Resilient Puerto Galera after Typhoon Nina

Saturday, December 31, 2016

December 28-30, 2016

Typhoon Nina hit the Philippines on Christmas day until the 26th of December. There was a storm signal #1 on the 25th in Mindoro and it escalated to signal #3 the next day. We were supposed to visit Masasa beach in Batangas and planned to board on the 27th going to Puerto Galera, but that did not happen.

We felt hesitant to push through with the plan for Puerto Galera before the year ended because of the effect of Bagyong Nina. A lot of pictures flashed on Facebook taken during and after the surge of the typhoon. I suggested that the plan should be moved instead of canceling it. We were supposed to be four, but I guess plans sometimes never really happen. Probably, next time there would four of us or more, for this trip, I was with Arra and it's also our second beach getaway. It was 3 days and 2 nights trip.

1st Day

From Laguna, a van took us to Batangas port. We bought tickets from Puerto Galerians Shipping Lines. Tamaraw express was the name of the boat of PGSL. It was bigger and not too crowded compare to the one from Cagbalete Island. The boat ride felt light this time. The dizziness I experienced last time in Cagbalete Island was gone. I enjoyed the ride this time. The sea seemed endless again and the water looked green, not the blue color I yearned to see.

We arrived at Muelle Port at 11 something, the boat ride took more or less 1 and 1/2 hours. Kuya Boying from Sandra Taylor Lodge fetched us at the Muelle Port. A ride on a tryk took us to the lodge we rented ahead of time at Batangas Port care of Miss Angelic, she was kind enough to give us a discount. We paid 1,000 pesos each for a 3D2N stay at Sandra Taylor's lodge with free transport from Port to White Beach.

We had a look at the White Beach first before deciding what kind of activities should we do during our stay. There were lots of restaurants and carinderia enough to feed a bunch of tourists, souvenir shops for pasalubong and also they had water sports like jetski, banana boat, parasailing and more.

In the afternoon, Ate Baby one of the masseuses roaming around at the beach braided our hair for 125 each. We loved the finished product. And at night, we tried henna tattoo at the Intensity Henna Tattoo. Kuya (I forgot to ask his name) did not give us a discount though we're persistent. Haha.

2nd Day

Close encounter with nature. My favorite part...

Kuya Boying, the caretaker of the lodge we checked in, prepared water activities and Island hopping activities. Having a close encounter with sea creatures during fish feeding and snorkeling was the best. The beauty underwater was undeniably just one of the magnificent pictures of nature, though some corals were damaged due to the typhoon surge.

Kuya Elmar guided us throughout all the activities (thankies Kuya!), though my power bank, connector, and headset experienced tragedy at the beginning, still fighting! (Hoping they would still work 🙏🏼)

We visited a cave at one of the islands in PG.

Island/Beach Hopping

Fish Feeding and Snorkeling

Chillin' at the beach and some photo opportunities before the day ended

3rd Day

... and also the last, it was time to take our final walk at White Beach. Surely, we experienced one of the best times in our life from the days and nights spent at Puerto Galera.

Time to buy some souvenirs...

Waiting at the terminal...

Some reminders...

Confirm your departure date a day before at the White Beach's terminal shipping lines.
Morning is the best time to board a boat (current are stronger in the afternoon).
During water-activities avoid bringing electronic gadgets or accessories.

Itinerary

Hello Puerto Galera! (1st day)

7:45 am to 9:45 am - From City of Santa Rosa, Laguna to Batangas Pier
10:14 am to 11:30 am - Batangas Port to Puerto Galera via Galerians shipping lines
4:00 pm to 7:00 pm - Braiding and Henna

DIY Travel (2nd day)

8:00 am to 11:30 am - Water activities
4:00 pm to 6:00pm - Chillin' at the beach like reading, eating snacks

'Til next time Puerto Galera! (3rd day)

8:00 am to 9:30 am - Buying souvenirs and pasalubong
1:20 pm to 2:50 pm - White Beach to Batangas Port
2:50 pm to 3:10 pm - Batangas Port to Stoplight
3:10 pm to 3:30 pm - Stoplight to Batangas Grand Terminal

Afternoon lunch :)

4:10 pm to 6:00 pm - Batangas Grand Terminal SM Calamba
7:25 pm - Finally home...

Expenses

Fare and Activities (in Peso)
1st day
130 - Van from City of Sta.Rosa, Laguna to Batangas Port
500 - A round trip ticket from Port to White Beach
30 - Terminal fee
1000 - Sandra Talyor Lodge
125 - Braids by Ate Baby
150 - Henna tattoo by Intensity Henna Tattoo
2nd day
119 - Morning breakfast
600 - Water activities c/o Kuya Boying and Kuya Elmar
50 - lunch
100 - Snacks from passing by vendors at the beach (e.g. fish crackers, chicharon, kropeck, pastillas, banana chips)
15 - a cup of rice for dinner because we have San Marino corned tuna
3rd day
260 - Souvenir and pasalubong (1 sleeveless shirt and 8 pcs. of coin purse + 1)
50 - 9 pieces of macapunong bigas
7 - Batangas port to Stoplight
10 - Stoplight to Batangas Grand Terminal
80 - BGT to SM Calamba
23 - SM Calamba to City of Santa Rosa