Long weekend at Puerto Galera
The kids and I spent the long weekend at Puerto Galera. It was all our first time to go there so from the very beginning, it was really an adventure! Last October 12, Friday (a holiday because of the end of Ramadan) we woke up and got the kids ready, and left the house at 4AM! Then just took a cab up to the bus station, to take us to Batangas Port. The bus left the station 4:40AM, and we arrived at Batangas Port at 7:05 AM, then we took a ferry ride. Fare was Php 340.00 (round trip), no special fare for the kids. The ferry left batangas port 830AM, and we were in White Beach at Puerto Galera a little after 10AM. We found our resort, left our bags, then headed to the beach for brunch. It's off-peak at Galera so there were not a lot of people when we arrived. Off-peak season is from June to November. By December to May, the place is packed! We were also lucky that we weren't there the weekend before, as we were told that the storm Ineng hit them hard! We actually saw a lot of the restos by the beach, with their floorings ruined since the water went up so high. Lucky for us, it didn't rain a single drop the whole time we were there. Summer weather! :)
Anyway, we so enjoyed the beach. The water was a very nice blue hue, and surprisingly, clean! Even when we were at waist-high deep water, the water was so clear we could see our feet and the stones and sand. The first day we just walked the beach while the kids played in the water. It was so hot but ayaw paawat ng kids. I just did some shopping for pasalubong, and sandos for the kids, then around 1pm, went back to the resort to nap and enjoy the aircon! When we woke up from our nap, we went outside to the beach again, and found this out of the way place/resto run by a Brit and his Filipina wife. West Havana. The wife is kapampangan and the food was delish! If you go, I hope you don't mind the wait, since the wife who runs the resto does all the cooking. Her Brit hubby runs a dive shop. Theirs was a nice resto which was high up and we had to go up some steep concrete stairs just to get to their resto. But the climb is well worth it, if you enjoy quiet. Not too many people go there, which is a surprise, considering the great food, AND the great view of the beach. There we had our first dinner and planned out the rest of our vacation. We went back to the resort after dinner then enjoyed the quiet in our room. Believe it or not, we were asleep by 830 pm! Mainly because we were all so tired from the trip. The resorts and restos by the beach were kinda noisy, with music blaring, and most of the patrons were college-age kids, groups of friends, and lots of hetero couples as well.
The next day, we all woke up before 6, then went to one end of the beach near West Havana, where the kids swam, while I just sat on the beach watching them. It was very early so the sun wasn't that hot and the breeze was nice and cool. I was just sitting by the beach enjoying the solitude, and fish vendors came by. I bought 2 large parrot fish for just 100 pesos, and 1/2 kilo of squid for 50 pesos. Then we had breakfast at West Havana again, where we all had a hearty breakfast of tocino and tapa, fried rice, then pancakes! We asked them to cook the fish and squid for us, for lunch. We knew it was going to be a lot cheaper that way since we only had to pay for the cooking charge, then whatever food orders we had. Gosh, I'm pretty sure we all gained weight from all the food we ate during our vacation! I know i did! :(
Anyway, after breakfast, we walked almost 20 minutes to get to the other end of White Beach, where there was less people! After swimming for almost 2 hours, we decided to try out a different beach and went to Tamaraw Beach, which was on the other side of the island. Instead of walking along the beach, where it was rocky and slippery, we walked up this very steep concrete stairs to the road. The road was virtually deserted, so we were "feeling" adventurers. hahaha. :D
Tamaraw beach had even less people, and we took a dip in the cold water. By the beach was a rustic place named Pizza Margarita. It was a place referred to us by David (the Brit) who said they served the best pizza in Galera. But since we reserved lunch at West Havana, we just promised them we'd be back for dinner. So off we walked back again up the road, and went to have lunch at West Havana. After that long walk, we had an even heartier lunch, what with our 2 large fish, our calamares, and side orders of fries, and what have yous! After lunch, we then walked back to our resort (which was located right smack in the middle of White Beach), then what else, but napped! hahahah! :D it was a well-deserved nap considering all the walking we had to do!
After waking up from that well-deserved nap, for dinner on that 2nd night, we decided to take a tricycle up to Pizza Margarita. A 5-minute ride, and that cost us 100 pesos! Sheesh. People really take advantage of tourists here. Trying to get off the negative feeling of being hoodwinked, we instead focused on the fact that it was a dark road anyway, and tried to convince ourselves that the money was worth it. On to dinner!
There was only another family and 1 couple with us at the resto. It was dark on the beach, and we enjoyed a lightning show. It was raining hard somewhere in Batangas and we watched the lightning. It was a dark but starry night, and there we were on the beach, not a single raindrop ruining our nice dinner of pizza and pasta. We were able to get back to our room a little after 9pm, and enjoyed just watching "the Mummy" on HBO. Simple pleasures. heheheh... We didn't bother to leave the resort anymore 'coz outside it was noisy with all the young people enjoying their "night out". As for us, we were more into nature-tripping and the beach, really family-type and no night out for us since it was not 'wholesome' for the kids. ;-> Anyway, we watched TV until 11PM and got our well-deserved rest in our air conditioned, quiet room.
We were up the next day around 7AM. It was Sunday, and our last day at Puerto Galera. Our ferry back to batangas was scheduled at 11am. We had breakfast at West Havana (again!) and after breakfast, just walked along the beach and did some last- minute shopping while the kids stayed in the room to watch cartoons. They didn't want to go swimming anymore, since they were already sunburned by that time, and complaining of sore back and shoulders. I told them they had no right to complain since that was the consequence of their actions. They didn't want to leave the water even after my soooo many reminders. Oh well, i think they learned their lesson. :)
We were on the ferry before 11 am, and the ferry left 11:10 am. We arrived at Batangas port almost 1pm, so we decided to have lunch at one of the carinderias there. We circled the place before we decided on a clean-looking place run by a little old lady. We were being hounded by vendors all this time and I was irritated at how persistent and noisy the vendors were. But on hindsight, I felt sorry for them as well since they really had to compete to get customers.
So anyway, we had lunch at this little place (carinderia-turo-turo style), the Philippines' local version of fast food! And funny coz the little lady was talking to us and told me that the kids looked like foreigners. She heard them speaking in English earlier on so she really thought they weren't locals. hehehe...
We arrived home 4pm, and after arranging our things, I felt so tired. But not the kids! After resting a little and getting cleaned up and dressed, they still had the energy to play video games. I had to stop them from playing, and we went up to bed around 7pm. Imagine, by 8pm, we were all fast asleep! It was a tiring, but enjoyable weekend. Sunburn and all, but if you ask the kids, it was a very fun vacation. and that's all that matters.
Anyway, we so enjoyed the beach. The water was a very nice blue hue, and surprisingly, clean! Even when we were at waist-high deep water, the water was so clear we could see our feet and the stones and sand. The first day we just walked the beach while the kids played in the water. It was so hot but ayaw paawat ng kids. I just did some shopping for pasalubong, and sandos for the kids, then around 1pm, went back to the resort to nap and enjoy the aircon! When we woke up from our nap, we went outside to the beach again, and found this out of the way place/resto run by a Brit and his Filipina wife. West Havana. The wife is kapampangan and the food was delish! If you go, I hope you don't mind the wait, since the wife who runs the resto does all the cooking. Her Brit hubby runs a dive shop. Theirs was a nice resto which was high up and we had to go up some steep concrete stairs just to get to their resto. But the climb is well worth it, if you enjoy quiet. Not too many people go there, which is a surprise, considering the great food, AND the great view of the beach. There we had our first dinner and planned out the rest of our vacation. We went back to the resort after dinner then enjoyed the quiet in our room. Believe it or not, we were asleep by 830 pm! Mainly because we were all so tired from the trip. The resorts and restos by the beach were kinda noisy, with music blaring, and most of the patrons were college-age kids, groups of friends, and lots of hetero couples as well.
The next day, we all woke up before 6, then went to one end of the beach near West Havana, where the kids swam, while I just sat on the beach watching them. It was very early so the sun wasn't that hot and the breeze was nice and cool. I was just sitting by the beach enjoying the solitude, and fish vendors came by. I bought 2 large parrot fish for just 100 pesos, and 1/2 kilo of squid for 50 pesos. Then we had breakfast at West Havana again, where we all had a hearty breakfast of tocino and tapa, fried rice, then pancakes! We asked them to cook the fish and squid for us, for lunch. We knew it was going to be a lot cheaper that way since we only had to pay for the cooking charge, then whatever food orders we had. Gosh, I'm pretty sure we all gained weight from all the food we ate during our vacation! I know i did! :(
Anyway, after breakfast, we walked almost 20 minutes to get to the other end of White Beach, where there was less people! After swimming for almost 2 hours, we decided to try out a different beach and went to Tamaraw Beach, which was on the other side of the island. Instead of walking along the beach, where it was rocky and slippery, we walked up this very steep concrete stairs to the road. The road was virtually deserted, so we were "feeling" adventurers. hahaha. :D
Tamaraw beach had even less people, and we took a dip in the cold water. By the beach was a rustic place named Pizza Margarita. It was a place referred to us by David (the Brit) who said they served the best pizza in Galera. But since we reserved lunch at West Havana, we just promised them we'd be back for dinner. So off we walked back again up the road, and went to have lunch at West Havana. After that long walk, we had an even heartier lunch, what with our 2 large fish, our calamares, and side orders of fries, and what have yous! After lunch, we then walked back to our resort (which was located right smack in the middle of White Beach), then what else, but napped! hahahah! :D it was a well-deserved nap considering all the walking we had to do!
After waking up from that well-deserved nap, for dinner on that 2nd night, we decided to take a tricycle up to Pizza Margarita. A 5-minute ride, and that cost us 100 pesos! Sheesh. People really take advantage of tourists here. Trying to get off the negative feeling of being hoodwinked, we instead focused on the fact that it was a dark road anyway, and tried to convince ourselves that the money was worth it. On to dinner!
There was only another family and 1 couple with us at the resto. It was dark on the beach, and we enjoyed a lightning show. It was raining hard somewhere in Batangas and we watched the lightning. It was a dark but starry night, and there we were on the beach, not a single raindrop ruining our nice dinner of pizza and pasta. We were able to get back to our room a little after 9pm, and enjoyed just watching "the Mummy" on HBO. Simple pleasures. heheheh... We didn't bother to leave the resort anymore 'coz outside it was noisy with all the young people enjoying their "night out". As for us, we were more into nature-tripping and the beach, really family-type and no night out for us since it was not 'wholesome' for the kids. ;-> Anyway, we watched TV until 11PM and got our well-deserved rest in our air conditioned, quiet room.
We were up the next day around 7AM. It was Sunday, and our last day at Puerto Galera. Our ferry back to batangas was scheduled at 11am. We had breakfast at West Havana (again!) and after breakfast, just walked along the beach and did some last- minute shopping while the kids stayed in the room to watch cartoons. They didn't want to go swimming anymore, since they were already sunburned by that time, and complaining of sore back and shoulders. I told them they had no right to complain since that was the consequence of their actions. They didn't want to leave the water even after my soooo many reminders. Oh well, i think they learned their lesson. :)
We were on the ferry before 11 am, and the ferry left 11:10 am. We arrived at Batangas port almost 1pm, so we decided to have lunch at one of the carinderias there. We circled the place before we decided on a clean-looking place run by a little old lady. We were being hounded by vendors all this time and I was irritated at how persistent and noisy the vendors were. But on hindsight, I felt sorry for them as well since they really had to compete to get customers.
So anyway, we had lunch at this little place (carinderia-turo-turo style), the Philippines' local version of fast food! And funny coz the little lady was talking to us and told me that the kids looked like foreigners. She heard them speaking in English earlier on so she really thought they weren't locals. hehehe...
We arrived home 4pm, and after arranging our things, I felt so tired. But not the kids! After resting a little and getting cleaned up and dressed, they still had the energy to play video games. I had to stop them from playing, and we went up to bed around 7pm. Imagine, by 8pm, we were all fast asleep! It was a tiring, but enjoyable weekend. Sunburn and all, but if you ask the kids, it was a very fun vacation. and that's all that matters.
posted by shy @ 6:56 AM
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