Originally the plan was to spend the group's summer getaway at Camotes Island for two days and a night but unfortunately most of my travel mates are working in a BPO industry where leave approvals are least possible even if plot leave schedules are filed a month prior to leave request. Thus, early plotting is not a 100% assurance for leave approvals. So we decided to have a day trip so all members of the group can come along and Pandanon Island was our favored place in the last minute decision for the group's summer kick-off getaway for this year.
The island lies between the eastern coast of Mactan Cebu, southern coast of Olango Island and the northern mainland of Bohol. It will only take an hour of travel to reach the island from the Cordova Port in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu. It's my first time to visit the island so I was quite ecstatic as to what the island can offer to someone who is a Thalassophile.
What is Thalassophile?
Thalassophile - as per definition from mocomi.com it is referred to as a person who loves the seas and the oceans.
Source: mocomi.com
Pandanon Island Sandbar / Photo Credit: Dimpsy via Facebook
Pandanon Island is known to have a long-winding creamy white sandbar and a swimming haven for beach lovers like me. As you can see there is a small cottage at the center of the winding sandbar that most tourists took shade that lessens the chance for others to take a selfie on it. They say that its a more secluded place to relax and chill under the scorching heat of the sun but as we visited here it was flocked by local and foreign tourists alike. You just need to be an early bird for you to secure a cottage of your choice unlike us we arrived at the island almost noon time so no more cottage available that time.
Pandanon Island / Video Credit: Martin Tabanag via Youtube
The uploader Martin Tabanag uses his drone and GoPro device to showcase the long and winding sandbar of Pandanon Island. My friend had a drone footage of the island but I couldn't upload it here in bitlanders because it was uploaded to Facebook and the embed code is not acceptable in bit site. So let me just share with you the link to that video so you can have an updated view of Pandanon Island. Here is the link.
THE MEETING PLACE
We hailed a van from SM North Cebu bound to the coastal town of Cordova. One of the two local units in Mactan Island and the highly urbanized city of Lapu-Lapu. The most common drop off point when traveling to the near islands of Mactan is the Cordova Port. This port operates a daily trip to Getafe, Bohol and other neighboring small islands in Mactan Cebu and Bohol.
Cordova Port / Photo Credit: Dimpsy via Facebook
This is the Cordova port where motored outrigger boats are docked on a daily basis. The struggle part of this port is the big rocks that it will likely to cause harm if you happen to slip on the saturated rocks and you might fall on your back and hit your head on the rock. It was a good thing though that the boat servicemen were very much capable of keeping their passengers to go on board safe and sound. Well, this is the point where the struggle is real.
THE TRANSPORTATION
On Board / Photo Credit: Dimpsy via Facebook
We hopped on two more outrigger boats before we finally got on board to our rented motorboat. You can see it in the photo at the back part the aligned motorboats. We rented a motorboat for P3,700 ($74) that has a capacity of 15 passengers for a vice versa route and it was a spacious one. The boat will pick you up and drop you off at your preferred location as per agreement of the package. There are other packages that include stopovers in the neighboring islands of Mactan and since we only have a day to enjoy we chose only Pandanon Island and later on as we head back to Cebu we opt for Hilutungan Island for snorkeling.
THE SET OF FOODS
Set of Foods on the Table / Photo Credit: Dimpsy via Facebook
The cost of this trip per head is only P880 ($17 if the dollar rate to a peso is P50) only. This includes the boat rental, set of foods for our lunch and snacks, entrance fee to Pandanon Island and a table fee, a two hours dip at Hilutungan Island Marine Sanctuary. What I love about this trip was the no hassle, no stress in terms of food preparation. Take a look at the photo above, there is a table at the center of the boat where cooked food placed inside food containers that are neatly arranged and ready to be served. Honestly, the food menus were beyond my expectation. I was expecting it to be having a commercialized food taste and servings but I was totally wrong. The taste was good and the servings were more than enough for us. Here's a list of menus that are inside the food containers.
FOOD MENUS
►NOODLES→→→→→→→→→ bam-e
►PORK→→→→→→→→→→→ grilled pork
►CHICKEN →→→→→→→→→ chicken curry
►SEAFOOD→→→→→→→→→ grilled anduhaw and 1 big grilled pusit
►SIDE DISH→→→→→→→→→ guso w/ pipino
►RICE →→→→→→→→→→→ 2 cups per pax
►LUNCH DRINKS →→→→→→ soft drinks
►FRUITS →→→→→→→→→→ watermelon
►SNACK→→→→→→→→→→ boiled banana
►SNACK DRINKS→→→→→→ soft drinks
►ONE 500 ml. BOTTLED MINERAL WATER
►Use of cooler with ice and free use of utensils and plates
THE PANDANON ISLAND
Panoramic View of Pandanon Island Sandbar / Photo Credit: Dimpsy via Facebook
There is nothing much that you can do on this island but to do sunbathing, swimming, snorkeling, and picture taking. An expectation versus reality struck me as our boat docked on the other side of the island. It's the filthy shore and the squatter residential environment that brought me to a little disappointment maybe because I expect too much and what I witness was a contradiction to what I've read and heard. But little do I know the gem is hidden on the other side of the island that it amazed me seeing the long and winding sandbar.
THE RUINS
The Ruins in Pandanon Island / Photo Credit: Dimpsy via Facebook
Walking through until the other side of the island we passed by a chapel and I don't know if it is functional or not when I suddenly saw the ruins that stood out amidst the long and winding sandbar as we came nearer to the heart of Pandanon Island.
Mandatory Pose at The Ruins / Photo Credit: Joseph Bacalso of Films and Stills
The ruins are always present in most of the blogs that I read regarding Pandanon Island. First time to see a ruin that is situated on the sandbar. Since it's a rare scene then a mandatory pose is necessary. The ruins are also nice for occasional pictorials but it would have been much nicer if the column beams were less tarnished or never lose its luster but nevertheless, it was totally good for photo opp.
THE COTTAGES
Cottages for Rent / Photo Credit: Dimpsy via Facebook
Just behind the ruins are some cottages that were fully packed with local and foreign guests that we can't even secure one for us. Even the tables for rent are all rented but gladly our boat service man took his own way out and was able to secure one small white monobloc table for our belongings. The cottage rentals start at the price range of P250 ($5) and for our table rental, we paid an amount of P100 ($2).
THE SANDBAR
The Winding Sandbar / Photo Credit: Dimpsy via Facebook
The longest and winding sandbar I ever set foot on with a hut on it. I was wondering if the tide goes high how much of the portion of the hut be vanished, partly on the bottom I guess but anyhow I love seeing the hut on the sandbar it's quite unique. I don't know why I am fascinated with sandbars but as far as I know in every beach trip, I always look forward to seeing a sandbar on the beach aside from chasing sunrise and sunsets. It's the blue space I guess when I walk barefooted on the sand or just by dipping my feet on the water gives me a soothing relief of relaxation and distressing.
What is Blue Space?
According to National Center for Biotechnology Information, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health published in PubMed.com
Blue Space is defined as "health-enabling places and spaces, where water is at the center of a range of environments with identifiable potential for the promotion of human well-being".
Source: PubMed
Seems like a good blog post to create. I hope I can make one since I never tried creating a blog post that is not related to travel but I will try and let's see what the outcome will be and how it will be rated.
THE SIDE TRIP - HILUTUNGAN ISLAND MARINE SANCTUARY
Snorkeling at Hilutungan Island Marine Sanctuary / Photo Credit: Dimpsy via Facebook
Unfortunately for this snorkeling, we weren't able to bring an underwater gadget because this side trip was decided as we head back to Cebu. My friend asked if there's one island that we can drop by since it was still in the early afternoon. The boatman answered: "there is Ma'am it's in Hilutungan Island a marine sanctuary but you have to make an additional payment of P100 ($2) each for the gasoline". Right then and there we agreed and off we went to the island.
Too sad I don't have anything to show you what's underneath but let me just tell you that it has a lot of fishes - a variety of tamed fishes where they just swim around your legs waiting to be feed. I got a little scared because of the dark spot which is the deepest part of the sea but all in all it was worth the added fee. We stayed on the cold water for about two hours just doing floating, feeding, hanging on the outrigger, chitchatting, laughing, and enjoying our last minute summer getaway.
Hilutungan Island Marine Sanctuary / Video Credit: JunePro via Youtube
So this is how the underwater world of Hilutungan Island looked like. Found a video uploaded last year by JunePro and it will show you the deep spot that I am scared of and the variety of tamed fishes that swims right through you, near you or just below from where you're swimming. There are snorkeling devices available for rent in the boat but I didn't avail of it for hygienic reasons on the part of the mouthpiece. I just borrowed snorkeling mask from my friends who rented the snorkeling device and had a quick glimpse of the underwater world.
THE END OF TRIP
It was a fun-filled last minute summer getaway in Pandanon Island. A whole day adventure for most first-timers in the group on this island. It doesn't matter if we spent it just for a day for as long as all the members of the group came along except for those who are working out of the country. More often than not we got to see each other on weekends but due to different work and rest day schedules, we rarely have group gatherings every end of the week. But we always make it a point during summer and before Christmas to gather around at least a day or two for a summer outing and a night for Christmas dinner. In that way, our friendship will have its long way to prosper because in every relationship communication and spending quality time with the group once in a while is the best thing that will keep our friendship alive and kicking.
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