Do It Yourself Adventure for LESS: June 2016

If you are looking for a beautiful beach but you don't have enough budget I can suggest the beach in Anilao, Batangas. Anilao is one of the barangay in Mabini, a town in Batangas.

(Anilao Beach)

The beach is definitely clear that speaks for its cleanliness. It may not have a white sand but the small pebbles in the shore makes you feel relaxed while you are walking here.

(Some beaches has a sand bars but Anilao Beach has a rock bars)

How to go to Anilao

There are buses in Buendia or Cubao that are bound to Batangas City just get off to Batangas City Bus Terminal for a travel time of 3-4 hours. From the terminal, ride a jeepney to Mabini and tell to the driver that bring you to Anilao port, it is a 30 minutes to 1 hour ride.

(View from Anilao Port)

Tipid Travel Tips

Don't go to resorts

Some blogs are saying that from Anilao Port ride a tricycle to go to any near resorts but why do you need to pay for the entrance fee and cottages if you can have it for free. The beach is only walking distance from the port and it is for public use, meaning to say you can enjoy view of the beautiful sea and swim as long as you want for free.

Bring Tents
If you are worried about where you can stay or where can you put your things, a tent would be enough to make you feel comfortable and safe while you are in the beach. There is no fee if you will bring your tent and set it up in the shore.

Use a Public Comfort Room
Since you are not checked in to any resorts you don't have any privileged to use a comfort room but there are comfort rooms near the port where you can take a shower for only 20.00 and many locals are offering their bathroom for the same price.

Expenses
Manila to Batangas City Bus Terminal - 160.00
Batangas City Bus Terminal - Anilao Port - 40.00
Anilao Port to Batangas City Bus Terminal - 40.00
Batangas City Bus Terminal - Manila - 160.00
Use of Comfort Room - 20.00
TOTAL: 420.00

My picture that summarizes the beautiful view and the clear water of the beach.

I've been to Ilo-Ilo and Guimaras for only 3K including my Airfare, Accomodation, Terminal Fee, my DIY (do it yourself) tour and food. Take note, it is my first time to travel alone all by myself and it turned out to be one of the best experience happened in my life.

Sa totoo lang last year pa tong gala ko, it was on last December 4-6, 2015. So the question is paano ko nagawa yung 3K lahat-lahat na?

1. Plane Ticket (Cebu Pacific)

Bilang kuripot akong traveler at wala naman talaga akong madaming pera masipag akong tumingin at maghanap ng mga promo sa website ng Cebu Pacific or Air Asia honestly di ako masyadong natingin sa PAL kasi bihira naman talaga silang magkaroon ng promo. Mid September I saw the promo from the website of Cebu Pac that you can travel to any Philippine Destinations for only 499.00 sa totoo lang wag kayong maniniwala kapag nakalagay sya sa website kasi madami pang other fees na kasama yun but stil I can say na mura pa rin yung nakuha kong ticket going to Ilo-Ilo.

(In the picture is my plane ticket and you can see there that my booking was confirmed on September 19, 2015 given the fact na December 4, 2015 pa yung lakad ko it's because the promo is given to customers on a cheaper price pero medyo matagal pa yung alis.)

(My receipt as a proof na 1,185.00 llang ang binayaran ko for my Airfare)

2. My Accomodation (Ong Bun Pension House)

I'm not after sa magandang klaseng hotel para matulog since I only have a limited budget for my trip, lalo na matutulog lang naman ako at hindi ako para mag stay doon ng matagal. Hindi siya pangit pero hindi din siya sobrang ganda. My belief as a traveler is im in one place for the tourist spots and not for a very comfortable place para tulugan. My room costs for only 330.00 for one night, since I spend 2 nights in Ilo-Ilo the total price of my room is 660.00 and it is walking distance from Robinsons Ilo-Ilo. To be honest is mainit sa kwarto kasi electric fan lang pwede ko naman kunin yung kwartong may aircon for only 385.00 konti lang talaga yung difference kaso nung nagpa-book ako ay yan na lang daw yung available room. Good thing in this pension house is pwedeng pagdating mo na lang magbayad hindi katulad ng iba na kailangan ng downpayment for confirmation.

( My room for 2 nights in Ilo-Ilo, there is a television with cable, electric fan, towel but the comfort room is outside the room and can be use by anybody who also stays in the pension house)

3. Transportation

My flight going to Ilo-Ilo is 10:20 pm and I am expecting that by 11:30 pm nasa airport na ko but as usual may mga pagkakataong made-delay yung flight mo so halos 12:00 am na ko dumating sa airport. Always expect na paglabas mo ng airport ay madaming nag-aabang na taxi para ihatid ka sa tutuluyan mo, like in my case may mga offer yung taxi driver na ihahatid ako ng deretso sa Ong Bun kung san ako mag stay for 600.00 so dahil wala akong pera naghanap ako ng ibang means of transpo kaya naglakad-lakad ako at nakita ko yung van na papuntang SM City Ilo-Ilo na 50.00 lang ang pamasahe pero punuan kaya doon na ko sumakay. Pagbaba ko ng SM ay saka ako nag taxi kasi madaling araw na nun at wala ng byahe ng jeep 70.00 yung siningil sakin ng taxi driver, pumayag na ko kasi pagod na din ako sa byahe.

Nung time na nagpunta ako sa Ilo-Ilo ay 8.00 ang pamasahe sa mga jeep pero dito ay 7.00 lang kaya tuwang tuwa ako at napapamura ang mga gastos ko.

4. Where to go in Ilo-Ilo City

If you will research about Ilo-Ilo, it is famous for different churches that was made over a hundred of years ago. Going to one church to another will only costs 7.00.

(Jaro, Cathedral)

(St. Anne's Molo Church)

Miag-ao Church, a UNESCO World Heritage Site)

Simula sa isang lugar papunta sa isa pang tourist attraction ay 7.00 lang except from the Miag-ao Church kasi malayo talaga sya and it will take almost 1 hour going to that place and it costs 45.00 for the jeepney fare, but I can say that it's all worth it.

(Ilo-Ilo Mansion

(Esplanade)

(You can walk through a very relaxing view in Esplanade)

5. Where to eat in Ilo-Ilo

I'm not much into food, but I tried 2 of the best eating stations in the city. Roberto's can be found in almost every streets in the city while Ted's can be found around the mall.

(Roberto's is famous for their siopao)

(Ted's is famous for their Lapaz Batchoy)

(Biscocho Haus where you can buy pasalubong)

6. How to get to Guimaras

There are 2 ports in Ilo-Ilo going to Guimaras. I don't have any idea where to go in Guimaras, I just took a risk to go there. I actually don't have any idea that there are 2 ports going to Guimaras sinabi ko na lang sa driver ng jeep san yung pinakamalapit na port ay doon ako dalhin so the driver decided to bring me to the Jordan Wharf port. In the port you need to ride a pump boat to go to Guimaras for only 14.00 for a 45 minutes boat ride.

(Pump Boat going to the Island of Guimaras)

7. Where to go in Guimaras Island

Pagbaba mo ng port ng Guimaras madaming tricycle ang mago-offer sayo na i-tour ka nila pero syempre mahal ang pamasahe then may tourism office sila malapit sa port para malaman yung mga pwede mong puntahan along the island tapos may mga partner silang tricycle drivers kaso mahal pa din so I will suggest to ride a jeep going to different tourist spots.

(Welcome to Jordan, Guimaras)

(Guisi Lighthouse)

My First stop in Guimaras is this lighthouse since eto yung pinakamalayo, walang deretsong byahe papunta sa lighthouse sasakay ka pa ng habal-habal for 100.00 roundtrip.