Words & Photos By Nathan Allen

This is Romblon, Romblon – Don’t Get Confused

Romblon island is the middle of the three islands in Romblon province. The island to the west is Tablas, Romblon, and the one to the east is called Sibuyan, Romblon.

Getting to this island from Tablas was a bit of an adventure itself, but there is a much easier way direct from Manila (I’ll cover that later). I arrived at the port of Romblon Town in the early morning. After a nice, brief rest at my B&B, I headed to JD&G Italian Restaurant. This place was recommended to me, and not only was the food fantastic, but the owner had a motorbike I could rent!

I finished my lunch and hopped on the bike. Within minutes (literally), I was treated to this view:

Yeah, right away I could tell I was going to love this island. Hardly any tourists, with breathtaking turquoise seas and white sand beaches.

About 1km after this overlook, I located the small trail going to a place called Bonbon Beach. I had seen some amazing photos online, so I was excited to check it out.

( If you prefer to use booking.com, you can browse Romblon Hotels HERE )

Well, it delivered. This place was sooo incredible – you can check out my separate Bonbon Beach Post if you’d like.

Colorful Romblon Town

The town itself has a lot of character. Many of the buildings are splashed with vibrant, pastel colors. It gives such a bright, cheery feel. I love it.

“Good Vibes” in Romblon’s Marble?

As you can see in that last photo, marble (the mineral) is Romblon Island’s claim to fame. I noticed many marble shops in town, and quite a few marble sculptures and statues along the countryside roads.  What I also noticed is that, quite simply, Romblon is full of good vibes. Really, there is an unexplainable energy I felt here.

In fact, as I rode my motorbike through the remote parts of the island, my arm literally started to hurt from waiving back at all the smiley locals. There were SO MANY. Don’t get me wrong – the Philippines is the friendliest country I’ve ever visited, but Romblon Island seems to take that friendliness to an exponential level!

Carlos Reyes, owner of Stone Creek House in town, half jokes that maybe it’s something in all that raw marble just below Romblon’s surface. Who knows, stranger things have happened. Whatever it is, I felt it…and it was good.

Fort San Andres

A steep 10 minute climb up some stairs by the market brings you to this historic Spanish Fort. The grounds are lush and well kept, and there are beautiful views of the harbor and sea from the top. You can find some information and history about the fort as well. There will probably be a caretaker who will collect a 20 peso fee (40 cents).

Anyhow, after this I continued south on the motorbike, snapping colorful photos along the way. It was a beautiful day.

Talipasak Beach Resort (San Pedro)

As usual, I didn’t really have a plan. When I saw a road veering off the right, I just took it. I noticed what looked like a huge eagle flying overhead, then the road started leading into a canopy of shady trees. There were kingfishers and other tropical birds all around, and the landscape was quite beautiful. I passed a place called Totoys, then the road dead ended at Dumagat Freedive.

I wanted to have lunch somewhere, and the guy at Dumagat said to check Talipasak Beach Resort next door. I’m so glad I did.

Also known as San Pedro Beach Resort, the food wasn’t incredible, but it was pretty tasty…and definitely affordable! The woman there was quite nice, and I loved the feel of the place. I relaxed in the hammock and then went for a swim and some snorkeling afterward (I brought my own mask). Nothing spectacular…but it was refreshing, at least.

The resort bungalows sit in the shade up a small hill, overlooking Talipasak Beach and the sea. Rooms are clean, but basic. Fan only. Last I checked it was just 700 pesos a night to stay there.

Someday I hope to come back and stay for a few nights. Beautiful, secluded place. I noticed that local groups like to come in and pay for day use. They just bring their own food and drinks to the beach.

If you want to stay here (and you don’t have a motorbike), you need a trike (public transportation) to drop you off. That could cost about 300 or 400 pesos ($6-8). You’ll be isolated out there, but perhaps that’s just what you’re after.

Countryside Landscapes

The southern part of the island brought me through some colorful and friendly local communities. I stopped at a few tropical vistas and lagoons – really breathtaking scenery.

(Ricoh GR II photos)

I heard people talk about going “up on the mountain” from time to time…so I asked how to get there. The last photo above was from a hike I took (the dirt road became too rough and dangerous, and I had to leave the motorbike).I believe the road going up is called Sawang-Cogon Shunt Rd.

As you ascend, the scenery really begins to shift to grassy, windswept hills…and the temperature cools off. Again, nothing spectacular, but it is cool and peaceful. Could be a good place to catch a sunset.

By the way, I also checked out the fascinating corals @ Agpanabat Marine Sanctuary while down south. Link is at the bottom of the page.

Beautiful, Rugged Coastline

Check out these views! These lush, grassy hillsides actually remind me home – the beautiful northern California coast.

I parked the motorbike and took these photos near Calabago lighthouse (not pictured).

(continued below, but I do hope you’ll consider following along with me…)

Continuing up the east side of the island, I found these colorful buildings tucked away in the coconut trees along the beach.

There was also a native style “bahay kubo”, or hut. These were located very near to Lamao Beach Resort (this place seems to be popular with the locals). It’s a pretty remote area out here.

Why Do I Love Romblon So Much?

If the pictures weren’t enough for you, I’ll elaborate more: To me, Romblon Island is the perfect getaway / adventure. It has everything I love: Stunning beaches / swimming / snorkeling, access to a motorbike for rent, few crowds / little development, tropical jungles, windy coastal roads (with scenic vistas), a lot of friendly local culture, AND it’s small enough to circle on a motorbike in just a few hours.

I call Romblon Island “The Sweet Spot in the Heart Of The Philippines”.

To top it off, there is a tiny but tight-knit community of European and American expats there. They are highly entertaining to chat with, and they have even brought some flavors from home. As mentioned before, you’ll often find some at JD&G Italian Restaurant, which serves excellent pizza and calzones. Probably the best affordable Italian I had anywhere in the Philippines.

Anyhow, now to wrap up my story…on the way back to town, I stopped once more at Bonbon Beach. I caught a magical sunset, and captured these two fishermen bringing their boat in from the sea.

What a great way to say goodbye to my new favorite paradise.

How To Get There

You might be able to find a cheap Cebu Pacific flight to the neighboring island of Tablas, but then you need transportation to the San Agustin ferry port an hour away. The ferry only runs early in the morning and at 1pm each day. I think the best bet is to take the 2GO “party boat”, as I like to call it…

It’s an overnight sleeper ferry that goes from Batangas (south of Manila) directly to Romblon Town. It has a bar with live entertainment playing late into the night. Haha. Awesome.

Where To Stay

If you are looking to get away from it all in rustic fashion (warning: you WILL be isolated out there) check out Talipasak Beach Resort, mentioned above.

However, the best option might be sleek Stone Creek House. It’s located right in town proper, and is beautifully designed – with all the conveniences of home. The reason this is so great is because it’s nearby to excellent food, as well as the BEST beach on the island (Bonbon). In town you can easily rent the motorbike @ JD&G and explore more of the island as well.

Hope you enjoy Romblon’s charm as much as I did!

Also be sure to check out my other related posts:

Bonbon Beach 

Agpanabat Fish and Turtle Sanctuary

– Nathan Allen

www.idreamedofthis.com

My Detailed Comparison of the Sony RX100 vs the Ricoh GR II

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By Nathan Allen

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Thanks so much,

Nathan Allen

www.idreamedofthis.com

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By Nathan Allen

It’s not too well know outside the Philippines, but I hope my Caramoan Travel Guide will help convince international tourists (or locals who haven’t visited yet) to check this place out! I really did love it.

The Paradise That Just Might Have It All…

Caramoan is located in the province of Camarines Sur, in the Bicol region of the Philippines. It’s one of those places I always had a good feeling about…I just knew I was going to love it.  Well, when the team at Naga Excursions sent me an invitation to explore it, I jumped at the chance!

The Philippines is quite diverse…I love the beautiful beaches of Boracay, the rolling hillsides full of grazing cattle in Masbate, and the majestic limestone cliffs of El Nido. Somehow, Caramoan has all of that, but also the Bicolano food that I love so much! Spicy and coconut-infused…if you love the beaches and food in Thailand, you might want to check out uncrowded Caramoan instead.

Manlawi Island Sandbar – My Caramoan Travel Guide –

Manlawi Island had the most beautiful sandbar I’ve seen anywhere in the Philippines! We arrived just before noon, and within 1 hour, our boat was already on dry land! We had no choice but to wait until the tide came back up. Not a bad place to be stranded, though:) It was also fun to explore the rolling hills, Mangrove trees, and floating cottages nearby.

1st Stop on the Island Hopping Tour – Matukad Island

What a beautiful beach! Here you can snorkel, swim, or climb up a natural rock wall that leads to a hidden lagoon…legend has it that there is a lone bangus (milkfish) that guards the lagoon.

“Survivor Caramoan”

Did you know that Caramoan is where the TV show “Survivor” is filmed? Unfortunately, it makes visiting certain islands impossible much of the time. Some locals aren’t too happy about it, and I don’t blame them.

Trekking Through the Manapot River to Umang Cave

After relaxing and rock climbing on Matukad Island, our guide led us into the cool waters of the Manapot River. Our destination? Umang Cave, but we had to wade through the river to get there. You can touch the ground almost the whole way (unless you’re very short, I suppose). The cave is  pretty impressive, but just getting to it is half the fun!

The Breathtaking View and “Talking Rocks” of Pitogo Island

As the sun began it’s journey toward the sea, we stopped at fascinating Pitogo Island. Here you can hike up a grassy hill to a breathtaking 360 degree view of the islands. What’s truly fascinating about it are the “talking” rocks, though! The beach is made up of giant, smooth rocks (no sand), and as the waves crash onto the shore, it makes a loud sound unlike anything I’ve ever heard! Hopefully I’ll post a video sometime soon.

Sunset at Lahos Island

We stopped at this idyllic little island just in time for mother nature to put on a magical show for us. Yes, indeed there is something enchanting about a dramatic island-sunset in the Philippines – the perfect way to wrap up an island-hopping adventure in the sun.

Tugawe Cove Resort

What a beautiful place to unwind after island hopping! This private cove is a great place to kayak, snorkel, or swim (in the pool or the sea!). Even just getting to the resort was a blast, because we took a speedboat from the mainland. I think that was the first time I’ve ever been on one, and it’s a lot of fun!

Inspired Design

The bungalows get more and more beautiful and quaint as you continue up the hill. I’m a big fan of Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture, and some of these bungalows were reminiscent of “Falling Water”.

The restaurant, game room, and pool are at the top of the hill, and as you can see, the views are spectacular! It is a fancy place, so I was actually surprised how reasonably priced the food and drinks were. Meals were quite good, and the staff was very attentive and friendly (I especially loved how they greeted us “marhay na hapon” – good afternoon in the Bicol dialect – when we arrived.

It’s billed as a 5-star resort, and while I don’t think it’s quite a 5-star resort by international standards, it is unquestionably beautiful. Guests have free use of the kayaks and snorkeling gear, and I took full advantage of that fact! Check the photos from these adventures further down below…

Incredible view from the pool, huh? If you ask the staff, they might let you see their resort mascot – a mischievous tropical bird called a hornbill. I think his name was Kevin, and I thought giving him such a human name was awesome.

Here you see what makes this resort so unique – it’s a beautiful cove that also has its own lagoon. Out in the water you can see how much coral there is to explore as you snorkel. The best views are in deeper water, so bring a life jacket and swim carefully!

Snorkeling in Tugawe Cove

Below are some photos I took while I snorkeled. As always, I used my Olympus TG-4 underwater camera. You can see quite a bit of fish if you are brave enough to venture out into deeper waters. The resort recommends that you stay within the cove, though. I agree….the waves and current quickly gets strong as you get further and further out.

Hotels in Caramoan (Tour Packages Often Included)

Tugawe Cove Resort – You can explore your options and book your unforgettable stay HERE

Casita Mia Bed and Breakfast – Excellent food and service. Not quite as fancy as Tugawe Cove, but a very good value. Explore options or book your stay HERE

Breeze and Waves Cottages – This is an excellent and affordable option. It’s also perfect for those who want to get further out and experience a bit of local life in Caramoan. You can explore and book a room HERE

More options HERE

Getting To Caramoan / Contact Info

If you want to visit Caramoan, contact Naga Excursions or Kaddlagan Tours. They took good care of me, but more importantly, they are committed to protecting and preserving these beautiful places for future generations.

Naga City can be reached by 1 hour flight from Manila, or overnight bus ride. From there you can now take a van or bus directly to the town of Caramoan. Please check the links above for more info.

Thanks so much to Alec and Naga Excursions, but also to team FlipTrip and fellow bloggers Traveling Light, The Lonely Travelogue, and The Pinay Solo Backpacker! We had a lot of fun together, and I can’t wait to return to Caramoan again someday!

– Nathan Allen

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Words & Photos By Nathan Allen

The Ride of a Lifetime: Chapter 5

On the ride from Long Beach, San Vicente to stunning El Nido, I encountered some beautiful scenery.

These are my favorite kinds of days for landscape photography. I always say…no clouds = boring. Too many clouds…also = boring. I like blue skies with just the right amount of puffy, white clouds. You’ll notice this is frequently featured in my photography.

Anyhow, after a few amazing days in El Nido, I headed north into uncharted territory, at least for me. I had to take refuge from the rain under the roof of a “sari sari” store on the way, and then eventually made my way to Duli Beach, which has become a popular surfing spot in north Palawan.

A few years back there weren’t many tourists coming here at all, but now word has spread, and quite a few adventurers are renting motorbikes and exploring these beautiful northern beaches. I didn’t spend too much time at Duli actually, and I don’t even have good photos to share. Haha. The weather wasn’t great there, and I was never planning on surfing or anything.

Instead, my goal was to make it all the way to Qi Palawan on the eastern side of the island. However, on a whim, I did decide to head down an unknown dirt road nearby, hoping it would quickly lead me to a new beach to explore.

Well, the road just kept going and going…it also had some large hills and plenty of rough, muddy patches. Every now and again I would see a tiny hand painted sign saying “Tin’s Canteen, this way —>”. There was hardly anything out there, so I became intrigued by these vague signs. The rough, dirt road seemed endless. I really felt like I was in the middle of nowhere.

Diapila Bay – My First Glimpse

Eventually the road led me up to lookout point…and wow, was I glad I continued all the way up there! It was an incredible view of a colorful fishing village below. I had come so far, I knew I had to explore this place…below is a close up photo with my Canon Powershot G3x (Find it HERE in PHL or SG)

I continued down the steep, rocky dirt road. It led me through a basketball game some local teens were playing, and I noticed a small opening nearby that led to the beach.

Suddenly the view widened, and I found myself staring out at the picturesque fishing village of Diapila Beach.

To my right was the fabled “Tin’s Canteen”, and Tin herself came out to greet me. It was just a simple shack right on the beach, but then again, I suppose that’s exactly what I was hoping for. Haha. It was after lunch, and I was starving. I ordered a drink and some fresh caught fish. There wasn’t a tourist in sight.

(Continued below…but I’d be honored if you follow along with me on FB)

After chatting with Tin for a while, I learned that her family came from Cebu and Masbate, both of which I had a chance to explore previously, so along with her husband, we reminisced about the language, food, and culture of Cebuanos and Masbateños. They were very kind.

The fish portion was massive, and that explained why the price seemed a bit high at first (by Filipino standards). It turns out that for the size and quality, it was actually a great deal! It could be good for 2.

Some locals kids became interested in the photos I was taking, and they requested I take some pictures of them. The older boys got excited and started “flipping out” on the beach. Literally. Haha.  I noticed a small boat with “Tao Philippines” painted on the side. I learned that this village is so remote, it’s usually only accessed by boat. In fact, it is one of the stops on the famed Tao Philippines island hopping tour.

Fishing Boats & Storm Clouds – Photos

It’s not easy to catch these kinds of dramatic colors in the sky and on the water. I was lucky to have the storm clouds in the distance.

These were taken with my Canon Powershot G3x <-Amazon (In the PHL or SG you can find it HERE)

Riding Off Into the Sunset (Or Rainstorm, As it Turns Out)

Feeling full and completely pleased with my unexpected discovery, I said my goodbyes to this nice family, and started on my way. I noticed these boats being carved on my way back up the mountain. What a worthwhile discovery Diapila Bay was!

At the vista point near the top, I noticed some storm clouds rolling in over the sea, creating some beautiful hues in the sky and water. Great for pictures, but as you’ll see if you read about my journey from here to Qi Palawan, those storm clouds created quite a challenge for me about an hour or two later.

I continued down the road and snapped one last photo before the heavens opened up on me…

Next chapter: The Wet & Wild Ride to Qi Palawan Resort

Curious about the cost of flights to and around the Philippines?

Pt 1. <  Pt 2. <  Pt 3. <  Pt 4.  < Pt.5 > Pt 6. > Pt 7. > Pt 8.

*Motorbike for this trip supplied by www.rent-a-bike.ph.

If you notice any misinformation or something that needs correcting, please don’t hesitate to let me know!

– Nathan Allen

www.idreamedofthis.com

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Goodbye, Gopro…I Finally Review the TG-4 Underwater Camera in the Philippines

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