CORON PALAWAN 2018 - THE BUDGETtarian PLAN

Now, I’m sipping coffee. Scanning IG stories. Laughing at FB rants, looking at alluring travel spots. I don’t stumble into actual news stories anymore, I thought. Unless you turn the TV on. But young ones rather check on their social media accounts, right?

About 20 or more years ago, sipping coffee comes with opening and sniffing of newspaper, it comes with the sound of a favorite radio or TV show, it comes with a good kiss from loved ones. It comes with a hug and a greeting of "Good Morning, I love you!"

People, especially the young ones are in awe of how these happened to be a very fascinating routine everyday for people before. Because most can't live without visiting their social media accounts and people can now live their lives online and build a career from there. Over time, technology has evolved so much. From paper documents only to typewriters to big computers until the most slim macbook or laptop there is which contains highly recommended features for every activity you do online and offline.

So here I am, going online! (wink)

To me, owning a laptop after 2 years of working took me guts to do so as I became so addicted with travelling lately that I always look for good spots even if I cannot afford to go there yet. This happened when staying in love didn't seem to work for me as of this time. LOL.

Now, there's my dream places, Maldives Island, Japan, Paris, Italy, London, US. There's Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, and all the places that are visa-free. But I chose to go domestic first, especially the paradise called Calamian Island in Coron, Palawan. Some has it on their walls as Calamianes Islands though.

Six years ago, I had my first plane ride with Philippine Airlines for a National Schools Press Conference broadcast competition in Puerto Princesa. Of course, everything was handled by the school and I didn't have to worry about the flight details as there were my instructors, I was fifteen.

This time, I travelled with Cebu Pacific at NAIA Terminal 4, at first I was bothered that the gate number was not announced yet until it was 15 mins before departure. It wrecked my nerve for a while. LOL. (blame my brewed coffee). It's the start again where I forget my diet plan, I ate donut! :)

It's 2018, everybody's social media feed contains travel stories, daily routine, and candid photographs. And it's now that I've planned to make something out of my 'out-of-town' galas. Which is about writing and editing my blogs.

I'm going to give you the actual activities we were able to manage during our 3 day 2 nights stay in the Calamian Islands of Coron Palawan.

It was March 18 when I booked the plane ticket to Busuanga Coron (USU), I thought of being alone but I realized no one will take photographs and so I posted this as a story in my IG (@meaganmangoma) placing flight details, saying “who’s game for June1-3 Coron with me?!”

Only Gelo, who was my batchmate in high school was able to come along. It was a peak season, it was not discounted as Php 6,500 was the airfare back and forth (which is not advisable for budget travellers) but I did book tickets for two anyway when Gelo confirmed that he's tagging himself along. And so I already gave him the flight details and paid using my debit card with BDO. If you'd like a cheaper one, might as well book earlier and look for promos online. You can go as low as Php3500-Php3000

I booked the plane ticket to USU and from USU via Traveloka app which showed the cheapest flights showing the airlines that are available for my desired flight that day; they don't accept JCB nor AMEX credit cards though, I just don't know with other CCs. Along with the plane tickets, I was able to avail Php500 off of our flight and Php500 as well at the Sea Coral Lodge for 2 nights in Coron town proper! That was just one of the perks that comes with Traveloka. Others have promo when they are BDO cardholders. Fun! Right?

So here's what I actually did. I came straight from work, rode a grab taxi to NAIA terminal 4 (usually for domestic flights except PAL as it only boards at terminal 1). I checked in online with Cebu Pacific 3 days before the actual flight date, as per their website, you can check in online to avoid long wait time 7 days to 1 hr before flight schedule.

When we arrived at the Busuanga airport, we were greeted by the van drivers and it's good that I arranged a van transfer to and from hotel prior to our flight already. So here’s an enumerated activity details I have for the budget travellers out there. It’s not only about the airfare, it’s what you spend once you get to your destination.



JUNE 01, 2018 

THIS IS HOW I SPENT MY LAST SECONDS OF SUMMER, BECAUSE, WHY NOT? IT'S CORON, DUHH. :)

DAY 1

Office to NAIA terminal 4- 6:15am-6:45am

Check in and WAIT TIME - 6:45am-9:20am

Flight to Busuanga Airport 10:00am-11:05am

It’s Gelo’s first time to ride a plane, let’s congratulate him! I was like his mother as I was the one who worried on everything that we needed while on board. LOL

Airport to Sea Coral Lodge - 11:05-12:00nn

While the staff were arranging our room, we went around the small town.

Airport transfer by the way (one way) is worth (Php150).

Souvenir Shops and Cafes -12:00nn-1:00pm

            Of course it’s a tourist spot, everywhere you see souvenir shops. Very convenient!

Check in at SCL - 1:00-2:00pm

I was so strict with schedule and planning this time. I have actually set alarms and timeframe for a certain activity before we went out to explore and it worked!

Sky restaurant 2:15-3:30pm

            We just saw this restaurant while wandering for a good place to eat. It’s a bit pricey yet they have a very good food, nice viewdeck. I hope they change their choice of music though, they’re more on metal. If it’s a restau, I prefer classic music or pop or country music. So we walked downtown and in awe, saw the trail of Coron’s ancestors’ islands. This will make you feel more excited for island hopping, I promise.

Mt. Tapyas Trail - 4:00-5:30pm

            (30 mins up, 30 mins photo opps, and 30 mins down if you're fast).

            This has 755 stops. No entrance fee. You’ll see a wide view of the Calamian Islands here with a mark on top of the hill like Hollywood, it says “CORON” and beside it is a lighthouse.

Firefly show and Floating buffet dinner - 6:30-9:00pm

            We found this tour with Calamian Island tour package at Php950.00. Including firefly show at mangroves, planktons under the sea which lit when they’re stroked with a stick, and a buffet dinner in a floating hut! Sadly, for the firefly show, we were not able to go nearer as it was low tide. After Mt. Tapyas, I recommend that you try Maquinit Hot Spring, entrance fee is Php200 and tricycle fee at 200 pesos back and forth.

Tribu Kuridas Bar and Tattoo 9:00-10:45PM

The house of reggae and dreaded hair men

When you thought party in Manila is great? In Tribu Kuridas, it's perfect!

 

Here, you’ll see the baristas and servers wearing earrings and necklaces made with bones of a deer maybe. I loved the music, a reggae band, I was not able to ask what the name was, but one thing I know is that they’re super cool. Sang Bob Marley songs like No Woman No Cry, Buffalo soldier and other positive vibe reggae songs!

After the beach party and Island life experience, we ate at Tapsilogan near the bar. Pal Aris, who approched us while sitting at the bar took us there and also shared life stories. He’s pleasant and very engaging.

Other Bars you could try:

1. Bar with no name

2. The Wild Rat Bar

Other  places to stay.

1. Sea Dive Resort

2. Seahorse Hotel and many more.

DAY 2

Coffee Kong – 8:00am

            This is owned by a Korean girl, once you enter, you’ll see her smiling and greeting from the counter. And the background music is Korean, no doubt. I loved their waffle with banana and syrup, it was just for Php80 and partnered it with Capuccino for Php90 only.

The Coron Ultimate Island Tour – 9:00am

            We found this package worth Php1, 200 from the flyers given to us by the van drivers at the airport. Itbwas with The Wonderful Coron Travel agency. This included:

Twin lagoon – snorkeled for 5 mins because we opted to go kayaking. Evrery tour guide will set a timeframe for your stay in the particular island, like here. We stayed for an hour.

-Ship Wreck (lunch after snorkeling)

-CYC and Coral Beach (where the outfit goals came out)

-Kayangan Lake (it has 365 steps up and down the lake)

-Siete Pecados (7 seafarers)

Other gears were for rent like the beach shoes for coral reefs and snorkeling apparatus.

There was a thunderstorm,

Twin Lagoon

The CYC Beach

Bali Beach, Coron

The famous Kayangan Lake

Coral Beach

Tribu Kuridas Bar and Tattoo

where our two nights were spent

Touchwood Cafe

So it rained while we travelled, but to me it was better as I snorkled as long as  I wanted to! And I didn't get so dark! I knew it as it was in the forecast before we arrived, but who cares, the islands stayed a paradise. Moreover, the people I was with were from Pampanga, they were one family, they were so nice, offered so many 'tagays' of Emperador while on the boat! To me, it was a blessing, not only being with very accommodating tour friends and a very funny tour guide, it was because everytime that we stop over an Island, the rain stops. If it doesn't stop, the rain weathers. Aside from that, you can kayak everytime there was a stop over because the guides and boat drivers already brought one, I was overwhelmed with this trip, can't imagine them coooking in the boat for us. LOL.

A funny story, the tour guide also advertised the 7/11 and puregold store at CYC beach. there were two 'bangkeros' who sold goods like beer, chips for those who are hungry after snorkeling and kayaking. It was indeed  a very Filipino way that even if it rained, they went out with their bangkas and went out to the sea to sell goods and give service to tourists. people from there say 'thank you' in a very sincere way, you'll feel it.

Touchwood Cafe, back to Tribu Kuridas Bar and Tapsihan with Aris.

            

 We explored this other café near the Coffee Kong. They’re open until 11:00pm while Kong is onky until 10:30pm. They have nice interior design too. But I like the coffee Kong menu better, aside from it’s more delicious, it’s cheaper as well.

For our last night, I took a photo at the bar and learned that their language is called, “Coyonin”.

Every last night should count as the best, Aris said. Yes, he's absolutely right!

DAY 3

Half a day trip with pal Phil. We found Phil while we were enjoying at the bar the first night. The band playing was a very good one, they only play beach reggae songs and you’ll actually dance with the groove! Got a lot of videos from them, will upload them on my vlog soon.

Motorcycle to Bali Beach at 7:30am and stayed at the beach until 10:00am

Php50  entrance fee

Php 50 - if you'd like to go on a boat trip alone. You can bring an eye mask to see coral reefs underwater as well.

Last meal at Coffee Kong and bid good byes for now with Phil. He’s such a nice man, he shared the stories he underwent, now he’s a licensed scuba diver at the scuba dive shop just beside Coffee Kong. He even offered us another free tour, next time, with scuba diving worth Php3, 500. According to him, it’s a one day diving schedule for 2 dives.

SCL to Busuanga Airport - 12:30-1:30pm

Flight to Manila - 2:40-4:00pm

And DONE with the three-day fairytale-like, best three days of my life show so far!

So, we met Phillip, the Scuba Diver and Aris, the worker at the port’s ticketing office and part time percussionist at Tribu Kuridas. They were nice, especially so, they actually meant approaching us because they were looking for Filipino guests to talk and mingle to.

Almost all people around the bar and area are foreigners. For girls, they walk downtown wearing bikinis, while for guys, they walk the streets out without tops. Now, tell me, who’s going to get bored in here?

I had a lot of self-reflections. It’s enjoying life and going slow as you age. It’s disregarding the people that stresses you. It’s living as if it’s never going to playback anymore. It’s finding what you actually desire in life, what you want to have and who you want to be and be with.

Here, you’ll feel the Filipino culture, the hospitality and respect to other people. I felt home with them. I also encountered some Ilocanos like me along the way. There were Koreans, French, Americans, Aussies, etc. and it felt like you are included in a diverse but beautiful nature.

PS. All these places are so near to Sea Coral Lodge! Just a walk away. Believe me!

See you guys! Thank you for reading! Hope this helped you.

I have uploaded a lot of photos on my IG, please follow me@Chasingmeagan. :)

First photo is with Phil and Gelo. The other is with Aris. If you need tour guides, ask me how to contact the percussionist (Aris) and the scuba diver (Phil). :)