After fifteen years, I was able to go back to the place I had so much memories when I was still a kid. A place of my grandparents who raised me up after my Mom died and my Dad remarried. It was really comforting to know that it is still the place I can still call home.
Part of these memories was swimming with my cousins almost the same with my age in the nearby beach during summer vacations. Making sand balls and doing bonfires by the seashore during sunsets. I realized I missed those times when you can be with your cousins who can also be your best friends.
As I spend time bonding with old friends and relatives, I discovered an unexplored beach nearby my Grandparents place---a 10 minutes drive from our home. Compared with Boracay (www.boracay.com )it is still undeveloped but it is so quiet that you can have a prayerful retreat and you can just hear the sound of the waves. It has a white sand and some bamboo-made cottages. You can bring your food and have your bbq grilled there.
From Manila you can ride in Buendia in Pasay City. There are several bus terminals there going to Batangas City Port. Fare is 160 Pesos ($3.10). www.silent-gardens.com/bus.php. When you get there, look for the ticketing of a ferry boat Supercat ( www.supercat.com.ph)--I would suggest you choose this ferry to Calapan Oriental Mindoro Port because it is faster, travel time from Batangas Port to Calapan City Port is approximately 45 minutes. Fare is 310 Pesos. (around $8). Pay for the Terminal fee worth 20 Pesos. From Calapan City you look for a passenger van to Roxas or Mansalay. Fare is also around 300 Pesos. Then look for a passenger tricyle and ask them to bring you there. Fare is around 125-200 Pesos but you can haggle/negotiate and ask for cheaper price. You can also ask the driver for the available lodging/transient houses in the area.
For cheap souvenir items and "pasalubong" (filipino term for something or some food you can buy --from the tour or from your travel -- which you can give your family when you arrive) from Aling Pacing's Bakery located in Poblacion, Mansalay Oriental Mindoro. You can choose from laminated keychains, foldable bag, laminated drinking mug, designed T-shirts and coin purses. Try buying their special "Tiping"--kind of very thin cookie made with coco milk and skimmed milk. It is always baked oven-fresh. There are lots of baked products you can choose from their bakery. You can also try eating their Batangas-version Pancit Lomi cooked with freshly-made ingredients.
www.localphilippines.com/hotels-and-resorts/mansalay/12--click this link if you want to know more about the details.
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