Kalanggaman
Palompon, Leyte
During lunch break sa office namin, wala ako iba inaatupag
kundi mag basa ng blog and look for a place to visit, particularly island on
our beloved country Philippines. I chanced upon this islet in Leyte. Nabuhay na
naman ang dugo ko at nag search ako ng mga how to get there sa google. This
time, plano namin na isama ang anak namin na 7 year old at anyone na
interesado. After planning at pag-iisip kung itutuloy namin to, we finally went here on
summer 2012, April (holy week) again to be exact.
I booked our flight one week before our planned trip. Nag
hihintay kasi ako ng mga promo sa airline pero mukhang wala since holyweek ang
schedule namin. Our flight is Manila-Tacloban (Leyte), 12 pm via Zest Air. This
will be our first trip na ako nag arrange ng lahat, sabagay ito pa lang naman
ang pangalwang trip namin for our annual island trip. Last year was in
calaguas. We arrived in Tacloban at around 1 pm, sa labas lang ng airport may mga nakaabang ng
tricycle at taxi to bring you sa destination mo. We choose taxi kasi madami
kami bitbit na mga gamit. I can’t exactly remember ang binayad namin sa taxi,
more or less e mga 200 yata to Tacloban Grand Terminal. Actually hindi naman
sya ganon kalayo mula sa airport, halos mga 10-15 minutes lang. Sa Grand
Terminal kasi kami sasakay ng van to Palompon. Fare is 150 from Tacloban to
Palompon. It’s 2 pm at yung van na sasakyan namin na daw ang last trip.
Nagbayad pa kami ng extra seat para wala ng mag occupy sa sa tabi namin kasi
sobrang sikip. From Tacloban to Palompon is 3 hours.
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The taxi that will bring us to grand terminal |
Finally at around 5 pm e nakarating na kami sa Palompon. Nag
check-in kaagad kami sa I think e nag iisang lodging dito. Maliit
lang na bayan ang Palompom, actually pagdating ng van sa terminal which is
located sa covered court na part din ng palengke nila e walking
distance lang puntang PACCI kung saan
kami mag che-check-in. Ang rate nila is 1250 pesos for an aircon room na may
dalawang single bed at sariling toilet.
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view from our room, as you can see, everything is within reach, palengke, port, terminal at nasa side ang church |
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Our room. |
After naming makapahinga, we decided to
check out the town plaza. Hindi ko alam kung fiesta ba o kung may okasyon ba
that night pero meron silang parang night market just outside the church. May
mga ukay ukay at madaming nagbebenta ng street food. After magsimba ng mga tao,
diresto sila sa mga nagbebenta ng street food. Actually dito na kami nag
dinner, kumpleto sila ng ng mga tables at upuan at iba ibang klase ng inihaw
with kanin. Solve na ang dinner namin, sing sarap pero hindi sing mahal. It
reminds me of Pasar malam in Malaysia.
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dinner time |
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night market |
The next morning, maaga pa lang e nag punta na ang mister ko
at ang aming bagong travel buddy na si Jack sa palengke to buy things na
kailangan namin for an overnight stay. After namin mag check out diresto na
kami sa tourism office nila sa palengke. Medyo strategic ang location ng lahat
dito, hindi na namin kailangan mag lipat lipat ng lugar kasi magkakatabi lang
ang palengke, ang pier, tourism office at PACCI.
Unfortunately, wala ng
available ng bangka ang tourism office ng oras na yun, dapat daw nagpa sked
kami..ugh! Siguro naawa sa amin kasi ang layo pa ang pinanggalingan namin,
tumawag sila sa available na bangka na nasa Kalanggaman para bumalik at
sunduin kami. Habang hinihintay namin ang bangka, may ilang bagets na dumating
din para mag rent ng bangka. Kaya na divide ang cost ng renta.
Boat rental is 3500 for an overnight stay, meaning ihahatid ka nila sa
Kalanggaman at they will stay there until the next morning para sa pagbalik nyo
sa main land.
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you need to register here first |
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first sight |
Hindi naman kalayuan ang Kalanggaman from town, it’s only 45
minute boat ride.
We arrived at Kalanggaman at around 10am.Malayo pa lang pero
makikita na kaagad ang white sand nya. Hindi sya crowded considering na easter
Sunday non (time ng mga outing-an) at hindi naman sya ganon kalayo from
Palompon town. Sa sobrang excitement ng anak ko ng makita nya kung gaano
kalinaw ang tubig, kaagad agad e nagpalit na ng damit at nag swimming na kahit
hindi pa namin nase-settle ang entrance fee at rental sa shed type cottage.
Entrance fee is 50 pesos per person, may mga for rent na table (hindi ko nakuha
nag price since shed type kinuha namin), chairs (25 pesos each) at meron ding
shed type na cottage na may sariling table at upuan for 350 pesos.
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dahil cloudy hindi masydo makita ang pagka white sand, but still the water is stunning |
For me the beach of Kalanggaman is swimming friendly, the
water is emerald green with fine white sand. It can’t be compared to other
beaches dahil lahat naman ng beach ay may kanya kanyang distinct beauty. Islet
lang ang Kalanggaman, sa sobrang maliit lang nya, pwede ka makapunta from one
end to another end ng mga 30 minutes lang siguro na paglalakad. Sinamahan ko si
kiddo na mag swimming habang nag luto ng lunch ang dalawang boys (ganon talaga
ang role).
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going to the other end of the islet |
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mag jump shot pero hindi magkasabay sabay, according to weight ang talon...hahaha |
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yes, we have this side all for ourselves! |
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Jack having the a grand time |
Here’s what to expect in Kalanggaman, wala syang power
supply, wala din fresh water,
so you have to bring everything talaga at dapat enough or sobra pa ang baon
nyo. Pero, yes, may toilet dito..yeheyy! since walang fresh water, ang
gagamitin mo para mag banlaw is tubig dagat din. May office/cottage dito pero
medyo hindi clear sa akin kung anong group, government or NGO ang nag stay dito. Ang clear sa akin e
okay ang security kasi may autoridad na kasama sa island.
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no swimming allowed on this part of the islet |
Spending a night here is one of the most memorable, na realize ko na one night is really not enough. It's perfect for just chilling out with a couple of beer plus sound dock under a full moon. Ito talaga ang ideal island get away, walang mga bar at mga lasing na maingay, i'ts just us, the beach and the full moon.
Sadly we have to go na the next morning, we have to go back to Tacloban dahil early flight ang pabalik namin sa Manila. On the brighter side, meron pa kaming time mag explore sa Tacloban because we will spend our night there to catch our flight the next day. We left Kalanggaman at around 9am para sure na may masasakyan kami from Palompon to Tacloban.
There's a new adventure awaits us in Tacloban, hopefully magkaroon uli ako ng time na makwento kung paano kami tumakbo sa San Juanico bridge at sa McArthur's landing, halfday na adventure pero sulit!
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afternoon walk |
It's been two years since we went here, definitely madami ng nabago, specially after typhoon Yolanda hit this part of Visayas. I haven't heard any news about Palompon, pero sana they're okay.