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Secrets of Northern Samar is a series of blog posts that encourages intrepid travelers to try the out-of-the-usual-tourist-trail. This happened last February 2011, one of the no-plans-whatsoever trips I made. I have a ticket to Catarman and I just said to myself, go and let’s see what’s in it for me… So I found these:
Spectacular Biri Rock Formations / The Forgotten Capul Island / Abaknon: On the Brink of Extinction / Side Note: Allen to Calbayog City / Catubig: A Forgotten Heritage / Hammock-Hanging Adventure at UEP White Beach / Summary & Expenses
Secrets of Northern Samar Series Summary & Expenses
Day 1
Blog: Spectacular Biri Rock Formations
Tweets:
“Deplaning now at Catarman Airport. Will try to go to Biri islands. No specific plans whatsover.”
“Spectacular rock formations here in Biri island. Jaw-dropping seascapes! Glad that I pursued this trip.”
Magasang Rock Formation, Biri
Expenses (in Philippine Peso)
16- Ginataang Bilo-bilo & Puto(breakfast)
10- Tricycle fare (N. Samar Capitol – Terminal)
50- Jeepney fare (Terminal – Lavaserez)
12- Bread
50- Boat fare (Lavaserez – Biri)
70- Motorcycle fare (Biri wharf – Magasang Rock Formations and back to Biri town)
5- Trisikad to Ate Glo (Homestay)
50- Lunch
150- Homestay Accommodation
___________
Php 413.00
Day 2
Blogs: The Forgotten Capul Island & Abaknon Dialect: On the Brink of Extinction
Tweets:
“Here at Biri pier going back to mainland samar. Mt. Bulusan can be seen here on silhouette. Biri also has surfing & dive sites.”
“En route Allen, N.Samar.then to Calbayog. Samar has a lot to offer to backpackers. Btw, I challenged myself not to spend more than P400/day”
“Eating paksiw na dilis and pinangat na laing… bicol’s influence is very evident when it comes to language and cuisine.”
“Sudden change of plans…will go to Capul island instead, learned that there is a 16th century church there, got me interested.”
“White sand, blue sea, coconut trees… early summer here at Abak Beach, Capul island.”
“Learning: Capul is a short word for Acapulco. This island has been the last stop of the Galleon ships before going back to Acapulco.”
Capul Lighthouse at Totoog Point
Expenses (in Philippine Peso)
22- Pandesal and Coffee
50- Boat fare (Biri Wharf – Lavaserez)
15- Jeepney fare (Lavaserez – Allen)
35- Breakfast (Dilis and Panat na laing)
15- Internet rental (near Allen port)
10- Bread
5- Puto with bukayo inside
60- Boat fare (Allen – Capul Island)
40- Motorcycle (Capul centro – Abak Beach Resort)
11- BBQ and bread (merienda)
20- Motorcycle fare (Abak beach – Capul Municipal Bldg.)
51- 1 liter gasoline to Capul Lighthouse
40- Dinner
__________
Php 374.00
Day 3
Blog: Side Note: Top-Loading from Allen to Calbayog City
Tweets:
“On board a big outrigger back to Allen.. I thank the tourism officer of Capul, Bords, for offering his office as my room for the night”
“Wanna thank the people of N.Samar, mababait sila. now to W.Samar. Ano kaya meron sa Calbayog?”
“Sanctus! Sanctus! Sanctus! Impressive altar of white & gold inside Calbayog Cathedral. Will stay here until the tourism officer comes back from his early lunchbreak.”
“Good-bye Calbayog! my apologies for I didn’t explore you, your waterfalls & caves. have to go back to Catarman.”
Calbayog City Cathedral (Western Samar)
Expenses (in Philippine Peso)
60- Boat Ride (Capul – Allen port)
15- Internet rental
80- Jeepney fare (Allen – Calbayog)
10- Trisikad (Calbayog Terminal – City Hall)
35- Lunch
10- Peanuts
10- Bread
5- Turon
5- Trisikad
10- Trisikad (to Grand Tours vans)
100- Van fare (Calbayog – Catarman)
30- Trisikad, Tricycle fares (looking for cheap accommodation)
150- Blue Inn Lodging (near the Public Market)
24- BBQ
10- Bread
40- Dinner
______________
Php 594.00
Day 4
Blogs: Catubig’s Forgotten Heritage & Hammock-Hanging Adventure at UEP White Beach
Tweets:
“Now at the small town of Catubig… sad to see the old church in ruinous state. This town has been the 1st pueblo & cabezeria in Northeastern Samar.”
“Its good to talk to fisherfolks here in Catubig, very simple living. After a day’s work, they gather together to chill.”
“Budget is depleted. My accommodation? Hammock by the sea here at UEP white beach. Manila bound tomorrow!”
Expenses (in Philippine Peso)
100- Van fare (Catarman Bus Terminal – Catubig)
10- Bread (Brunch)
5- Banana Nilupak (Lunch)
100- Van fare (Catubig – UEP White Beach)
10- Entrance fee (UEP Beach)
35- Dinner
___________
Php 260.00
Day 5
No Blog, No Tweet.
University of Eastern Philippines
Expenses (in Philippine Peso)
10- Tricycle fare (UEP – Catarman)
10- Tricycle fare (Catarman – Dalakit Airport)
15- Chocolate Moron (Breakfast)
25- Terminal Fee (Airport)
__________
Php 60.00
Northern Samar Backpacking Trip
5-Day Total Expenses: Php 1,701.00 (< US$ 40)
Daily Average Expense: Php 340.20 (< US$ 8)
Challenge to spend no bigger than Php400/day is again, SUCCESSFUL!
Can’t believe it? I also did
Mindanao Php400/Day Challenge / Western Visayas Php250/Day Challenge / Pagadian Adventure Series
northern samar deserves a feature from you james. so lucky to have all the time to travel. found out lots of nice things about samar from this series.
indeed bosing dong! di ko pa nga siguro nakita lahat, just scratching the surface…
i wish i can explore more.. spelunking, falls exploration, island hopping, dami pang pwedeng gawin. kung malaki lang budget. hahaha
awesome! I love the idea of compiling your tweets of the trip.
really huh? thanks for commenting on that! that’s that best thing i can do for those who want to travel but without time/(resources). it also the basis of my blog posts, my secret to remember the scene while traveling.
thanks astrid!
WOW!!
Glad that you find the secrets of Northern Samar,
I heard a lot about Capul Islands from my parents coz we have relatives their and my parents were born in Brgy Bukid near Catubig.
with this blog i am really excited to visit those places indeed!
I believe they are blessed with majestic falls as well….
nice blog!
Moe
thanks moe!
northern samar is one of my fave provinces. so raw yet so beautiful. it captivated the adventurous side of me.
WOW!!! 5-day trip for only 1,000? “bow” na talaga ako sayo.. BTW, pwede bang 1-day lang ang Biri island trip? kasi mostly sa mga itinerary na nasearch ko tig 2 days yung pagpunta sa mga isla sa Biri? i would really appreciate if u will reply.. thanks! 😉
then its 2 days po 🙂
how can you actually explore or try one province’s food if you’re eating only bread,puto, P35, P40 lunch and dinner. I agree your blog is interesting and quite amusing. but some of it is very unreal. You’re wasting my time
sorry for wasting your time. thanks for leaving a comment, i appreciate you for being blunt and for reading the blog. 🙂
James
I am a surfer and would like to no if you seen any surf on the island of Capul.
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