Camiguin is a small island with a population of 35,000p people, I have been wanting to go here every since I saw a pic of the White Island on the internet. I arrived at 630am there were many multi cabs and vans waiting , a multi cab is 35p I got a van to take me to my resort for 300p they wanted 400p.
I had originally booked with Parasa beach resort they advertised an 803p dorm room so I had been emailing them back and forth and reserved it. I said I am only one, well the night before I am going I contact them by phone and they said yes the room is 803 but you have to pay for all 12 beds in the dorm so its 5500p a day I said are you crazy, they replied get a regular room at 2500p I said get stuffed. Well to be honest I said fuck off. Their classic bait and switches DO NOT entertain this resort once they know I was a white guy the prices went up. http://www.parasbeachresort.com/ I KNOW AS IN EMAIL ALL WAS FINE BUT WHEN THEY HEAR MY VOICE PRICES WENT FROM 803 TO 2500P I WONT REWARD THIS KIN D OF BEHAVIOR.
SO I go to agoda and find Caves Dive resort for 700p I pay for 2 nights. I am staying in a hotel in hotel in Butuan for 800p a night with a complementary breakfast, room is clean but small. I am bored so I go to a Filipino bar called Cats Eyes they have 10 girls all 25-35 y/o with 2 or 3 kids EWR is 200p LD is 200p I buy a few LD and chant the girls they dance one at a time , the place is a dump. I won’t waist 2000p.
My resort is 30 moms away and is very beautiful; I am the only guest besides a French man. I inquire if I have to pay the first night as I had pre payed by agoda, as I missed the first day due to ferry not running, they said we get back to you. I can see White Island from the terrace, its SO PEACEFUL eating bfast looking out to the island. Bfast is 200p for eggs ham, toast and tea. A tag expensive. I try to hire the boat to White Island but they said can not go waves to strong. OK I just rest for today and chill out. The place has 10 rooms in a U shape style with dive shop on 1st floor and resto on 2nd. They have cottages in the garden. They said I have to pay 1st day but we will give you any other days at 700p also, so I stay another day of course as I wanted 2 or 3 days, so it ended up costing me 1200p a day for room as I had to pay 700 for 3rd day but only got to stay for 2. http://www.camiguinpackages.net/camiguin-hotels/caves-camiguin-dive-resort/
I am up early 7am to get the boat to white island, ow sorry sir still cant go, I said bullshit they just to lazy to get off there ass for the 500p to take me there, so I leave and go to the little rock area that has the boats to White island its 420p for 1 hr or 8 hr’s its up to you how long you stay. This is located just past Paras resort. I get assigned the next boat in line and they are very helpful as I have hard time getting aboard the boat, I just sit on the front, no need climb into the seats.
It is raining a little with winds, it takes 5 mins to get to the coral island, walking on the corals hurt my feet due to my neuropathies, they are so kind they take off my sandals and rinse my feet and help me up to the island. It is breath taking seeing the moon shaped island and the mountains ion the back ground the teal colored sea is just so clear and beautiful.
I stay for 1 hr and take pics and swim, the problem the moisture is fogging up my Nikon camera so I take pics with my Sony with underwater cover. The wind is blowing salt water into my eyes so they are burning , glasses all water so I just shoot pics at random I cant even see what I am shooting.
Their is a model there doing a photo shoot, and I meet a lady from Pampanga and she is from the hometown of my ex-wife and it turns out she knows the family, what a small world. The place I peaceful but I know I got a guy coming at 11am to take me on a tour of the island, the resort wanted 2000p for an 8 hr tour but that’s just to long for me so I opted to get my own guy that took me to the boat for 500p he takes me back to resort I arrange for him to come back at 1130am that will give me 1 hr to shower and eat bfast.
There are about 12 tourist things to do in Camiguin they don’t even have a Jollybee here yet. I REALLY WANTED TO SEE THE WATERFALLS BUT IT’S A ½ KL HIKES UP A HILL. And the driver wanted an extra 500 to go there so I decline. I go to the Sunken Cemetery first. The Sunken Cemetery of Camiguin Island marks the swept remains of the island’s rested locals. Driven underwater when Mt. Vulcan Daan erupted in 1870’s the large cross has served the town's people, as well as the tourists, a scenic spot to memorialize the departed buried there. The little cross you see sticking out of the water was the original cross. Some people take a boat and stand on the cross I think it’s disrespectful so I would not do it; they have small bankas to take you out for 100p. The sea over looking the cross is beautiful as well.
We pass a resort that was started by a Dutch man but due to government constantly extorting money he abandons the project. Many new resorts are springing up, their is one called CHECK POINT lolll owned by an Australian 99p bfast advertised,
The Old Church Ruins of Camiguin is one of the oldest and unique structures in the island. Old because it was built sometime in the 16th century. Unique because it is made from coral stones. It was later turned to ruins by the 1871 Vulcan eruption. The old church ruins are located at Barangay Bonbon, Catarman, Camiguin. It was formerly called the 16th century Guiob Church Ruins and maintained by the local government.
The church ruins are near the town centre of Mambajao, Camiguin. It is just 20 minutes away from Paras Beach Resort, inside the old church ruins compound is a small chapel. There are masses held here every week on specific times. There is a huge tree there that is said to be more than a century old. The Old Church Ruins is just 10 to 15 minutes away from Camiguin Walkway and Sunken Cemetery which was also affected by the 1871 eruption. Its feels so great to touch the wall when you know they are 400 years old they also have a convent were the nuns stayed. We go to a hill that has s church on top but it takes 45 mins to walk up and 45 mins to walk down so I pass on that it is a major attraction of holy week. http://vigattintourism.com/tourism/articles/Sto-Rosario-Church-Green-Church-of-Camiguin
http://www.islandcamiguin.com/hot_spots.html
Sto. Rosario Church has a tree growing in the middle of it; you can also visit the caves just near buy.
Being here I am reminded how nice and hospitable Filipinos are, living in AC you grow to hait them, but these are the real Filipinos of old days, I am at peace again the stress has been removed , I wished I could stay 2 more days. But I leave for Bohol in the AM. Even it is storming still here.
Well its affine how do you do all ferries to Bohol cancelled as ruff seas, a typhoon will hit bukas so I decide get ferry back to Mindanao. 500p from resort to the port it’s raining hard. No one is awake at 4am the place is still as death and ow so peaceful.
The try to not let me get on the 5am ferry as its old they said it was full but I said my son in hospital I have to get back to Mindanao so I run for the ferry , there are 20 empty seats. I get one and it is a little scary travelling by ferry in pitch dark, y the time we get to Mindanao the sun it rising. I get a bus at 630am they start running back to Butuan at 3am. Every 2 yrs until 7am then every hr.
Their are many things to do here, Provincial breeding centre, Provincial breeding center, and ostrich farm, 3 waterfalls, the mopst popular is Katibawasan, Tanguines lagoon, Katunggan mangrove, Giant clam sanctuary, philvocs monitoring station, ardant hot springs, moro watch tower, and the soda water pool with natural soda water , MT Hibak Hibak, as well as a few outer lying islands. Their biggest fiesta is LANZONES FESTIVAL held the 3rd week of Oct.
This was the best part of my trip so far.
