I heard its considered as the boracay island of cebu, I love boracay and I miss it.. so why not try the bantayan island.
Saturday morning, I woke up at 8am, the sun is up already so I need to hurry up.
After I fixed myself and my things,I took a cab to bring me to the cebu north terminal where I have to take the bus going to hagnayan.
The men in the bus station were much helpful to me when they learned am a tagalog. I took a regular one coz there’s no airconditioned buses. But its okay coz its not polluted anyway unlike in Manila. The fare is only 65.00 pesos which I think is too cheap for a 2 to 3 hours trip.
Anyway, a girl seated to me who is also alone looks like going to a beach. She has this plastic bag where i can her beach accessories. I asked her where she is going, she said in caramoan beach. Okay, that’s not my destination and she asked where I am going I told her to bantayan. She told me its too far, but I said its okay. Then she asked me who am with. I said am alone. Then she asked me how many times have I been to bantayan, I said its my first time. She was shocked and asked me why I don’t bring anyone with me. I said coz theres none who can be with me and its okay with me. Not a big deal. ( I was just acting)
I dont understand why theres stop over for about 20 minutes while 2-3 hours trip is not that long. Since everybody get off the bus and bought something so I went down too. I bought some grilled chorizos and hotdog but to my dismay they don’t have change for 100 pesos and what I bought only costs 21 pesos. So I went back to the bus and borrowed 20 pesos to the girl seated beside me. I told her I will pay her when the konduktor gives me the change na from my fare. And she lend me 20 pesos lucky me.
I passed more than 10 towns before reaching Hagnayan. Some of these are: Consolacion, liloan, danao city, Carmen, Catmon, Sogod, Borbon, Ilihan, Tabogon, San Antonio and Bogo city. In Hagnayan, I bought a ticket going to Sta. Fe, Bantayan. I arrived in Hagnayan at 11:45am but the earliest time a ferry going to sta. fe is 1:30pm so I still waited in the pier for about two hours. So what I did, I called the hotel where I will be staying to let them know what time they have to pick me in the pier of sta.fe.
In about an hour and half trip in Roro (its my first time to take a Roro) , I finally arrived in Sta. Fe and saw immediateky the service of Kota Beach Hotel who will pick up their visitors. There’s two group inside the van who will be staying in same hotel, the first group is composed of five girls and the second group, my group.. me alone.. hehehe.
Along the way, I notice different hotels resorts available, some I saw in the net. In just five minutes, we arrived in KOTA beach hotel. I realized I have chosen a right one. It has big garden and the cottages are great. I chose the non-air-conditioned one since I like to feel a real fresh air to breath which is the real purpose of going to the beach.
When I check the beach, it was great. Even the sand is not as white and as refined like that in boracay, it’s still great. What’s amazing maybe here is there a shallow part in the middle of the sea that people seem to be just walking in the middle of the ocean.
I immediately dipped into the water. Its good that the weather is so perfect that it’s not too hot even its only past 3pm. Walking along the sand in the middle of the sea makes me feel so good.
In the evening it rained so I just opted to have dinner in the hotel’s bar and resto. I ordered grilled squid and mushroom soup, rice and mango juice. When it arrived the food is so many as per order is good for two people already. So I was really so full that night even I left the rice untouched.
Day 2
I woke up at 6am, the water is still very calm. Only few of the guests are awake. Dipping into the water is not yet advisable coz of cold breeze. I then opted to get out of the hotel and check out first the town of sta. fe.
I hired a tricycle which costs 200 pesos to tour me around the town . Going to town proper takes about 20 minutes ride which is about 18kms from sta. fe. I learned more about the life there and what are available in bantayan. I saw this old church of bantayan which is more than 400 years old. The walls will really show how old the church is.
When I went back to the resort, I changed my clothes to a swimming attire and went dipping into the water again. I always love the morning water of the sea. Letting myself to be with the waves makes me feel high.
I went back to my room when I felt the heat of the sun already and so that to be able to catch the 9:30am schedule of Roro ship going back to Hagnaya. To my dismay, its already passed 9am already and impossible for me to catch the 9:30am so I decided to get the next trip which is 11:30am. I enjoyed too much in the water that I forgot the time. I took some rest first coz I really get tired playing in the water.
At 10:30 am, I already checked out as so everything will be ready before 11:30am. I don’t like to miss again the ship. The receptionist said that they will bring me to pier but the service van is not yet there since its still too early. I just then asked her to keep my things first and I will just be back at around 11. I then went out first of the resort and looked for a restaurant nearby to have breakfast/ lunch.
I ended to a Portuguese restaurant which I confirmed first if they can serve it fast like about only within 15 minutes and they said yes. Sad to say, its past 11am already and they are just about to serve it. I told them to pack it coz I have no more time to eat there. Another bad thing, they don’t have change for my 500 peso bill so they still have to look elsewhere so they can give me the change. Bad bad bad.
I was really in a hurry going back to the resort and unluckily the hotel service left already going to pier to bring the other guests. The receptionists told me that the van will soon be back to bring me to pier. Its already 11:20 so I decided to just take sikad to bring me to pier coz I don’t like to waste time waiting. Whew, I was just right in time, I was one of the few who bought ticket in the last minute.
I bought the first class ticket which cost 150 pesos. First class mean I will be seating in an airconditioned place inside Roro ship. Its funny coz the regular seat’s fare(not in the aircondition) is only 145 pesos. Only 5 pesos difference from the first class. Good thing I chose the first class because theres no more nice seat in the regular one( which I actually really prefer to feel the air and see the water).
After 3 hours bus trip, im back to my room in Cebu city with a smile in my face.
All in all, Bantayan can be a good alternative of boracay. If you like serenity, where there are not so many people around, where you are not into bars in the evening, and where you can really feel a slower pace of life, bantayan island is perfect for you.
