Revisiting Sunbloom Resort, Sta. Cruz, Zambales

A friend of mine wanted to go to the beach and I needed a place to go to maximize the vacation leave that I filed. I felt like visiting a familiar place since our goal was simply to relax. Choices were either Puerto Galera or Sunbloom Resort in Zambales. We chose the latter.

It looks like Sunbloom is the nearest resort to Potipot Island. It also seems to have the most perfect view of the island.

Beach front’s very clean and well-maintained compared to the other neighboring resorts. We had a relaxing stay at Sunbloom (not to mention we were the only guests).

I enjoyed some ME time morning moment on the “second floor” of I don’t-know-how-they-call-it place (you might think it’s their restaurant). View of the entire beach, as well as the island’ great.

It’s already 7pm when we arrived at the resort. We had our dinner at Dawal Resort and went to dream land before 10pm.

Right after we had our breakfast the following morning, the entire beach was all ours. The weather was so friendly and no one’s there but us. So I grabbed a book while my friend decided to take a dip.

How to Get to Sunbloom Resort:

Taking the bus to Dawal Sta. Cruz from Caloocan Victory bus station is highly recommended. The one in Cubao doesn’t always guarantee a bus bound for Sta. Cruz, but taking the bus to Olongapo is another option. From Olongapo, you may take either another bus to Sta. Cruz or the shuttle service that goes straight to Sta. Cruz. Tell the bus conductor to drop you off at Dawal, just before entering the town of Sta. Cruz (not all of them are familiar with Sunbloom).

From the drop off point, take a tricycle to Sunbloom. Better take a tricycle if you happen to arrive in Dawal at 6pm onwards.

Travel time from Caloocan to Dawal, Sta. Cruz, Zambales is between 6-7 hours, with a couple of stopovers, provided you leave Caloocan at 8am. Our first visit to Sunbloom in the mid-2000 was a bit fast. It was a 4-hour bus ride, but we left Caloocan at 12 midnight.

Estimated budget for an overnight stay

      (Additional Php for the roundtrip boat ride to Potipot Island):

Uber from our place to Caloocan Victory bus station ((per head): 100

Caloocan to Dawal Sta. Cruz, Zambales: 450

Tricycle to Sunbloom (per head): 10

Dinner at Dawal Resort: 155

Breakfast at Dawal Resort: 125

Food bought from bus vendors: 150

Sta. Cruz to Caloocan: 450

Uber from Caloocan to our place (per head): 100

Room Rate (per head, with 10% discount): 630

Total:  2,170  

Sunbloom and Dawal Resort Photos

Sunbloom Resort

Dawal REsort

Photos and short blog about our Potipot Island Trip.

Lakbay sa Albay - My DIY Half-Day Tour in Legazpi

September 29, 2016, I finally saw the majestic beauty of the famous Mayon Volcano on a sunny afternoon while boarding our plane. The view of Mayon’s indescribable from my seat. Thanks to the tip given by other bloggers – I took the window seat (F) to Legazpi.

It’s more practical to stay in Legazpi, Albay if you’re planning to have a city tour. Most of Albay’s attractions are within the area and as low as Php300, you can visit few of Legazpi’s famous tourist spots via tricycle.

I started my solo tour the following day. Hotel Fina offers free service (green, bigger-than-the-average tricycle that can accommodate 4 backpackers) going to either PUJ or shuttle terminal. Decided to take PUJ this time bound to Legazpi Grand Terminal. Fare is Php 25.

I was the only passenger left just before we reach the terminal. Just like my other solo city tour travel, cheaper and faster way to explore Legazpi’s via tricycle. It would be helpful if you already have a list of places to visit for an easier haggling moment with the tricycle drivers.

Mine was Php300 and that includes:

-          Parks and Wildlife

-          Lignon Hill

-          Cagsawa Ruin

-          Sidetrip on Legazpi Boulevard

First Stop: Parks and Wildlife

It looked bigger in the photos that I checked online, but it seems to be a smaller version of the other parks and wildlife that I visited. I didn’t get excited as I saw the animals inside their respective cages. Perhaps it’s because I saw more than when I visited The Eagle Center in Davao which houses not just powerful eagles, but lots of other animals in their customized “home”.

Next Stop: Lignon Hill

Lignon Hill wasn’t part of my original itinerary, but since it’s just few steps away from Parks and Wildlife and included in my customized tour, it’s not a bad idea to see how Mayon Volcano looks like at Lignon Hill’s viewing deck.

 Viewing Deck (Glad I was able to see Mayon's perfect cone shape prior to my tour)

The way to the viewing deck’s steep and might require a 20-minute (or longer) “walk”, hence renting habal-habal (motorcycle) for Php20 is highly recommended. Unfortunately, no habal-habal was available when I arrived, so it’s either I take a “walk” or rent this vehicle for Php 100:

On our way up

Viewing Deck

There are other activities that we can do in Lignon Hill. Perhaps for 1,000, we can try all the activities that they offer (excluding ATV).

FYR (activity price list)

I wasn’t planning to try any other activity, but the 10-peso fee (though my grandma guide asked for Php20) for the Japanese Tunnel caught my attention. Hahah! And since it’s just for Php10, you’re done with your tunnel exploration in a minute.

That Japanese statue, crucifix, and Japanese flag are the only things that you can see inside the tunnel (that's around 10 steps away from the tunnel's entrance). That opening on the left picture's for your eyes only. I thought we'd be passing through, but the old lady said when I asked what that was,"Ah, wala na yan, halika na!"

























Cagsawa Ruins was next. I was imagining that Mayon looks more majestic in Cagsawa since that's what I usually see on postcard. However, when I got there, I was a bit disappointed since it appears to be further. Inwas told by a friend that I could have touched the foot of Mt. Mayon if I had tried ATV, but no thanks. I was on a budgeted tour. It wasn't really my plan to check Cagsawa's history, too, but Kuya Driver still shared with me his Cagsawa knowledge.

Lunch time. Back to the Grand Terminal and had our lunch in one of the eateries there. I actually got injured when I was in Lignon Hill and the pain started to kick in while having lunch. I decided to go back to Tabaco instead of heading to Kawa-Kawa. H9owever, Kuya Driver kept on insisting that I should see Legazpi Boulevard. I guess it comes"alive" at night, but during the day, there isn't much to do, though if the weather's good, visitors can definitely find it a perfect place for a morning jog.

Just before leaving Tabaco the following day, I'd like to see at least one must-see places in the area. Good thing St. John the Baptist church is just few blocks away from the hotel.

This tour didn't cost me that much. Here's my Albay Itinerary, Budget