My Batam Trip

Departure Area

Been to Batam for a few times already. I enjoyed going there with different friends when we have longer holidays off from work. It helped us relax for awhile and this gave us refreshing auras once we returned to Singapore.




As for my experience, my trips there were hassle free. If you've never been to Batam and planning for a trip, you can book your ticket online via Prima Ferries or Pacific Ferry or any other online booking for Batam. Otherwise if you have the time, you can go to Harbour Front Centre which is connected to Vivo City where Batam Ferry Terminal is located and buy your ferry tickets.. Two way fare was around 50 SGD.

Another way also is to check hotels which offer accommodation and pick up transportation. The price depends on the hotel and the place where you go.  

Public taxis are very common near the port areas. You can also hire motor cycle if you want to be be dropped off to the place where you want to go. Just try to haggle about the fare as drivers tend to ask for higher prices. 

 It is better to go with someone who can speak Malay language to communicate well with the locals. Or try to learn some quick Malay words which will be useful during your travel.

Foods are every where in Batam. It is very affordable and accessible especially if you are in Nagoya. 

Try going around also and you will find other food stalls nearby. I did this irregardless of the tedious warning from friends. Just be careful though.  

                                                                                              

There are things things that can be done in this place. Resorts are available in this place where in you can go swimming. If you're not into it, you can also try spa and massage. Head to Nagoya shopping mall to shop for cheaper goodies but beware not to buy and take with you to Singapore fake items especially CD's and VCD's if you don't want to be fined for a hefty amount. Singapore banned items like this.                                                            

Sailing MV Mary the Queen

MBRS

We (Edith and I) planned going to Romblon Province after Christmas but the travel came 2 days earlier due to the ship's schedule. Yes, we traveled by water so we could experience the ride in a huge ship. I inquired about the trips and had our Manila to Odiongan reservation via phone. We thought we would not be able to make it to Pier 8 North Harbor where the MBRS cruise line was docked or so I thought due to the traffic jam along our way. We were received by the trained K9 dog of the harbor when we arrived there. The personnel conducted body check while luggage were examined by the police dog. Numerous people from all ages with their baggage mound to where they stood were already eagerly waiting for the ship which was yet to arrive. Our 5 o'clock trip was postponed to 8 o'clock but the ship finally arrived at 10 in the evening. It took an hour for docking and then 2 hours of refilling water, cleaning and boarding all the passengers.

MBRS ticket

We got in the ship and looked for our beds. The ship left Manila around 1 in the morning a day before Christmas. The ride was not smooth and it was not like what we thought. We found a bed and had a chat with our "neighbor" before we hurriedly went up to discover the inside of the ship. We came to a deck where there were a lot of good empty rooms. Those were cabins which were under repair. Their second class accommodation was almost the same with their economy class. Both class had air conditioner, double deck beds with foam.

K9 and its master checking the passengers baggage

BRS Ship is "new" according to our co passengers who like us were loitering at the upper deck. It  once belonged to Valencia, Spain and bought by the said shipping lines. The former name was Ciudad De Valencia. It was said that this line is owned by one of the prominent government official of Romblon.Below is an information about the vessel.

Name: Ciudad De valencia

IMO: 7915802

VESSEL TYPE: FERRY
FLAG: SPAIN
PORT OF REGISTRY: VALENCIA
STATUS: IN SERVICE
COMPANY: TRASMEDITERRANEA / ACCIONA TRASMEDITERRANEA
(OWNED UNTIL 2009)
BUILDER: UNION NAVAL LEVANTE VALENCIA - SPAIN
YEAR: 1984
GROSS TONNAGE (GT): 11513
LENGHT (m): 138,3
BREADTH (m): 20,5
DRAUGHT (m): 5,6
SPEED (kn): 21
POWER (kW): 13093
PASSENGERS: 982
LANE METRES: 480
NEW NAME: MARY THE QUEEN
SISTER SHIPS: CANGURO CABO SAN JORGE / CIUDAD DE BADAJOZ /
CIUDAD DE SEVILLA / CIUDAD DE SALAMANCA / DONATELLA
DABUNDO

Weekly sailing schedule were as follows:

1. Manila Monday 5PM - Arrive Romblon 3AM Wednesday
2. Romblon 4AM Wednesday - Arrive Cajidiocan 7AM Wednesday
3. Cajidocan 8AM Wednesday - Arrive Masbate 12 Noon Wednesday Masbate 10AM Thursday - Arrive Cajidocan 2PM Thursday
4. Cajidocan 3PM Thursday - Arrive Romblon 6PM Thursday
5. Romblon 7PM Thursday - Arrive Manila 5AM Friday
6. Manila 5PM Friday - Arrive Odiongan 3AM Saturday
7. Odiongan 4AM Saturday -- Arrive caticlan 6:30AM Saturday
8. Caticlan 8AM Saturday - Arrive Masbate 4PM Saturday
9. Masbate 2AM Sunday - Arrive Caticlan 10AM Sunday
10. Caticlan 12 Noon Sunday - Arrive Odiongan 2:30PM Sunday
11. Odiongan 5PM Sunday - Arrive Manila 3AM Monday

Fare from Manila to Odiongan was Php425 for students, Php 525 for regular passengers. We added P100.00 each for Odiongan to Caticlan.

We spent 14 hours sailing and were almost in Odiongan port when our ship stopped because according to the management, there was another ship docked on the port and it was impossible to come in. Good thing we decided earlier not to stop in Odiongan as we planned due to the delay of our departure and the long time we spent in the vessel. We abruptly changed our itinerary and eyed Boracay as our first destination so we decided to stop in Caticlan. Nearly 2 hours passed yet nothing happened. Passengers who were looking forward to spend their Noche Buena with their family were getting irritated already. Loved ones who were at the port waiting were also mad and bombard the management with questions. A ranting lady passenger, who could not stand the delay and who also related the event to her marine captain engineer in another country,  went to the management's office and dared the officer. There was a violent disturbance but paved the way for the fleet to move.

It was past 9 in the evening when we reached Caticlan.

air conditioned economy room

Tablas Island: Alcantara's Aglicay Beach

One of the major islands in Romblon Province is Tablas Island which is the biggest among Romblon and Sibuyan Island. After our celebrating our Christmas in Boracay and our side trip to Aklan, we finally boarded the boat going to Looc, Tablas at exactly 9 in the morning of December 26. We paid something like 250 pesos per person.

We passed by Carabao Island which is being introduced today as an emerging paradise island. I think this is a nice place to visit as well.

2 hours of traveling by water was too long for me because I could not help myself to feel dizzy even if I tried to enjoy the view. The boatmen put down the boat's window cover because of the water coming from the strong waves hitting the vessel. This worsen my situation so I threw out.

We arrived in the port of Looc which is a small town in Tablas Island, walked for about 10 minutes going to the town proper since we did not know where to go yet. We planned to figure out where we could stay or what other places to visit when we stopped in a sari-sari store and asked the man who was hanging around enjoying a puff of his cigarette. He told us we could go to Ferrol or Calatrava if we wanted to see nice places.
His friends happened to pass by the store and told them of our inquiries. They were surprised to know we came from afar and that we were only 2.

We finally decided to go to Aglicay Beach which is located in Alcantara, a few kilometers away from Looc, after few minutes of bargaining with the tricycle driver. We paid him P400 when we reached the resort.

We were welcomed by a lady who was also in-charged of the restaurant. We asked her if we could camp there since we had with us our old tent. Upon saying yes, we assembled it with the help of a man working in the resort.

After putting up our tent, we ordered for a fresh buko and inquired more about their rates which vary according to number of guests and accommodation. The resort has standard and family bungalows which can lodge 3 to 5 persons and large kiosk which can hold 20 plus people. We excused ourselves and roved around the resort upon finishing our drinks.

The sound of the waves were rapping the rocks which gave music to the surrounding.

As we wander, we came up to a hill and curiously climbed it. The view was superb! We could see the water surfing its own way to the shore line.

We enjoyed the splendid view and the frostiness of the surrounding brought by the zephyr from the sea.

Around evening after having our dinner (cooked fresh fish caught from the sea), we were pleased to be toured by the owner around the buildings with different amenities. He showed us a big room with billiard table and other indoor games and a disco room.

enjoying the sea ambiance

The following day, we went up at the other side of the hill and enjoyed our temporary paradise.

Took more pictures and trailed down to the other side. There was also an undeveloped part of the resort which the owners are currently developing for fishing and swimming site.

We left this place on "habal-habal" en-route Romblon Island.

The pleasing and impressive qualities of Tablas Island mesmerized us as we traveled to San Agustin where we could take our boat going to Romblon. 

We passed by a broken road destroyed by the previous typhoon according to our driver.

If only we were not rushing, I would have asked the driver to stop so I could take more pictures and enjoy the scene. 

Approaching San Agustin...met one of my classmates here and had a few seconds of chat and picture taking before boarding the boat going to Romblon Island. 

The Glory of Negros

I was in the province when one of my colleagues who happens to be from Sipalay, Negros Occidental called and informed me about her incoming trip to her province due on December of 2009. (She was aware I really wanted to go to their place since I saw her sister's picture in one of the beautiful beaches in Sipalay.) I agreed so she booked us for the plane on that very day. After few more weeks, our scheduled flight for the trip came in.

Dec. 28 at around 2:30 pm, we boarded the plane from NAIA Terminal 3.We landed past 3 at the newly constructed/opened airport in Silay where taxi drivers delightedly meet us offering their services to the town proper which is almost an hour away. There were taxis which they filled in (like jeepney ") charging Php 150 per person. 

Mambukal Resort Entrance

It was past 4 when we arrived at the city town proper (market area) where her friend was waiting for us. Their Hello's and kumusta seemed like forever to me since I could already hear my "pet" rumbling inside my stomach. We spent another 30 minutes searching for a carinderia that offered Bacolod specialties. After eating, we went around the city (Bacolod park and the new city hall) and had our time enjoying the different blinking bright lights all over the place like there was no lights in Manila..duh!

The following day, we traveled to Murcia for half an hour where Mambukal Resort is located. There are a lot of things to that can be done here like boating, swimming, slide for life, wall climbing, trekking etc. We decided to challenge each other and trek the 7 falls which tested our endurance. The 2 reached the 4th falls and wanted to stop. I told them to wait for us (with our guide) since I was really determined to see all the falls. According to the people there, there are still falls after the 7th but are not yet open to public since it was not yet developed. When we were about to leave, our guide informed us that there is a cave in the resort.

bats in Mambukal Resort

The next day, we got on the last trip ordinary Ceres bus going to Sipalay. It was a 4 to 5 hour travel from Bacolod but it was like 24 hours because of the tedious experience we had in that bus. We were at the back and there was no more space that even an ant could not pass through yet the driver and dispatcher still accepted passengers. My backside went sore because I was not not seated comfortably and it was a rough road! It was a very long ordeal. Anyway, we reached their house around 8 in the evening, rested for a while, had our dinner and off to bed. 

We celebrated new year by visiting a lot of beautiful white sandy beaches.

7th falls in Mambukal 

The next day, we got on the last trip ordinary Ceres bus going to Sipalay. It was a 4 to 5 hour travel from Bacolod but it was like 24 hours because of the tedious experience we had in that bus. We were at the back and there was no more space that even an ant could not pass through yet the driver and dispatcher still accepted passengers. My backside went sore because I was not not seated comfortably and it was a rough road! It was a very long ordeal. Anyway, we reached their house around 8 in the evening, rested for a while, had our dinner and off to bed. 

We celebrated new year by visiting a lot of beautiful white sandy beaches.

Dagat-dagatan is found in the town proper of Sipalay. Some people were enjoying a dip in the water while we took our time walking and appreciating the view of the sun going down. Restaurants and bars are also available nearby. 

Next was Langub beachhttp://lifesunfathomabledepths.blogspot.com/2010/01/langub-beach-sipalay.html and then Anhawan Island http://lifesunfathomabledepths.blogspot.com/2010/01/anhawan-island.html

After Anhawan, I went to the place of another colleague in Negros Oriental by Ceres Bus. I went alone but I enjoyed the journey. It was like a caterpillar ride but what really made me appreciate was the surrounding and the landscape I saw along the way.

ticket inspection

Mag-Aso Falls, Kabankalan

From Bayawan, Negros Oriental, I traveled back to Negros Occidental going to Kabankalan City to join some friends who will be going to Mag-Aso Falls. This is quite unknown even to some locals. 

a "flowering" PUJ and a habal-habal

The road going to that place was very rough. We waited for PUJ's but to no avail. Folks said only the habal-habal could go up. Luckily, there was a 6th wheeler truck heading up so we beg the driver to hitched us. It was a gravel and sand delivery truck owned by the municipal government. We joined the other people behind the truck and I swear this is one of the worst ride I ever had. I almost left the place where I seated had I  not held the metal attached on the side when the truck bounced off. 

 Finally, after few minutes we arrived at the place. There was a beauty pageant pictorial during our visit the reason why there were a lot of people at that time. It was the search for Ms. Negros 2009.

Mag-Aso falls has several mini falls. It is said that the highest and main falls is 75 ft high which drop into the well carved natural pool. The cascading water is very clear and refreshingly cool.

We walked down and arrived to this falls. It would not be easy going down for people who are afraid of heights-acrophobia. One must really watch out for his own step or else another great attraction will follow.

We waited for the beauty contestants to finish their pictorials and the people crowding the area to leave before my companions had their fresh dip. 
I slipped and had my feet stuck between the white rocks so my shoes got wet. I just settled on enjoying the spots by taking pictures.

We rode this habal-habal
again when we left the falls.