Puerto Galera 2014

9 - 11 May 2014

This was a long awaited vacation for us as we planned this a few months ago. Epoy was coming home for his holidays and we wanted to go on vacation with him. We initally planned to go to Davao but since we're all in a tight budget, Epoy offered going to his hometown in Puerto Galera instead. 

We left for Puerto Galera the day after Joema’s birthday. He paid for the place we stayed in and we split all other expenses. It was a long day of travelling for us. We first went to pick up Epoy from his condo in MOA and then went to Paranaque to Joy and Mek’s house. We agreed to take just one vehicle going to Batangas Pier. But before going to the pier we went to Mek’s parent’s house in Lipa first to drop off their puppy. And then from the pier we rode a ferry going to Puerto Galera. We didn’t stay at the white beach instead we stayed at a nearby small hotel just beside Epoy’s grandma’s place. All our food were taken cared of Epoy courtesy of his mom’s cooking. We arrived in Puerto Galera just in time for lunch.

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After eating, our first agenda for the day was mud karts. But a little side story here as this was where my first hormonal breakdown happened hahaha. So we freshened up after eating. We all took a bath, by we all of us in our family – Miya, then yaya, hubby and me. Miya because she hasn’t taken a bath for the day as we left home very early and she was still sleeping when we carried her to her car. Then yaya decided she wants to take a bath too. And since we’re all sharing one bathroom I let her go first after Miya. So I had to wait for my turn. When it was my turn to take a bath, I was feeling so tired and hot and sticky already. Epoy was already hurrying us up so we can still go to the beach. Joema and I decided to take a bath together so it will be faster. When we got to the bathroom, the heater was automatically turned on and the water was so hot. I really want to take a bath already but Joema was so masungit with me and telling me to wait for the water. Hay naku I broke down in the bathroom because I was really hot and I wanted to take a bath na hahaha! As in parang pelikula, I was crying while taking a bath. Anyway, Joema said sorry afterwards. But I really felt kawawa at that moment – pregnancy hormones I tell you hahaha! 

Refreshed and ready to explore!

When we got to the karting place I knew I can’t do anything with them but watch (I was 17 weeks pregnant at that time).

So I took photos of them instead.

Still clean...

They really enjoyed mud karting!

All mudded up! 

In fairness, they said they felt their skin felt much smoother after they washed off the mud hehe.

After mudkarts we went to white beach to swim for a bit (only the kids) and we also hired a boat for our island hopping the next day. We also had our hair braided at the beach. 

I wanted a silhouette photo of my bump - at 17 weeks and 4 days

The next day, we went island hopping! Yes, all of us even Miya and our yaya. We negotiated with the boatmen to let Miya and our yaya ride free for the island hopping since they won’t be able to go snorkeling anyway. Our hired boat took us around Mindoro’s island first and then went back for our snorkeling adventure. From the big boat, we rode small boats to go to each of the attraction. I was so scared because the boat can only fit 3 adults. Miya was with us and she had to stand in between Joema and me. I was scraed but I can’t show it to Miiya because she might get scared too. So instead we pretended that it was all okay hahaha kunyari we’re all playing and we’re saying “Weee” while the boat was crashing into the waves. Our first stop was the underwater cave. If you’ve been to Crystal Cove in Boracay, this is similar to that but much smaller. When we took Miya underneath I told her that she’s like Ariel, the Little Mermaid, because it was pretty dark inside. I don’t want her to be afraid. Good thing, it was only for the first few minutes we were inside that she was afraid. By the time we left the cave she wasn’t scared anymore. She was saying that she was like Little Mermaid. If you’re going here, better wear a rubber sandals with straps or aqua shoes. I was wearing ordinary slippers when we went there and my slippers kept on floating hahaha. I don’t have photos of us inside the cave because it was in Ky’s underwater camera but I will definitely update this post once I get those photos. After that we went snorkeling to see the big clams and the beautiful corals in Puerto Galera.

Here's a photo of Mya and yaya while the rest of us went snorkeling

We ate lunch at our boat and then we went to an island were we just whiled away our time.

When we got back to the main island, we went to Tamaraw Falls.

Miya was knocked out by this time

There was a pool that catches the water from the falls where you can also swim. Only Mek and Miguel were brave enough and had enough energy to still swim.

We were all so tired here. From the bottom of the falls where the pool was, we had to go up a few flight of stairs to come up again to the main road where this was taken. 

That night we went to a bar and they had some drinks while watching Epoy’s cousins band perform. But I don't seem to find any photos of us there hehe. 

On our last day, we just chilled at the resort. Miya was the only one (with yaya) who swam at the beach in front of the hotel hahaha! You can’t really take out my baby from the water. She loves the water! Well, actually the boys did some exploring.

Kala mo mga haciendero!

They even borrowed a boat from the local kids, which they sank!

Then it was time to eat our last meal in Puerto Galera...

Then it was time to say goodbye and thank you to our hosts.