Donsol Archives - Between Bites - Bites of Food, Travel and Lifestyle

March 1, 2008. CW and Oli arrived at my place around 10:40 AM and off to the airport we went for our 12:45 PM Cebu Pacific flight to Legaspi. CW had planned this since December 2007, although I had reservations about going in March since Butanding traffic is more frequent in April-May.

I was supposed to include CW and me last year with Pebbles and her group, but was too late to book anything so we were left behind. On the way, I realized I forgot my ID and didn’t have any sort of identification with me since I didn’t bring my wallet (paranoia of getting my bag stolen again). I immediately called my mom who said she’d bring it to the airport. 12nn, we arrived at the domestic airport. The Saturday traffic was heavy and we barely made the time for check-in. I couldn’t move pass the guard since one has to present an ID along with the E-ticket. Good that one of the guards actually helped us out by informing us we can get ID verification in the police hub nearby. That’s what Bubba and I did and made it to the check-in.

Since traffic became worse and I know my mom, even as Schumacher driver that she is, will not be able to make it before boarding so I called her up to tell her to not bring it anymore.

Boarding. I was excited since this is the first out-of-town vacation I’ll have with CW’s whole family. The group made up of his dad, mom, big bro Oli, lil sis Jayme and Jayme’s boyfriend, Fidel. There were a lot of foreigners on the flight, French, Koreans and Taiwanese. I’m glad that our tourism is really booming now. WOW Philippines is really doing a great job promoting our local spots and abundant resources.

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50 minutes later, we were in Legaspi. We hired a private van for transfer to Donsol, Sorsogon. 2 hours of bumpy and winding roads, we finally set foot to Woodland resort, our home for the next three days. We settled in and rested. 630pm, we had to hire another van to take us to the place of fireflies, which was a 15-minute ride away.

We arrived at a small barrio, which is consumed by darkness. This is the first boat trip of the group. All 7 of us fitted in the boat with 2 guides. The van and boat cost was PHP 1,800. The guide informed us that the storm of the past weeks made such a catastrophe to most of Bicol. There were several landslides where one actually destroyed a huge cement bridge connecting that barrio to another barrio.

Streaming along Ogod River, it was totally dark that it gave me the creeps. The only light available is moonshine and the light from the small lantern of the boat. I couldn’t see the river and felt like we were in a swamp and swamp creature might appear any time. 20 minutes to the ride, it wasn’t awful sea creatures that greeted us. Fireflies started appearing one by one, two by two… even in small numbers, the flicker of red light they bring mesmerizes you.

We were supposed to have passed by mangroves but we only viewed the silhouettes of it and nipa huts. Then they appeared. This time, in clusters. They literally looked like embers of burning wood or mistake it for fairies in a consortium hovering the trees. I felt like I was sprinkled with magic dust and hauled to fairyland. It was enchanting to see the trees glow like cinders… like some magic was sprinkled to them. Cluster and clusters of fireflies drifting in their own chosen tree tops. The feeling was really indescribable. It’s similar to seeing live Christmas lights that can swift past you –and a few did. It was like seeing the burning bush. They flickered in the dark. Their light –a yellowish reddish fiery glow.

The fireflies are rightfully Donsol’s No. 2 attraction. It is quite an experience on its own. We got back to the resort around 830 PM and ate our first meal in Woodland restaurant. We had chicken curry, calamares, chicken adobo, shrimp rebosado, chopsuey, and two other viands I don’t remember. I showered and by 10 PM, I was already sleeping ahead of everyone.

March 2, 2008. The grand day we’ve been waiting for to meet some whale sharks. We walked on the beach past two resorts and reached the Butanding Visitor’s Center of the Donsol Tourism Office. We registered and paid the fee. We rented masks, fins and snorkels outside for PHP 300 a set because we only brought two. The boat costs PHP 3500 and can hold 5-7 people. Our boat had two Butanding Interaction Officers (BIO) who are trained to serve as your safety guide in the water and one Butanding lookout who acts as the spotter of the whale sharks. We had to watch the Butanding DVD in the center as our “briefing.”

As we perched on our spots on the boat, the BIO instructed us on how this will roll out. We have to wait for their signal when to jump off the boat. Pebbles reminded me before to NOT hesitate when they give the go-signal. Appropriately so, the Butanding at human sighting swims away fast at times. The BIO said that since the Butandings are part of nature, there is no guarantee that we’ll get to see one. 810 AM, we docked off.

2 hours later, still no Butanding in sight. We did see five or six flying fish skipping on water every now and then. A few skipped a long distance, which was quite impressive. Close to 11 AM, our spotter shouted at the BIOs. The other boat saw a Butanding. Our boat veered toward their direction. I was so excited!!! I’ve been excited since last year. The boats were scrambling. CW pointed to a shadow on the water only 5 feet away to our right. My blood started to rush to my head. For some reason, something distracted me on my left so I looked left. Two flying fish skipping together parallel to each other in complete unison on water –for a moment, I stared at them flabbergasted. I wish somebody punched me on the face to go back on track with the Butanding. When I came to my senses, I immediately snapped my head back to the direction of Butanding, which was in an instant, GONE. S-I-G-H.

I can’t help but laugh. Or let myself punch ME in the face. I missed it. And the first batch who jumped in the water (first three: Jayme, Fidel and Oli. 2^nd batch: CW parents and us) didn’t get to see it either. It was only the people from the first boat, who spotted it that was semi-successful. By 1 PM, we submitted to defeat and instead decided to go snorkeling in an area where there are corals and fishes. The BIO checked the area but due to the landslide, the water was still not that clear and it’s hard to see even with the mask. Dejectedly, we retreated back to the resort. On the way back, we negotiated with the boatmen for another try the next day, Monday, which is supposed to be our return flight to Manila. Since there is cost to them, they asked us to pay an extra PHP 2,000, we begged off to an agreed price of PHP 1,500. We all decided to leave earlier so there are fewer boats around.

March 3, 2008. 7 AM- dock off from our resort beach. 2 hours later, to our chagrin, no Butanding was spotted at all. I busied myself in the book I was reading –trying not to look at CW’s face. I felt so bad for him because between us two, he was so hyped up about this trip and more of the animal lover than me. He loves all sorts of animals and acquires some sort of bonding with them even only newly introduced. I was scared that I might get all broken up when I see his sad face (and of course, I didn’t want to be emotional in front of his parents. I have to uphold my tough cookie image). But even without looking, I can feel his disappointment. Surprisingly, he was disappointed but not so crest-fallen. I presume it was because the time spent in Sorsogon was time spent with his family –the most important people in his life. And any amount of time –whether having fun or waiting around, spent with the people you love – are moments to treasure. No matter how ordinary it is, it becomes a memory to behold.

Bonding with CW family and Fidel made the trip worthwhile (even if I was asleep for most of the trip, haha –I felt so mentally tired from the week at work). I wish I were able to interact more with them than sleep though. Anyhow, the fireflies were good enough of an experience. We even got to hold one (don’t worry we let it go and was careful with it. I hope we didn’t violate any conservation guideline or something)