After a long break from sharing my experiences here, I am excited to finally write about our recent adventure in Dingalan, Aurora. It was a trip that was initially planned for a close-knit group of friends from work, but last-minute changes led to an unexpected turn of events. Let me share the details of our adventure with you.
Our friend Julia took the initiative to organize this trip, with the intention of it being a private outing for our close circle. However, at the last minute, one of our friends decided not to join us. Ayaw namin mapahiya sa travel organizer, so we desperately look for a replacement (parang gamit lang hahaha ) who would be willing to pay the remaining balance and join us. Despite reaching out to everyone in our group chat, no one expressed interest in coming anymore. That's when I came up with a solution - I decided to bring along LM and my kids. Problem solved, or so I thought. 😄😄
Kaunti na lang ang oras na meron kami bago umalis, we found ourselves rushing to pack our belongings. To complicate matters, it happened to be our laundry day, leaving us with a limited selection of suitable clothes for the trip. In the end, I packed everything I could find, and we planned to decide on what outfit to wear once we arrived. As a result, we ended up with three bags overflowing with clothes and miscellaneous items. It was quite a disaster! Isang buong aparador na tong dala namin, pero ayos lang dahil masisipag naman yung mga Mima Korn kong tulungan kami.
Skipping ahead to the pick-up time, we hailed a taxi to take us to Greenfield, where we were supposed to meet Kuya Aoy, our travel organizer. We waited for about 30 minutes, and finally, at 12 AM, our journey began. It took us five hours to reach Dingalan Feeder Port, where we had to wait another hour before it opened at 6 AM. Since we arrived too early, we decided to have breakfast, and the only food available nearby was pansit from a small eatery beside the port. Making the most of our free time, we decided to capture some memorable photos while there were no other tourists around.
At 6:30 AM, the boat operator arrived with the tour guides. We left our belongings at White Beach and changed our outfits. Unfortunately, White Beach didn't meet my expectations, but our tour guide had already informed us that it no longer had white sand due to previous storms. The island clearly showed signs of devastation, with many fallen trees and debris scattered around.
Anyway, we first visited Lanaw Cave since the sea was calm. The waves there are usually strong, making it dangerous to visit. Kaya naman doon kami una nag punta habang kalmado pa ang tubig. The water inside the cave was deep but clear. Grabe ang linaw besh! However, we couldn't swim for too long because the water stung the eyes. Spade even got off the boat to swim, takot na takot pa nga ako dahil hindi naman sya marunong lumangoy at tanging life vest lang ang nag papalutang sa kaniya sa tubig. But he didn't stay long because the water caused discomfort in his eyes. Ace also wanted to get off the boat, but I didn't allow him because the life vest was too big for him. Mahirap na at baka lumusot pa sya. Umiyak tuloy dahil nainggit sa kuya nya. 😄😄
After exploring the cave, we proceeded to the rock formations, which offered a stunning view. I thought we would simply admire the beautiful rock formations, but I never expected that we would actually pass through those rocks to reach the dead pool. My children fearlessly jumped on the rocks, so I kept shouting at our tour guides and organizers to prevent Spade and Ace from jumping. They even jokingly said that Spade and Ace might become mountaineers in the future because they seemed to enjoy navigating through dangerous rocks.
We took some pictures and returned to White Beach where our cottage and belongings were. We waited for lunch to be prepared and had a boodle fight. None of us wanted to swim in the beach because the sun's rays were scorching, but since I had children with me who wanted to splash around, I had no choice but to accompany them. As a result, I ended up getting sunburned. Ang Kojic, Sayang!!!
Noong hapon ay nag inuman na kami at kantahan. The karaoke machine charged PHP 150.00 per hour since there was no electricity on the island. We also paid PHP 30.00 to charge our cellphones. Nang mawala na ang init ng araw, we seized the opportunity to go swimming in the sea and take pictures in our swimsuits. Syempre di ako papakabog no!
In the evening, the travel organizer set up our tents. Unfortunately, we didn't get a good night's sleep because the sea was unusually calm, and there was no breeze. We felt extremely hot, and the tour guide explained that this was the climate on the island after a storm.
The next morning, we had some coffee and the tour guides accompanied us on a hike up the mountain. However, our plans were delayed because we had to search for Spade's slippers. When we woke up, they were nowhere to be found. Hindi na nga sana kami sasama, but Kuya Aoy, our organizer's friend, Kuya Arnel, offered to carry him instead. Super bait! ❤️
The hike was tiring. They said it would only take 10-15 minutes, but since it was our first time, it took us 30 minutes. As they say, "The best view comes after the hardest climb," and it turned out to be true. When we reached the top, all our pagod vanished. The mountains and the ocean looked incredibly beautiful. We had the place all to ourselves because we were the only group that hiked there at that time.
After that, we had breakfast and took a quick swim in the sea before heading to Tanawan Falls. We returned to the feeder port dahil sasakay kami sa van. Upon arrival, we had to take a tricycle to reach the falls since the parking lot was far from the actual falls. They charged PHP 40.00 per person for the tricycle ride. The water in the falls was very cold because it was freshwater. There was a shallow area for children, but unfortunately, my kids didn't enjoy it as they got cold quickly. Sayang lang dahil nagamit na nila yung thermal swimwear nila which would have helped them withstand the cold water.
We didn't stay long at the falls as more people started arriving. We walked down and came across the Tanawan Deck, which offered a breathtaking view. We took some pictures there, but unfortunately, hindi namin kasama si Spade dahil inangkas sya ng tour guide sa motor. Nawawala nga kasi yung tsinelas nya diba.
We took a shower pag baba. The fee for using the shower facilities was PHP 20.00 per person. We took advantage of the opportunity since the bathroom was well-maintained. When we were at White Beach, Poso lang ang meron kaya ang hirap talaga maligo nh maayos. We also had lunch before heading home.
All in all, I had a great time. The travel organizer and tour guides were kind and attentive. Despite the risks involved in the rock formations and trekking, we all remained safe. My companions were lively and fun throughout the trip to Dingalan, Aurora, so there were never any dull moments. They also took good care of my children and lent them clothes, comforters, and towels to make them comfortable. I'm especially happy because I got to experience this trip with my family. These shared experiences are precious memories that we should cherish ❤️.
I express my gratitude to A-Z Tour & Adventure and the Dingalan, Aurora Tour Guides for making all of these experiences possible. Thank you for ensuring our safety throughout the trip.
To my Korn Family, Ate Russel, Mima Andie, Charles, Reign, and JP, I want to extend my heartfelt appreciation for making this trip incredibly enjoyable! Thank you for taking care of my children and generously lending them your clothes, comforter, and towel to make them feel comfortable. You are truly amazing!
As I wrap up this blog post, I can't help but feel overwhelmed by the incredible moments and memories we've made in Dinggalan, Aurora. It has been an adventure filled with breathtaking sights and cherished experiences.
But it wasn't just the scenery that made this trip unforgettable. It was the laughter and conversations shared with my dear friends and family. From the car rides to the moments of facing our fears together, we grew closer and created memories that will forever hold a special place in our hearts.
Sana ay dinala kayo sa mga kahanga hangang tanawin ng aming experience, at sana ay nabigyan kayo ng dahilan na mag travel din. Thank you for joining me on this virual expedition.
As I say goodbye to Dingalan, Aurora, I carry with me a heart full of gratitude and a mind filled with precious memories. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. ❤️❤️
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