Balicasag: World Down Under

Our day 3 in Bohol is allotted for sea side tour. We woke up at 5:00am to catch whale and dolphins in action near Pamilacan Island. I was very excited since it will be my first time to see them in their natural habitat. Usually kasi, we only see them in a huge aquarium lang. This time, it will be different. Kapana-panabik. Kahindik-hindik. Siksik, liglig at umaapaw na excitement.

Kuya Dodong was our initial boatman. However, even if I called him a month ago and reserved that day, he called the night before na meron na daw siyang ibang guest. Ayoko ng sirain ang araw ko kaya pumayag akong ibigay niya kami sa iba. He left me with no choice. It's Kuya Tata by the way. Based on my research, dolphins and whales love to play before day light. Arte? As if naman may iiitim pa sila. hahaha! Kaya kung pwedeng mas maaga pa sa alas sais.. Go! We left Citadel around 6am na. Sabi kasi ni kuya, ok lang daw yun. Marami pa daw kami makikita. We saw a lot of boat heading to Pamilacan as well. Amazing race ito! wuhuuu!

The trip took us around 40 minutes to reach their play ground. Camera? Ready! Kami? hindi masyado. Hahah! Kailangan mo kasi talagang bilisan ang mata mo. Dolphins appeared all over the place. At ang ingay namin. Hahah! Masstress ang photographer. Kung nakaka-nuno ang kaka turo, na nuno na kami. It was an amazing experience to see them swim in group. Some even show off. Nakakatuwa. Kung pwede lang mag 360 degrees ang ulo ko sa tuwing lilitaw sila sa harap, gilid, likod why not! We had so much fun. Unfortunately, since super bilis nila.. Ito lang ang kinahinatnan ng effort ko....Pardon my not so good shots. Todo na talaga yan.

As soon as someone pointed a finger, they would disappear. I wish my eyes has built-in camera. hihihi! Pakipot ang mga dolphin na yan! =)

According to locals, they chose this island as their playground because of abundant presence of tuna. As we all know, favorite nila yun. Yan ang pinapakain sa mga dolphin show. Kaya when we asked Kuya Tata kung pwede ba ipakain ang pinaka-tipid tipid namin Gardenia bread, wag na daw kami mag aksaya at dedemahin lang. hihihi!

Gotcha!

close encounter! yahuu!

Yun na yun. hahaha! Ang classic dun, wala kaming nakitang whale. Sayang. Pero siguro mas ok na rin yun, Baka mag panic mode kami pag narealize naming nakapaligid lang sila. Handa kaming lapain anytime. Hahah! Don't miss this when you visit Bohol. Even if I'm writing this a few days after it happened, fresh na fresh pa rin sa mind ko lahat. I will never forget it.

After makipaglaro ng apoy, este habulan, sa mga dolphin, snorkeling na! We headed straight to Balicasag to discover the ever famous snorkeling site.. This was actually the purpose of my second visit to Bohol. Being a fan of the under water world, I plan to conquer few of the most raved coral sanctuaries in the Philippines. Balicasag is one of them.

Getting ready! (at si EJ na naman ang bida dahil sa flippers na yan!)

As usual, buhay na buhay pa rin ang fake kong aqua shoes. Wag siyang ismolin... Marami na siyang nararating. hihihi!

Dahil may talent ako sa pagba-bargain, nakuha ko ang mga Snorkeling sets nila for free. Dinramahan ko lang si Kuya Dodong at Kuya Tata. 100 each ang rental niyan supposed to be e. The aqua shoes however, sa Balicasag sila nagrent. Hindi umabot ang powers ko dun kaya naka-100 each tuloy. Break-even. Ang aarte kasi. Hahaha! We rented the boat for 1500.00. Pang whole day na yan.

Be amazed too! here it is!

OA sa dami ng fish!

When I went to Anilao and Malapascua, pag walang pagkain, wala kang isdang mauuto.. Kumbaga, pagkain lang ang habol nila. hahaha! In Balicasag, hindi madamot ang fish sa mga snorkelers. Ikaw na mismo ang magsasawa. And yes, it's comparable to Coron. Finally naka kita na rin ako ng katapat niya.

Tigilan ko na ang kakkwento. Hahaha! I'm more excited on everyone's reaction pag nakita nila kung gano kaganda ang Balicasag.

Hong laki ng utak na yan!

Mga walang kasawa sawa sa picture

60 percent of the pictures on my cam belongs to EJ. Langya kang joshua ka! Tinalo mo pa ko a. hahah!

utak na may tumor

kanino ba yang panirang flippers na yan?!?!?! hmp! kahit kelan talaga

Finding Nemo!

Purple-colored fishes.. Like! Like! Like!

I really have no idea kung may tamang terminologies ba ang mga corals base sa ichura. Katulad nung mukang brain replica, fan-like, mukang sperm cell, mukang bumukadkad na pollen grains, mukang nasirang fetus, mukang napagtripan ng adik. Yung ganun!... I'm VERY interested to know. Pag-aaralan ko sila promise. Hehehe!

One of my favorite! First time ko lang nakakita.

ito din! They're really cute! Parang glow in the dark.

Uber like! Parang ang sarap hawak hawakan,

Luvleh (lovely) isn't it? hihihi! However..... Coron is still on top of my list. Nung nakita ko kasi yung Coral Garden dun near Calumboyan Island, it really is a garden. Dikit-dikit at uber colorful ng lahat ng corals. Here, hiwa-hiwalay. I find it hard to swim, given na malakas pa yung alon when we were there. Magkakasakit ako sa bato kakalaklak ng tubig alat. But it was never a hindrance para mag enjoy kaming lahat. We were all speechless. Like I always utter at mukang hindi ako magsasawang ipagyabang na "Sobrang ganda sa Pinas."

Kuya leaded us to the diver's haven. Nag warning na siya samin agad  na wag daw matakot (na lalo ko naman ikinatakot) hahaha! Minsan mas ok pa yung binibigla ka e. hahah! Since, the waves are notorious that time, he can only accommodate 3 at a time. So it was just me, Mich and EJ. Nakakalula ang lalim niya. We can barely see what lies down under. Medyo scary. We saw how abundant the corals were dun sa gilid ng cliff. I wanted to go down deep to see more of it pero hindi nga pala ako marunong mag swim. Kaya pala tigas ng kakakawag si EJ kasi nalula din. hahaha! With Mich naman, nabitiwan ko siya kasi busy ako kaka picture. hahaha! Sorry girl. Ganun ata talaga pag nai-ITA. Kaya daw pala gumaan ang hinihila ni kuya. Kasi ako na lang ang natirang nakahawak. Hahah!

 This is what we saw on cliff wall. Nuknukan ng laking coral

Fail ang plano kong diving. Ang natandaan ko lang kasi, "don't dive then fly" phrase sa entry ni Chyng. Nakalimutan ko yung don't drink alcohol then dive. I drank the night before. huhuhuh! Bawal din pala yun. 

Among other things, alcohol "impairs alertness, coordination and judgement, and is associated with an increased risk for accidents." Consumption of alcohol is also associated with increased risk of DCS, nitrogen narcosis, hypothermia/hyperthermia (depending upon the environment) and dehydration. The effects of nitrogen narcosis and hypothermia can also be magnified by the effects of alcohol. Because of these risks, drinking before diving is obviously unwise. Furthermore, drinking alcohol after diving further increases the risk of dehydration following the dive and may mask the signs & symptoms of Decompression Illnesses. Hangovers are also associtated with increased susceptibility of nitrogen narcosis and may be a predisposing factor of DCS. It is the individual diver's responsibility to practice moderation when consuming alcohol.

                                                                                                                      Source: Naui org

Aside from that, I'm guilty for having a lung defect too. Though I was cured a year ago. May next time pa naman ulit.

We went to Virgin Island afterwards. Pupungas pungas pa kami sa sobrang pagod. Hahah! The island was just so-so. Keri lang. Wala masyadong "Luvleh!" factor. My boss went there 2 weeks before us. I was the one who arranged their itinerary and suggested to include that island. They said it was awesome. Kaya flattered naman ako. Pero wala akong nakitang awesomeness. hahaha!

First time ko nakakain ng sea urchin. Ok siya pero sabi ko nga I'm not a fan of raw food.

I don't like the locals there. Ayan na naman ako. hahaha! Kada island na lang may kaaway. They provoked us. Kung hindi lang sana sila nanghaharass ng guests hindi naman kami mabbwisit e. Tama bang dumugin ang bangka namin at halos ingudngod na ang mga tinda nilang sea urchin sa muka naming lahat?!?! Masyado!

Sabi ko lang patikim, hindi ko sinabing yun na ang gagawin kong pananghalian. EJ however, dahil nakalahad ng bonggang bongga ang kamay niya, dinumog siya talaga. I forgot kung magkano ang damage. Hindi ko alam kung gusto ba niya talaga ang lasa or the fact na pinagkakaguluhan na siya finally..

Mas marami pang nakakaumay na pictures kesa diyan promise.

uhmm.. maganda siya sa malayo

Did you noticed I never mentioned about our lunch? Si Kuya Tata ang salarin. Akala namin may food sa Virgin island. Hindi kasi nagsasalita. Dun pala sa Balicasag yun. Natarayan ko tuloy. We can't go back kaya sa Alona na kami kumain.

In my opinion, (naks!) ok ng wala ang side trip nato. I've been to a lot of beaches before. Sadly, wala to sa kalingkingan nilang lahat. Go straight to BBC or Panglao Island Nature if you still have time! At ganun na nga ginawa namin. Up next na yan!

We really fell in love with PINR. Bagay talaga siya sa mga mag-sweetie. Nakakainis! hahaha!

Trivia: Wala kaming dry spot the whole day. Pupulmunyahin kami sa pinag-gagagawa namin. lol! Ako na ang pinaka-bruhang tour coordinator. hahaha!

Expenses Breakdown:

Boat Rental - 1500.00/ 6 = 250

Balicasag Entrance Fee = 150 each
Aqua Shoes Rental = 100 each
Lunch at Karindirya in Alona beach = 240/6 = 40 each
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Total Expenses per person: 540.00

Contact Boatman for Whale Watching and Balicasag Snorkeling:
    Kuya Dodong 09081534117
    Kuya Tata 09056553481
    *They give great deals anyway. Keri na yun. Make sure lang malinaw ang usapan nyo. hihihi!