17 Years of Togetherness : Part 5 Precious Moments in Sampaguita Gardens

This was our first option for our accommodation after we received Airphil's advice that our supposedly flight to Caticlan Airport was rerouted to Kalibo Airport. And since we found it very pricey for one night stay, we opted for Kalibo Queen's Inn. Mga kuripot e hehe.  But we promised not to leave Aklan without visiting this place. So straight from Kalibo Airport from Boracay, we headed to Sampaguita Gardens Resort in New Washington, Aklan. It was 8-kilometer and 15-20 minute ride from the airport.

Entrance fee is P50.00/head but consumable. The resort is basically the mansion grounds hosting a resort, an amusement park and a doll museum. One of its attractions is the Jojo's Christmas Cottage, a 3-storey Victorian building with a year-round Yuletide theme.

Jojo's Christmas Cottage

Another attraction is Precious Moments Gallery featuring collections of bisque figurines and collectible plush dolls created by an American artist name Samuel John Butcher. Precious Moments artworks promote messages of loving, caring and sharing.



At the 2nd floor is the Museum of Christmas where you can find various collections of santas, Belens, and other Christmas collectibles. You can really feel the Spirit of Christmas even in September!

There is also a showcase of personal items belonging to Sam Butcher , a 43 foot aquarium; a butterfly farm and an amusement park with a merry-go-round, Ferris Wheel and a mini-train and Sambrew Cafe.

This is a must-see Aklan attraction!

17 Years of Togetherness : Part 4 Island Hopping & Snorkeling

After our helmet diving, we proceeded to our island hopping. First island on the list was the Crocodile Island

Crocodile Island is one of the famous attractions in the island of Boracay. This island has the shape of a crocodile head from afar.



Crocodile Island





Do you see a monkey head?

 

Bay Watch Tower



Galing na kumuha ng pics ang tour guide namin :-)



My hubby Syke



I forgot the name of this place :-(



Time for snorkeling!

 



Ideal place for a wedding


We had a stop-over at Ilig-Iligan Beach where we had our early lunch. Kaso sobrang mahal! Over-rated :-(

17 Years of Togetherness : Part 3 Helmet Diving

September 25, 2012 (Tuesday)

Syke and I headed to the hotel's lounge for breakfast which were included in our room package. After eating, we strolled along the beach while waiting for our tour guide Ric and saw the ever famous Boracay sand castles. Of course, your Boracay vacation won't be complete without your pictures taken on these castles, right? And to complete ours as well, we posed for some souvenirs. I thought it's for free but it wasn't at all. Well business is business :-)

Photoshoot was over (hehe hirap pala maging model), time for our island adventure.


HELMET DIVING

I had mixed emotions on this helmet diving. True, I've been into snorkeling a few times but I wasn't that scared because I know that I couldn't easily drown with a life vest on. But helmet diving? Oh no! I was  scared :-(

A speed boat drove us to the diving site, the Shingley Helmet Diving. Thank God for the perfect weather! It was not hot or raining at all. I was worried that typhoon might hit us since it was almost the same time that super typhoon "Ondoy" hit the Philippines three years ago. But it was an answered prayer!

Me and our tour guide Ric

On a speed boat

On a boat before briefing

What is this helmet diving anyway? It is a submarine activity wherein you get to walk around the reef. That's why it is also called "Reef Walking". With a big helmet on, you look like an astronaut under the water hehe. The helmet weighs around 20 kilos above water but once under water, it only weighs 1.5 kilos. The helmet has a long hose connected to the oxygen tank. Our tour guide Ric said, you actually have two choices : a compressor at P350/head or oxygen at P500/head which includes pictures and video. Syke opted for oxygen, meaning at P500/head (ang mahal naman hehe, sulit naman kaya?).

Before you dive, you have to go through a quick briefing. Specific instructions were given like hand signals and how to get rid of the pressure on your ears. It is very important to listen to your instructor attentively and memorize the hand signals to communicate well. But honestly, I wasn't so focused because I was quite nervous. Ahhh nagpapalpitate ako haha. The instructor however assured us that we will be accompanied by a licensed diver.



HAND SIGNALS



After the briefing, you have to sign a waiver. Syke asked the instructor how deep the water was. He said about 10 feet deep. Hmmm pwede, pwedeng languying paakyat, just in case magkaproblema hehe. 

The moment I climbed down the ladder, I chilled. Maybe because the water was cold or simply because I was scared. Whatever hehe. I was also beginning to feel the pressure on my ears. I remembered the tips of our instructor on how to remove the pressure and to stabilize your breathing. One is to swallow your saliva (ang gross?) but it was effective! When my body got used to the temperature of the water, I began to relax and liked it especially when the diver took pictures of us. I was forced to smile. Ayaw ko ngang maging pangit sa video at pictures noh? Sabi nga ni Syke, awkward ang face haha! Anyway, we enjoyed feeding the fish with bread.  It's not something I can experience everyday. So fascinating! I really admired the whole beauty of nature under the sea. Ganda pala ng Pilipinas! It's more fun in the Philippines!

It was definitely an unforgettable experience for us!  Simply, simply amazing! It was really worth the money!

'Till my next blog!

17 Years of Togetherness : Part 2

Day 2: September 24, 2012 (Monday) : Adventures of Diego and Dora the Explorer

Around 6:30AM, we had our breakfast at Queen's Inn. As planned, we are going to have a glimpse of Kalibo Town before heading to Boracay.

Everytime we visit a place new to us, we always made it a point to visit their churches to pay our homage. Aside from my belief that upon entering His home then pray and make a wish and your prayers and wishes will be granted, we are always facinated by their altars including structures of their churches.

First on our list was Kalibo Cathedral. It is the home of Sto. Nino de Kalibo. Across the church is the Pastrana Park. We also got the chance to visit Museum It Akean. In its surroundings are various establishments including banks. Banks at last! May ATM machines na, makaka-withdraw na si Syke pamasahe namin papuntang Boracay hehe. Then we returned to Queen's Inn to check out. While in our room I looked into the pictures we have taken but  saddened by what I saw. Whoaaa! Pictures were blurred! Our camera's setting was reset. Paging Santa Clause! SLR please, please please. Sige na payag na ko Syke, bili ka na ng SLR haha! We promised to come back and have a take two. (I will be posting this on my next blogs)

After checking out, we were off to Boracay. Since we have no booking yet and we did not avail their island tranfer facility, we asked the staff at the Inn what is the fastest way to Boracay. The "masungit staff" told me that there are a lot of vans anywhere but the fastest and easiest is to take the "Series Liner" instead. So I told the tricycle driver to take us to "Series Liner". Then the tricycle stopped in front of a bus terminal.  

Me       : Dito na Manong?

Driver : Oo ma'am.

Me      : Looking at the sign, "Wala namang Series dito e"

Driver : Dito na po ma'am.

Me      :  Ah Ok.

"Ceres Liner" pala, hindi Series (siris). Aysus oo nga pala nasa Visayan Island kami. Naunsa man uy! haha

Anyway, we rode a bus going to Jetty Port at P107.00 per head. We were at the port at 11:45AM. We paid the Terminal fee of P100.00/head, Environmental fee of P75.00/head and ferry of P35.00/head. Ang dami palang binabayaran. It took us 15 minutes only to cross from Jetty Port to another port (sorry I forgot the name). Then we rode a tricycle for P100.00 going to the White Beach. At last, Boracay na! Sorry first time :-) excited!

We then inquire at La Carmela de Boracay if there are still available rooms. Although weeks before, I already called the hotel but was not able to book since we had a communication problem. Yun pala mahirap ang signal ng .... (secret hehe baka ma-ban ako). Staff were very accommodating, in fairness. Check in time is at 2PM yet so we still have time to eat our lunch. We strolled along the beach to find foods for our thundering stomachs. Syempre first-timers, tanung-tanong muna hehe

Syke        : Manong, san masarap kumain dito?

Manong  : Ay dyan po sir sa Andoks! Masarap dyan.

Me          : Andoks? Manong naman e sawang-sawa na kami dyan haha

Syke       : Wala na bang iba?

Manong : Hanap na lang kayo dyan sir, marami naman dyan

Oo nga naman, nagsasuggest na nga e pagtawanan pa hehe.

Yun ang uso dun e bagung-bago pa hehe

We settled in Deco's. Breakfast all time favorites and the Oh so delicious authentic La Paz batchoy! Solved :-)

Hay, what an anventure! Ang saya-saya :-)

After lunch, we went back to La Carmela.

Don Pedro while waiting for our check-in time

Me, blogging kunno hehe

Psssttt! Ano yan?



His and Hers (Tig-isa? Honeymoon di ba?)

Don Pedro - sarap ba?

Bathroom with Hot and Cold Shower

Executive Wing's Swimming Pool

Facade and swimming pool of the Main Building

Good service. Friendly staff and also the owner. Good security. Nice and cozy place at affordable price of P2,100.00 per night (off peak) and P3,000+ (peak season).

'Till my next post!


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La Carmela de Boracay Resort Hotel
09176344653