Island Hopping & Snorkelling 18 Nov 2015

It was a beautiful and peaceful morning at the Bluewater Maribago Beach Resort. Both Daddy and I woke up around 5.00am morning.

It was early but the sky has been brightened up, both of us left the children asleep in the room and we went out for a morning walk near the beach. We wanted to see the sunrise from the beach, eventually we a bit disappointed as we thought that the sun have rose.

We were walking along the Cove path and gazing over the other side of the sea as the colour of the sea is so blue and beautiful.

During when we wanted to go back to our room, there were 2 Pilipino greeted us and they thought that we were Korean. We just greet them back and told them that we are Malaysian.

One of the guy speaks more fluent English named Jimmy, he offered us whether we would like to go for island hopping and fishing for the price of PH5,000.

In the package, include the life jacket, snorkel set, sanctuary fee, bread for fish feeding and included a BBQ lunch. It would be up to us on how many hours we want when are we going back to hotel.

Both of us also think that this is a good deal, then Daddy just on it and passed to him PH2,000 which he needed to get some supplies and will be meeting us at the hotel reception lobby at 9.00am.

Daddy was so excited for the deal and our adventure of the day, where I was still a bit nervous as I do not how to swim and this is our first time snorkelling.

We went back to our room and woke both Issac and Annabelle for our breakfast then Daddy told them about the island hopping and fishing trip which we will be having later. Both were so obediently behave and woke up after hearing the new itinerary of the day.

Surprisingly our breakfast at Allegro Restaurant was a great one! Their buffet breakfast provides so many varieties of food, from American, Japanese, Chinese, Malaysian, and local Philippines food.

We really had a hearty breakfast! it took us a few rounds to taste all the delicious breakfast.

There are soups, conggee, noodles soup, breads and pastries, rice with varieties of lambs, beefs, chickens, porks, vegetables, salads, cerials, ice creams, desserts, cakes, fruits, etc.

Complete with free flow of mango juice, orange juice, watermelon juice, lemon juice, and not forgetting the coffee and tea. Of coarse, we do not take the said hot drinks.

After our breakfast, we went to explore another 2 swimming pools which the Bluewater Maribago Beach Resort have to offer: there is one just next to the Amuma Spa Wing and the other more fun and bigger one is surrounded by the Garden Wing.

We were so attracted to the pool, thinking of after we came back from our trip then we can came here for a swim. Then, we went to hotel reception lobby and we can see Jimmy was waiting us there.

Jimmy leaded us to walk out from the hotel and to the lane just beside the hotel. We can see there were so many more motels hidden behind the Bluewater Maribago.

Jimmy told us that most of them are for divers or learning diving tourists, or backpackers they will stay here. Most of them just come here for diving purpose only.

There are small houses and infront of their house just opened up a small convenient stalls which are selling packets shampoos, packets hair conditioners, everything is in a packet size just nice for the travellers packs.

We came to the shores where all are shallow corals and seaweed. Due to the low tide, the pump boat we would be sitting was parking outside the deeper sea and we have to walk on the corals and seaweed to reach to the boat.

It was quite a eery feel when we stepped on the coral and the seaweed brushed over our both feet. Eventually we were got use to it after that.

There were additional a young boy, a man helped us drive the pump boat and a lady followed us and she would be our chef to cook for us for our lunch. The lady was taking with us many hand crafted beads, sea shells and all sorts of souveniers, she told us that if can ask our help to buy from her later after the trip.

All of us were so happy and excited and enjoying the sea breeze blowing our faces. Jimmy stopped the pump boat at one of the spot near the Hilutungan Island.

Hilutungan Island is one of the islands in the Olango Reef which is protected by the government as fish sanctuary. This beautiful island is 20 to 30 minutes away from Mactan Island. This island is perfect for snorkeling and scuba diving due to abundant corals and tropical fishes. Jimmy told us within 3 to 7 meters we can have fun in feeding the fish.

All of us geared up with the snorkel sets, and Jimmy helped us one by one going down the boat, and got into the sea. At first, it was quite difficult for me to get use to the snorket set and especially I found out that it is because of the life jacket kept on pulling me above the sea.

It was quite fun too. Jimmy helped to teach Annabelle after seeing me getting use to the snorkelling thing. The other young boy helped Issac.

These tropical fishes are friendly that we can feed them with bread and swim together with us. We spent quite some time in the sea, and I was keeping swollow the sea water.

It was fun and glad seeing both Issac and Annabelle enjoying our whole family first ever snorkelling experience. We got up to the boat a while, and there were 2 other men on board. They are coconut sellers which selling things from boat to boat.

Jimmy did advice us earlier that, we don’t drink as it is not inside the package, because these people are merchants and want to make money from the tourist and it is quite expensive according to him.

Then, we went down to swim for a little more longer, then Daddy encountered some jelly fish thus we quickly come up to the boat.

From far Jimmy told us that during lowtide the opposite side of the island is bare at low between Olango Reef at knee below one can walk between 5 islands along the reef.

Then, we departed to Sulpa Island for our BBQ lunch. We have to walk quite a distance as the boat cannot reach the sea shores as it is low tide. Again, we walked through all the coral reefs and seaweed to reach there.

There are a few cottages on that, which we believe were built by the people there. We just picked one of the hut and our chef preparing our BBQ lunch.

Jimmy went to the other side of the sea to pick up some sea urchin for us to have a taste. There is a little toilet at the island for the tourists I guess.

We had a walk and hunting for the star fish. Jimmy brought us the 6 sea urchins and let Daddy and I have a try. Our lunch are ready.

It is for us so great to have a BBQ in the middle of the ocean. We had squids, fish, chickens, pork satays and together with fruits. The package was not include the drinks and the sea urchin, thus we paid a little extra for that.

We really have a good meal until we unable to finish it.

During at the island, we did see some familiar faces as we met them in our hotel. I guess we were a bit lucky that we spend a bit lesser compared to the hotel arrangement as it is double the price that we having.

After our lunch, we bought some souveniers back to Malaysia. Daddy bought me a black pearls necklace. It came with a set of ear rings and bracelet. All in black pearls.

Issac and Annabelle both had chosen each a dolphin tooth necklace for themshelves too. Besides that, Daddy chose 2 small fridge magnets. We bought it all from our ‘chef’.

After then we departed to our another activity, which is fishing. Just using the small little hermit crab for baits, and using the small tiny fishing string, Jimmy taught us how to fish the small fish.

It was quite fun as all of us managed to catch the fish. Timing have to be right, as the fish are smart too, they will eat the bait without you knowing that.

Annabelle was the first to catch the small fish. She was so happy! Sharing her experience with us, that she felt something on the hook, and quickly she pulled up the string.

I am the second one, just I felt the string had been pulling by something. Quickly I just pulled up, and there the fish! Smaller than Annabelle’s catch but really fun!

Issac tried but unable to catch then Jimmy helped him and managed to get one too! It is really all about the timing! Daddy too, at least all of us managed to get one small fish.

It was quite a fast one as we finished up all the baits we had, because most of our baits been eaten by the smart and clever fish!

Daddy just told Jimmy to send us back to the dock and it was almost half day already. All of us were so happy on our new adventure today.

The pump boat reached the dock, we got down from the boat and walked through the small lane where we came that morning, passed through all the residential areas and motels and came to our hotel.

We met the guy which we met at the Korean Restaurant the day before, I heard him calling us, “Liars!” Anywhere we ignored him and went in to the hotel.

Annabelle and I went straight to the fun swimming pool which we saw at the morning. Daddy and Jimmy settled the balance of the fees.

Jimmy told Daddy to look for him, if we are going to come back to Cebu next time. Daddy took his mobile number. I think we will if our next trip to Cebu again.

When I was mentioning about the guy outside the hotel, Daddy just said that, we never confirm anything to him on the other day.

We just walked to the swimming pool which we saw in the morning and had our swim. Let the swimming pool washed away our salty smells and sands of the sea. Hahaha…

We swim for quite a while, then only we went back to our room and took our shower and have a good rest. It was about 1pm or 2pm then already.

We were happy for this trip.

Daddy said, it was the Lord’s blessings that we had this wonderful outing today with the more cheaper price. I do agreed on that!

If not, we would not confirmed on the spot and is the right timing in the early morning! Praise the Lord!

 

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