Locals from Tuguegarao who met in Manila predominantly tell us there's nothing to see in Tuguegarao. But we knew there must be something, there's always something.
We found a few blogs talking about Palaui Island, Babuyan Channel and Batanes. So we went to the northern tip of Luzon in the hopes of hitting Palaui Island of Santa Ana and Camiguin Island of the Babuyan Channel, and a future parked endeavor to Batanes.
We got to the tricycle-polluted air of Tuguegarao on the afternoon of the 16th on board a tricycle whose driver tried to charge P150 for a fifty peso ride. I had a bad feeling about the place already.
We ate at a carinderia at the town proper, checked in at Aras - a hotel just in front of the bus terminal - and rode a bus to Tamauini, Isabela to visit their very beautiful red-brick church.
We headed back to Aras after about an hour of taking pictures. We got back in about an hour.
Our room at Aras was P650 and was worth that. One twin bed, airconditioning, cold shower, toilet with flush, 14 inch beat-up colored tv, one stool, one mirror, two pillows, one blanket, two towels and complimentary soap.
We dozed off and woke up the next day to visit the majestic Callao Cave.
We rode to the Penatoda terminal where we joined a tricycle stuffing endeavor going to Callao Cave. Seven passengers plus the driver are expected to ride one small tricycle for about an hour travel into the town of Penablanca at P40 a passenger.
I'm surprised no other form of transportation is in use.
We got to Cagayan River and rode a medium-sized boat for a five-minute river-crossing trip for P20 per passenger.
We were welcomed to Callao Cave by the ticketing personnel where we paid P20 each. Later we found out that our total transportation would cost about P200 each, plus that P20 ticket and Callao Cave is among the best reasonably-priced tourist-y things in Tuguegarao.
There were 184 steps going up to Callao Cave but, as much as the guide made it sound like such a big deal, we didn't mind it at all. If you find it hard though, I will assure you that it is definitely worth going through it.
Callao Cave is majestic. There were so many white stones and stalactites, I'd choose Callao Caves over the Puerto Princesa Underground River any day.
James, the guide, was a pleasant young fellow and is the best person we got to talk to in Tuguegarao for days, until we get to Palaui Island where we'll meet Kuya Charlie.
We got back to Aras after the long tryke ride back and set for Santa Ana where we met the Greedy Bunch.
The ride from Tuguegarao to San Vicente Port, Santa Ana took about 3 hours by van and the first person we met was Greedy 1 who spoke in Ilocano to his boatman brother-in-law and said he refered us to the boatman and he wants to get a cut from our payment.
They accompanied us to the Eco Zone where we met Greedy 2 manning the office. She explained how the trip to Palaui Island will be arranged and tried with all her might to answer all questions with suggestions of making take boat tours.
We got tired of her and bailed. We said we'll take another trip first. So we met Greedy 3. Greedy 3 is the wife of a former politician who got a piece of land in Nangaramoan and made a concrete shack to be rented out to tourist.
Greedy 3 priced the room at 2.5k and refused to lower the price. We decided to give it a try since it was walking distance from Angib Beach. To our dismay, the room she priced at 2.5k was worth maximum of 800 pesos. It was the Aras room but with poor finishing, less space and no complimentary soap or towels.
Meals were served by a constuction worker who seemed to feel like it was such a nuisance that I was buying a second cup of coffee after we spent more than 2000 bucks in the room that suffered his poor workmanship. This certainly prooves that not everyone could be hired as a waiter.
Nangaramoan and Angib Beach was absolutely beautiful but Greedy 3's pricey accommodation with sloppy construction and crappy service definitely ruined the experience.
We went back to San Vicente port the next day and set for Palaui Island.
Posted: Friday, November 29, 2013/ http://begin2013.blogspot.com/
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