to butuan with a backpack (part 5 of 5)

Finally! Last post in my CARAGA Travel adventure series!

We didn't have anything planned for the last day, just some souvenir shopping before going home. We headed out for breakfast, and being subjected to eating carinderia and bakery food the past four days left me craving for some fast food, so we went around Butuan in search of some. We found a McDonalds just outside a shopping center and had a good ol' fashioned city breakfast. By the time we were done eating, the mall was open so we went in, walking around, looking for nothing. After a while, we walked the streets, occassionally going into souvenir shops and an occassional product show room. We bought the basic souvenir items, and I also got something I may be able to use in my Christmas wrapping. 

Burnt. This is in our room at Julian's Inn

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.

to butuan with a backpack (part 2 of 5)

When I told a friend that I was bound for CARAGA, she told me that I should visit Sohoton National Park. I thought that she had geography mixed up since the Sohoton I knew were the caves in Samar that I had visited a year ago. So I researched about it and found that we could squeeze a trip to Bucas Grande in our itinerary.

On our second day, we woke up at 0600 and got ready for our day of exploring the islands of Bucas Grande, including Sohoton National Park. Bucas Grande Islands are located South of Siargao in the province of Surigao del Norte. We took a short walk to the Claver Transport Terminal and had breakfast at a small carinderia. We then took a van going to Hayanggabon Port which took us about 20mins. When we alighted, we proceeded to the Tourist Center and got a bit confused when we saw that it was more of a sari-sari store than an information hub. A very accomodating man, whose breakfast we just interrupted, referred us to the local boatman and asked if we had anything else we need. We assured him that we had enough food and water and walked with the boatman to the port.

Hayanggabon Port

to butuan with a backpack (part 1 of 5)

More than a month after I had taken this vacation, I am ready to talk about it. Or what I remember from it.

Mid last year, my travel buddy emailed me with a simple question: "Nakapunta ka na ng Butuan?". I replied with, "Kelan? Magkano?". Turns out, one of his batchmates had over booked a Butuan trip. By mid-September, we had drafted a loose itinerary but the group head count had gone down to around 5. A week before we were set to leave the detailed schedule was finally completed. But there were still no final confirmation from the group. Two days before our flight we had learned that none of the original people set to travel were going. The pair of us decided to go through with it, not being ones who would throw away free plane tickets. Since only 2 of us were going, we didn't pre-book any of our lodging or activities and decided just to wing it once we got there, in true backpacking style.

Butuan is located in the province of Agusan del Norte, part of the CARAGA region. We arrived at Bacasi Airport in Butuan at 1500, without any clue on where to go. Fortunately, there was Tourist Assistance Desk near the entrance and a very helpful man gave us instructions on how to get to the bus terminal and gave us a beautiful Butuan map. We rode a multicab outside the airport which will bring us to the Butuan Bus Terminal. When we got to the terminal, we searched for an airconditioned bus going to Mangagoy which will pass by our destination, Claver. Some locals told us that it would be easier to take a bus going to Surigao and alight at Badas junction, then take a van going to Claver, especially since it was going to be near nightfall. We took their advice and bought some snacks before riding a non-airconditioned (seemed to be the more popular choice) bus bound for Surigao.

Bus bound for Surigao at the Butuan Terminal

crisp climate

My "Vacation Marathon" was jump started by a weekender in the Northern part of the country. My cousin invited me to a trip to Baguio, because her friend (who has also become my friend) had a coupon for a night's stay in a new establishment in the city.

 

I was last in Baguio in December 2010 and January 2011, and I doubted that much had changed so I wans't really craving for much activities. The long bus ride, the change in scenery and being away from the regular things I do was really already enough to scratch my "itchy" feet. We planned to take the night bus from Cubao so we'll arrive very early the following day in Baguio so that we can maximize the time. We left Cubao Victory Liner Terminal at 2:00AM and arrived at Baguio around 8:00AM. I was wearing clothes from Friday night which was a dress, and slippers. We unboarded the bus and a cool gush of wind welcomed us. I quickly put on my jacket to combat some of the cold. We decided to look for a place to stay for one of our companions. The coupon we had was only for 3 people and we thought that we might have to pay a large sum for an extra person in that hotel. We walked to Hotel 45 but found that there were no available rooms. I suggested that we have breakfast first because I was getting hungry since we only had strawberry taho as we left the terminal. We ate at Jack's in Session Road. We finished eating by 9:30 and the sun was shining so brightly. The wind was still cold, so it was a really pleasant time to be on the street, save for the backpacks we were lugging. We decided to go to the hotel, even if we couldn't check in yet, we could just leave our bags at the reception area. So we took a taxi and headed to Azalea Residences.

 

A few minutes later, we pull into this beautiful driveway and I cannot help but smile. I wasn't expecting a swanky place like that. We went in to ask the receptionist if we can leave our bags. Lucky us, the room is already available and we could check in already! Yey. So we went to our room, and it was beautiful! Plus it could fit 4 since it had a queen size bed and a sofa bed that can accomodate 2. We washed up (since it's been 24hours since our last bath!) and went out to explore.



Day One: Burnham Part, Orchidarium, Good Taste