The House of Dave goes to the "land of promise"...
Photos of the Past Adventures
Day 1 - Travelling to Butuan
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| At NAIA 3, waiting for our plane arrival |
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| Time with the red horse while waiting for the 2 am bus-ride to Mangangoy. We utilized the travel time to take some nap. It was a very efficient cost-cutting strategy for the accommodation |
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| Start of the long and butt-numbing habal-habal ride |
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| Tinuy-an Falls. At the photo is a friend who put my patience into test during this week-long trip |
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| We rode a bamboo raft which brought us under the high falling cold waters |
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| At the higher tier |
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| These marine creatures are known as curachas. They are similar to crabs but contained more meat. I'm allergic to seafood, only the 4 have enjoyed eating those crustaceans! |
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| Bluer than blue! That is the Hinatuan Enchanted River of Surigao |
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| Island Hopping |
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| Sibadan Fish Cage. Swimming with the sharks and stingrays |
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| Rain poured down at rock island |
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| River wading |
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| At the enchanted river marker before moving back to Butuan |
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| We rented 3 motorcycles rather than hiring local drivers in roaming around. It is another efficient cost-cutting strategy and truly an amazing experience. Good thing that we have 3 skilled drivers on the team. Hmm, skilled? did I use the right word? Hi Dave! |
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| Beautiful and impressive are both understatement to describe this wide landscape of coconut trees. One needs to actually visit the place and see it by themselves. Everyone will surely be filled with awe! |
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| Mangroves swamp. I'm sure that crocodiles are lurking around! Attack Aries! |
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| To Sugba Lagoon! |
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| This is a place in Siargao that I will hardly forget. There are sea jellies swimming freely in that emerald green water. One was able to touch my arms and leave a painful mark. Fortunately, it was not venomous. I'm still... alive!!! |
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| Smile! |
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| Magpupungko Rock Formation |
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| Wafer with coconut jam on top |
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| Tidal pool. Swim with the marine creatures that were trapped inside... |
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| Glowing sea surface, reflecting the colors of dusk from above |
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| And our third day has ended at Cloud 9... |
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| At the fish landing, waiting for our boat to Bucas Grande Island |
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| Paddle boat to the home of stingless jellyfish |
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| Jellyfish Sanctuary |
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| Stingless jellyfish. Their tentacles are highly sensitive and can easily be disintegrated with a very soft touch |
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| Gelatinous sea jellies' eggs |
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| This one is quite huge, but it already lost all its tentacles. Wait, jellyfish?! I think this is a high time to avenge myself from the painful experience yesterday! :o |
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| Moon Jelly |
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| Our self-proclaimed Vietnamese friend from Manila :o |
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| The sole entrance to Sohoton Cove which is only accessible during the low-tide. There are several chambers inside the cove, but currently, only 2 are allowed to be visited |
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| This lime formation is known as the altar. Locals are claiming that there were times when they heard mysterious voices from it. We saw a strange creature, but we were uncertain if it was truly a strange one |
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| Preparing to move inside the Hagukan Cavern |
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| The sunlight passing through the water inside the cave makes it glows green, which is creating a magical ambiance. This is an amazing site to see and one of my favorite spots in Bucas Grande |
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| Magkukuob Cavern. Moving up to dive. This was my first time to jump on a cliff, and I will never perform another one again!!! |
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| Naked Island |
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| Daku Island |
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| Hey Dave, you're always looking somewhere every time there's a photo-op... Straighten your sight! |
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| Guyam, the smallest of the three islands |
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| In the swing |
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| Spageti / Spagete... which is which? |
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| Dapa Port Marker |
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"Big Tail, Little Tail chasing all around; Cat and Mouse game never let's down". Tom and Jerry, the cat and mouse who never goes old...
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| Ready to paddle!!! |
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| Various photos of our rafting experience. Quite contrary to what I've read in other materials, the experience was not too thrilling, but the views are scenic. One side of the river belongs to the province of Bukidnon, and the other side to the province of Misamis, Oriental. There are some parts where we were allowed to jump off the boat and played with the current. Just beware of snakes! |
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| It is not yet over Aries!!! |
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| Back to Manila! |
Actual Itinerary
Day 1 August 29, 2018 (Travel to Butuan)
2:30 PM: Departure Pasig to NAIA 3
3:30 PM: Arrival NAIA 3 (delayed flight)
7:00 PM: Departure NAIA 3 to Bancasi Airport (Butuan)
8:30 PM: Arrival at Bancasi Airport
8:45 PM: Jeep ride to Jollibee near Robinson Butuan
9:00 PM: Meet Santy and dinner
11:00 PM: Tricycle ride to Butuan Integrated Terminal
11:15 PM: Arrival at the bus terminal. Waiting for the first bus trip to Mangangoy at 2 AM
Day 2 August 30, 2018 (Hinatuan and Tinuy-an Falls) - Surigao Del Sur
2:00 AM: Departure Butuan to Hinatuan (Sleeping time)
5:30 AM: Arrival at Hinatuan and meet Edchie (contact person)
5:40 AM: Habal-habal ride to Tinuy-an Falls
7:00 AM: Arrival Tinuy-an Falls. Waterfalls chasing
9:30 AM: Departure to Hinatuan Enchanted River
11:00 AM: Arrival at the Hinatuan Enchanted River. Early Lunch
1:00 PM: Island hopping (Sibadan Fish Cage and Rock Island), Photo-ops, afternoon swimming at the enchanted river
4:00 PM: End of Tour. Wash-up
4:40 PM: Departure to the bus terminal
5:00 PM: Departure back to Butuan
9:30 PM: Arrival at Butuan wait for the 11 pm bus trip to Surigao, Dinner
11:00 PM: Departure to Surigao Terminal
Day 3 August 31, 2018 (Sugba Lagoon, Magpupungko, Cloud 9) - Siargao, Surigao Del Norte Part 1
2:00 AM: Arrival Terminal and Tricycle ride to Pier
2:15 AM: Buy a ticket. As of the writing, the earliest trip to Dapa Port is through Montenegro at 3 AM. Although the ride is really slow.
3:00 AM: Departure to Dapa Port
6:45 AM: Arrival at Dapa Port
7:00 AM: Hired a multi-cab to General Luna
7:40 AM: Transient House along Kermit Street. Breakfast
9:00 AM: Departure to Sugba Lagoon
11:45 AM: Arrival at Sugba Lagoon. Start of Tour
3:00 PM: Departure to Magpupungko Rock Formation
3:30 PM: Arrival at Magpupungko Rock Formation, Photo-ops
4:30 PM: Departure to Cloud 9 at General Luna. Unfortunately, we had no sunset
6:00 PM: End of Tour. Acquisition of food supplies at the market.
Day 4 September 1, 2018 (Bucas Grande and Tri-Island) - Siargao, Surigao Del Norte Part 2
4:30 AM: Wake-up call. Breakfast
6:00 AM: Departure to Fish Landing (Baybay/Brgy. Olo)
6:30 AM: Departure to Bucas Grande
9:00 AM: Bucas Grande Tour (Swim with the jellyfishes /caving/diving at the Sohoton Cove)
12:30 PM: Departure to Tri-Island (Naked, Daku, and Guyam)
2:30 PM: Start of Tri-Island Tour
4:30 PM: End of Island Hopping Tour. Back to the Transient house
Day 5 September 2, 2018 (Travel Time Siargao to Cagayan De Oro)
7:00 AM: Wake-up call.
9:00 AM: Church Passing, It's Sunday!
10:00 AM: Departure to Dapa Port
11:30 AM: Departure to Surigao (Pier)
3:00 PM: Arrival at Pier, tricycle ride to Surigao Terminal
3:30 PM: Late lunch
5:30 PM: Departure Surigao to Butuan
8:30 PM: Bus boarding
9:00 PM: Departure to Cagayan De Oro (Agora Market)
Day 6 September 3, 2018 (Cagayan White Water Rafting) - Cagayan De Oro, Misamis Oriental
2:00 AM: Arrival Agora Market, check-in at Win Min Transient House for 4 hours)
6:30 AM: Departure to Plaza Divisoria, breakfast at Jollibee and waiting for the contact person (KAGAY)
8:00 AM: Departure to water rafting jump-off (Advanced level)
9:00 AM: Start of water rafting
12:30 PM: Departure to Kagay Adventure office
1:00 PM: Wash-up and waiting for the pictures
1:45 PM: Late lunch buffet at the hungry plate
3:00 PM: Mall hopping, check-in at Win-Min
9:15 PM: Departure to Lgundingan Airport
10:40 PM: Boarding Time
12:20 AM: We're home Manila!
Note: The actual itinerary was based on the conceptual itinerary prepared by Sheng Pontiveros when she ventured the whole CARAGA Region. Our group made a twist as we set Cagayan De Oro as our exit point. However, we weren't able to visit Dinagat Island due to time constraint.
Summary of Actual Expenses for 5 pax
Major Expenses
Fare from Butuan to Hinatuan: 232 Php / pax
Habal-habal ride in Hinatuan: 500 Php / pax
Indigenous Fee at Tinuy-an: 150 Php
Registration at Tinuy-an and locker fee: 118 Php / pax
Registration at Hinatuan River: 200 Php / Pax
Island hopping at Hinatuan: 500 Php per boat
Entrance Sinabad and rock formation: 20 Php each island
Fare from Butuan to Surigao: 226 Php / pax
Roro fare: 180 Php / pax
Terminal fee: 50 Php / pax
Transient house: 450 Php / pax
Rent of Haba-habal ride (self-drive): 400 Php / motor
Boat ride Sugba Lagoon: 1,600 Php / boat
Registration Sugba Lagoon: 50 Php / pax
Magpupungko Entrance: 50 Php / pax
Cloud 9 Entrance: 50 Php / pax
Boat ride to Bucas Grande: 5,000 Php / boat
Registration at Bucas Grande: 100 Php / pax
Safety gears: 40 Php / pax
Sohoton Cove Eco Tour: 830 Php / trip (8 pax)
Paddle boating at jelly fish sanctuary: 100 Php / pax
Registration at Guyam island: 30 Php / pax
Fare Butuan to CDO: 400 Php / pax
Waterrafting Advance Level: 1,800 Php / pax
Contacts
Hinatuan
Edchie: 0926-552-9636 (our group contact)
Cesar Sarmiento: 0948-575-0496 (Highly recommended by Sheng)
Siargao
Sir Vincent: 0948-950-6934 / 0938-208-8672 (our group contact)
Nicolas Salgado (Bebot) 0930-974-9974 / 0906-459-5679 (Highly recommended by Sheng)
Cagayan De Oro
Kagay Adventure Office: 0917-712-2442 / 0922-388-6200
Worth Knowing
The Legend of Tinuy-an Falls
"Tinuyo-an or Tinuy-an means an intentional act or performance to attain an objective or goal.
Legend revealed that long before, the Magdiwata Mountain Settlers were enslaved by cruel tribesman coming from the hinterlands of Agusan. They were mistreated by their masters and were forced to perform hard manual labor.
Tired of the maltreatment, the brave natives convened among themselves and created a plan to be free of the cruelty. So, one day, while rowing the gakit (bamboo raft) boarded by the masters, the slaves jumped off and intentionally shoved the gakit towards the waterfalls killing all their vicious masters and attaining the freedom that they longed for.
From then on, the high falling waters is called Tinuy-an Falls to commemorate the courage and gallantry of the heroic natives." (Source: Commemorative metal plate)
Photo Credits to the owners
End
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