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| Waiting at ALPS |
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| At Batangas Port |
At the port, a lot of fixers are following us especially when they saw that we're in group but when I told them we live in Puerto Galera, they turned away from us. I know it's funny but I can't think of any other way we could get rid of them. Anyway, someone from MSL approched us and wanted us to sign up and upon seeing he is wearing the MSL T-Shirt, we started inquiring. We asked for a discount and I told them it's our Mom's birthday (thinking that might help), and after a few minutes of negotiation, they gave our Mom a free round trip ticket. The two kids are also free. We paid our terminal fee through them so I was really glad that our trip this time was hassle-free. We just paid them and after handing us our tickets, we went to the Departure area. We didn't make it to the 11:30 trip but at 12:12, we were already asked to board the ferry and in no time, we're on our way to Puerto Galera.
We arrived at Muelle Pier at 1:26PM where Minolo's free shuttle service picked us up and took us to White Beach. It was a 30-minute zigzag trip. After we were dropped off, Ate Merlyn from VM approached us and offered us a family room for P2500, but since it was in 3rd floor, I just requested for two Quad rooms in 2nd floor which they readily gave us. I tried to haggle to get the room for P1000 each but they told us it's a weekend so the price is really higher. Well, I'd say their price of P2500 is fair enough.
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| At the Departure Area |
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| Inside the Ferry |
We arrived at Muelle Pier at 1:26PM where Minolo's free shuttle service picked us up and took us to White Beach. It was a 30-minute zigzag trip. After we were dropped off, Ate Merlyn from VM approached us and offered us a family room for P2500, but since it was in 3rd floor, I just requested for two Quad rooms in 2nd floor which they readily gave us. I tried to haggle to get the room for P1000 each but they told us it's a weekend so the price is really higher. Well, I'd say their price of P2500 is fair enough.
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| Our room at VM Resort |
After we unpacked our stuff, we went to Food Trip to have our late lunch. The place is full even though it's already past 2. Their kind staff seated us in a separate dining area that has a huge industrial fan. The food is just okay as expected.
We all went back to our resort and they changed to their swimming attires except me because I opted to take a short rest before dinner. It's already past 11PM when I woke up and I was surprised to see everyone's already sleeping. Too bad they missed Mindoro Sling and the fire dancers but I'm pretty sure they're all excited for tomorrow's island hopping organized by Queen Reyna.
At 5 in the morning, everyone's already awake and ready to have breakfast. We were scheduled to be picked up at 6. We had a little walk until we reached Terminal. They offer the usual breakfast combos plus unlimited rice. Their service was very slow. It took almost 30 minutes before we were served our orders plus the staff who waited our table forgot to list down one order and so we had to wait another 30 minutes. It's already past 6 when we finished our breakfast and the tour organizer was already waiting for us. She was really nice and even though we're late she just smiled at us and asked if we're ready to go.
Two trikes picked us up and drop us off to the port where our boat was waiting. By the way, we paid P2100 for unlimited island hopping and round trip transfer from our resort to the dock.
The boatman asked us if we want to avail of the optional trip to the Underwater Cave, Coral Garden, and Giant Clams. To visit those sites, we need 3 small boats. Each trip would cost P200 per head but if we want to visit all three it will only cost us P300 per head, so we agreed to visit them all.
(I will provide the details of our island hopping on a separate post.)
It took us three hours to visit the three sites and after that, our boatman brought us to Maliklik Beach so we can have our early lunch before we go snorkeling again.
After our lunch, we then headed off to Bayanan Beach where the boys enjoyed snorkeling. They spotted different kinds of fish.
By 1PM we're already on our way back to our resort as we still have to catch the 3PM trip to Batangas Pier.
By 3PM, we walked to the far end of the White Beach where the MSL ferry is docked and after paying the exit fee of P10 per head, we boarded the ferry and in a few minutes, we're off to Batangas Pier. We were the last ones who boarded and unfortunately, there were no seats anymore so we just have to sit down at the entrance. So for an hour and a half, we have to endure it. I wasn't able to take a nap but the person seated behind me was playing some good music and at least that helped made the trip enjoyable. The ferry ride was smooth and I was happy it wasn't like the last time we're in Puerto Galera where there was a storm and everyone was nauseous because of the waves.
At the pier, the buses going to Cubao are all full but we were able to catch one in a few minutes. I was not able to check what time we left the pier. I think it was around 5 and we arrived in Megamall at around 8.
The trip was really fun. I was expecting the worst but only the best happened. We never encountered any issues before and during our stay and it was one of the most unforgettable trip to Puerto Galera I had ever experience.
At 5 in the morning, everyone's already awake and ready to have breakfast. We were scheduled to be picked up at 6. We had a little walk until we reached Terminal. They offer the usual breakfast combos plus unlimited rice. Their service was very slow. It took almost 30 minutes before we were served our orders plus the staff who waited our table forgot to list down one order and so we had to wait another 30 minutes. It's already past 6 when we finished our breakfast and the tour organizer was already waiting for us. She was really nice and even though we're late she just smiled at us and asked if we're ready to go.
Two trikes picked us up and drop us off to the port where our boat was waiting. By the way, we paid P2100 for unlimited island hopping and round trip transfer from our resort to the dock.
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| At the dock |
The boatman asked us if we want to avail of the optional trip to the Underwater Cave, Coral Garden, and Giant Clams. To visit those sites, we need 3 small boats. Each trip would cost P200 per head but if we want to visit all three it will only cost us P300 per head, so we agreed to visit them all.
(I will provide the details of our island hopping on a separate post.)
It took us three hours to visit the three sites and after that, our boatman brought us to Maliklik Beach so we can have our early lunch before we go snorkeling again.
After our lunch, we then headed off to Bayanan Beach where the boys enjoyed snorkeling. They spotted different kinds of fish.
By 1PM we're already on our way back to our resort as we still have to catch the 3PM trip to Batangas Pier.
By 3PM, we walked to the far end of the White Beach where the MSL ferry is docked and after paying the exit fee of P10 per head, we boarded the ferry and in a few minutes, we're off to Batangas Pier. We were the last ones who boarded and unfortunately, there were no seats anymore so we just have to sit down at the entrance. So for an hour and a half, we have to endure it. I wasn't able to take a nap but the person seated behind me was playing some good music and at least that helped made the trip enjoyable. The ferry ride was smooth and I was happy it wasn't like the last time we're in Puerto Galera where there was a storm and everyone was nauseous because of the waves.
At the pier, the buses going to Cubao are all full but we were able to catch one in a few minutes. I was not able to check what time we left the pier. I think it was around 5 and we arrived in Megamall at around 8.
The trip was really fun. I was expecting the worst but only the best happened. We never encountered any issues before and during our stay and it was one of the most unforgettable trip to Puerto Galera I had ever experience.
