Samar: A Solo Trip

SAMAR: A SOLO TRIP

Date: Sept 29 - Oct 3, 2022

Day 1: Arrival at Calbayog (Sept 29 - Thursday)

   

On board Philippine Airlines going to Western Samar, I hopped on a propeller jet plane at around 7:21 AM on a sunny Thursday of Sept 29. Days ago when I booked the ticket, I learned that Manila flies to Calbayog on limited days (I think twice a week). That makes this trip more exciting as it is still not too commercialized. After an excellent business class service, I arrived around 9 AM at a small but clean Calbayog airport. After claiming my baggage, I got in a small tricycle going to my accommodation which was a quick 15 minutes or so. I was too early for the 2 PM check out so I decided to go around the city and proceeded to the Tourism office so I could have a look if they have available tours to recommend. I met with a local tourism officer and was told that, unlike regulated and established tourism sites like Palawan, Bohol, Cebu, and Boracay, Samar has yet to have one. Though apologetic for the lack of available tours, she gave me so much valuable information and guidance on how and where to go around Calbayog which was their territory. I was told that for Biri and Sohoton, I have to check with the provincial tourism officers who are located in the capital Catbalogan. After half an hour, I thanked her and proceeded to grab lunch at one of the most recommended restaurants around town -- Marcial's Grille, which served the best dilis rice so far. I tried their baby back ribs with dilis rice and it was such a satisfying meal I am so optimistic the whole trip will be a success. After lunch, I checked in and spent the afternoon taking my much-needed rest (I had not slept much the day before).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 2: Calbayog Falls (Sept 30 - Friday)

    After taking the needed rest, I prepared for the Falls tour and headed to town. As advised by the Tourism officer the other day, I took a trip to Allen via the Amoec e-jeep at the center of town. At a quarter past 9 in the morning, we left Calbayog for Allen, alighted at Barangay Tinaplacan at around 11, and proceeded to the barangay tourism center which is just right at the corner of the highway. After paying the fees (DENR-30; Habal - 200; Guide - 300), I got on the habal habal with my guide Kuya Lemuel. After 15 minutes, we arrived at the jump-off point and were greeted with a refreshing view of Bangon Falls. After a short break, we then start to trek to Tarangban Falls. After being on a climbing hiatus, I was not in my best form to do some climbing so even if this will be a minor trek, it'll be quite a challenge for me.

    After multiple stops & breaks, I finally reached Tarangban Falls around 11:50AM!!!! What was more amazing was the fact that there were no other tourists but me... The falls were all to me!!! What a treat!! I love how pristine & peaceful the place was and wanted to stay longer but had to consider the travel and trek down plus there was still the Bangon Falls that had to be explored. Around 15 min after noontime, I left Tarangban Falls and arrived at the jump-off after 15 minutes of down trek. After being greeted with the calm and steady flows of Bangon, I didn't waste any time and lay flat on its free-flowing waters. It was so refreshing I almost fell asleep while lying on it. After almost an hour, I decided to change to prepare to go back to the main road. We were supposed to be fetched at 2pm but we made it early so when one habal driver arrived, my guide requested him to tell our habal driver that we were ready (Note: There was no signal around the falls so it is best to tell the habal driver the pick-up time once you reach the jump-off point). At around 1:30 pm, we left the falls and arrived at the main highway minutes later. My guide and habal driver assisted me to the e-jeep which arrived after a few more minutes of waiting. They were very helpful to me and told them I would recommend them to my friends. I knew I was the only tourist that day and they only earn based on tourist arrivals. I hope that Samar Tourism will have the spotlight that it rightfully deserves. I arrived at Calbayog around 3:15pm and traveled to a semi-secluded Kaunan sa Karayman for my lunch/dinner. I feasted on their crab which is sweeter than the usual one. I've had the rest of the afternoon buying items for my Sohoton or Biri Island tour the next day. Had another wonderful rest.  

Day 3: Travel to Basey for Sohoton Cave (Oct 1 - Saturday)

    For my Day 3, I have to choose between Sohoton and Biri Island as both are from the extreme ends of the island, the former being on the southern part near Leyte and the latter being on the farther northern part. Based on my research, Biri only has 2 trips each day, 1 in the morning and 1 in the afternoon. I hate to rush when I travel so I reckon that Biri will take 2 days and that would mean I won't be able to cross Tacloban and get a glimpse of the famed San Juanico Bridge. Sohoton seemed to be a better choice as it is located on the south and near Tacloban, so I get to shoot two birds at the same time, so to speak -- visit Sohoton and see San Juanico Bridge. But I was so enchanted with Biri Island that I have set my mind on it. I choose the other terminal, the one with the Grand Tours van that have both trips to Allen (going to Biri) and Catbalogan (Sohoton). For some strange reason, my feet led me to the Catbalogan van and I only realized I chose the wrong van when it was already leaving the terminal. So I reckoned I have to go to Plan B, which is the Sohoton Cave. We left 8AM and arrived in Catbalogan at around 9:30AM. I went straight to the Tourism office to ask for directions going to Basey but unfortunately, it was close. I asked a few locals and they directed me to the local public terminal. When I arrived in the terminal, there were many buses lining up for different destinations. I found the one going to Guiuan which will pass by the town of Basey. I asked the conductor to have me alighted in the nearest landmark of Basey. An hour have passed and we still have not left the terminal. I soon realized that they have to wait for more passengers before leaving because of the long trip. I must have waited for nearly 2 hours before it left at around 12 noon. Then finally after like forever, the bus left the terminal. 

    On various occasions, I was signaling with the bus conductor and reminding him to drop me off at Basey Town. My eyes were on him in every town that we passed and kept on asking him if we were near it. After more than 3 hours, I saw some highway signs about Basey and asked the conductor about getting off at Basey (which he nearly forgot) and good thing the drop-off point was just a few meters away so he immediately mentioned the nearest gasoline station the driver. At around 3:15PM, I finally arrived at Basey town. A seemingly sleepy town, it looks like a familiar childhood town in my province Negros Occidental. I then called the nearest tricycle driver and asked him to get me to Sohoton plus the fare going there. He seemed unsure but gave me a reasonable amount which proved to be just the standard fare as Sohoton was a bit far from the main town. Plying the main highway for 25 minutes, I reached Sohoton Tourist Center at around 3:40PM, a few minutes after its closing time. The receptionist told me that it did not accept any more guests at that time and advised me to come back the next day. She was kind enough to recommend the nearest inn that I could check into and advise me to arrive early so I could have more time to see more of Basey. As advised, I then proceeded to the said inn and luckily, the driver waited for me and dropped me in the inn which was just near the drop-off location earlier and just along the main highway. As soon as I settled in, I walked around town and bought food for dinner and brunch the next day. Basey was a small town and I spent just a little over half an hour and decided to retire early for tomorrow's activity. It was a well-deserved rest. 

Day 4: Sohoton Cave (Oct 2 - Sunday)

I was so excited for Sohoton that I woke up early and got ready for the 8:30 trip. I wanted to make the most of my trip to Basey and wanted to leave early since I have a long trip back to Calbayog. I also learned the day before that Tacloban was just an e-jeep away from Basey so I planned to take the trip to Calbayog from Tacloban so I could cross the famous San Juanico Bridge, once the longest bridge in the Philippines. After a quick bread breakfast, I waited for Kuya who I contracted to yesterday. He seemed to have forgotten it so I decided to call on another trike. Got off at Sohoton at almost 8:30 and started the trip after the initial orientation. I was just by myself --- totally a new experience!!!! I got to enjoy nature solo. Scary but exciting. The river cruise took us almost 30 minutes spanning mangroves, small communities, riverbanks, and rock formations. As soon as I arrived, I hopped into the floating deck and climbed a few steps into what they call the assembly or orientation area which works as resting area as well (small huts). There was a duo who serenaded me with a local song and I was somehow moved by the way they welcome visitors. My guide then directed me to the cave entrance and started the actual orientation of the dos and don'ts of the cave. I was gear ready (helmet,etc) and I was a bit nervous given that my last cave experience was that of Sagada which was extremely difficult for a first-timer. So I have prepared both mentally and physically for this challenge. The guide assured me this was an easy one and since I told him about Sagada, he reassured me it was way more like a walk in the park as compared to the challenging Sagada adventure. And he was right. My first 10 minutes was like literally walking in the park inside the cave. It was impressively vast and well-lit. Yes, there were lights inside the park that makes visibility better for tourists. They have really regulated it for all kinds of tourists -- like literally you can bring children inside the cave. It was almost an hour of wows and ahhs for me, not just because it was an easy and light tour but it was also educational and informative. Kudos to my guide and perhaps all the guides there because they seem to be really knowledgeable in the area. 

    After the cave tour, I had another short trip to what they call the Sohoton Bridge. My boatman and I have to navigate a tricky rapids going there and when he pointed me the bridge, I expected it was probably a suspension bridge that connects two rock formations. Alas, it was nothing of that nature! It was bridge formed by nature itself -- it was like two mountains holding hands or two rocks shaking hands. It was a marvel of nature. Kuya asked me if I wanted to swim on the rapids below it and said yes. After like almost 15 minutes, we then went back to the base. It was one unique commune with nature!!! Such a peaceful and serene experience! At almost 11am, I left Sohoton and headed back to Basey town proper to buy their famed Banig at a tourist center. I headed to Ame Hotel at 11:45am, had a quick lunch, and checked out. I flagged another trike for the terminal going to Tacloban. At 12:15pm, we left Basey on a comfy e-jeep and passed through the famous bridge. I was probably the only one taking video of the actual passing through the bridge and despite multiple glares, I continued marveling at the beauty of it. I was hiding my giddiness so as not to embarrass myself. Basey to Tacloban is just a 30-minute trip and was amazed by how near it was. If I had known, I would have planned for an overnight in Tacloban for a short tour but I'll probably reserve it on future trips. I looked for the earliest trip to Catbalogan and found a 1:30pm one. After 5.5 hours, I finally arrived at Calbayog and decided to retire early. It was a fulfilling day!

Day 5: Departure (Oct 3 - Monday)

I had my 10am trip so I woke up early for an early checkout and a small trip to a famous pasalubong center to buy their famous tinapa. I really recommend trying their version of tinapa because it was so good. I arrived in Manila at way past noon and spent the rest of the day unpacking and taking more well-deserved sleep. I am definitely going back to Samar and exploring more, plus include Tacloban as well.