to butuan with a backpack (part 4 of 5)

Beach day! Finally, on our fourth day in the CARAGA adventure we would be going to a proper beach at the Britannia Group of Islands. We woke up really early to be on our way as soon as possible. We grabbed a quick breakfast then rode a bus bound for Tandag and we were to alight at Brgy Salvacion in San Agustin. There weren't clear markers for this junction so people going here should stay on your toes and constantly keep watch through the windows. It would also help to tell the bus conductor where you are heading, and make sure other passengers hear this so they can help you as well! Haha.

 

Be alert for these road signs
(top: going towards Tandag, bottom: going back to Barobo)



to butuan with a backpack (part 3 of 5)

Since we arrived late and exhausted from our roadtrip, we decided to give ourselves a late morning.  The weather was gloomy and there was a slight drizzle. We were scheduled to go island hopping today, but we decided to move it to tomorrow, hoping for a sunnier climate. We had breakfast at 0800 at a carinderia in the terminal, after which we walked to the place where we originally intended to bunk for a night. It turned out that Terazza Viktoria was just a five minute walk from the terminal. It was an old house turned into inn so the walls and floors were all made of wood, and even the beds and cabinets in the rooms were antique. My travel buddy wanted to transfer here for reasons unknown, and I gave in since the place was clean and bright (even if the furniture and structure was old, it didn't feel like a haunted house) and nevermind the shared bathroom as it was as clean as can be. We checked out of The Point Inn and brought our stuff to Terazza, then walked back to the terminal to take a bus that would bring us to the very reason why the tickets to Butuan were purchased.



Terraza Viktoria Rates and Driveway



to butuan with a backpack (part 2.5 of 5)

Before I continue to drone on about my CARAGA misadventure, I would like to show you a map of the region, to better appreciate the posts and also to hone your geography knowledge. I swear if I have had this adventures when I was taking HEKASI in gradeschool, I would've aced my exams.



photo lifted from here

Continuing from our tour of Bucas Grande Islands, we arrived back to Revlun Pension by 1600 and wasted no time to change into dry clothes and gather our belongings before walking to the Claver transport terminal. We were supposed to catch a bus bound for Tandag or Mangagoy (in Surigao del Sur) since both can bring us directly to our next destination, Barobo (violet route on the map). When we got to the terminal several locals asked us where we were going (not being stalkers, they were just the dispatchers in the terminal) so in 10minutes, almost everyone at the terminal knew where we were headed. We learned that the last bus to Tandag/Mangagoy usually leaves the terminal by 1500 but they kept our hope by saying saying that there may be vans going that direction. My friend and I agreed that come 1700 and there was still no bus or van, we could just return to Butuan and from there as the locals informed us that buses operate 24 hours a day.