We prepped up the 7-seater vehicle, packed our gears, and
drove off one early morning. We have a long drive ahead of us, going south. Far
south.
It was almost dusk when we arrive to the first leg of the trip. We had dinner in Naga City, then re-traced our tracks to Ragay in Camarines Norte.
We still have a long way to in this journey to Bicolandia and our ultimate destination will be Caramoan.
Caramoan is a small coastal town surrounded by numerous small islands. The town can be reached via ferry. The islands have become very popular because of the reality show “Survivor.” During our trip, there were no less than four “Survivor” editions being shot or have been completed in the isolated islands surrounding Caramoan.
The interesting part of our journey is that we almost did not make it to Caramoan. The ominous looking grey clouds as we drove along the length of Camarines Sur going to the port were not a good sign. And true enough, a storm raged on preventing ferry boats to set sail and go to Caramoan.
And there we were, stuck in a modest hotel hoping and waiting to the clouds to clear up. It was a good two days of waiting before we finally saw the sun peek out of the clouds.
Leaving our vehicle in the port, we rushed to the ferry boat station eager and excited. After an uneventful 2-hour boat ride, we sat foot for the first time in Caramoan town. After securing our accommodations for the night and getting in touch with our local contact, we hurriedly went to this small dock where a moored “bangka” is waiting to take us to the many islands surrounding the town.
It was nice seeing a cluster of mangroves with many sea birds perched among the branches. It was nice seeing emerald waters reflect sunlight. It was wonderful seeing an unspoiled cove, with crystal clear water, and jumping in the water from a seemingly out of place 10-foot boulder gutting out of the beach. It was nice walking barefoot in white sand that is comparable to the world-famous white sand of Boracay.
In essence, it was nice getting away from it all. We were in paradise.
It was almost dusk when we arrive to the first leg of the trip. We had dinner in Naga City, then re-traced our tracks to Ragay in Camarines Norte.
We still have a long way to in this journey to Bicolandia and our ultimate destination will be Caramoan.
Caramoan is a small coastal town surrounded by numerous small islands. The town can be reached via ferry. The islands have become very popular because of the reality show “Survivor.” During our trip, there were no less than four “Survivor” editions being shot or have been completed in the isolated islands surrounding Caramoan.
The interesting part of our journey is that we almost did not make it to Caramoan. The ominous looking grey clouds as we drove along the length of Camarines Sur going to the port were not a good sign. And true enough, a storm raged on preventing ferry boats to set sail and go to Caramoan.
And there we were, stuck in a modest hotel hoping and waiting to the clouds to clear up. It was a good two days of waiting before we finally saw the sun peek out of the clouds.
Leaving our vehicle in the port, we rushed to the ferry boat station eager and excited. After an uneventful 2-hour boat ride, we sat foot for the first time in Caramoan town. After securing our accommodations for the night and getting in touch with our local contact, we hurriedly went to this small dock where a moored “bangka” is waiting to take us to the many islands surrounding the town.
It was nice seeing a cluster of mangroves with many sea birds perched among the branches. It was nice seeing emerald waters reflect sunlight. It was wonderful seeing an unspoiled cove, with crystal clear water, and jumping in the water from a seemingly out of place 10-foot boulder gutting out of the beach. It was nice walking barefoot in white sand that is comparable to the world-famous white sand of Boracay.
In essence, it was nice getting away from it all. We were in paradise.