ajourneywithme | A Journey With Me

Calaguas Islands, Camarines Norte

Our 5th Quezon – Bicol Escapade is in Calaguas Islands, Vinzon, Camarines Norte. Calaguas is a group of islands including the famous Tinaga, Maculabo, Guintinua islands and other islets, included in the town of Vinzons in Camarines Norte. The seaboard of Calaguas is rough during the rainy season as it is located along the Pacific Ocean. The best time to explore to Calaguas is during summer.

As we often do, we stayed in Cam’s house in Calauag on our first night. We packed our things, this time with a tent, food and water. The following day, we rode a bus towards Paracale. Along the bus stop, we rode another bus towards Paracale town. We headed to the fishing port of Paracale and bought some other stuff while we waited for a boat for a two-hour boat ride. We were excited to see the picturesque paradise from afar. Sighting the pristine white sand of Mahabang Buhangin or Long Beach, the unparalleled green mountainous area of Tinaga Island, turquoise water, the island was a real beauty.
There were no resorts on the island during the time of our visit. But I remembered there were Nipa Huts being constructed at the center of Mahabang Buhangin, and we were told that the owner has a resort in Boracay. Upon setting foot on the island in the afternoon, we were sun-kissed already by the sun’s heat. We looked for a good camping site in the left part of the island.

The island was divided into different owners because there were caretakers in the area. We found a nice spot, near a Nipa hut of the caretaker, with so many coconut trees that shaded our area. At our back, was the caretaker’s source of water, public bathrooms and a small house with a sari-sari store. They have food, drinks, and water supplies.
We set up our tent, mingled with the caretaker where we bought our coconuts. We took a nap to enjoy the tranquillity of the island. There was a set up of volleyball net near us, so Butchick and Cam played beach volleyball, as were able to get a ball from our caretaker.
The beach was fronting a very romantic sunset, as many tourists like us, started lining up to witness the orange colored sun going down the horizon.

Although it’s camper’s site, the phone signal is high and there’s electricity on the island. We had a few drinks with our caretaker and jammed with them because they had a guitar. We watched the stars while in the sand.

Early in the morning, Butchick and I played with the water in the beachfront because there were few boats along the coastline. We stayed on the beach for a long time until the time we had to leave the island.

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Mercedes Group of Islands, Camarines Norte

Mercedes is a town after Daet in Camarines Norte. The town is known for the siete pecados or seven islands around the Pacific along the coastline of Daet which was called Mercedes Group of Islands. The seven islands where Canimog, Apuao Grande, Quinapaguian Island, Malasugui, Apuao Pequeṅa, Canron and Caringo. For me, Mercedes islands where unadulterated and quiet beauties, that provides tranquillity from the crowded Bagasbas Beach.

From my previous post, we spent a night in Daet, within the vicinity of Bagasbas beach because we weren’t able to get a tour package that would take us to Calaguas Island. The locals from Daet suggested we should go to Mercedes Island. The four of us decided again to take a different route from the original plan.
From Daet, we rode a tricycle to take us to Mercedes. From the Daet-Mercedes boundary, we rode another tricycle to get us to the town of Mercedes. When we reached Mercedes town proper, we saw a local restaurant called Graceland were we had our lunch. After which we rode another tricycle to take us to the Mercedes fish port. There was a tourism office in the port, and we inquired about places to stay in Cayucyucan and where to go to Mercedes.

It was only a five minutes ride to Cayucyucan, another barangay in Mercedes. The port is located in Manguisoc wharf. From the wharf, we rode a tricycle and went to Palms Farm Resort. We booked for an overnight stay, and we talked to the staff for an island tour in the Mercedes islands.
The staff got a boatman to tour us in the islands around. And we were all set to tour the quiet beauties of Mercedes, in which way back then was not really known tourist destination. We were able to see 3 out of 7 islands because some islands From Cayucyucan, the first island in our itinerary is Canimog Island. I love the island, because of the long sand bar, white powdery sands and crystal clear water. We stayed here longer for about an hour to swim and explore the island.

From Quinapaguain, we went to Apuao Grande and Apuao Pequena, two islands connected by the sandbar.
Apuao Grande Island used to be a private resort and a golf course area. But due to some problems and was in the state of disrepair, the island stopped accepting tourist but remained open to the public that was managed by the caretaker. The island has a long sand bar, pristine white sand and clear blue waters.

After Apuao Grande, we went to Caringo, a barangay where most locals live. It is also near a coral sanctuary, and the sands were white sands with shells. We were accompanied by our boatman to go to the barrios and bought freshly caught fishes from the fisherman.

From Caringo, we were able to see Malasugui and Quinapagan Island before going back to our resort. Going back to Cayucyucan, we encountered a problem with our boat. For almost 20 minutes were stuck along the shores of Cayucyucan and Quinapagan. But we were not disheartened as we were able to see the beauty of the sunset on the horizon.

We asked for the staff of Palms Farm resort to for us, what we bought from Caringo. During the night, we stayed outside and enjoyed the sound of the water and each other’s company. There were rattan swings, hammocks and wooden chairs and tables within the resort. The beach area of Palms Beach Resort was also good for swimming, and there is a net for beach volleyball fanatics to enjoy the sun.

We went back to Mercedes town in the morning and went to Baybay Beach where there was an event for kayaking and skimming. John tried kayaking and we were grateful of the locals of the tourism department of Mercedes who accompanied us.

For more information about Camarines Norte, please check this posts: Bagasbas Beach, Daet, Camarines Norte Calaguas Islands, Camarines Norte

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Bagasbas Beach, Daet, Camarines Norte

Bagasbas Beach is in Daet, Camarines Norte and one of the top surfing destination in the Philippines. The 4 kilometers stretch of fine, gray and powdery sands is also a surfer’s haven. It is one of the top surfing destinations in the Philippines as big waves from the Pacific Ocean makes it an ideal spot for surfers.

Cam and I started the trip in 2007. In 2012, there were four of us who explored Camarines Norte. We were joined by John and Butchick. John and I came from Manila, while Cam and Butchick were from Calauag and we joined them in Calauag.

We left in the morning and rode a bus from Calauag to Daet. The plan was to go to Calaguas and find a travel package for the four of us that includes a tent since we were not prepared for the camping. When we reached Daet, we rode a tricycle and went to Bagasbas Beach. And because the beach was dragging our itchy feet to enjoy the sand and the water, we opted to stay for a night here.

We then look for a place to stay and found a guest house called Zenaida’s Palace. The place seemed to be a residential house which was turned into a hostel. It was just a few minutes away from the beach, with nearby sari-sari stores. After resting for a while we decided to explore Bagasbas Beach.

It was already low tide when we got there. And because it was not the surfing season, only small waves roll in the ocean. There were surfing lessons being offered. It was a public destination but the beach was very clean. The unadulterated wide stretch of sand bar took us far from the Bagasbas Promenade.

We ate at Surfer’s Dine Inn. Hostels, inns, resorts and restaurants lined up the Promenade. Make sure to book early or you might not find a place to stay especially during the summer season and surfing season.

Bagasbas is facing the east of the Pacific Ocean. We were up early and we were amazed by the view of the beautiful sunrise. Early morning, there are surfers on the beach.

For more information about Camarines Norte, please check the posts: Mercedes Group of Islands, Camarines Norte Calaguas Islands, Camarines Norte

Dampalitan Island, Padre Burgos, Quezon

Dampalitan Island is one of the three islands which is a popular destination along the Tayabas Bay. It is across Borawan in the coastline of Padre Burgos in Quezon.

Dampalitan Beach has the widest bed off-white sand bar and crystal clear water with a backdrop of the Agoho trees and coconut trees. The Bondoc Peninsula and the rest of Quezon are abundant of coconut trees. The trees added a tropical and laid back feeling, while we explore the island.

Dampalitan is also a camper’s site. There are cottages for rent, a common toilet and a store of the caretaker. We took a rest in the white sand beach and enjoyed the clear blue sky.

We then headed back to Villa Anita to check out. After which, we rode a jeep from Padre Burgos to Pagbilao. From Malicboy, Pagbilao we took a tricycle going to the jump-off point going to Kuwebang Lagpas.

We were supposed to go to Kuwebang Lampas and Puting Buhangin, but decided to take a different route near the jump-off point going there. We found a serene area without the usual campers and tourists who visit the beach area.

It was called, but there were rock formations, with small caves, and a rocky sand bar. It is near Pagbilao Power Station. Or maybe because we were actually lost that we found a different spot. Well, somehow it was a good thing, we were able to end our trip finding this gem along Pagbilao Grande.

For more information about Quezon Province, please check my posts: Gumaca, Quezon, Borawan Island Beach, Quezon

Borawan Island Beach, Quezon

Our 3rd Quezon – Bicol Escapade was to explore Padre Burgos in Quezon. I went to Calauag first and stayed there overnight. In the morning, Cam and I took a bus going to Lucena from Calauag. I was able to take a picture of the view on the top while traversing the Bituka nang Manok road in Atimonan.

From Lucena, we rode a minivan to Padre Burgos. We rode a tricycle looking for a place to stay. We weren’t successful in Tamarind Tree Resort but found the Villa Anita Butterfly Garden and Resort, along the Padre Burgos – Andangan National Road. It was already past 1PM when we arrived in the resort.

The resort has a huge garden and a fish pond. There’s a restaurant inside but just across the resort was a Pavillion for a large number of visitors. There were portions that were under construction especially the bigger swimming pool. The cottages were Nipa Huts with aircon. The staff told us of the beachfront area of the resort which was a 10-minute ride from the resort. We were accompanied by the driver of the resort and drove us to the Villa Anita beach front. But as of posting, Villa Anita was permanently closed.

It was low tide that morning and we enjoyed taking pictures and walking around the rocky beach. There was a floating “balsa” in the area. And we stayed there and waited for the sunset.

The following morning we were fetched by the boatman on the beachfront of the resort to start our island tour. The boat ride was about 15 minutes going to Borawan, just across the beach in front of Villa Anita.

Borawan came from the combination of the words Boracay and Palawan and located at Pagbilao Chica Island. It is along the coastline of the Tayabas Bay. There are different rock formations along the way.

Borawan is a place for campers. As of writing, there’s a resort already and that the place is being maintained properly. When we visited the place, there were campers and a caretaker with their small store for your needs. Because it was the Labor day weekend at that time, tourists flocked the island, so we went to the other side in a quieter place, where we had the towering rocks all by ourselves.

But beware of the secluded place without the nets, I was stung by a jellyfish here. If you could zoom the picture below, you’ll see how big the jellyfish that I encountered, and it was painful and the black scar lasted a year.

But all in all, Borawan is a good place to go, it just depends on your expectation. But for me, every new place is worth to travel.

For more information about Quezon Province, please check my posts: Gumaca, Quezon, Dampalitan Island, Padre Burgos, Quezon

Caramoan, Camarines Sur

The Caramoan peninsula is located at the eastern portion of Camarines Sur in front of Catanduanes. It is the home of so many islands and islets and the scenic view of towering cliffs and lush green mountains with the perfect sunrise.

This was my 2^nd Quezon – Bicol trip with Cam. Cam already resided in Calauag after a year when we went to Gumaca, Quezon

We travel for 4 hours by bus from Calauag to Naga City. From the terminal in Naga City, we rode a van to take us to Sabang Port in San Jose, Camarines Sur. We took a boat and traversed the mountain ranges and the Lagonoy Gulf. After almost two hours we reached the port of Guijalo.

Upon reaching the port, we rode a motorcycle where we asked the driver to take us to a resort but he told us it because it was summer, the resorts were fully booked, so he suggested and bought us to the town where we stayed with the locals and rented a room for an overnight stay.

It was a long journey, so we went out at night and found a restaurant along the Paniman beach and had our dinner. We went to and talked to the owner about Caramoan. After which we stayed outside enjoying the beach until it was almost midnight.

The following morning we were referred to a boatman and toured us in the island. We were welcomed by the perfect sunrise of Caramoan. The first stopped was Minalahos island. An island in front of Gota Beach which is good for swimming. There’s also a table rock in front, a point of jump-off for diving.

Gota Beach was the resort where the crew and staff of Survivor stayed.

Then we went to Hunongan Cove with a view of longer sandbar and coconut trees at the beach front.

Kagbalinad island is the front view of Hunongan Cove.

Going to Caramoan had been a challenge, and 2 days wasn’t enough to explore the islands. We went there during those times the Survivor series was being shot in the different islands. Most islands were being used for production. The tourists and locals were restricted on some island like the Gota Beach.

Because of time constraint, we weren’t able to explore the islands but we promised to go back to Caramoan for a longer stay. Other notable islands are Matukad, Lahus, Cotivas Island, Sabitayang Laya and many other islands.

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Gumaca, Quezon

Gumaca lies in the middle of the Quezon Province along the coastline of Lopez Bay. Most travelers wouldn’t stop here because most of the buses going to Bicol have a stopover in Lucena or Atimonan, and the next stopover would be in Calauag or Tagkawayan.

The major attraction of Gumaca is the Gumaca Cathedral or the Cathedral of San Diego de Alcala, one of the oldest and biggest churches in the province of Quezon.

Other notable areas to explore in Gumaca is the Museo ng Gumaca, to know more about the Gumaca Heritage District due to the ancestral houses and old structures and the San Diego de Alcala Fortress or the Kutang San Diego, the only surviving fortress in Gumaca. The fortress is also recognized as a national treasure since 1981.

We went to a nearby public spot of the beach, in which my best friend and I decided to have a late afternoon stroll. And my trip to Gumaca was the start of our summer getaway in which we focused in Quezon Province and Bicol Region.

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A Fairytale Life Underwater

In the world of imagination, children dream of living a fairy tale. In reality, there’s the mermaid academy. Yes, there are swimming schools for those who want to be like Ariel, the heroine of the movie The Little Mermaid, or, closer to home, Jezebel.

Being a mermaid is not all about carousing in the water among the coral reefs and schools of fish, as Ariel does with her long colorful hair trailing her. It also means learning the basic strokes of gliding and moving underwater with legs enclosed in a 2-kg mermaid tail, movements that also happen to work out the core abdominal muscles, the lower back, legs and entire upper body.

That is why being a mermaid takes training, and an aspiring mermaid or merman, as the male counterpart, can enroll at the Philippine Mermaid Swimming Academy which was founded in Boracay but also has sites in Manila and Cebu.

Indeed, mermaid training is challenging work. At the PSMA, the different lessons last from 90 minutes to five hours long, depending on the level. The first lessons include familiarization with the mermaid tail, a safety briefing, learning the four basic swim strokes and breathing techniques and also practicing these skills in three-meter deep waters.

Scuba Mermaid – Photo by Paulo Violas, permission granted by PSMA

Advanced swimming lessons specialize in breathing and equalizing techniques, rescue exercises, various underwater mermaid tricks, bubble and blowing in a depth of 10 meters of water.

A certificate card from the International Mermaid Swimming Instructors Association is given during the introduction and the advanced levels.

Other lessons include free-diving basic techniques, performance mermaid and scuba mermaid. These three require a Professional Association of Diving Instructors Certification or a Free Diver certificate from the International Association for Development of Apnea.

For those who are afraid of the water but still want to capture a perfect mermaid moment, the Academy offers a mermaid photo opportunity. For 30 minutes, PSMA teaches the student how to pose like a pro. Fees include the tail rental and directed photo shoot on dry sand and in knee-deep sea water.

The growing number of mermaid and merman enthusiasts has prompted the celebration of the first-ever International Mermaid Day on March 29 and March is the mermaid month.

All photos were granted permission from PSMA. For inquiries, you can check the website:

Philippine Mermaid Swimming Academy

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Phuket Attractions

Here is the list of famous beaches and landmarks in Phuket, in the southern part of Thailand. The different Phuket attractions are mostly in Kathu and Mueang District.

Kathu District

Patong Beach

The most famous and largest beach resort town in the province of Phuket. The beach is almost 4 kilometers facing the Andaman Sea. It is the center of wild nightlife and crowded beach. You can also dine, shop, have a Thai massage or eat local street foods because it is near the famous Bangla road.

Water activities were being held around like kayaking, parasailing and others. Tourist and locals enjoy the beach, sleeping, sunbathing, enjoying some sports activities, taking pictures, strolling, watching the sunset, eating and having fun in the sand.

Bangla Road

The heart of wild nightlife is along Bangla Road where you can see the Bars, Live Music, Night Clubs, restaurants and shopping malls and the famous Go Go Bars.

Jungceylon Shopping Complex

Located near Bangla Road, Jungceylon is located in the center of Patong. It is the most modern mall in Phuket.

Other areas for shopping and night markets are OTOP Shopping Paradise, Banana Walk Shopping Mall, Basaan Market, and China Town.

Mueang District

Karon Beach

The second largest beach with a 3 kilometer long and broad sandbar. There small restaurant on the beach but the beach is also surrounded by nearby hotels, shops and restaurants across the street. There are nearby parks across the street.

Kata Beach

A small island called Poo island is visible around Kata Beach. Kata is one of the small beach of the three popular beaches – Patong and Karon. This area also has lessons for surfing. There are restaurants and hotels across the street from Kata Beach.

Karon View Point

Between Nai Harn and Kata Noi beach is a landmark on top of the hill with the view of the three beaches in Meuang District – Kata Noi, Kata and Karon beaches and the Poo Island. It is locally known as “Khao Saam Hasaad” or Three Beaches Hill. It is also a good site for a picnic as there are gazeebos in the area. The nearby Kata Noi is accessible if you book a hotel near the beach.

Rawai Beach

Rawai, located at the southern part of Phuket, is a traditional fishing village and the home of sea gypsies. The local fisherman goes fishing and you could buy freshly caught fishes in the market. Authentic Thai dishes are available in some few restaurants especially the one on the beach front. Rawai beach is less crowded but is not good for swimming and the beach is the docking port for the long tail boats. Coral and Bon islands in front of Rawai.

Nai Harn Beach

A small beautiful beach area near Phromthep which is also less crowded. You can also see the windmill viewpoint near Nai Harn beach.

Phromthep Cape

One of the best spot to see the Andaman sea and a beautiful sunset. There are shrines for elephant statues. It is the end point of Phuket = Pearl of Andaman Sea. Racha Yai island, Noi, island and Phi Phi islands can be seen in the distance.

Buddhist shrine with the brass of elephants and a lighthouse called Kanchanaphisek Lighthouse are also the most visited in Phromthep.
Other landmarks near Rawai are Yanui Beach, Laem Ka Beach and Maithon or Honeymoon Island. Rawai boxing stadium is also located here.

Wat Chalong Temple

One of the most visited temples is Wat Chalong Temple located in the Chalong, Mueang Phuket District. It is also called Wat Chaiyathararam and among the 29 Buddhist temples in Phuket. Locals pray at the temple and foreigners also learn about Buddhism. There are dress codes and restrictions when entering the temples.

For Phuket tours click here.

For other tours click here.

A Mermaid’s Tale

The best part of traveling is meeting new people. As I was solo traveling in Moalboal, Cebu, I met a mermaid, Odessa Bugarin. She left her city life and became a scuba and freediving instructor, a professional mermaid, producer and conservationist.

In 2013, Odessa, a divemaster certified by the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), joined a group of mermaid performers in the beautiful aquarium in MGM, Macau.

Odessa opened her own school, Mermaid Odessa Swimming Academy, in Anilao, Batangas and Moalboal, Cebu in 2015. That same year, she focused on her free diving and also gained her certification from the International Association for Development of Apnea Level 3.

In 2016, Odessa was one of the real-life mermaids who performed in the ADEX: Meet the Mermaids in Singapore and has been continuously invited to the event. ADEX is the longest-running and the largest dive expo in Asia.

Her mermaid swimming skills became polished with training, and she has become comfortable using her mermaid tail, which she admits could be arduous and uncomfortable. “A mermaid coach will guide you and provide safety while you’re overcoming the discomfort coming from the fact that the tail binds your legs together. There are ways to make things easy.” She said.

The Conservationist

“As a real-life mermaid, I can use the fantasy of the wonderful mermaid world to reach out to people and spread my causes and advocacies. I started to meet people with the same passion. I realized that I could actually buy or get my own tail and so I did and I was addicted to it. I brought it everywhere with me which led to my rendezvous with underwater photographers. I then discovered that I could also do underwater modeling to promote marine life awareness and conservation.” Odessa said. As a diver, she calls herself an ambassador of the oceans, sharing her own deep and intimate connection with marine life.

Odessa joins clean-up drives and picks up trash from beaches and sea. She also volunteers to care for rescued dolphins.

Photo by Michael Aw, permission granted by Odessa

Her ease in the water has gotten her some plum assignments. Michael Aw, the founder of Ocean Geographic, said he worked with Odessa for a campaign against the use of crocodile skin and meat, and she even posed and swam with the crocodile. She also had a photo where she was dancing with the sharks. She conquered in diving the Avalon Jardines de la Reina – Gardens of the Queen and met notable persons sharing her advocacy to protect the marine environment.

Photo by Michael Aw -Dancing with the Sharks

Odessa’s message to would-be mermaids: “I hope that you do know that being a mermaid is not all about being beautiful or it’s not all about fantasy. It’s not all about cool photos and videos. Please use that beauty and fantasy to reach out to people. Be a mermaid, servants of the world’s oceans. Keep diving, exploring, and discovering. Share everything you know about the magical big blue. LOVE Mermaid Odessa.”

And behind the pretty face, perfectly-shaped body and synchronized dolphin kick swimming of a mermaid is a woman with a genuinely big heart for the ocean.

You can also check out her Youtube Channel: Mermaid-Odessa

Updated on July 22, 2020.