Sablyayan, Occidental Mindoro

Out of fear that I might get blacklisted by the resort i booked in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro due to series of cancellations (sorry, got this helter-skelter mind). In a blink of an eye, after having a dose of exhilarating waters of Tamaraw Falls I hurriedly traveled to Balatero port to catch the last trip going to Abra de Ilog where I will take a bus ride to reach the town of Sablayan. (Thanks to Manong habal-habal driver I arrived just on time.)

There are a lot of tourist spots to visit in Sablayan but I've only visited a few due to limited time. Since most of the people I've met the time I arrived kept on suggesting me to try Parola Park zip line (1.3 km zip line connecting South Pandan Island and Sablayan) I took their suggestion. Upon reaching the adventure park and discovered how enormously high the zip line is, my mind started to panic like "what am I doing here?" "Damn it! I must be crazy!" "WTF. Am I killing myself?" "Should a depress kid be up here and doing things like this?". Nevertheless, I still push through the zip line ride with myself. Though I've tried to begged for a companion from park's staffs while they keep on insisting that it was no scary which I proved true. #Lol. It wasn't as zesty as I expected it to be but I still had fun doing it 'coz I was able to take selfies and videos above while in it. Things I couldn't do with speedy zip lines I rode before because my sense of excitement is usually overridden by fear.

I spent the rest of my day at Gustav's Resort. A resort in Sablayan whose ambiance is so homey and cozy. No loud music. No crowd. Just you and nature. The rustling sound of the wind and the swashing motion of sea waves are your lullabies to sleep.

Right in front and approximately 30 minutes boat ride from Gustav's Place is the not so famous North Pandan Island. I stayed there for almost half a day swimming with giant turtles and various species of salt water fish in the luculent waters of Pandan.

Sablayan is indeed a place of shangri-la. I shall be back for Mt. Iglit-Baco and Apo reef which is dubbed as one of the largest atoll in Asia.

Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro

I was thinking of going somewhere since last few weeks for a "much needed break". But I can't decide whether to go directly to Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro or stay for awhile in Puerto Galera - a town in Oriental Mindoro. It is when I finally arrived in Batangas Port that I've choose to sojourn in White Beach, Puerto Galera for two days and one night.

The stentorian night at White Beach will keep you awake the whole evening which is perfect if you are with your friends. Lots of shows are being offered side-by-side, from acoustic play to hilarious impersonations of gay performers in various cafés along the beach.

I enjoyed star-gazing while listening to an acoustic song being played in a café whose name I can't even remember (Haha). I was also enticed by the gay performers dancing and singing in the most humorous and sidesplitting way they can. The White Beach of Puerto Galera is indeed perfect for party lovers.

On my second day, I took a short but refreshing dip at the foot of Tamaraw Falls. Though it is forbidden to stay closer in the cascading waters of the falls due to fear of presence of venomous snakes in the pile of boulders, I was gratified swimming in the nearby infinity pool with an overlooking view of the island's verdant forest.

If you are an adrenaline junkie or not you may opt to try a genre of activities being offered by various tour guides at the beach like jet skiing, banana boat ride, parasailing, etc. Tours in neighboring islands like Coral Garden and Isla Verde, where you can do some fun diving or snorkeling are also available from tour guides roaming around White Beach.

Another fun thing to do in Oriental Mindoro is white water rafting in Arigoy River, San Teodoro which is just a few kilometers away from White Beach.