Snapshot Saturday: Bantayan The Beautiful

Serene stretch of pearly white beach. View from Sta. Fe Beach Club, Bantayan Island (Cebu, Philippines). Today's glum weather in Sydney made us long for anything tropical. We're on the 60th day of our homelessness and currently battling a visa matter. Once we've surpassed that, we're off to our next destination!

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Cebu-Dumaguete: Company of "Joes"

I traumatically underwent an onslaught of interviews by random Pinays as we roadtripped and roro cruised our way from Cebu to Dumaguete. Our entourage composed of two Pinoys (me and my friend Xhy) and three Aussies: Brothers Ari and Benn, plus my hubby Shervin.

Backpacking around the Philippines with foreign travelers (or "Joes" as we call them) can be enlightening, for they give unbiased judgment and at times radical opinions. However it can be infuriating too, because disappointingly, you get ripped off by a few fellow Filipinos. Not only that, depending on where you are, you suddenly become the town's core of attention - which I ain't comfortable with.

Traveling with "Joes". Ari, Benn and Shervin comfortably fit in one Dumaguete tricycle.

Magellan's Cross and Fort San Pedro

"You have not seen Magellan's Cross?!", a recurring question that's been thrown at me by a handful of people. When they ask, they cast me this look of disbelief as if I've committed some crime.

It's not like I've been to Cebu a gazillion times. Just a couple. And on my third visit, with half a day to spare, I thought it's about time to do that mandatory photo session by the cross.

Magellan's Cross, one of the most photographed crucifixes in the country.

Bantayan Island-Cebu City: Losing My Temper

I shamelessly snapped at someone, which rarely happens by the way. Whenever I'm on the road, my head almost always floats inside a sunshine-y bubble. Ecstatic to satisfy my hunger for a new adventure.

And sadly, I blame my 2-month pregnancy for the short fuse. So how did this happen?

About to leave Bantayan Island's port. Still in a good mood.

Snapshot Saturday: Sweet Tooth

Lollipop lover.
Remember the uncaged pet bat of a carinderia owner in Sta. Fe, Bantayan Island? Yeah, apparently the dude has a thing for licking lollies too!

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Rushing Through Sta. Fe

This was not how I envisioned my Bantayan Island visit. Our entire trip was enveloped with time constraints. Not to mention I was two months pregnant which forced me to move a bit sluggish and overly wary.

Sta. Fe was the only municipality we set foot on. And this is where the island's white gleaming beaches are, so that alone made us slightly content even though we only had an hour to frolic in the water.

Sands fronting Marlin Beach Resort, just a few meters from our guesthouse.

Manila-Cebu City-Bantayan Island: Nothing A Preggy Backpacker Couldn't Handle

Aboard a plane, we giggled our way from Manila to Cebu. We were a party of four. Biggest group of people I ever flew with. There was me, my hubby Shervin, my sister Gabe, and my friend Xhy. All of us scored seat sale tickets, P840 each one way. I was the one who booked the flight and well, loosely organized the trip.

It was my third time in Cebu and I finally had the chance to visit Bantayan Island. But with a 1-hour 10-minute flight, 3-hour ordinary bus ride, and a 1-hour 15-minute ferry trip in one day... At two months pregnant, I shall say getting to the island wasn't a breeze.

Sta. Fe, Bantayan Island. Its port in a distance.

Voyaging Visayas: A Prelude

Cebu-Dumaguete-Siquijor-Bacolod may be a common route for Pinoy backpackers, but a bit insane for the preggy traveler. Had I known I was on the way, I wouldn't have planned such intense trip.

The initial itinerary primarily revolved around meeting up with a couple of hubby's friends (whose sole purpose for visiting the Philippines is a tattoo) from Australia. And blame it on a seat sale's allure, I booked a flight from Manila to Cebu, then a flight from Bacolod back to Manila.

Yes, that meant a plentitude of intercity bus rides and ferry crossings in between. And no, morning sickness did not spoil our voyage.


View Voyaging Visayas in a larger map