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Nature has its own distinct milieu that will definitely make her explorer be in awe and crave for more. Definitely, I will never ever get satiated with nature’s beauty.
And so have packed my bags and joined Laboy Baboy Tours last July 23-24, 2016 on their travel to the heart of the Philippine Islands which is Marinduque.
This is really convenient for me as I don’t need to do a lot of research of how to get there, where to stay and what food to cook. For Php 2,500.00/per head, it already includes the costs for my RT Van Transfer from Manila to Marinduque, RT Boat transfer from Genereal Luna Port to Maniwaya Island (where we will stay for the night), Room Accomodation (shared by 7 pax/per room), 4 Hosted Meals, Island Hopping, Booze on Socials and Other Fees like Entrance/Barangay/Environmental Fees.
Although we are all 18 pax inside the Van, Laboy Baboy Tours always see to it that their guests are comfortable in each travel and so the organizer secured a Foton Traveller Van for this trip.
We left Manila at 12:30am, had 3 stopovers and have arrived at General Luna Port at 5:05am. There we took our breakfast and waited for our Boat to arrive.
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| Time Check 5:05am at General Luna Port |
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| Sunrise at General Luna Port |
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| Its a Beautiful Day... ^_^ |
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| A Laboy Baboy Tours Guest Face of Excitement |
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| A Laboy Baboy Tours Guest who confessed to be afraid of drowning |
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| Sun Rays, Mist, Sea and Mangroves in General Luna Port |
When our boat arrived, we need to take a smaller boat to transfer us to our big boat due to low tide. It’s actually a struggle for most of us to be transferred to the big boat as we need to climb our way up and through. Since most of us know each other already (as we have travelled with the same organizer as well), we made fun of how we used our hidden acrobatic skills (hahaha!).
On our way to Maniwaya Island, we encountered waves splashes (but not the same strong waves splashes like we encountered in Calaguas). Most of us were all sleepy and so we tried taking a nap in our 45-minute boat ride.
We woke each other up when we were near the island and so the clear waters of Maniwaya welcomed us. The sea was deep yet still clear to see the corals, fishes and other sea creatures. When we reached the shallow waters, seaweeds are everywhere (oh no! can’t swim with those sea weeds). I’m kinda scared of what might bit me or crawl on me as I can’t see with those seaweeds.
Upon reaching the shore, I totally have forgotten the seaweeds underwater as I feast my eyes with so much color. Green bushes, colorful flowers, relaxing huts, tall coconut trees and different kinds of birds flying and chirping everywhere. Wow! There is so much life on this island!
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| Just arrived! |
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| Ooooops! Its Raining Across Maniwaya Island |
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| Still praying for a good weather the whole day |
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| Welcome to Maniwaya Island, Marinduque |
As we walk through the pathway going to Villa Atilana, we were welcomed by two noisy dogs that bark so loud (but not to scare you). They bark so loud that you can feel they are welcoming you with excitement. Cool!
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| Villa Atilana from the Shore |
Upon entering the resort’s premises, I was already relaxed to see the ambience of the resort. We were welcomed as well by the resort owner, Ate Ligaya and her daughter Jana.
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| You can never feel the heat of the sun with this type of home |
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| Pathway, Staircase going to the Tree House |
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| Truly an amazing sight |
We noticed that their resort is Navy themed and so some of us had the idea that her husband is somewhat of a seaman. And when we got the chance to ask, yes indeed, we were right. That’s why even the room names are based on the officer rankings at sea. The place is really amazing to know plants are growing healthy above sand and corals (watermelon, pineapple, and many more).
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| Homegrown Pineapple. Smells so sweet! |
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| Be like a Pineapple "STAND TALL and WEAR A CROWN" ^_^ |
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| Thank you for the Solar Electricity ^_^ |
While waiting for our lunch to be served, some of us explored the area and took pictures, some took a nap, some had fun with videoke (that’s our group! Go Bibehs!).
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| Jana Preppin our meal table, while Kaye is waiting.. |
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| Happy Face as food is now served.. |
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| Pigging Out Time! |
After the our sumptuous meal, it was later announced that we will start our island hopping at 2pm. So while others are preppin’ for the island hopping adventure, some of us took the chance to take photos.
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| This is actually a tall coral, I just snapped the detail I want |
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| Massage Cottages |
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| Shores view from our resort's pathway |
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| Just soooo relaxing! |
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| Another snap! |
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| More Cottages! |
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| ^_^ |
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| 1, 2, 3... Run! |
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| Amazed! |
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| Can't get enough of this Urchin! |
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| First time to see a Red Coral |
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| I can only see shells like this inside Churches... |
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| I don't know what specie are you but I'm really amazed! |
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| Red Coral on Driftwood... |
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| Breathe!!! |
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| Undershot.. |
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| Portrait and Landscape... |
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| Give us a TV Series Title with this Pose.. ^_^ |
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| Portrait and Landscape |
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| Candid! |
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| Very supportive friends! |
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| Push! |
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| Breath taking... |
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| Maniwaya's Top Model of the Day |
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| Speedboat it is!! |
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| Beautiful.. Maniwaya ka... |
At exactly 2pm, our island hopping begins.
First stop: Mongpong Island, to see the famouse Ungab Rock Formation. Have let my tripod and friends do its job as I enjoyed swimming here instead of taking pictures. The water was kinda deep yet I can feel I am safe to swim around because its really pristine clear and without the sticky salty feel on your skin.
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| The Gang! Take 1.. |
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| The Gang! Take 2! |
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| I'd rather swim swim swim swim... ^_^ |
So before leaving the island, I took my camera and started taking fast snaps as everyone is already boarding on our boat.
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| Snap! |
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| Fast Snap! |
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| Snap! |
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| Fast Snap |
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| Fast Snap |
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| Fast Snap |
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| Fast Snap! |
Next stop: Palad Sandbar.
When we arrived, it is still hightide and the sandbar ain’t that visible and so we waited for it to show up (it showed up around 4:30pm). Palad Sandbar was full of tourist and I cannot really find any good framing so have utilized our boat to make my snaps. After a while, have decided to take a dip as well. Here, we encountered a travelling crab on a black slipper, creepy looking sea urchin, striped fishes who keeps on swimming with us (they aren’t scared of how big I am, they are just there swimming with me and my travel friend Joel).
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| Where is the sandbar? |
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| Patiently waiting for the sandbar |
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| Palad Sandbar.. Show Yourself! |
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| Now were talking! |
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| Who says???! |
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| Fit and Steady.. ^_^ |
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| They are enjoying while I am setting up.. ^_^ |
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| Smiles! |
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| Candid! |
Still I cannot get a good framing as tourists are scattered everywhere. I asked the whole gang for a jumpshot and a group shot. Definitely I need to take the jumpshot photography and put my camera on timer for our group shot.
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| 1, 2 Ready! |
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| JUMMMMP! |
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| Again! |
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| And again! |
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| Now, insert me.. ^_^ GROUPIEEE! |
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| Yeah right! Whatever Dude! |
Again, when the gang is one by one getting on board, I did some fast snaps of whatever I can take.
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| Travel Buddy Joel's Katig Shot ^_^ |
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| Mah Friend Leo.. Survivor Shot.. |
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| My shot as well.. ^_^ |
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| Tourist at my back! Can't get a full shot of the sandbar.. |
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| Kaye's Silhouette's Shot (Natural Light and Dark Shot, NO FILTERS, NO EFFECTS) |
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| Let's go back! to Maniwaya Island! |
And that’s when I got my “Great Divide” which is a division of light and dark. I don’t use filters on my photos as I really wanted to keep it natural. As is, where is. It really amuses me when I get photography shots like this.
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| Great Divide of Light & Dark (NO FILTERS, NO EFFECTS) |
On our way back.
I have a feeling that I cannot have a good shot of the golden sunset as I can see thick clouds blocking the sun. And so even while our boat was moving, I decided to take photos above our boat. To my surprise, I got good natural lens flares.
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| Waves Splash, Sunset and Lens Flare |
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| Waves Splash, Sunset and Lens Flare |
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| Telephoto Snap of Maniwaya, Island at Dusk |
Arrival.
Its already dusk and I am always waiting for this type of lighting so I did my fast snaps once more. Walk and Shoot. Until we arrived at our resort. I find it strikingly beautiful to see lighting beyond the clouds. The gang head straight to the resort to wash up and prep for dinner yet me and the bibehs (we call ourselves) sit there and try to catch a good snap.
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| Off Board.. |
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| Neighbouring Island |
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| Neighbouring Island |
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| Off Boarding |
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| Off Boarding |
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| Maniwaya Island Shores |
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| Dusk... |
Tripod and my camera settings are already se-up (long-exposure). However its really really hard to capture that striking beauty. And so we played a little experiment on silhouettes, lighting trails and so on. Until we have been called to eat dinner.
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| Long Exposure Set Up |
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| Long Exposure Set Up |
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| Long Exposure Set Up |
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| Long Exposure Set Up |
After dinner, I went out and set up my camera and tripod once more to at least get a shot of the full yellow moon. However, I only arrived making my full yellow moon shots like as if the sun was rising.
With frustrations, I decided to pack up and sit down with the gang for socials.
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| My Photography Frustrations |
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| My Photography Frustrations |
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| My Photography Frustrations |
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| My Photography Frustrations |
The next day, having lack of sleep… Us Bibehs, were not in the mood on taking more photoshoots.
However, when we arrived at the port and looked for a cold water to drink we encountered this huge banana and took a picture of it. As well as on the road before I went to sleep, I was able to capture the roads we passed by.
While telling myself, I haven’t seen the real beauty of Marinduque and with that, I will definitely go back and look forward to explore more. I'll be back Marinduque.. Soooooonest! ^__^
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| What a huge Banana... |
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| Much bigger than may face... >_< |
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| Looking Up.. Thanking God for all the Blessings... |
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| Looking Up, Thanking God for providing us a Good Weather! |
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| Looking Up, Thanking God for keeping us safe.. |
