Kalanggaman Island

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.

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.

 

view from our room, as you can see, everything is within reach, palengke, port, terminal at nasa side ang church

 

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.

dinner time

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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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.

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).

going to the other end of the islet

mag jump shot pero hindi magkasabay sabay, according to weight ang talon...hahaha

yes, we have this side all for ourselves!

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.

 

 



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!

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.