Northern Invasion Second Leg - Palaui, Ika'y Mapapangiti (Part 1)

It was 4:15 when the alarm clock started ringing. As agreed, I was the first in line to use the bathroom for that day. Then the others followed. While having breakfast, Crisel received some text messages from her housemate back in college, Gem. She is going to Palaui Island too with some girl friends. They took the bus to Aparri at 3am, and got off at Dugo (pronounced as dú-go) and from there, took a van to Sta. Ana. It was past 6 already when we left Crisel's house to catch a van bound to Sta. Ana from Tuguegarao, we thought of sticking to our itinerary. 

first trip is 6am so we we're just on time

still waiting for vans

It was a Good Friday, unfortunately, vans in Tuguegarao going to Sta. Ana are rare. So we did what Gem and her friends did. We went to Florida Lines terminal from the van terminal and paid 10 pesos per person for the tricycle ride. Fares at de luxe buses from Tuguegarao to Dugo costs 175 pesos and 75 pesos for regular aircon. We were waiting for the regular aircon which according to someone from the bus company is just refilling its gasoline tank.

waiting for a bus at the GV Florida Lines terminal

But time is ticking away and we were lagging behind schedule (feeling The Amazing Race) so we took the de luxe bus even if the price difference is very unreasonable, comfort costs too much when there is really not much of a difference between the regular and de luxe buses' seats. We arrived at Dugo before 9:30 and took a non-aircon van to Sta. Ana. Fare is 100 pesos, along the way, I saw the mighty sea already. From afar, I have observed some huge waves, this I have deduced from the small white lines suddenly appearing and disappearing amidst the sparkling water caused by the sun's reflection. I heard my heart beating because I have this crazy fear of heights and water and I never learned how to swim and yet this is me going to the Mountain Province or sailing the Philippine Sea. This is how I slowly but surely face my fears.

undeniably a breath-taking view along the way to Sta. Ana

When we got off the van at Sta. Ana, we looked for a tricycle where we can leave our bags and we asked the driver to wait for us with Vincent watching over our things while we are in the public market to buy what we need for camping. This includes canned goods, small knife and casserole, bread, styrofoam containers, six 2-liter bottled water and marshmallows to name a few.  

habang namamalengke

Next task is to look for a room where we can leave our heavy bags to minimize the burden while trekking the forests of Palaui. Unfortunately, the driver did not understand the instruction and he drove us straight to the drop off point, San Vicente Port. So we drove back and on the way, we saw the last kilometer marker in this part of Luzon, KM642. After we found a decent room at Romarie Inn for 800 pesos per night, we left and took off to take a picture with the kilometer marker and have lunch. 

KM 642, the last kilometer marker at this part of Northern Philippines

We had lunch in a carinderia near San Vicente Port. Remember it was Good Friday but we never had enough choices so we bought pork adobo because it will be our last 'real' meal in approximately 1.5 days. They we're selling halo-halo as well and it was just appropriate to ease the summer heat but because we were on the go, we asked if they have disposable cups for the halo-halo. Ate was so nice, she asked someone to buy disposables for us, but it was not available in that very remote area, so no halo-halo for us.

done with lunch

So this is it, after lunch we went to San Vicente Port. We talked to the dispatcher and he handed us a copy of boat rates depending on what you wanted to visit. We did not choose Cape Engaño because we wanted to trek our way there.

boat rates at San Vicente

The arrangement we chose is that we'll be dropped off at the normal entry point to the island and then a boat will fetch us after lunch tomorrow at the coast near the lighthouse. After finalization, we waited for 30 minutes for our boat and to pass the time, we took some pictures. 

San Vicente Port while waiting for our boat

I was observing people getting off from boats from swimming in some island, motor boats here were indeed small, as what Crisel's mom told us. She actually advised us not to go, but we came up here primarily because of Palaui Island, so there is no backing out. Our boat finally arrived from gasoline refilling as what the dispatcher told us. They have life jackets on board, more than enough for everyone so you do not have to worry. We were five in the group and the boat was just enough to accommodate us, the boatman and his companion. But the rate is for 8 people, I don't know where 3 more will fit in. It was sunny that day and the sea was calm. Relief. 

Vincent and Byrone on the boat, wheeeeeeee

They call this Crocodile Island, obviously because of its shape.

The boat ride lasted for 30 minutes, on the way we saw Crocodile Island with the vast sea at the background. After 30 minutes, finally, I was  able to set foot to the land I have been wanting to be in for the past 6 months, welcome to Palaui Island!!!

Hello Palaui Island

It was almost 3:00 when we arrived. A signage will welcome you to the island, obviously they are already in the development phase for tourism. From the writings, I quote...

"Welcome to Palaui Island, here you find different ecosystems in well-preserved conditions, there is a rich variety of flora and fauna in the forest, the tidal flats and coral reefs. This island serves as a refuge for migratory birds and marine life, this is also home for a small island community , we ask you to help in conserving nature and protecting this island for the benefit of present and future generations."

welcome to Palaui Island

We registered first then the guide advised us not to go the lighthouse anymore since the sun will be setting in just a few hours and there will be not enough light for us to see the trail. If we'll go, we need to walk fast and we can't have photo ops along the way. So we decided to dedicate tomorrow for the trekking to Cape Engaño and just go to a nearby falls to pass the time. We  have also learned that they do not allow camping in the area of the lighthouse and they have this dedicated site where campers can pitch their tents and spend the night, it's called Bayanihan Hall. On the way to the hall, you'll pass by the shoreline and a hanging bridge, without anything you can get your hands on for support (mababa lang naman siya, hindi mo ikamamatay kung mahulog ka pero siguradong masasaktan ka lalo na kung may dala kang mabigat na bag).

On the way to Bayanihan hall, ung guide namin ang nasa unahan, bilis maglakad.

This is the first obstacle in Palaui Island.

When we arrived at Bayanihan hall, someone is sleeping on a hammock where we wanted to construct our tents. She woke up and ask us where we are from, and we kinda had a confusing answer because we were not from the same place and literally, we came from Tuguegarao, she was like "Okay, whatever, welcome to the island", maybe she's a native, later we found out that she's like us, a visitor. We started putting up our tents, changed clothes inside, left our bags and then we are on our way to a waterfalls instead, tour guide fee is 250 pesos.

tent pitching

Bayanihan Hall

going to see the waterfalls

On to the next obstacle, the famous hanging bridge which I have read from a number of blogs, so there were already two bridges. I have imagined it to be a means to cross one deep cliff but I was wrong, with the help of the bridge, you'll cross a river which meets the sea amidst a mangrove forest, it becomes submerged if the tide is high which was the case when we were on our way to the waterfalls.

The hanging bridge.

So this was like a teaser to what we'll see the next day en route to Cape Engaño, we have seen the trails like the Lagunzad and Leonardo's (ring a bell) trails. Leonardo's trail is relatively a harder way to get to the lighthouse compared to Lagunzad trail but to get to the falls, we took Leonardo's trail.

Lagunzad Trail

Leonardo's Trail

On the way we saw mountain ranges and a tattered bahay kubo. I realized, this is really the getaway that I wanted, reminds me of my mom's province, the only difference is that this is some place which is unfamiliar, entirely new.

bahay kubo ruined by time

After the open space, we got into the forest, it's 4:30 and it's starting to get pretty dark. 

lost in the woods

We crossed a river, looks like we are getting near the falls. Then I realized it was not like the waterfalls I have already seen, towering while dropping a huge volume of water. The falls is following a path down the mountain, so you have to walk along it's path to get to the top. And by a waterfalls' path, I mean it's steep, not to mention that the black rocks are slippery, their color by the way tells you of their volcanic origin. The rocks are obviously solid hard and some are even pointed, so one wrong move would equate to injury. Judging my history with balancing myself, I can tell that this falls is just not for me...or Bea. Since going up there is steep and slippery, we just waited for the three of  them near the river.

waiting for the boys at the foot of the waterfalls

on a hunt to see the top of the waterfalls

After seeing the waterfalls, we were on our way back to the camp and this time half of the height of the lowest point of the suspension bridge was immersed in water. 

Then we went to the beach to have a quick dip. We laid in the sand and stared at the sky. Haaaaaaaay, I like being nudged by waves with the setting sun, so relaxing.

beach bumming

We headed back to camp (feeling Survivor) after, and took a bath. It's so far from what I have imagined since I expected that there will be no source of fresh water if we'll camp near the lighthouse so it's really something I am thankful for. There are bathrooms for men and women, but when we arrived, the power source, can't anymore light up the fluorescent bulbs in the bathroom so we just refreshed near the pump, Marvin, Bea and I. After that we cooked dinner, camper style, Byrone has this portable gas stove which they borrowed from his and Marvin's  mountaineering club. We cooked 2 cans of corned beef, a can of meatloaf with egg, tuna and rice of course. 

nothing tastes better than a food that was so hard to prepare, here is the meat loaf omelet, wahahaha

 Vincent was already asleep when we finished cooking so we woke him up but he said 'no, thanks', he was just too tired to eat. So we let him and we ate while sharing stories. Corned beef was not a hit so we just threw it away since we do not have a refrigerator where we can keep it for tomorrow's breakfast and I strongly believe that it will be already spoiled by tomorrow. I argued with Marvin for that...hahaha.

kainan na (si Vincent tulog sa loob ng violet na tent)

Then we had marshmallows in a styrofoam container for dessert, we were thinking of a bonfire when we bought it earlier today.

white marshmallows do not really look appealing

After Bea and I cleaned the utensils, lights out and then we went to sleep, end of day 2. I was just so tired!