Travel: My Guimaras Itinerary

This is my second time that I went backpacking alone. I enjoyed by Bicol experience last May of 2010 that when PAL advertised their sale, I immediately researched my next destination and booked my Guimaras-Iloilo-Bacolod Trip.

My first stop is Guimaras. I rode a plane from Manila to Iloilo, when I landed, I immediately asked a guy in the airport where the terminal of vans going to SM iloilo are located. Don't ride a taxi cause it may cost you a good P500, just ride the van and you will just pay P50. Once the van stopped at SM, find a cab going to Ortiz Wharf . There you will find pumpboats going to Jordin Wharf, Guimaras, the ride will cost you P14, just dont forget to sign the manifesto, oh well...just in case. In a matter of 15 minutes you will find yourself stepping to the beautiful island of Guimaras.

Guimaras is not just a place wherein you can find the sweetest mangoes in the world, but it also boasts unexplored, not commercialized but wonderful white beaches. From the Jordin Wharf, you should ride a jeepney going to Nueva Valencia (1 hour ride, P38), get off at Guisi(Gi-si) crossing and there you can talk to the habal habal drivers to take you the resort. I chose the Guisi Clearwater resort and I have no idea what's in store for me there.

The habal habal drive is 15mins and you will now feel the cool breeze in the island. We stopped at the top of the hill and the driver told me that I have to go down by foot to get to the resort. From above I already saw the view of the beach, and I'm telling you it's amazing. The lady, whose name is Sally, accompanied me to my room and I was surprised but thrilled to know that my room is made of sawali, no aircon, no TV, and I'm the only guest in the resort. I was skeptic at first but I told myself that this is what I'm looking for and I got it. The CR is also shared, and the shower is outside, so people can see you taking a bath.=).

A different view of the beach

No ready food is available, no 711, so you have to ask for the lady to cook for you. And I advise everyone to bring something to eat in case you get hungry. In my case, I brought some cookies and hopia.

Now you have to get ready to wear your boardshorts and bikini for you to explore the beach. I went beach bumming for almost two hours. Swimming, wandering around the island, talking to the fishermen and shooting the violet skies come sunset time.

I woke up in morning, and I went island hopping. I was in awe looking at the rock formations, the little uneplored islands, the caves and the water was crystal clear. I saw some pictures of El Nido from the honeymoon of one of my previous officemates and I can say that they are at par.  When I saw the corals from my view, I asked the boatmen if I can jump and swim, he said don't because even if you could see the corals, he estimated that the water is 20 to 30 feet deep, so I bailed out.=)

Once you have experienced the islands, the caves, the sunset, the sea, don't forget the most important part of the journey, talk to the people around and discover their own stories. You will be surprised that there may be big differences with the way of living... the feelings, the experiences are surprisingly the same.After talking to a lot of them, I have learned one important lesson, that my own problems, frustrations are nothing compared to them but if you will look at their faces it seems like they are just striding along through all the trials. I'm still lucky. Just to quote one of the fishermen "Ang buhay parang goma lang yan, pag mahirap, iunat unat lang, tingnan mo kakayanin mo din".=)



Both some mangoes for pasalubong



Now you are ready to go back to Iloilo and explore the city. Just track back how you got to the island and you will find your way going to Jordin Wharf. Just don't forget to buy some mangoes along the way.... Below is the summary of my expenses in Guimaras:

Van going to SM city  50
Taxi to Ortiz Wharf  120 (with tip)
Ortiz Wharf to Jordin Wharf 14
Jeep    38
Habal Habal   25
Accommodation  800
Island Hopping  400
Food   200
Total   1,647