Apo: 2nd Largest Reef in the World (O ha!)

It's been on my bucket list for two years now and I'm really glad I finally crossed it out. Wagi hindi ba? Thank you Chyng for always inviting me. ^_^ Suki na ko sayo. lol!

I planned to do solo backpacking here before since I saw it on Lakwatsero's page. Naudlot ako dahil sa mahal ng boat. I can't afford to pay 8000.00+ no! Ang dami ko ng mararating sa perang yun (at ilang rebond na ang magagawa nun sa buhok ko.) No way! hihihi! Chyng must have had an idea it was a dream for me kaya sinama niya ko. hihihi!

Everytime I join trip, my excitement meter is always at its best. You know.. the idea of meeting new people.. experiencing place that is new to us.. meeting readers.. co-bloggers... yummy boylet (charot!). hahaha! Being an introvert kid, this is something I can be proud of. (Ang hindi maniwala mababaog)

Sunrise up above

Since its a holy week, airport is expected to be jam packed so for the record, I religiously followed the 2-hour allowance rule. Ayokong maiwan ng plane though I know a way how to sneak in if you're late. hihihi! (Dun ako sa employees entrance dumadaan at nag-aabot ng bente sa guard. hihihi!) Bribery? Heller! E ano ba mas mahal, yung bente o yung rebook?

I met Donnie, Peng, Otep, Jeng and Chyng at the airport. It was the first time I met all of them except for Chyng of course. At kamusta naman ang luggage pang camping. hahaha! Sha ako na ang hindi marunong mag pack light. The others went by bus + RORO. All the while I thought riding an airplane will save us from traveling long hours by land. I was wrong...

Ang cute ng clouds no?

We need to endure a 2-hours bus ride going from the airport to Sablayan.. paksiyet! hahaha! There we met the others - Gladys, Kendra, Aisa, Jay and Kate.

♫ Sa bukid walang papel.. uy! Ikiskis mo sa pilapil! uy! ♫

At hindi pa dun natapos ang lahat... Another 2-3 hours boat ride going to Apo reef itself. You better be gorgeous or else... uhmm.. wala lang.. wala naman na akong magagawa ke maganda ba siya o hindi. hihiih! Nandun na ko e. Sa sobrang tagal ng biyahe, pakiramdam ko wala ng kong pwet pagdating namin.

Meet my new found friends (Lto R) Aisa, Kendra, Gladys, Kate, Jay, Jeng, Otep, (oops! that's me), Peng, and pouting Donnie. I grabbed this from Chyng, obviously. hihihi!

First glimpse of Apo

Clear turquoise water

We were exchanging mails days before the trip, kung anong dadalhin, kakainin, tutulugan etc. Mahihiya ang EDSA sa haba ng trail. At sa hinaba habang yun, hindi ko napansin na dapat pala 3 meal ang dadalhin. Engot lang. hahaha! Kaya tiniis ko ang sarili kong hatiin na lang at itira ang kanin hanggang hapunan.

My baon: Spanish Sardines, kaning tinipid, kalamay, Goldilocks Mamon, 3 orange, 1 galong tubig, Piattos, Mr. Chips, 1 cup noodle, 1 Gardenia Ube Chese flavor

Sa dami niyan mantakin mong nagutom pa rin ako...

Around 3pm when we decided to get wet and explore the beauty of the island.

Snorkel Set? Check! Life Vest? Check! Aqua shoes? Check! Kick board? Check! Underwater Cam? Isang malaking Check!

Just like my Coron, it would be a big mistake of you go here and snorkel without a camera. Malamang babalik ka dito if you fail to bring one. It's a good investment I promise. My D10 has been my travel buddy for 2 years now. Sulit!

Fresh na fresh diba?! Maya-maya ulikba na lahat yan.. hahaha!

So pano.. Tara lets? Presenting Apo Reef's underwater world..

buhay na buhay ang corals! Luveeet!

dami isda, ang sarap ilata

e di kayo na ang BLUEming..

 

Sayang lang kasi super lalim.. si kuya lang ang nakakababa at nagpipicture

Pardon my hazy shots.. since I don't know how to swim, and the corals are not within my reach, I just used the zoom feature of D10. It would be better if you will dive in this paradise.

Nakita niyo na ang nasa ilalim. Check out what's going on above the surface.. Hinihila lang kami sa boat. Yan ang effortless snorkeling! hihihi! I just have one comment though, gasgas na gasgas ang mga rash guard kakukuyabit sa mga lubid. hahha! Nung una kasi mabagal pa, tapos unti unting bumibilis. Yung bilis na tipong, bumitaw ka lang saglit maiiwan ka na. Mahirap ng sumabit sa propeller. Kaya kahit nagkakanda-gasgas na, hala sige sa pag-kapit.

Yes naman! We were so lucky we saw sea turtle up close. It was the first time I encountered one. Nagulat pa ko at lumapit sa talaga siya. hihihi! Gusto magpa-pichure ng lolo mo. pak!

"Sh*t Shark!"

Believe it or not, shark yan. Only few of us saw it. Parang nagparamdam lang ganun.. hahaha! I panicked a bit and poke the others to look on what I saw. Unfortunately, super bilis niya. If I'm not mistaken, it was about 4 to 5 feet long. Keri pa rin niyang papakin ang legs ko. hahaha! Actually, it was a dream come true for me -shark encounter. It may not be that close, and I really wouldn't like it either, but the experience was surreal. Ibig sabihin lang nun, buhay na buhay ang marine life dun at hindi mo sila pwedeng gambalain. Lalapain ka ng punong bantay. hahaha!

Kiss me baby!

Muah!

 

lion fish

Sting ray up close!

Yihiii! Habulin mo koooh!

All in all, we were so delighted with what we saw. All these creatures, first time ko nakita in their natural habitat, hindi sa Manila Ocean Park lang. hihihi! Gusto ko sana namin sumama si Glad sa second batch of snorkellers kaso nakaka-imbyerna lang ang grupong yun. Bukod sa maingay na nga, kumpulan pa ng mga "Di-Tiyak" na kasarian. We just ended the day watching the gorgeous sunset view.

Up next na ang Day 2.. By the way, Chyng and I already experienced sleeping in the tent. Ayoko ng gumising na parang dinambahan ng hayop ang likod sa sakit. Hindi kasi pantay sa buhangin kaya we decided to setup our tent in Function Hall. Keber na sa init. Zzzzzzz.....

Please check out other entries:

Otep - Snorkeling in Apo Reef

Chyng - A Paradise Above and Below the Sea

Gladys - Exploring Underwater and Nature Park

Donnie - Apo Reef: A Holy Week Special