Hey Joe! Tropical Island Dreaming

In September 2009 I made my second trip to Naval Biliran. It was typhoon season so I didn’t see the blue skies of my first visit. Instead this time it was overcast and a rained at least part of everyday. (Note to self: next time stay home in the storm season) We had a pretty good time anyway we arrived in Naval in the lull between two typhoons.  Most of the typhoons turn north to the east of Samar and usually just dump rain in the Eastern Visayas. This was one of those times fortunately for us.

On our first stay in Naval we stayed at Marvin’s seaside resort.  Due to the sea being rough and the fact that Marvin’s hosed up our reservation we stayed at another resort this time. The Biliran Garden. This is located a little way up the mountain from Naval just off the road that crosses the island. It is indeed a garden. The grounds are well maintained and have a variety of plants and flowers. The room rates are quite reasonable. It has two swimming pools. (I didn’t want to swim in the storm so we didn’t try them) The resturant had a good variety on the menu. They were out of lettuce but the resturant staff got pretty good at crafting salads for me out of what was available.

The resort area was quiet and restful. I took several walks around the area in between the rain. We enjoyed our time there very much. So I would definitely recommend either of these resorts if you plan a stay in Naval. They offer a good contrast depending on what type of atmosphere you prefer. 

We also walked around the town a little more and took some pictures. We paid a visit to the Provincial Capitol which is along the highway. They were having their town fiesta while we were there. There was a parade which we didn’t get to see much of because we were trying to get up the hill to check in. Due to the stormy weather not too many other outside activities were occurring. I will be back to Naval again. It seems like a nice place to kick back and relax. 

Well I recently returned from my stay in  the Philippines. Getting around there can be many things but it is never boring. So here are a few pictures of the transportation I used on my last trip.

I flew from Phoenix to LA to Inchon to Cebu. Approximately 24 hours of total travel time. I was fragrant upon arrival. We’ll leave it at that. A few days in Cebu where we moved around by Taxi and Jeepney then we were off to Tacloban Leyte. We flew from Mactan to Tacloban and hired a van and driver to give us a tour. (More on that is coming) We traveled around in Tacloban by jeepney and tricycle. I was told there are taxi’s in Tacloban. I never saw any.

From Tacloban we took a V-Hire to Bool Biliran. Not many tricycles or jeepnys around the town. (None) So you get around on your own motorcycle. Don’t have one? Then switch to manual mode. (That’s right we walked) It is not a large community so not too much trouble walking where you are going.

From Bool we took a mini bus to Naval. The bus drops you off in the market area and from there we took a tricycle up to the resort. We took tricycles in and out of town during our stay and when we left we took a tricycle to town where we caught another V-Hire to Ormoc Leyte.

From Ormoc we caught the Super Cat to back to Cebu our starting point. Whew.

Wait we’re not done. A few days later we took the bus to Bogo Cebu. Tricycles around the town and good old shoe leather express (We walked) got us where we needed to go. Then another bus back to Cebu.

After recovering form all this adventure it was a Taxi back to Mactan Airport for the return to Phoenix. The return took me from Cebu to Inchon. (Then here is a surprise.) Inchon to Tokyo. (always read the itinerary guys) Tokyo to LA and LA back to Phoenix. I arrive home relaxed and refreshed. (Actually I look like I was hit by a jeepny and dragged and I smelled like an old gym locker) International travel is not for the weak.

I don’t think there are very many modes of transportation in the Philippines I have not tried at least once. I even rode in one of those pony carts once. (The ASPCA sent me a letter of repremand. Apparently they think since I weighed more than the pony I should have been pulling the cart.) I’ve never ridden a Carabao. Maybe next time. Overall I had a great time and I’m going again next year.

When I was in Cebu City in October of 2008 one of the places I visited was Fort San Pedro. (Cebu City:Philippines Places I Have Visited) It is a historic Spanish Fort located in Cebu City. The Interior has a lot of plants and greenery. There is a small museum on the grounds which I had heard was very nice.  “Sorry Sir closed on Sundays.” OK I leave Monday so we’ll try again.

In October of 2009 I made a point to go to Fort San Pedro. (Not on a Sunday this time but Friday.) I have included a picture of the sign that greeted me on the museum door. Sometimes you just can’t win. It was still a nice visit and a nice place to stroll around.

Cebu City is the largest city in the Visayas. It is the oldest city in the Philippines. It is centrally located which makes for convenient travel to other areas of the Philippines. The Airport located on Mactan Island is an international  port of entry which makes it possible to fly directly into Cebu from elsewhere in Asia. The number of airlines that fly into Cebu is on the increase so there are more connections from abroad every year. There are also numerous inter island flights to take you to other destinations in the Philippines. 

I made my first trip to Cebu City just a couple of years ago after years of plans that went astray. It is much smaller and in my opinion much friendlier than Manila. There is certainly less congestion on the roads and it is easier to travel around the city. There are numerous hotels that cater to foreign guests. I stayed with friend during my stay so I did not visit any of the hotels. There are several resort hotels on Mactan Island. (Where the Airport is located) This isn’t actually part of Cebu City but  it is just a short taxi ride away. There are also several big hotels in Cebu City itself.

There are no good beaches in Cebu City partially due to land reclamation. There are some on Mactan Island and also at resorts to the north and south. There are only a few tourist attractions in Cebu City so it doesn’t take long to see the sites. I have included pictures of some of them here.

There are at this time two major shopping malls in Cebu City both have recently undergone expansion. There is another planned for construction as well as several smaller malls and markets. I really enjoyed my stay in Cebu City and also traveled to other nearby areas. There is a Comedy club near Osmena circle we attended the show one evening and had an enjoyable time. There are several other clubs and night spots around the city for those who enjoy the night life.

If you are looking for a place to settle Cebu City is a less expensive area than Manila and has everything most people should need. There are at least two big hospitals and several smaller ones for those in need of health care during their stay.

There is a good sized expat community in Cebu City and the stores have a pretty good supply of imported goods if there is something from home you really want you might get lucky and find it. If it isn’t out of stock. That happens everywhere not just Cebu.

If you are looking for a place to visit or even to settle permanently Cebu City would certainly be worth looking at.

I haven’t spent a lot of time in Ormoc. Mostly just passing through. The majority of that time was spent in or near the Ferry Terminal. If you travel by ferry from Cebu to Tacloban or northern Leyte then you will go through Ormoc. It is not a large city but it is a ferry and freight terminus.

On my next trip through I will try to spend a little more time in the city itself. There is at least one large hotel there the Don Felepe. We had lunch there while waiting for the SuperCat Ferry. It is just a short walk from the ferry terminal.

From Ormoc you can take V-hire or buses to Biliran, Tacloban and the rest of Leyte. I know there are a number of expats who live in Ormoc if any of them would like to add to this short post I would appreciate any additional first hand information. 

On a historical note Ormoc was the main objective for American troops after the Leyte landings. There was significant fighting in that area.

This is a little different than my other posts about Philippine places in that I have never actually been there myself. Some friends visited over the 2008 Christmas holiday and sent me these pictures. They said they had a great time there. I am planning a visit there on my next trip so I will provide more site information. Till then I hope you enjoy the pictures it looks like a beautiful place.

After a few relaxing days in Naval we hired a Jeepny loaded up all the baggage and set off for Bool. The trip takes about two hours and goes over quite a bit of rough road. Portions of the road are under construction some portions are finished the rest is dirt and big rocks. The countryside is quite scenic. Lots of Rice fields and coconut groves as well as some good ocean views.

We passed through a number of small barrios and a couple of towns along the way. This trip is usually made by bus or V-hire but we rented the jeepney because of the baggage my friends were carrying. We saw a number of scooters and a couple of buses along the road but very few private autos.

There are no hotels in Bool so we stayed with relatives of my traveling companions. Bool belongs to the municapality of Culaba. I did not make it into the town so I don’t know if there are any Pension houses or rental rooms available there. Cell service is also limited with a lot of dead zones.

Bool is surrounded by coconut groves it is located directly on the ocean. The water was very clear. Many of the occupants here are involved in fishing or farming. The streets are paved although the hiway through is not. The views from the house where we stayed were quite nice. I took several walks through the barrio and met very many friendly people. There are a few small stores and of course the ever present sari sari stores. There is no beach there the ocean front is all small to medium round stones.

We slept at night with a fan and mosquito net. Since we were near the ocean it was cool at night.

We hired a banka boat and went to visit a sea cave located nearby. The coastline from the boat was very scenic. After a short stop at the sea cave we went a little farther to a beach. It was a mixture of sand and rock with lots of seashells and hermit crabs scattered about. The water was very clear and calm. Everyone had a nice swim and a stroll along the beach looking for shells. We returned with quite a few.

The stay in Bool was very quiet and relaxing. there were a couple of Karaoke places but if you are looking for wild nightlife this isn’t the place for you. I am looking forward to returning again.

The morning of our departure the v-hire was a no show. So we waited for the regular bus. It was a mini bus that got quite full as we went along. The trip to Naval was about two hours and then we caught a v-hire to Ormoc Leyte. The road is all paved between Naval and Ormoc so it was a much smoother ride. Just a few hours later we were in Ormoc waiting for the SuperCat back to Cebu.

I very much enjoyed my stay in Biliran. If you like a quiet relaxing lifestyle it is a place worth considering.

We took the overnight ferry from Cebu to Naval Biliran. It leaves around 8pm and deposits you on the pier in Naval bright and early the next morning. Naval is the capital of the Province of Biliran a small island on the Northern tip of Leyte. It is the largest town in Biliran but still a pretty small town. The people we met were friendly and helpful. I didn’t see any Taxis but there were plenty of Jeepneys and Tricycles so it was easy to get around.

We stayed in a nice resort on the North side of town in a barrio called Antipolo. The resort was nice and had reasonable rates. The resort where we stayed was called Marvin’s Seaside Resort. It had a very nice view of the ocean but no beach area. The resort is well maintained and the food from the restaurant was pretty good. There weren’t many other restaurants in the town so we ate mostly at the hotel.

This was a very scenic area between the mountains and the sea. Lots of rice farms and as I have previously mentioned friendly people. I took a long walk through the community every morning and was always greeted with a big smile and a hello by the people I met along the way.

There is another resort in the town but I didn’t get a chance to go there. It is called the Biliran Inn and I was told by several people it was as nice as Marvin’s.

If you are looking for a quiet out of the way place to relax this could be it. I saw at least one chartered boat trip leave from the hotel and I was told there are some areas nearby with nice beaches. I enjoyed my stay there very much.

Fighting Cock in Training

Angeles City Is located about two hours north of Manila in the province of Pampanga. I have been to Angeles City a few times over the years but I started spending more time there in 1998 when I began seriously began thinking about my retirement. I was considering business options and possibly settling there when I moved.

Angeles City is the location of the former US Air force Base of Clark Field. The former base has been converted to an industrial and free port area. It also has a resort and golf courses. A large SM shopping mall was constructed in the area of the former Main Gate. Clark is also a port of entry into the Philippines. It has flights from several airlines in Asia every day.  A new highway now links Clark Field with Olongapo greatly reducing travel time. The area was somewhat depressed for a few years following the base closure but it is seeing a burst of development presently. As a result costs there have gone up quite a bit especially for rent and food. There are still some deals to be found if you are willing to search a while.

Angeles City still retains a large entertainment district form its days as a US Military Base.  New Hotels and entertainment establishments have been going up at an increasing rate. A lot of the devolpment has occured in the area nearest to the base facility in the Barrios of Balibago, Dau and Mabalakat. The downtown area of Angeles City has not changed significantly.

There are a number of new subdivisions being built in the area between Angeles City and San Fernando the Provincial Capitol. This area will probably continue to experience growth and rising costs foe at least a few more years. There is talk of making Clark the main port of entry for the Philippines. If this happens development will accelerate.

This area has a fairly large expat community and for US military retirees has an RAO and Tricare healthcare facilities. It’s a good place if you enjoy the bar scene.

Manila is the Capital of the Philippines. I first visited there in 1984. I have made numerous short trips there over the years. If what you want is available in the Philippines you will find it in Manila. There are numerous malls the newest and biggest being the Mall of Asia. There are also numerous street vendors and public markets.

In the 80′s there was a lively entertainment district along Mabini Street but that has been closed up and moved elsewhere. There a numerous hotels in every price range. The Makati area is the most upscale and has several very large shopping malls. It is also the main business district.

The Luneta Park is quite large and was a nice park to take a walk the last time I was there. I haven’t walked through it in a year or two. There are also numerous historical buildings and sites in this area. It is just a short distance form the old city of Manila still enclosed in the walls the Spanish built.

The American Embassy is just a short walk from the park. If you continue down the bay walk from there there is an area where they set up numerous small eateries in the evening. Several of them feature live bands.

Aside from shopping trips and an occasional weekend I don’t spend much time in Manila. I find it too big, expensive, and impersonal for my taste. For those used to big city living it might be just the place. I know a lot of foreigners do live there though many of them are also employed there. It is always fun for a few days. It’s a good idea to go with someone who is familiar with the city the first time or two you go.

Located on Manila Bay on the west coast of Luzon Manila was first occupied by the Spanish in 1571 and was officially proclaimed the capitol in 1595. Metro Manila also known as the National Capitol Region is home to over 14 million people  in 17 cities including Manila.  There are numerous historic sites in the area of Manila. The main port of entry to the Philippines is Ninoy Aquino International Airport located in the Metro Area. A new modern terminal was recently opened there.

Imelda Park Baguio. 1985

When I was at Cubi Point in 1983 a lot of people recommended taking a trip to Baguio. So a few months into my deployment I took a few days leave and caught the Victory Liner (BUS) to Baguio.

At this time there was no Air Conditioned bus that went from Olongapo to Baguio so you got to experience all the sights and sounds of the road. It was a six hour trip up the mountain with numerous stops along the way to take on and discharge passengers. If you have never ridden a Victory Liner it is something you should try. These guys pass almost everyone.

The last couple of hours is up a winding mountain with the mountainside sometimes only inches from the side of the bus. The driver slowed a little on the steep grades but as much of the time it is full speed ahead. Pass a jeepney on the curve. No problem, blow the horn and around we go. You pay good money for these kind of rides in an amusement park.

The views of the countryside and of the valleys as we climbed the mountain were quite impressive. Finally almost six and a half hours after our departure we arrived. At that time the US Military operated an R&R area called Camp John Hay. It is still there I believe but the US Military doesn’t operate it any more.

We checked into our rooms and after a good nights rest went out to see the town. We hired a taxi to take us around for the day. It was quite a lovely town there were several nice parks and scenic overlooks. The weather was cool and there were pine trees everywhere. The Philippine government used to stay there in the hot season. Which is why they called it the summer capital of the Philippines.

We also visited the market and bought fresh Strawberries (I ate too many) and fresh mushrooms for a friend who couldn’t come along. It was a very pleasant stay. After three days we packed our bags and headed home. Where we answered the question what goes faster than a Victory Liner going up the mountain. You guessed it. The one going down the mountain.

I returned to Baguio several more times and always enjoyed it there. It didn’t change much in those days. Clean air and little pollution.I returned in 2000 after an absence of nearly 10 years and wow had it grown. It was very different. They even had a McDonald’s something that was only to be found in Manila and Angeles City in 1983. They seem to have them everywhere now. We didn’t actually eat there but we did buy some drinks so the kids could play in the play area.

Baguio is definitely a place you should see if you are visiting the Philippines. The pictures are from my first visit. The other pictures I took on my later trips have been lost.

Some Facts About Baguio:

Baguio is located in the mountains of Luzon in the Province of Benguet. The city is located on a plateau that reaches a height of 1400m. Which gives it a cooler climate that averages 8C cooler than the lowlands to the south.

The population of Baguio is approximately 250,000. It is surrounded by mountains and pine trees. The rainy season runs from June through October. Which make November to May the best time to visit.

Subic Bay or more specifically CubiPoint was the first location I visited in the Philippines. I was there a number of times during my time in the US Navy. It was where I first realized how much I enjoyed the Philippines and during this time I first began to think about living there on a permanent basis. The Subic Naval Base consisted of two separate installations Cubi Point Naval Air Station where I was based and Naval Station Subic Bay which had the main docking facilities and the shipyard.  The city of Olongapo at that time was geared primarily to supporting the military installations. The area of directly adjoining  the Base has lots of souvenir shops and entertainment establishments. In addition to the girlie bars were a number of clubs which featured very good live bands. I spent a lot of time roaming the streets there but fortunately I developed other interests.

The Subic installations closed in the early 90′s just a short time after the Mt Pinatubo eruption. The former base now contains a free port and several industrial establishments as well as the Asian hub for federal express. A number of the barracks have been renovated into hotels and restaurants. I haven’t been to the Subic area in a number of years. An expressway was recently completed between Olongapo City and Angeles City.

Most of the photographs I took through the years have been lost. The two at the top are a view of the boat basin at the Subic Naval Station and Grande Island which was used for R&R and had nice beaches and lodgings for guests.

There were a couple of nice resorts in the Barrio Baretto. Which I believe are still there and several more have been built. It was a very scenic area when I was there. I hope it has remained so. If anyone has more recent updates please post your comments.