Cagayan De Oro Day 4

Here we come White Island! We were previously advised by the concierge that the resort has a boat ride service to White Island during mornings. Despite the temptation of sleeping all morning, we got up about 9 in the morning for a 15 min boat ride to a floating piece of island amidst the Bohol sea. If you're asking why, this is because the island will be submerged under water when the tide is high in the afternoon.

I felt like a dolphin, teeming with excitement as the waves of water gradually changed from dark blue to bright aqua blue. I've been living my whole life in Manila, and ironically had only been to 3 of the country's beaches (Malapascua Beach, Tayabas Bay and somwehere in Cebu Strait). Our ferry rower even offered to take our own pictures, I was thankful for this since I could not get an angle that could include all of in the frame. Manong helped us manage getting out to the marshy beaches of the island, where other boats and tourists were already enjoying the sunny Sunday morning. He told us that he will come back for us at noon.

While crossing the narrow and sunken strip of the island to the other side, I could not take away the thought of being left in this island while it goes under water - hahaha. I continued on, and occasionally adjusting my grip to our bags of towel and personal stuff as the water level rose upto above my knee. Thank God, we made it safely to other side, let's think about going back later.

Finally, the sand and the sea in between my toes. Good thing that we brought our goggles with us; we were able to see the sea creatures around us. Since it is submerged at most times, sea creatures dwell on this 2 mounds of island were corals, urchins and sea plants. We did not have life jackets and snorkels, a pair of goggles would suffice if you're a swimmer or a floater. We didn't wander far because there is not a need to. We didn't dare to go deeper than about 7 feet since we didn't have life jacket. There is this one school of corals full of life in it, I took a swim around it and was charged with adrenalin and delight. I did not know what kinds of fishes they were, I could only remember the school of black and white angel fish, and one lonely clown fish. We were careful not to step on the sharp sea urchins and not to damage the corals as well. The first creature that I saw as a shrimp, swimming on the shores when we got off the boat earlier - it was the cutest thing. Our friend and I attempted to build a sand castle our of the white sand but only managed to build a fort with a water hole facing the shore. The sand is not as fine as powder, a bit yellowish and grainy, mostly consisted of corals and shell. you may opt for a pair of beach shoes since some parts of the shore have thorny shell bits, but the natural feel of stepping on to marshy sand and water is priceless.

Manong came around 11 in the morning, we were already dead hungry by then and were looking forward to a brunch meal. We weren't sure where to eat except inside the resort. Our friends tried the carinderia food outside but our lady friend had LBM after awhile. Mr. DQ and I did not attempt to eat what they did anymore. Instead, we shopped for dried squid and dried fish. For 3 packages of dried squid (about 24 pieces of chicharon) and 2 packages of dried fish (about 16 pieces). We were in a hurry back to Benoni port, we reserved a multicab ride before our trip. It's a small town and everybody knows everyone's business. Although we would've wanted our original driver to send us off, we opted to take the reserved multicab since he already cleared out his schedule just for us.

The weather was getting sour when we traveled back to Benoni port, good thing that our multicab has plastic windows to shield of the mist. Our friends and I planned to stop by the "pasalubong" souveneir market at Benoni port. Unfortunately and fortunately, the ro-ro boat back to Balingoan port was already boarding. We hurried onto the boat and had outside seats. If it was a sunny day then I would have enjoyed this, but because it was rainy, let's just say that we had our adventure after all. My paranoid yet outwardly calm self was already thinking of escape routes if we needed to jump out of a ro-ro hahaha. Passengers on the last rows were naughtily shouting as if they were in a real thrill ride, one individual seated inside was tearing up. Home Alone 2 movie was on and we moved our attention to the TV for some comfort. Our friend has been sea sick when riding the boat, poor thing, he had to stand over the edge of the ro-ro and hold on to the rails despite being splashed by sea waves. The boat drivers tried to ride with the wave as we crossed Bohol sea to minimize the waves on deep water, and adjusted as we reached the port. I was relieved when we got off and my hair was frizzy and dry - and this was despite covering it with a shawl.

It was about 4 in the afternoon when we got to Balingoan port. We could have taken the bus back to CDO, but it was rainy and we were tired and hungry. We took a private van ride for Php 2500. Our flight was moved to 4 AM in the morning instead of the original 11 PM, we crashed to Miami Inn for a quick rest because Metro hotel was full. For Php 980, we were originally designated to a room that coincidentally smelled of cigarette. We noticed that there were no elevators in this hotel and went 2 floors up via stairs after we asked to be transferred to another room. Miami inn was more roomy but older. I could not sleep immediately due to slightly eerie feeling. We did not have hot shower and did not bother to complain anymore since we were tired and hungry. 

At about 6 in the evening, we ran to the 24-hour Jollibee fastfood chain, which was about 2 blocks away. We had our meal of the day! I'm sure that I wasn't delirious when I noticed that the local serving of spaghetti was 1/3 more in terms of the spaghetti quantity and the sauce - I had 6 hotdog pcs as compared to 2-3 back in Manila. I was a kid again and I was happy. I was so hungry that I even ate an extra hotdog meal. Locals were not skimpy when it comes to their meals, spaghetti and the chicken meal were still the predominant orders, up-sized juice drinks and upgraded drinks were evident. Since we know about the early closing of establishments, we passed by the bakery for some goodies for the next day's breakfast and flight. We stopped by a local grocery store for our pasalubong items consisting of flavored nuts and cornic (cirspy corn bits). Sighs, so long to missy bon bon and vjandep pastels *drools*. 

At 3 in the morning, we met our pre-negotiated taxi driver from yesterday. Miami hotel staff helped us in calling a taxi. This time, we headed to Laguindingan airport because Lumbia airport was already closed. The airport was about an hour away. Some parts of pathways did not have street lights, I would not want to walk around alone in the dark in this part of CDO. The airport was new, but comfort room was starting to take the toll. It was small but evidently more modern than the old airport; it had air-condition and second floor. After showing our board passes, a temporarily set-up pasalubong area greeted us. I got a box of 6 Vjandep pastels for Php 85. Pastels are sweer bread bun with yema or custard filling inside. The gooey cream melts in your mouth like heaven -mine did. Not bad since it costs more than a hundred back in Manila. Upon boarding the plane, I saw a teenage group of friends who had stacks of Missy Bon Bon pastels for pasalubong, I badly wanted to buy them off. Ugghhhhhh 'till next time Missy Bon Bon pastels.