Starting off with the last stop for the day... The Banana Island. We asked the boatmen but they didn't know why the island is called "Banana Island", we found out the next day through the caretaker that this was due to the shape of the island, almost similar to a shape of the banana leaf.
We paid an entrance and overnight fee of 700 pesos per person (including the huge hut we slept on) in this island.
The view is magnificent, from the boat, about a few minutes before our boat settled this was the view we get to see. The clear water, the white sand that we all love!! My friends and I are too excited to get down the boat and just relax and enjoy the place all to our selves!
We came to the place at around 4 to 5PM, almost sunset, which excites us more since we are to witness another beautiful sunset. The place is peaceful, there were perhaps just a few people around, the family of the owner, his 3 caretakers, and a foreigner couple who according to Manong is on their 2nd night staying at the island. We went to seek out the place, checking out the few cottages where we can stay for the night and deciding on it before actually trying to discover what else this island has to offer to us.
After a few more minutes, when the sun is finally saying goodbye, we headed off to our cottage for a nice fresh water bath! We have been exposed to much to the sun, ans sea water that the sale is forming crystals in our skin! We just have to freshen up and prepare for dinner before totally heading off to sleep and end the day. Even the bird, stopped for a while and has probably enjoyed the view of the whole island, and the sea.
Time passed so quickly, the strong winds woke us up at about 5:30AM. The sun is shyly peaking and is ready to rise anytime soon. With the cool sea breeze, away from the noisy cars, and traffic of the city... We can't help but just spend time watching the sea, and feeling the strong wind blowing our hairs, touching our faces. Banana Island is definitely the best place to be at that time.
At breakfast, we were told to go to the nearby Island, The Malaroyroy Island, Also owned by the same owner of the Banana Island. This is perhaps one of the best beaches I have been! The island is right in the middle of the sea. The sand bar bridges two islands, and thus connecting them. The water is clean, the sand is powdery white. This island is just 5-10 minutes away from the Banana Island. We were not prepared at the breathtaking natural wonder that awaits us here.
The saddest part really was when we have to leave the place for Coron. It is almost 11AM and we have to travel another hour back to the island loop from this far island. Our ride was rough, all of us get splashed with sea water even on the boat. The waves are just huge... almost 3 feet high! All us brave girls, for every splash, the sea gets a loud laugh from our group. We endured the scorching heat of the sun and the waves. It was one of the roughest ride i had to take in all of my boat riding experiences.
It so hard letting go of the Malaroyroy Island... Leaving the place meant, we are just a few hours away before entirely leaving the place, Palawan. It was sad that we have to go as far as this place just to be able to enjoy the beauty of nature, but I feel proud of what the country's islands has to offer the world!
Our next stop would be the TWIN Lagoon. The entrance fee for this place is Php 100 per person. Whether you went down and took a dip or not, you will have to pay the entrance fee. Note that when coming from the Cayangan Lake, the entrance in this island should be free. (We did not know that until after reading some posted island tours in the guesthouse where we stayed. I supposed our boatman knew but did not tell us. My friend saw some caretakers of the islands giving the boatman their share of the earnings whenever they bring tourists for snorkeling, or for a tour...) So when you are going for a trip, make sure to plan everything out, and avoid miscommunication!
This was the last of our island tour. We headed off to Coron Town proper, took a slow bath (NOT BY CHOICE - the water in the shower at the guesthouse was only dripping!) and got dressed so we could go to the "Bayan" and find some decent lunch - at 3PM!
This wraps our our island tours. I will still have to share what happens in our attempt to climb Mt. Tapyas, and what the Maquinit hot spring has to offer its tourists.
Entrance Fees:
Banana Island - 200 day tour / Overnight - additional 500 for a huge cottage / additional 400 for a smaller cottage/ and 200 for an open air cottage fronting the beach.
Fresh water bath available, electricity is available at night only, free use of kitchen, kitchen utensils, stove for cooking, and best of all - free entrance to the Malaroyroy Islands!
Twin Lagoon - 100 pesos per head (it doesn't matter if you took a dip or not) Free if coming from Cayangan Lake, so make sure to come from the lake when going to the twin lagoon.
We paid an entrance and overnight fee of 700 pesos per person (including the huge hut we slept on) in this island.
We came to the place at around 4 to 5PM, almost sunset, which excites us more since we are to witness another beautiful sunset. The place is peaceful, there were perhaps just a few people around, the family of the owner, his 3 caretakers, and a foreigner couple who according to Manong is on their 2nd night staying at the island. We went to seek out the place, checking out the few cottages where we can stay for the night and deciding on it before actually trying to discover what else this island has to offer to us.
Thanks to Yanthi, this picture was the view from inside the huge cottage we're staying!
My friends enjoyed the beautiful shore, the white sand and the sun almost losing it's strength... We found the perfect place for a jump shot. The spot seems to have this purpose for all its visitors! Thanks to my BF for this wonderful jumpshot! We couldn't have done this without you!
The Banana Island by the way, relies on solar power for electricity. The lights are not very well lit, the flashlights we brought shone much brighter than that of the island's lights. There are no water directly flowing from the faucet ( they are currently fixing their water systems) and so the caretakers have to carry pale of waters to fill two huge water basin in each of the room's toilets. The caretakers are friendly, and are always ready to assist us. They even lend us their whole kitchen so we can cook our food, both dinner and breakfast the next day.
I just have to share a few more pictures taken in the island before the day finally gave way for the night to come. Hope you like the pictures and may you find inspiration in them, as well.
At breakfast, we were told to go to the nearby Island, The Malaroyroy Island, Also owned by the same owner of the Banana Island. This is perhaps one of the best beaches I have been! The island is right in the middle of the sea. The sand bar bridges two islands, and thus connecting them. The water is clean, the sand is powdery white. This island is just 5-10 minutes away from the Banana Island. We were not prepared at the breathtaking natural wonder that awaits us here.
The saddest part really was when we have to leave the place for Coron. It is almost 11AM and we have to travel another hour back to the island loop from this far island. Our ride was rough, all of us get splashed with sea water even on the boat. The waves are just huge... almost 3 feet high! All us brave girls, for every splash, the sea gets a loud laugh from our group. We endured the scorching heat of the sun and the waves. It was one of the roughest ride i had to take in all of my boat riding experiences.
It so hard letting go of the Malaroyroy Island... Leaving the place meant, we are just a few hours away before entirely leaving the place, Palawan. It was sad that we have to go as far as this place just to be able to enjoy the beauty of nature, but I feel proud of what the country's islands has to offer the world!
Our next stop would be the TWIN Lagoon. The entrance fee for this place is Php 100 per person. Whether you went down and took a dip or not, you will have to pay the entrance fee. Note that when coming from the Cayangan Lake, the entrance in this island should be free. (We did not know that until after reading some posted island tours in the guesthouse where we stayed. I supposed our boatman knew but did not tell us. My friend saw some caretakers of the islands giving the boatman their share of the earnings whenever they bring tourists for snorkeling, or for a tour...) So when you are going for a trip, make sure to plan everything out, and avoid miscommunication!
This was the last of our island tour. We headed off to Coron Town proper, took a slow bath (NOT BY CHOICE - the water in the shower at the guesthouse was only dripping!) and got dressed so we could go to the "Bayan" and find some decent lunch - at 3PM!
This wraps our our island tours. I will still have to share what happens in our attempt to climb Mt. Tapyas, and what the Maquinit hot spring has to offer its tourists.
Entrance Fees:
Banana Island - 200 day tour / Overnight - additional 500 for a huge cottage / additional 400 for a smaller cottage/ and 200 for an open air cottage fronting the beach.
Fresh water bath available, electricity is available at night only, free use of kitchen, kitchen utensils, stove for cooking, and best of all - free entrance to the Malaroyroy Islands!
Twin Lagoon - 100 pesos per head (it doesn't matter if you took a dip or not) Free if coming from Cayangan Lake, so make sure to come from the lake when going to the twin lagoon.
No comments:
Post a Comment