PINK SAND!!! - Sta Cruz Islands, Zamboanga City

who would have thought that there exist 2 PINK SAND islands in the Philippines??!!!

read this from ironwulf's blog (http://www.ironwulf.net/2007/07/01/zamboanga-city-the-great-and-little-santa-cruz-islands): "A pink sand beach is very rare and there are only a few of them around the globe. They can be found in Horseshoe Bay in Bermuda, 3 islands from the Bahamas, Culebra in Puerto Rico, Maui in Hawaii, Santorini in Greece, Barbuda in the Carribean, Crane Beach in Barbados, and here in The Great Santa Cruz Islands in the Philippines."

can you believe that?! We have one of the rare places in the world right here - one out of 10…!!!

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i have lived in zamboanga city for 16years.... until i moved to Manila to study college... before then.... before i became aware of puerto galera and the even more alluring boracay... my first concept of a white sand island was the one just across my hometown... STA CRUZ ISLANDs..... from Zamboanga City you can see a pair of what seems to be white sand islands just before your eyes will rest upon Basilan.... and if you're lucky to be on the beach during low tides you will spot a third islet in between the 2 great and small sta cruz islands... it is actually a sandbar!!! connecting the 2 main islands.... the bigger island is called the Great Sta Cruz Island and the other is the Little Sta Cruz Island.

i grew up just dreaming of going there... as far as i can remember... going to sta cruz island had somehow been prohibited or at least discouraged because of the possible danger around the area.... sad but yeah, who wouldn't be scared with the headlines involving zamboanga and basilan....

at some point i asked my mom when was the last time we were able to have a family picnic there... she just smilingly said that when she was still pregnant of me.... and it took me 25 years to actually go there and experience the island.... :D

last december2007 me and my highschool friends decided to have our mini reunion there… we are all from zamboanga and this was the first time for all of us to actually go there…. Even months before the planned date I was already pushing my friend who’s still in zamboanga to ensure we get the required permit to go there….. yes, im saying it again…a permit to go to the islands is needed from the local Department of Tourism. The islands are protected areas, you can only book through the DOT (located at the Lantaka Hotel). They will be the one to contact the boatman and PNP escorts that will accompany you to the island. You only need to pay for the boat actually and just need to provide food for the escorts since they will be going with you for free…..

We are only allowed to go to the Great Sta Cruz Island. The Little Sta Cruz island houses some militaries who are either guarding the area or are doing some military exercises…

….all first timers, you can just imagine the excitement while we were waiting for everyone to arrive at the beach beside the Lantaka hotel. The boat ride took 15-20min. the trip towards the island is such a treat, being able to sail with so much expectations and seeing the islands getting nearer…. It also provided us the opportunity to take pictures of zamboanga city from the sea, as well as take pix of anchored ships…. Cool huh?!

We were all in awe when we first set foot in the island…. The pink sand are just amazing!!! I remembered a friend telling me of the pink sand beach in Bermuda and the feeling of envy and wanting to see it too…. And right then I was actually in a pink sand beach…. even without leaving the Philippines!!!

The pink sand was actually due to the endangered Red Organ-Pipe Corals. Another quote from ironwulf’s blog: “…From eons of natural surf erosion, these red organ-pipe corals were pulverized and mixed with the white sands resulting to its colorization. These corals are considered rare due to it’s unique qualities of a soft coral having a hard skeleton.” Hehe now I got my question answered too! Cool ulit di ba? :D

There are no accommodations/establishments in the island, but adequate facilities are available for day picnics…. Cottages and wash/showerrooms are being rented….

Our intention to go there was just to hang out, catch up with everyone and enjoy the clear waters of the island…. We’ve tried to explore the water-covered-but-waist-deep-only sandbar and attempted to cross it towards the Little Sta Cruz Island… but the current was a bit strong and everyone was scared to take the risk…. But read from a lot of other people blogging and doing reviews about the islands that snorkeling and even diving are one of the few activities you can do while there…. But what I have in mind is to actually go around the island!!! Take pictures too of the side that is facing Basilan… hehehe

Was able to gather a lot of pictures…. Although I would say “nakakabitin”…. I have enjoyed the stay but I also want to experience as much of the other suggestions noted… But then I am just sooo ecstatic of rediscovering this treasure…. I hope I would find ways to promote it and sell to the travel-loving Filipinos…. But as much as I would want to, the greatest constraint would be Security which is difficult to just brush off….My mom used to say that a lot of zambo folks frequent the islands on weekends before until the series of scares happened in the region….

I am still in awe of this discovery in my hometown... I am overwhelmingly inspired to promote zamboanga city.... but I am saddened that although im very enthusiastic it will be very hard to attract people since just by the sheer mention of zamboanga, the first reaction that you'll get is that its scary to go there..... I’m sending out a plea then…. STOP THE VIOLENCE IN ZAMBOANGA AND BASILAN.... sayang kasi as in sayang....

but still.......... Pink sand anyone?!

pagudpud, ilocos norte

spent the long election weekend last year in pagudpud with KV and Iya.

Took the 12-hour bus ride to Laoag and then another 2hr bus ride to Pagudpud...

I would usually call my trips with KV and Iya (include na rin si imee) as a "lifestyle travel" kasi we would always choose the most comfortable available, the most feel good, relaxing trip possible. :-) Pero in fairness di ako nagsisisi kahit minsan it costs more compared to my backpacking trips with other friends...

Kapuluan Resort:

We decided to skip Saud and stay in Kapuluan Resort instead. This is 30min away from Saud beach... We chose to stay in Kapuluan because of the enticing features of the place plus its near the Blue Lagoon.. It also have its own infinity pool kaya its ok to still be soaked in the water kahit gabi na....

The resort is owned by a surfer couple... so the place exudes a surfing ambiance... blue lagoon area is one of the favorites for surfers specially during peak months for great waves (June-Nov or Dec).

Loved our room, beach-type talaga with the white crisp curtains and bedcovers. No aircon (meron pero di namin ginamit), just the cool sea breeze... pero ang pinakagusto ko is the bathroom... love the outdoor aura of it...

Unlike in the Saud area, Kapuluan is the only resort around the blue lagoon area kaya we didnt have any choice where to get food... but surprisingly, food in Kapuluan is not that expensive and are actually good(by our lifestyle travel standards).

Costs for staying in Kapuluan:Rooms: our room cost us Php2,500 per night (good for 3-4 people). But there's a dorm type room available which costs Php500 per person. This is very attractive specially for those who go to this place to surf!

Food: their food would usually cost from 100-150. Mostly filipino food pero may mga pasta din... Love their Butterscotch Banana... cant stop dreamin about it even until now...

Blue Lagoon

I have nothing much to say about this place.... sooobra lang akong captivated... really really beautiful.... we were lucky we were there during the calm period ng lagoon. We were able to really see and be awed by its beauty....

We just walked from the Kapuluan Resort towards the blue lagoon... it took us around 15minutes to get there... mejo malayo plus the heat but its all worth it....

We stayed for 3-4hours... once you start to dip you'll never want to leave kahit super mainit... and here's the thing walang tao when we were there kaya the blue lagoon stay was really good, feels like we own the beach... hehe

the tryk rides was also fun, ganda ganda kasi talaga ng view not only of the beach but the mountains and the open fields too....

simula ng byahe...

been going around the philippines for the past 2years.... actually matagal na pala akong biyahero.... i grew up in zamboanga, spent summers in antique/iloilo, studied in manila, hitched a ride with the C130 and get stranded to different military bases, travelled for some school activities, and more.... pero ngayon lang yung serious na explore and experience talaga.... i have a multilpy and a friendster account.... pero dito ko ilalagay lahat ng mga napuntahan ko.... this will be my official travel blog... hehehe will try to post trips even from way back... para mailagay ko lahat... kahit nung maliliit pa kaming mgkakapatid... as long as i can remember a story and as long as i'll get to gather some pix....