My Puerto Galera Experience

After transferring from Davao City to Metro Manila 2 years ago, I finally conquered PUERTO GALERA last weekend(3.4.5apr'09) with Alger&I, Pam& Archie [PARES2X-ANIME2X]. Other people have been telling me that Galera will just disappoint me since the beaches in Davao are much more beautiful. I believed that all this time (since I did not have the chance to go there anyway). But to my surprise (or maybe its just because I've not been to a 'beach' for the longest time ever, nonetheless) Puerto Galera was not as I was told.

Sure, the boat ride takes forever, and the waves WILL get you wet (even when all the windows are covered by hard see thru plastic, may I say). But the trip is still cool (though, I can't say for the weak at heart or for those who can't swim). The boat ride felt like a long roller coaster ride, kinada like life...[DRAMA!!!!!]. With a little bit of Archie's magic tricks, the long trip felt like a snap of a finger.

When we got to the place, there was no port! No, this is not a complaint. I was just used to one. It was ok (though, the plank on which we were walking on from the boat to the sand is swaying here and there). We had a hotel reservation but not in White Beach (where we docked, problem was, there was no dock =p) Thing is, we didn't need the hotel. People actually come to you to offer rooms, beach front, for almost the same price! So we forgot about our reservation and booked ourselves a some-kinda-beachfront location. We left Manila around 5am, so we got there early, around 11am. And like what they say,"the early bird falls asleep in the middle of the day". And because the guys are such earlie-birdies, they slept till they got hungry. I couldn't say more. So Pam & I went out to the beach to get the feel of Galera. We did go there for our "Summer Pictorial". But the water was so enticing, calling out to me. We did go out but we didn't get that far before realizing that sooner, not later, I would give in to the temptation. So, we headed back to the room, put on our bathing suits (under a cute beach gown), woke the 'earlie-birdies' up, and headed to the beach!

It was not all sunny that day (possible reason why the waves were big), but it was still a good time to be at the beach. My baby and I (aaaasssuuusss...) still found our way cuddling each other.

Of course, I wasn't the only one he was cuddling. He was enjoying Archie, too.=p

We couldn't waste the sunset, but the sunset sure did waste us. Around 4pm, the sky was already looking like 'Manila-Sky' (you know, the dark-looks-like-its-gonna rain color). We tried to get a better view the Haring Araw waving us au revoir. But he had gone without us getting a glance. So, we rocked the night with Mr. Moon. =) We spent the nights at this shed where they offer expensive drinks, a not so good band (except for the lady) playing the really bad instruments, and a very cozy beach-side bonfire. Althugh the beach was crowded, it was wide enough to accommodate us all (I wish I could say the same on Holy Week). We danced in the beachfront on the disco next door while Pam&Archie 'talked' on the side (like they always did the whole time =p). We did not want our nights to end but the bed always called us in. The bed always won. She prepares us for the next day, for the more beautiful ones.

The food in Puerto Galera was above average. The food counter offer mostly 'inihaw' - chicken, pork bbq,liempo, squid, tilapia, bangus and even 'talong' (beat that Boracay!) We did feast on them. Poor Alger, stuck with chicken with his Kosher diet. Some stores did offer beef (Sinigang-something Mr. Kosher diet does not like either) and some other stuff. But I'm pretty sure you'd prefer the 'ihaw'-style. Soft drinks are way outa' line when it comes to pricing. 95 bucks for 1.5 liter of Coke (or Sprite if you're with Pam). tsk,tsk,tsk...really pricy. They would let you bring in drinks bought from outside though. So its just a matter of finding a "suking tindahan". Oh, and they also serve breakfast all day long. So hotdogs and eggs are of surplus here, and I mean, SURPLUS, on the beach!

The was manga was simply like the ones we buy in Libertad(-you know where this is? Yup? Pasay!) Not sweet, not sour either. Worth 20 bucks if you ask me. This is, though, something Archie-The Magician, definitely does not appreciate. Check this out!!!You could hear him say "EEEWWWWW...."

The beach and all that's in the sea (Banana boat, diving, snorkeling etc) is not the only A's of this Mindoro town. There are other places to see. Aside from rooms, people who meet you upon getting off the boat will also offer these tours and show you great photos (of course, you oughta know how Photoshop works, but nonetheless). So we got Ate Connie (the girl who got us the room) to book us a tricycle (because there were only 4 of us, and because we were on a tight budget). The one that struck me the most was the Tanawan Falls. It was so beautiful on the picture. And since I heard so much about Sabang, I wanted to go there. But Pam was more interested in another falls, Tukuran. So we decided to head for both falls. Manong Jay-R even suggested he'd give us a side trip, the Hanging bridge. So, 25min tricycle ride later, we were at our first stop, Tanawan Falls. To my dismay, it was on the highway. It was Beautiful, but the pool below it have been so modernized. There was literally a pool (made of concrete) below the falls where people can swim. And because it rained the night before, the concrete pool looked like a pond, a dirty one. We decided to head to the other falls to check our luck at nature's beauty after a couple of poses. Another 10 min tricycle ride, we got to the Hanging Bridge. It really was just 'hanging'. It was just like the Bohol hanging bridge, But this one is narrower but is made of steel (rusting steel). We just took photos of ourselves (since we can't do anything else at all). I bet Pam wasn't enjoying this stop much. hehehehe =p

We did visit another falls. We got to ride a carabao (I meant cart pulled by one, not on the carabao itself). But my cam ran out of batteries. I'll save my TUKRAN FALLS experience in my next blog (with all the pix and stuff) =p

After all that I've told you, I saved the best for last. The beach in Puerto Galera (as for my experience that weekend) can be summed up to 1 great but simple word. PERFECT! I love the fact that the waves were big, not humongous like in Siargao or boring like Samal. ITS JUST PERFECT! The beach is long and the water is deep after a couple of feet from where the waves break, not much sharp stones to cut your feet. Sitting back on the sand or dipping to swimming in the water give you the full experience of 'the beach'. I didn't go diving, or Banana boat, or even snorkel. I just sat there. Went for a little swim. Kid around with my friends. And that was it. But it was so relaxing, simply the remedy for the busy me....and of course, I got to wear my bathing suit all day long!

All this would not have materialized if not for the pursuation of my good