By Gael Hilotin for
Yahoo! Travel
Sorsogon is a quaint province in the Philippines that rose to fame
due to the biggest fish in the world - the whale sharks locally called butanding,
that found refuge in the waters of Donsol town.
But
what most tourists don't know is that aside from these gentle giants, Sorsogon
has more to offer to tourists. Another promising town is the craggy and
drowsy Matnog.
The Philippines is divided into 3 main island groups - Luzon,
Visayas and Mindanao. Matnog is located south of the mainland of Luzon,
well-known as "The Gateway to Visayas", the main island famous
for its white sand beaches, thus frequented by travelers and locals crossing
the sea by roro (roll on and roll
off). Unknown to most passengers are the immaculate white sand beaches
beyond the borders of the bustling pier.
I met a man in his 40's at the market who escorted me to the boatman's abode.
We passed by humble huts, smiling faces and curious eyes. Surprisingly,
the boatman does not know how much to charge me because they are not used to
seeing tourists in their town. For information on how to get to these
islands, you can check my blog here - Subic Beach and
Tikling Island Travel Guide. The downside to traveling
alone in remote islands is that you have to shoulder hefty boat rides
(unless you find a fisherman where you can hitch a ride). Good thing in
Matnog, the boat fare is fair enough.
view of Calintaan Islands where Subic beach is located. The boat passed
by some fishermen and their kids armed with obsolete arrows and goggles aiming
for a fresh catch. Then suddenly, schools of fishes started jumping
before us! Down below the waters, I could see corals dotting the sea
floor.
And as the boat moved swiftly to the right side of the rugged
cove, the clear turquoise waters of Subic beach was unveiled before me!
Powdery white sands, dancing palms trees, humble shacks, farm animals, and
parked fishing boats greeted us. I found comfort on a lone tree house
where the cool wind gently blows on my face and the majestic view of the beach
is a feast for my eyes.
salty waters that is home to diverse species of fish, turtles, sea cucumbers,
lobsters and clams. Juag Fish Sanctuary is an area reserved for the reproduction
of fish populations. They are collected
for studies and breeding and released in the sea once they reached their full
egg spawning potential thereby reducing their probability of extinction.
I've seen warning signs by the local government prohibiting
illegal fishing in the demarcated areas. I was transported to the sanctuary from its
main entrance by a sliding bamboo craft. The area is quite vast with
clear shallow waters and sea grass beds. Juag Fish Sanctuary is gradually becoming an
eco-tourism destination where visitors are allowed to view the fishes in their
natural environment. There is no entrance fee but donations are allowed.
unstable lies another pristine beach called Tikling Islands, the last stop
for my island adventure. I find the
island quite eerie because of that distinct noise of the insects and the
chirping of the birds hiding on its lush tropical forest, not to mention the wild
shrubs and growing vines on the sands making it look like it is unexplored. The coast is long enough for leisurely walk and the beach is a seductive
blend of blue and green.
Tikling Island has no huts for rent and the only people living
here are the caretakers of the island who thrives on fishing and copra
production. But what really make this
island remarkable is its signature powdery pinkish sands.
Undoubtedly, Matnog town is blessed with pristine beaches just
waiting to be discovered and a rich natural environment that needs to be
continually protected and nurtured. I hope that in the near future
tourism will help its ailing people and boost the economy of the sleepy town.
About the author: Gael Hilotin is a female solo traveler. Her
(mis)adventures are documented in her blog The Pinay Solo Backpacker.
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Yahoo! Travel
Sorsogon is a quaint province in the Philippines that rose to fame
due to the biggest fish in the world - the whale sharks locally called butanding,
that found refuge in the waters of Donsol town.
But
what most tourists don't know is that aside from these gentle giants, Sorsogon
has more to offer to tourists. Another promising town is the craggy and
drowsy Matnog.
The Philippines is divided into 3 main island groups - Luzon,
Visayas and Mindanao. Matnog is located south of the mainland of Luzon,
well-known as "The Gateway to Visayas", the main island famous
for its white sand beaches, thus frequented by travelers and locals crossing
the sea by roro (roll on and roll
off). Unknown to most passengers are the immaculate white sand beaches
beyond the borders of the bustling pier.
I met a man in his 40's at the market who escorted me to the boatman's abode.
We passed by humble huts, smiling faces and curious eyes. Surprisingly,
the boatman does not know how much to charge me because they are not used to
seeing tourists in their town. For information on how to get to these
islands, you can check my blog here - Subic Beach and
Tikling Island Travel Guide. The downside to traveling
alone in remote islands is that you have to shoulder hefty boat rides
(unless you find a fisherman where you can hitch a ride). Good thing in
Matnog, the boat fare is fair enough.
Subic Beach
Sitting on the edge of the bow of the boat gave me a panoramicview of Calintaan Islands where Subic beach is located. The boat passed
by some fishermen and their kids armed with obsolete arrows and goggles aiming
for a fresh catch. Then suddenly, schools of fishes started jumping
before us! Down below the waters, I could see corals dotting the sea
floor.
And as the boat moved swiftly to the right side of the rugged
cove, the clear turquoise waters of Subic beach was unveiled before me!
Powdery white sands, dancing palms trees, humble shacks, farm animals, and
parked fishing boats greeted us. I found comfort on a lone tree house
where the cool wind gently blows on my face and the majestic view of the beach
is a feast for my eyes.
Juag Fish Sanctuary
Enclosed by smaller rock formations is a wide expanse of shallowsalty waters that is home to diverse species of fish, turtles, sea cucumbers,
lobsters and clams. Juag Fish Sanctuary is an area reserved for the reproduction
of fish populations. They are collected
for studies and breeding and released in the sea once they reached their full
egg spawning potential thereby reducing their probability of extinction.
I've seen warning signs by the local government prohibiting
illegal fishing in the demarcated areas. I was transported to the sanctuary from its
main entrance by a sliding bamboo craft. The area is quite vast with
clear shallow waters and sea grass beds. Juag Fish Sanctuary is gradually becoming an
eco-tourism destination where visitors are allowed to view the fishes in their
natural environment. There is no entrance fee but donations are allowed.
Tikling Island
Near the coastal town of Matnog where the waters are quiteunstable lies another pristine beach called Tikling Islands, the last stop
for my island adventure. I find the
island quite eerie because of that distinct noise of the insects and the
chirping of the birds hiding on its lush tropical forest, not to mention the wild
shrubs and growing vines on the sands making it look like it is unexplored. The coast is long enough for leisurely walk and the beach is a seductive
blend of blue and green.
Tikling Island has no huts for rent and the only people living
here are the caretakers of the island who thrives on fishing and copra
production. But what really make this
island remarkable is its signature powdery pinkish sands.
Undoubtedly, Matnog town is blessed with pristine beaches just
waiting to be discovered and a rich natural environment that needs to be
continually protected and nurtured. I hope that in the near future
tourism will help its ailing people and boost the economy of the sleepy town.
About the author: Gael Hilotin is a female solo traveler. Her
(mis)adventures are documented in her blog The Pinay Solo Backpacker.
