Budget for the trip:
How to get there:
1. From Pampanga - Dau Terminal wait for a victory liner bus with an Alaminos signage posted in front. (Goodluck waiting) fare is somewhere ₱400
2. Ride the bus going to Alaminos, Pangasinan and chill for 5 hours
3. Drop off to Alaminos City. From here ride a Tricycle going to Lucap Wharf. ₱60
4. Rent a boat for island hopping and enjoy :)
Activities:
- Island Hopping
- Swimming
- Helmet Diving
- Cliff Diving
- Zip Line
- Snorkling
Our Story:
We ended 2014 with an Hundred Island Tour at Alaminos Pangasinan. This tour was made possible thanks to our DIY guts and metrodeal package.
We ended 2014 with an Hundred Island Tour at Alaminos Pangasinan. This tour was made possible thanks to our DIY guts and metrodeal package.
We availed a promo in metrodeal for only 299 per head, this deal is only for a day tour and it comes with a hundred island boat tour, cliff diving and helmet diving activity. We availed a day tour package because we cannot have overnights alone - strict ang parents ko e.
By 5am we met at Dau bus terminal. We thought its going to be fast and easy but it wasn't because there were no available bus going to Alaminos. We waited almost an hour and almost gave up because every bus is full! Then we thought of hopping on a full pack bus and just wait til someone drops off so we can be seated. Well, nobody got off, standing for 5 hours was not easy. that was the hardest thing i have ever done in my entire early morning life. -aside from getting up from my bed.
I thought that we can make it to Alaminos before 8am but we fail. We reached the city's bus terminal by 10am and the worse part is we missed our hundred island boat tour! I contacted the agent and he told me we can still make up for it for only 1000 pesos. And to make it even worst we dont have an extra 1000 pesos on our budget. Im surely hating this day.
Going down the bus, there were many tricycle drivers and other services offering a hundred island tour itinerary with accommodation and food. I think that is a nice idea but we didn't took it. I asked one tricycle driver if he can get us into a jollibee or mcdonalds to get a breakfast and into a BDO branch to check if BDO can help me withdraw money without my ATM. Unfortunately they did not allow it, then I said "o wow, i thought you find ways!" then left.
I asked kuya to drop us into a resort which were will meet up with the agent. We only got 2500 left and arggg that's all we got. We paid the 1000 and now we are left with 1500. I was a very wrong move to limit my pocket money and left my ATMs at home. So now we have to survive with 1500pesos through out the day.
After all the hassle, we are finally touring!
There are three major islands here: The Governor Island, Quezon Island and the Children's Island.
First we stopped at the Governor's Island. Kuya-bangkero said he'll just be at the shore and we can let ourselves enjoy then go back if we're ready to move on the next island. We dont know what to do or where to go, so we just took some pictures and that's it. But a little boy talked to us and he instantly became our tour guide, he was explaining why it was called Governors Island - which I cant remember.
We went to the deck and the stairs were killing me. He said it was 123 steps but it wasn't easy as 123. But the view is really amazing :) very nice. We stayed here for a while to appreciate the beauty and the scene and of course to catch our breathe. It is worth it going up :)
It was a great experience and bond but at the back of my mind Im asking why is this kid so kind to us, is he expecting us to give him talent fee for being our tour guide? Well, I dont have an issue with that but its a very bad timing as we only have 1500pesos and we're budgeting it. :( So we just gave him our sweetest smile and a biscuit.
Then we went to a little house in this island. It was the Bahay ni Kuya during Kim Chui's and Gerald Anderson's season. I wasn't a fan and we dont have ch2 so I have no idea. But they said they stayed here and were transferred in this place without them knowing. I mean, can you not know that you are transferred on a boat? Like cant you not hear the boat? the waves? the ocean? anyway lets move on.
We caught up with Kuya-bangkero and this other people who will join us in the trip. As we go Island Hopping, one Kuya is telling us stories on how they came up with Island names like Crocodile Island, Bat Island, Virgin Island etc. Then we stopped in Cuenco Island's cave for lunch.
It is a short and a wide cave that has two sides. One side is the shore where the boat is and on the other side there are some built in cottages and comfort rooms/shower rooms. We had our lunch here and chill for a moment.
We were so stress in budgeting our money - which is 1500. 1k for the bus fair going home and 500 for the food :( wasn't enough. But we manage to have a decent lunch. We had 1 rice with 1 grilled pork liempo, 2 glasses of water and 1 boiled egg. Ate - the tindera - was confused that we only order 1 meal so she gave us the biggest piece of liempo and a big portion of rice. The food is expensive its worth 350.
Then we went to continue our Island Hopping. We passed by the Children's Island - it was called the Children's Island because the water is really shallow and kids can swim and play here freely - but best if with guidance. We did not dropped by because the group of people that are touring with us dont want to drop off - majority wins - we're just 2 against 10.
We stopped by a floating cottage. Here had our helmet diving activity. I bought a disposable camera so we can capture the moment. The Kuya - diver - knows how to use it, maybe many tourists bought it too. He also offered us to use their GoPro as long us we got our own memory card - Unfortunately we don't have a memory card - we're using our phones internal storage - hay nako.
Before doing the activity there was an orientation were we signed a contract that no matter what happen they wont be charge in case of any accident. Then the divers thought us hand sign language - if its ok, if there's problem, if we want to stop it, etc. Then off we go!
The helmet was heavy and it was blurry - the glass of the helmet is too old, used and abused that it became blurry and you wont be able to see anything clearly underwater. At first its nerve wreaking, the pressure is building up and its painful - the solution is blow some air using the ear - my new found talent. The kuya diver is there with you asking if you are ok etc and takes photo of you with the corals and fishes - they give pieces of bread to us so we can feed the fishes - it was fun :) Unfortunately our camera is as blur as the helmet - no good photo was taken :(
Next we passed by the Marcos Island, this is where we were supposed to do the cliff diving - but the majority are so KJ they dont want to drop off. The Kuya bangkero also advised not to do it because the waves are getting bigger and the boat wont be able to handle it.
Then we went on the Dyesebel Island - The first Dyesabel movie was filmed here. This time we went ashore and enjoyed the view. We bond as we shared moments and enjoyed swimming - we took our time and did not care with the KJ group - they have waited for us for almost half an hour.
By 4pm we were required to go back to Lucap Wharf because its getting dark - not really - and the waves are getting bigger and stronger.
Also I saw this creature - I dont know what it is but it creeps me out.
We rode a tricycle back to the Bus Terminal. We were tired and exhausted and hungry. We bought some bread and gulaman in a bakery. Then took the bus going home. It was 5pm then and we arrived at dau by 10pm super pagod.
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