a s t i g !

CARAMOAN │ Breathtaking Matukad Island

White sands and limestone rock at Matukad.

Our Island adventure begun when we left Bikal port about 2 in the afternoon and ride a medium sized boat with our tour guide Kuya Joseph. After passing by so many beautiful Islands, we didn't imagine that we'll land on this amaxing Island.

From a far, you'll see this beautiful huge rock inviting you to swim on its bluish waters from your boat up to the shore. This view is just a glimpse and be ready to unveil the beauty you never seen before and I tell you, you don't want to leave this Island upon your first step!

I love the luscious green trees around.

After an hour we finally docked at the Matukad's shore. My first Matukad Island step was so unforgettable. I felt like I was stepping on a "Pulboron", (a filipino delicacy composed of powdered milk, sugar, and flour) and I cant help but to enjoy it like a child.

The time we visited this Island, locals were cleaning the whole Island because Survivor India will held their first episode shoot, luckily we went there first and experienced the beauty of the Island. Imagine it's beauty that made foreign Survivor team keep coming back Caramoan?

Sedimentary rocks at beach front.

Matukad Island got it's name from local term "Mataas" or Steep based on how limestone rocks appears around the Island. In this picture, this limestone rock formation got my attention, it looks like a throne of the ocean's king situated at the front of the shore.

Behind huge spiny rocks lies an intriguing mystery. Our tour guide told us a story about a mysterious "Bangus" or milk fish that made the Island more popular. Those spiny rocks climbed would seriously scratch your skin if you're not cautious, so be careful holding/stepping on it and always follow what your guide tells you.

Matukad lagoon.

After climbing approximately 20 ft high rock formation, here's the Matukad Lagoon where the 6-kilo-milk fish lives for about 20 years. Would it really be true that a fish can live this long? Unusual but true, locals says. After seeing the lagoon and heard about the story, we climbed a little more to move to a certain spot where you can appreciate the whole Island.

View from the highest point of the Island.

Here's the perfect view from the perfect spot! This is the reason why I really love this Island, I haven't imagined I could see this breath taking scene which I only saw on paintings. Wow! the only word I said. This spot is so perfect I never regretted I had stone scratches and bruises on my legs. From here, you'll see how beautiful the whole Island is. See those Islands on our background? How about those sea grasses saying hi from the waters? Right picture has the background of Matukad's shore together with the beautiful huge rock. And see where we docked our boat, the area we came from down there? Weew, a little bit tiring but it's really worth it.

Another view from the top.

Beach front's huge rock.

This rock was the first thing I appreciated when we came in the Island, started upon seeing it from afar and the second to my favorite things here.

Island's other side, the rich forest. This was taken after we left the Island.

Matukad seen from afar.

July 31, 2011: I will never forget this great Island for its beautiful scenery, rock formations, powdered pure white sand, stories, snorkeling, rock climbing and swimming. All in one Island! That was my first time to do and see all those things in one particular place. So perfect, so beautiful. I know every people, adventurous or not, will definitely enjoy this place. I swear that you will really love this Island like we do. After leaving the Island, I promised to myself that I will come back and hug Matukad Island once again.

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BICOL │ Naga City Plaza

Naga city plaza.

From Naga city airport, we were fetched by on-time hotel accommodation staffs , unfortunately plane arrival was the other way around, we noticed this plaza right away in the center of the busy streets, surrounded by different establishments, St. Francis de Assisi church and in front our hotel, 'New Crown'.

Tablet below the statues for the fifteen Martyrs of Bicol.

The place was good, no beggars and little children around like in Manila. It was like a piece of nature surrounded by urbanized blocks of cement, hehe.

The middle of plaza is a monument with three female statues above and a dead man carried one of them at the center and tablet that is seen below which commemorates fifteen martyrs in Bicol.

Viewed near from St. Francis de Assisi Church.

Like what I said, the greeniest part of the city serves as the balance for the whole area because of the ample piece of nature that gives tourist and locals a place to rest and relax for awhile.

After we got back fromour city tour, we ask our guide to just drop us off in the nearest area where we could buy some food which wasn't quite far from our hotel, then we landed on this spot, in front of the plaza.

Sun starting to set.

We look for a better place to eat, but then we just decided to buy and take it to hotel because of so much tiredness got from CWC boarding. I planned to wait for the sunset but my muscles started to sore and just took my best subject for the Naga city plaza, the blue Volkswagen Beatle MT.

July 31, 2011

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BICOL │ St. Francis de Assisi Church

St. Francis de Assisi church.

San Francisco Church is one of the oldest churches in Bicol and the oldest in Naga City. I noticed that it is surrounded by so many establishments like mall, market, hotel, restaurants and park, "Naga Park"

Church interior.

Because of so many commercialized establishments over the area, it has lot's church goer's here. Once you've entered, you will notice it's nice ceiling and area space. Of course it is much smaller compared to other churches we visited at Naga but it has unique characteristic.