The Known Secrets of Oslob

So finally after a long time of being in the making we're finally sharing our adventures in Oslob, Cebu. You've probably heard about the whale sharks after more than a dozen of the country's celebrites have posted each of their encounters with these gentle giants. For most Cebuanos and Negrenses, going to Oslob is no hassle. The town is located near the southern tip of Cebu Island making it very accessible to most towns in Negros Oriental. From Cebu city, it would take 2-3 hours to reach Oslob by bus. 

We've made a couple of trips to beaches but this one is different. Surely we had a lot of fun with our fishy encounters in Virgin island, Bantayan, but this time we''ll try to get close and personal with the biggest fish in the world. The Whale sharks in Oslob won't be the last of these encounters but this one will be crucial as it will determine how soon we can have the next one. 

Whale sharks or known by Filipinos as Butandings have large mouths and bodies resembling that of a whale and feeds mostly on planktons. Here in Oslob these cute giants are fed with small shrimps, and they seem to be loving it. 

As soon as we got to the resort who services tourists for whale shark watching, we immediately got our gears and ourselves ready for the swim. But since whale sharks are sensitive animals we need to go through a short briefing on the do's and dont's when we're near them. There has been no reports of whale sharks posing dangers or threats to humans because most of the time it's the other way around. I remember when my first teacher asked us to find among the pictures of animals posted on the board the most dangerous one, my classmate had their fingers pointing on lions, tigers and snakes, but my eyes were fixed on a photo of the Philippine president. I was told I was wrong then, but now one thing is clear, I was a child with a gift. 

So enough of the off-track discussions on who's dangerous, and lets start the plunge. With our jackets and snorkels on we boarded a the bangka (canoe) which will take us to where the whale sharks are. On a weekend like this you wouldn't be the only one wanting to catch a glimpse of the Butandings so expect some company.

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At first I was scared when I started seeing them on the surface, they had such huge mouths and bodies  that I think they could swallow me without a hassle. I paid for this and I came a long way to have this opportunity so I had to cast my fears aside. As soon as I plunged into the water and saw one whale shark swim right in front of me at a distance of about less than a meter, I was ecstatic. They're the cutest big thing I've ever laid my eyes on. They were gentle in their movements filtering the tiny shrimps fed to them by the local fishermen, and sweet in sticking their heads on the surface as if begging for more food. There is that feeling that gives you a surge of endorphines (happy hormones) that you can't help but smile. Even while writing this I still can't help but smile. 

I thought thirty minutes was too long to just go and see how they look like and what they do, but I didn't notice the time while I was swimming with them. Before I knew it, my time with these adorable cuties is over and we had to head back to the shores. Well, it was definitely worth it. I suggest you go swim with them in the water but make sure to prioritize your safety as the current can sometimes be very strong. 

We rested a little in our cottage, ate lunch and changed clothes. We need to charge a little bit because the whale sharks were not the only reason we went on this trip to Oslob. On the second part of the day, we had to go hike a little to see Oslob's Tumalog Falls. We rode a motorcycle to take us to the entrance of the trail that leads to the falls. When we got there, we had to start the hike. 

The track wasn't so long and there was enough scenery for us to stop and steal some shots. Scenes were filled with stones, trees, mountains, clouds, and sun. It was undeniably a beautiful sight, but with the summer sun it can get extremely hot.

It was a rewarding feeling to finally reach the falls. The cold water falling down from above satisfied our bodies tortured by the hot summer sun. The stones were covered in what looked like thin curtains of water dropping from above, illuminated by strips of sunlight escaping from the shade of the trees. The tiny droplets illuminated by the sun creates a magical effect as it sparkles its way down. 

As soon as we have satisfied ourselves with the beauty of Tumalog falls, we had to head back. Now this is the challenging part. Our way down here was easy but the way up is twice as hard. All energy must be focused on our trembling legs as we struggle our way back up. Finally when we were all settled we drove back to the resort were we once again recharged ourselves with food and rest. 

The encounter with the whale shark was definitely worth it and the hike to Tumalog falls, although exhausting was definitely fun. This trip was crucial as it will determine if there will be a next one. Well, I guess I've had enough shares of smiles and laughter to conclude, that "Yes!", there will definitely be a next one. 

Sugar and Salt (Bantayan Island part 2)

After the many things we did on our first day in Bantayan island, we recharged our bodies for day 2, by getting a good night's sleep. While all the others were still sound in bed, I (Jed ) rose early so I won't miss the magnificent sunrise in Bantayan. Quickly before the sun goes full blown, I ran to the shoreline dragging my tripod and my camera dangling around my neck. I didn't have the luxury to frame everything well on my lens but i think I got some really good shots. The pictures in this blog don't go through post-editing because as much as possible, we want to keep the images as close to what the naked eyes can see.

The sun rises in Bantayan. The orange glare touches the white sand giving life to the sugary grains. The water welcomes the rays and deflects the light in tiny ripples. Watching the sun slowly rise from the horizon in its elegance and grace gives me an adrenaline rush. I find the laws of nature as the most amazing things the human eye can ever behold. The sunrise at Bantayan got me in the mood for another exciting day in the island.

the first explosion of light as the sun peeks through the horizon

As soon as I got back to the cottage, I woke up everyone else so we can go for a breakfast in the town of Santa Fe. We hurriedly got to our bicycles and rode to town because we scheduled an island hopping adventure at 7:00 am. The selection was easily made. We went to a local restaurant near the market who serves "silog" meals for less. The town even looks more vibrant that Sunday morning as the church bells rang in unison. People dressed in their simple Sunday dresses come in and out of the church. The market place comes to life as vendors selling different products slowly fill the sidewalk. 

When we got back to the resort, we immediately packed our things and headed straight to the shore. We hired the resort's pump boat. to take us on an island tour. You can feel and see the trace of excitement in our faces as we approached our ride. The tide was low that morning, so you can see and feel the moist white sand as you walk on it even with your slippers on. 

"Sugar" is our mini boat for Today's adventure. She's eager to have us on board. 

the white sand on a low tide. I still get the feeling of warmth just by looking at it.

As I have said, these ladies can't seem to contain their excitement, yet they never fail to take a break and strike a pose. 

There it goes again! When vanity strikes, it strikes hard.

A few moments later we were on board ready for Virgin island. The ride took about 15 minutes because the waves were giving Sugar a challenge. It was a fun ride though, because you get to see the other resorts along the shoreline. You'll immediately notice the significant visibility of foreigners everywhere. 

! Cirrus' Tips for FUN : While on the pump boat, try shouting when the waves hit like crazy. Try switching places with your friends from one side to the other. And oh, try not to fall off board while doing this. Goodluck !

The ladder can be a little slippery, so you better be careful because I'm not quite sure if kuya will bother to catch you. Make sure to bring the necessary stuff with you, including water. For someone like me who is a water drinker, the temperature easily dries my throat, so small plastic bottles come in handy, but make sure you dispose them properly. 

It's fine to go on emo mode with the sun like this and the perfect beach like that, just make sure to put your sunscreen on so you don't end up messing your vacation with a stinging sunburn. 

Finally !!! My first photo of the day 

I can't stop pressing the shutter button. I can now perfectly understand what they called the photograhy reflex. It is an involuntary feeling triggered by an exquisite view that compels the hand o grab the camera and take pictures. On our approach to Virgin Island, we were all filled with excitement as we were welcomed with clear waters and a white shoreline. We had to park sugar along the coast and we were immediately greeted with one of their staff to collect payment for the entrance fees and cottage rental. Well, as soon as you've set eyes on the place, I'm sure you wouldn't hesitate to grab your wallet and pay. 

Virgin island is very near the mainland Bantayan. In fact you can see it when you arrive in Santa Fe on a boat from Hagnaya. There's very little population in the island  and you can barely see residential structures, and I think this is why they called it the Virgin island. The waves were wild on our trip coming here but on this part of the island the angry waves are calmed down because the shoreline does not face the open sea. 

Here are some of the shots we took on the island: 

 There is a reason why it's called Virgin island and there's a reason why some of our friends were not there !!! Kidding! 

The first thing we did on  the island was to check out their fish sanctuary. We were in awe at the number of fishes and various forms of marine life that welcomed us. You can even see them through the surface. At one time we thought there were no fishes in the water, but as soon as we started feeding them with bread crumbs , they swarm around us out from nowhere. 

We made one big mistake though, and until now it still upsets me. We brought a waterproof camera with us but we took so much photos before we even got to the fish sanctuary so we ran out of batteries. No matter how expensive your camera is, if you're snorkeling in the fish sanctuary, its value goes down if you can't capture those colorful creatures from down below. Luckily we were able to take  one decent shot. 

This isn't even the best yet.. :(

We checked their beach too, and for me this was way better than what we had in Camotes. The Virgin island has a wide stretch of white sand. I feel like submerged in a 2000-square meter wide pool,  with white sand down below. The best part about the beach here is the fact that the water is deep. You can swim, dive and tread in the water for as much as you want. If you can swim, the waters here in Virgin island provides you freedom underwater. Deep clear waters always gives me the feeling of power that I can move in any way I want, and with the clear waters here you can stop worrying about something eating you.

As I was lying in the sand imagining I was Tom Hanks from the movie Cast Away, I notice that the sand here has larger grains compared to sugar beach. This lessens the chance of the water being cloudy. And if I'm caught in a Cast-Away scene  in this island, it won't hurt if I stay for a while. Here's what I saw with my own eyes.

Why would Tom Hanks want to go home if his Cast Away island looked like this?

 With the mainland Bantayan island fronting the beach, it is very seldom and rare for you to get big waves here. Since I don't know how to surf, I'd like to keep it that way.

When we've exhausted the Virgin island of its virginity we decided that it was finally time to head back to sugar beach. We went aboard sugar again for the trip back. The first thing we felt when we got back to our resort was hunger. We were desperate for good food and we are that hungry that we can no longer tolerate the usual cheap options that we have in Santa Fe market. 

We attempted to go to Bantayan proper by bicycle until we felt it was just too far for our starving bodies and tired legs. We asked a local if the Bantayan town was still far, and they made as feel as if we were fools thinking we could go there on our bikes. So were back with no choice but to find our way back to Santa Fe under the angry sun. 

We decided to go visit a good-looking place, and we found the Balikbayan restaurant. The first thing that worried us was the cost we might incurr  by eating there, but as soon as we looked at the menu, we were satisfied. They had budget rice meals with drinks for less than one hundred fifty pesos. I have to say for someone with a big appetite like mine, this place just suits me fine. The Balikbayan restaurant is a must-visit and must-try while you're in Bantayan island.

Halohalo for only 48.00 pesos !!!

As soon as the sumptuous meal was done, we drove ourselves back to the resort so we can pack and catch boat to Hagnaya and the trip back to Cebu. But before the final zippers were closed we decided to have a few more photos taken. 

This is the doodle house. You'll pass by it on your way to sugar beach. We can't help but take some shots. I found it creepy at first but eventually I saw the artistry in the complicated designs.

Yei! Finally, All of us in one pic. Kudos to the tripod for a nice shot !

Finally we took the potpot going to Sta Fe port. I wish I could have stayed in the island longer, but we had to go home for work so we can continually fund our trips. The weather was the same as yesterday which made it even more difficult for me to leave Bantayan. As the sun began to set in the west, our boat embarked for Hagnaya, leaving  a burst of light along the horizon. I didn't feel like it was a gesture of goodbye from Bantayan Island. The sun, clouds, and sea were sending thoughts telling me I will always find a home here, and at that moment, my heart believed they were right. 

Don't forget to leave comments or suggestions. ;)