Pretty Good in Puerto Galera (Sept 2016)

[katie23]

*Disclaimer - this is NOT my photo.* I got this from the Agoda listing of Badladz dive resort. I don't know if this is the same falls, but you can also go swimming in Aninuan falls.



According to my guide, there's an Infinity Farm and Infinity Resort. The "farm" has lots of waterfalls (but I don't know if manmade or natural). I didn't check that out due to time constraints. Maybe next time...

[katie23]

There's a lot of plant life in the vicinity. I felt very leafy that day. (please do not quote this post)

[katie23]

After I've had my fill of the falls and surrounds, it was time to head back to the main road. The walk back was shorter, since it was downhill and I didn't take pics anymore.

[katie23]

So we got back on the motorbike and headed for Muelle Pier. On the way to the falls, I saw two large resorts, so I took pics of them on the way back. This is Tamaraw Resort Hotel. It has a pool & its own beach access, from what I saw on Agoda.


Tamaraw Resort is beside Aninuan Beach Resort, which also has beach access.


These two resorts have beach access, but they are a bit isolated and away from other establishments, the town center or the bars/clubs in Sabang beach. So if you want a quiet holiday, then these would fit the bill, I think.

[katie23]

This road leads to Aninuan and other villages.


We were headed this way - to the town center and Muelle Pier, where my gaff was located.


That's all for now. To be continued...

[katie23]

Hi all, thanks for the luv and greens. It was a busy week, and I'm glad it's over! I work Saturdays too, but I have a free day mid-week - so not too bad. And I'm going shopping with some friends later! Yay!

So, as a weekend bonus (heh), I'll post a special pic, prolly for a limited time only. I don't like leaving pics of me around for a long time here. Taken under the coconut trees, on the way back to the main road. Please DO NOT QUOTE this post!

[katie23]

So after visiting Sabang beach and trekking to the small falls, it was time to head back to the dive resort and do stuff before checking out. I had a quick shower, brunch, bought ticket, packed stuff - not necessarily in order. After checking out, I waited for a bit at the pier. Here are some pics taken while waiting for the boat.

View of the yachts and a peanut seller nearby


Btw, Badladz Dive Resort is right beside the Coast Guard office

[katie23]

View of the yachts. I never got tired of this view.


Time to board!

[katie23]

Bye bye Badladz... I hope to see you again. If not you, then your sister (the beach resort).


Hello skipper's chair!

[katie23]

I took note of this - that the front seats were reserved for seniors. It's nice that in PI, there's special treatment (and respect) for seniors. My mom (who's Viet, but is now a Fil citizen) appreciated this, especially when she visited her birth country recently. She said that in VN, there's no special treatment for seniors like 20% discounts, priority lanes in offices, etc. Here in PI, my mom gets treated nicely (usually) and I've noticed it too. In one instance, we were in a mall and needed to take a leak. The lady at the front of the queue gave way for my mom - because she understood that seniors' bladders need emptying immediately! That was nice of her (the lady in the queue).

I know that in other countries, there are reserved seats too - for seniors, handicapped and pregnant women, but not in all countries that I've visited. And sometimes the rules are not enforced.... Anyway, here's the pic.

[katie23]

View of yachts from the boat


My boatmates from Muelle pier - just a few peeps. Boat got filled up in Sabang pier later.

[katie23]

These were taken on the way to Sabang pier. I think it's the same sandbar in Headwork's photos a few pages back.

[katie23]

View of the forest. I'm glad there are still forests in Mindoro. I hope the gov't preserves them so that the tamaraws can still have a home.


Some resorts along the coastline

[katie23]

Coconut trees and houses


Looks like a fishing village/community and not a resort

[katie23]

Sabang beach in the distance

[katie23]

Saw some divers about to go in


I think the dive instructor is telling them... don't f*** up underwater!

[katie23]

Saw Sabang Beach Club - looks like a pleasant place for a drink while watching the sunset. I didn't like the vibe at Sabang, but if I stayed there, I wouldn't mind an afternoon or two in this area.

[katie23]

The boat got filled up with more passengers in Sabang pier. More pinoys, some k-pops and these three foringgas. Aussies, by the sound of them. They were divers as they carried some gear with them. Let's see... I'd hazard a guess that these are their TD lookalikes. From left to right - Loytoy, BLD and Grasshopper. Correct me if I'm wrong. Peace!

[katie23]

It was quite an "exciting" boat ride on the way back, as the sea was a bit choppy. I tried to catch forty winks, and woke up when we were near Batangas pier already. Disembarking at Batangas pier...


View of the sea from Batangas pier

[katie23]

It rained in Batangas. There was a slight weather disturbance up north, so I was glad to finish my holiday and be back in the "mainland".


I chuckled a bit when I saw this. It's a DP world out there... heh!

[katie23]

So this is the end of this thread. Time to eat some hairy balls!


Saw a fruit vendor on my way back to my real gaff and bought some. We call this fruit "rambutan", which is also its Indonesian name. The PI cultivars came from Indonesia decades ago. For the more geeky minded, the name is Nephelium lappaceum. The peso coin is for scale. I think it's also grown in Thailand - what's its Thai name?

To those who made it until the end of this thread, cheers and happy Sunday!

[BaitongBoy]

Heh...Hairy balls...You're a riot, katie...Thanks again for the great thread...Happy Sunday to you, too...It's Saturday evening here in the Republic of Western Canada...

[katie23]

@bb - I like those hairy balls. Bought some again this week. At P40/kg, it's cheap too - less than 1 usd. We used to have 2 trees of that, at my parents' place. But my dad has died, and so have the trees. But that's life! At least I can still buy those red hairy balls in the market!

Happy Sat evening to you in W. Canada. I have an ex-colleague there, near B.C. Cheers!

[BaitongBoy]

Yeah, I like the hairy balls, too...The fruit kind...I mean the real fruit...The razzamatans, or whatever...Sheesh...

Cheers...

[PAG]

I think it's also grown in Thailand - what's its Thai name?

Also called Rambutan Katie. Enjoyed your thread very much.