Michi Photostory: Guimaras

March 02, 2012

Day 3: Day Trip in Guimaras

I have WOW (Wealth of Wonders) Philippines book, my mom gave it to me year 2005 and from that moment I wanted to visit Guimaras, according to the book, Guimaras is a dazzling island of sweet mangoes. I love mangoes, either unripe or ripe so it is really one of my goals to taste the sweetest mangoes in the world when I saw the PHP1 sale of Airphil Express last June, I didn’t think twice because it’s now my chance to visit Guimaras. It is the 1^st P1 sale that I booked.

We were supposed to stay in La Puerta Al Paraizo, one of the new resorts in Guimaras but I changed my mind so we just had one sweet day in Guimaras. I had a difficult time in deciding whether to contact a driver/tour guide or I will just go to the tourism kiosk when we get there but to avoid the hassle, a week before our trip, I contacted one driver/tour guide.

Ortiz Wharf

At exactly 7AM we left One Lourdes Dormitel and took La Paz Jeep (P7.50) to Ortiz Wharf. Then I bought the ticket (P14). Travel time from Ortiz Wharf to Jordan Wharf is around 15 to 20 minutes. Our driver/tour guide was already there waiting for us, I just informed him of the name of our boat. The first stop is Raymen Beach Resort for our Island Hopping; boat rental is P400 for the first hour and P150 for succeeding hours.

Raymen Beach Resort

Exactly 8:30AM we started our island hopping; first stop is Turtle Island, P5 entrance fee. We only saw one turtle, napakawalan na daw yung iba and this turtle just went back home.

Then we move to Baras Cave

Next is Natago Beach, (donations) this is where we stayed longer. Natago Beach is a private resort owned by German and Filipino but the sad part is they are both dead. German died year 2007 and Filipino died year 2009. They were supposed to stay here after their retirement but they never enjoy the place, Sayang!

Lucky for us, we’re the only people on the island but unfortunate for me because I can’t swim, red flag. So here I am, watching and taking pictures. Anyway, I’m happy when my two boys are happy because I know they love to swim.

Solong-solo

I was a little bit sad because we can’t go to SEAFDEC and Ave Maria Islets because it was low tide. Waahh! I didn’t know that I should also check the tide if only I know this information I would schedule our island hopping after our land tour. So we went back to Raymen Beach Resort, we paid P20 for the shower room.

I’m not expecting any fancy food and fast food in Guimaras so we had our lunch in carinderia.

Then we went to Guisi Lighthouse, expect for a rough road and bumpy ride. You can see the old lighthouse and the new one.

This is the Kenyama Guimaras Resort; you can see this resort before you reach Guisi Lighthouse.

After Guisi Lighthouse, we went to Trappist Monastery and bought some pasalubong.

Of course, we won’t leave Guimaras Island without tasting Guimaras mango, P75 per kilo.

Then we had a quick snack at Pitstop, don’t miss this mango pizza. I love the combination of cheese, cashew nuts, mango and bell pepper.

P308 pizza + drinks

We skipped Roca Encantada because we might miss the boat going back to Iloilo. There is one unfortunate incident during our tour, we had a flat tire and it took more or less 1 hour and 30 minutes before it was fixed. So naubos oras namin dun. But anyway, we still enjoy our day trip to Guimaras.

I will not recommend our driver/tour guide because I learned after our trip that you can hire a tricycle for P1,000 to P1,200 (standard rate) and I paid PHP1500 excluding the tip. In fairness, he is nice naman but of course, if you want to save some money, go for a cheaper rate.

Klook.comKlook.comKlook.com

February 23, 2012

Pasalubong from Bacolod, Iloilo and Guimaras

I’ve watched Eat, Pray, Love movie of Julia Roberts last year and this inspires me to create our own version of Eat. Pray, Love since we can’t afford to go to Italy, India and Indonesia. Last Friday we had another trip to celebrate our wedding anniversary, so we Eat in Bacolod, we Pray in Iloilo and we celebrate Love in Guimaras.

These are some pasalubong that we bought from each places though our Bacolod pasalubong did not reach Manila, it was gone in 24 hours. (except for muscuvado sugar)

BACOLOD PASALUBONG

Virgie's galletas
Muscuvado sugar,
Pendy's meringue,
Pendy's Napoleones
Pendy's half moon cake

Bacolod is known for sugar plantations so it is not surprising if they love sweet foods. We went to Pendy’s for our breakfast and to buy some pasalubong. I will not leave Bacolod without tasting their famous Napoleones. We all love their Napoleones and too bad I only bought 2 boxes, I should buy at least 3 boxes, one for each of us. We also love half-moon, a simple cake with leche flan on top. So if you will visit Bacolod, don’t forget to buy Napoleones and half-moon at Pendy’s.

Read: 31 Hours in Bacolod

GUIMARAS PASALUBONG

Guimaras mango
Trappistine chocolate cookies
Mango yema
Mango cookies
Mango biscocho
Mango otap

They say that Guimaras Island is the home of the sweetest mango in the world so I make sure that we can taste this and now I understand why it is called the sweetest mango because it is really sweet. (no doubt na pang-export) I only bought 3 kilos, P70 per kilo for the unripe mango and P75 per kilo for the ripe mango.

If you plan to visit Guimaras, try to attend their Manggahan Festival on April 15 – 22, 2012. Our driver/tour guide told us that during the festival there is “eat all you can mango” for P50.

I also bought some mango products in Trappist Monastery but I find it weird when the package says mango yema, mango cookies and mango biscocho but we can’t taste any mango flavour. My husband said, “baka mango color lang”. =) I haven’t tried the mango otap yet.

ILOILO PASALUBONG

I’ve tried Biscocho Haus butterscotch last year so this time I bought butterscotch at JD Bakeshop (P150 per box), some says that JD butterscotch is better than Biscocho Haus but to tell you honestly, I can’t tell the difference except for the size and packaging. For me, they both taste good.