I cannot remember this place. Damn!

The first horse-back riding I had with my mom was when I was 5 or 6 years old in Baguio (Summer Capital of the Philippines).

Onsen (hot spring)! You have to be totally naked and the water's boiling! Water literally comes from the mountain. Going here requires a long drive from Saitama.

Japanese Style. No bed in our room. We were required to be in this robe, too.

It's New Year! Japanese people follow this tradition of visiting their parents on New Year's Day. We went to Yokohama to visit obachang (grandma) who until now, lives with his sister.

Lots of high end restaurants. Foreigners and Japanese nationals were busy walking, chatting, and eating.

That's otosan's sister. Onechan (aunt). So generous.

China Town. I was just disappointed we didn't go inside that temple. Onechan didn't want to because of the entrance fee.

Cruise! Lovely evening!

This was during my birthday. They had this little surprise for me. It's just a simple cake and a birthday song. My mom's kinda senti.

My mom used to be a Catholic until she met those people from JOB (Jesus is Our Banner). She gained friends and found a second home. Finding a Christian or a Catholic church in Japan isn't that common. I met her second family when I was there and even became a godmother to one of her friends' son.

Filipinos in Japan gather in one place to worship God. It is where they get to see their fellow Filipinos. It is where they feel relaxed after working for a week and attending to their husband/wife/family's needs. Every Sunday, they all have their social and spiritual gathering. Photo with Pastor Jun (middle).

Photo with Pastor Herbert and his family.

I would accompany my mom at their church every Sunday and she would let me attend a Catholic mass at the nearby Catholic church. She'll wait for me and off we go to fetch Otosan who's busy playing mahjong. After that, we'll have our family dinner in a restaurant. Photo taken at Hana Yohei,

I had the chance to work in a kaisha, too. They call it baito - it means part time (worker). Japanese are hardworking people and after work, they would love to go to an omise for a quick drink. They love to sing, too!

I met all these people in our kaisha (factory), Most of them were working part time. We didn't have time to go to an omise every week, but we would rather go to a classy fast food during pay day!

I learned that in Japan, there's this Mansion and Apartment. Mansion is a building made of bricks and it's a bit bigger and more expensive. Tenants have their own bath tub, too. You won't find number 4 on any of these doors. It's not a good number for them. This mansion does not have 4th floor either.