We took the Father & Sons’ boat ride to Puerto Galera which only cost us 430 pesos for a return trip. Unfortunately, the sea condition was quite rough once we were out in the open sea. Since it was quite a smooth journey when we started, we were fast asleep when suddenly I was woken up by a commotion, only to see that Trini’s hair and shirt was soaked from the sea water that splashed through the window from the impact of the boat hitting a big wave! All the other passengers were giving our group weird looks when all of us burst out laughing instead of offering Trini a towel or something… LOL!
Trini soaked while the rest of us just burst out laughing!
We were so glad when we finally arrived at the island. We were greeted by the throng of personnel from the various accommodations nearby, trying to catch out attention with their best rates offers. Once we got our room for the night, we went out to look for something to eat since we were really famished by then. During this trip, I should say that fat burner products should be our best friends with all these feast we had.
Our feast for the day
Beside savouring the abundant taste of food, there are many other things you can do at the White Beach as the local calls the place; shopping - there are many shops for sundresses, beach wears and souveniers, beach sport and water sport, getting yourself some henna tattoos (or maybe a permanent one) or just enjoying the view while relaxing at the beach bars.
Beach and water activities
Other activities that can be done at the island
The bars in Puerto Galera served the signature cocktail, which is the Mindoro Sling! This cocktail had me hooked sinker For someone who doesn’t take alcoholic drink much, quoting Linda’s words to describe my situation: “Salute Mindoro Sling”… luckily it is a very light and refreshing cocktail or else I would’ve been drunk with the amount of shots that I swigged that night LOL!
A shot of Mindoro Sling with a slice of apple
A shot of Lumumba
The other drink that we tried was Lumumba. It is a mixture of nescafe, milo, sweetened condensed milk and local brandy, that is if I got it right; it was too darn sweet though! Tasted like Bailey’s Original, but much sweeter. To end this post, I’ll say that I’ll vote for Mindoro Sling anytime and it is a must try drink should you visit Puerto Galera to complete your beach party 
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Commented. Posted on 29 June '09 by melbie, under Holidays.
As planned, we woke up early the next day for our trip to Puerto Galera for some beach party 
We will have to take a bus for about 2 hours to reach the Batangas port, then another 2 hours boat journey to Puerto Galera’s White Beach. First thing first, breakfast!
These were the selection of food on display for breakfast
The Pinoys takes heavy breakfast to start their days.. looks like their type of meals served / choices to select from are the same throughout the day… we could opt for something lighter, but hey, why not experience the lifestyle altogether, including the breakfast eh? More over, it was going to be a long journey.. so why take the risk of being starved?
Our choice of breakfast
We bought Mister Donut before heading off to the bus station for the long trip.
The donuts were nice!
Our ride to Batangas!
Show the happy faces while getting on the bus - 1 for the camera!
Peso Coins for the fare…
There was a funny incident in regards of those coins to pay the bus fare, and definitely we shouldn’t contemplate of getting jobs in finance with all those confusion with simple exchange rate! Anyway, I wrote the fare somewhere, but couldn’t find the notes at this time. I will update this post again though if I manage to find the notes again sometime soon. Who knows, some of you might want to go to Puerto Galera too from Manila, and wish to take the bus like we did to save cost.
For such a long journey, what do you think that we did in the bus??
Sleep of course!
There’s more story to come from this journey of ours to Manila and its nearby districts … so stay tuned! Just hope that the internet connection will be cooperating with my schedule though…
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Commented. Posted on 23 June '09 by melbie, under Holidays.
It’s high time for an update here, just as Lola’s comment in my previous post! I said to Lola that I’ll explain in my next post, so here it is. I was away for a 8-days vacation in Manila and a few other places as mentioned by Mandy in her post for our itinerary and then hibernated for 2 days when I was back home during the weekend. Then I was busy at work preparing for 3-days outstation to Tawau and Lahad Datu. Back to hometown for the weekend, and hibernated again. Too tired to blog
I will be away doing outstation work to Beaufort tomorrow and day after, then to Tenom and Keningau on Thursday and Friday. So I might as well make an effort and post something about my vacation tonight, while munching on Margerita Pizza that my sister got for me from Upperstar, which means it’s a call for diet pills again soon with all the lack of exercise due to my busy schedule…
Okay, let’s get to the vacation… we took the Philtranco Bus from Clark Airport to Manila, which took 4 long hours due to the heavy traffic jam! We got to Malate Pensionne in Malate around 10pm or so.. dumped our backpacks in the rooms and headed out for dinner to nearby eateries area.
This was where we dined!
We ordered grilled food and the BBQ chicken was awesome. Coupled with the cold beer, though I wasn’t fond of beer especially the brand that Linda and Lyn was so crazy about and I ended with the usual San Mig Light A mere bottle! LOL! Unlike the Mindoro Sling that we had in Puerto Galera the day after, but that’s another story 
Colt 45 - it’s a strong beer with the 7.2% alcohol content, definitely not for me
There were many mobile stalls selling food, and we tried two of the food that could be the local favourite.
Dried squids that were grilled before serving and dipped in some sort of vinegar concoction
Fish balls, they look the same as those that we usually have here in Malaysia, but taste a tad bit different though
Lyn is always the adventurous one when it comes to food, and maybe Linda too since she dared to picked on it too … they had the well-known Balot!
Balot anyone? Definitely not for those with queasy stomach! It required an acquired taste for sure
I had a taste of the balot in Tambayan; but not as “matured” as the one they had with the well-formed baby duck… I just couldn’t bring myself to give it a taste - yet! How about you, dare you to try if it were served to you like the one showed in the photo above?
Till next time, I need to pack for my overnight trip to Beaufort ….
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Commented. Posted on 15 June '09 by melbie, under Holidays.
I woke up early Sunday morning feeling a bit off; and went back to sleep in a sour mood. Was planning to sleep the day away, but got a call from my father around 10.30 a.m. He wanted to bring my sister and I to Menumbok, an instant decision for joyride! Groggily I woke up, but in the end of the day, I was glad that I went along with his plan.
Mini “kouchung” - glutinous rice with peanuts wrapped in pandanous leaves at a stall along Kimanis-Bongawan road
We left the house around 1 p.m. and got to Menumbok at 3pm. Another in the spur of the moment decision, Father wanted to cross the sea to Labuan *roll eyes* But we went along anyway since the cousin and her mom wasn’t home from some church activity then. We were walking around the ferry terminal and nearby shop lots with most of the shops closed, while Father went and bought his 4-digit numbers. LOL! Yeah, that was his main reason, buying lottery just for the fun of it… got a few chocolates, which I already consumed while waiting for the speedboat to leave the terminal for Menumbok
Trying to capture some water effect; but was not in the best seat to do so 
Rows of speed boats parked near our cousin’s place
Wish I was good enough with the DSLR to capture the gold in the skies *sigh*
By 5 p.m. we were already back in Menumbok… such a short trip to Labuan isn’t it? Just like making a trip to K.K from home LOL! We stayed for a while at my cousin’s place, having some chicken curry, with some rice and hot tea and enjoying the late afternoon view. What a combination huh? Having an open kitchen with outdoor furniture was really great for times like this. Left for home around 6.15 p.m. and got home by 8.30 p,m. What a day, but it was nice to be able to spend some crazy moments like this with the family! It would be great if Mom came along though… Needless to say, I had a very nice sleep last night after such a day!
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Commented. Posted on 18 May '09 by melbie, under Family.
I’ve been wondering about what to do during the weekend last Friday, and I’m glad that I spent the weekend with the loved ones. As the significant other’s parents were here in KK, I spent Saturday noon/evening at his brother’s place. With the mom around, there’s no way any of us can cut down on the food intake as she is a very good cook! Those who want to watch their figure, just have to have diet pills that work with her around.
The kids were my models to play around with DSLR, they were just so enthusiastic about having their photos taken. To think that they were only 3 and 2 years old! The girl, she’s the one that lead her cousin with all the poses they presented to me. I was having a grand time capturing their movement on camera, but ended up being tired after that! LOL! I think there were about more than 100 shots of them taken that afternoon.
A few of the photos taken of the two kids in question Aren’t they adorable?
Anyhow, another new week is here, wishing you all a very great week ahead….
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Commented. Posted on 18 May '09 by melbie, under Family, Reveries.
