Tagalong with Valli to the Philippines: Ecotourism Planning and Trip to Guiuan, Samar

December 14, 2012

Chito, Lemin, Al and I attend a three day ecotourism management planning workshop in Hindang for the Quatros Islas Protected Landscape and Seascape that spans the municipal waters of Hindang and Inopacan. We did some fun role play being tourists and guides. “Where’s the bathroom?” “I lost my hearing aid. What?” “I’m thirsty.” “Where’s my husband? “ and whatever else he was saying had people in hysterics.
On the third day the group rode in a van to visit Guiuan Island in Eastern Samar where ecotourism is being promoted. They're on the Pacific Ocean with some surfable waves so surfing is bringing in some tourists.
Traveling from Leyte to Samar is made easier by the longest bridge in the Philippines.

We left here at 3:00am. The trip was to take four hours but it took six because the Samar road was horrible; more pot holes than road. But it was great to see the sun rising as we drove along the coastline with impressive limestone formations all along the way.

a beautiful spot at one of the river crossings

One thing I noticed was how close the houses are to the road in Samar. I’ve been getting used to the front doors of homes in Leyte being ten feet from the edge of the road. In Samar they are five feet from the edge of the road. Children play in front of their houses with traffic whizzing by; although with all the pot holes you’re rarely going over 35mph. We’d speed up to 30-35, go 50-70 yards and then come to a screeching halt to lumber up, over and through the gaping potholes. Our driver was good. I only heard the undercarriage scrape and bottom out once during the whole trip.

These pictures were taken before we got to the bad roads.

Because of the bad condition of the roads our trip was rush, rush, rush if we wanted to make it home at a reasonable hour. Unfortunately we didn’t have time to stop at the surfing camp www.calicoansurfcamp.com but it looked really cool with the biggest native style nipa huts I’ve seen.

We were headed to the Pacific Ocean beach and it was incredible to see. The group included representatives from Inopcacan, Matalum. Bato, Baybay, Hindang, Hilongos, DNR and the National Park.

Absalon (Boy) from Hindang

Jorge from Baybay, Mudge's boss

A long expanse of unpopulated white sandy beach as far as the eye could see going north and south. This was a first for me; seeing salt water waterfront with nobody living on it. I walked straight into the water. It was clean, no trash, and clear and refreshingly cool. Snap, snap, Kodak moment picture taking and on we went.

The big beautiul blue Pacific Ocean

We stopped to hike up to what was planned to be a world class yoga retreat center, Calicoan Ashtanga Yoga Retreat.

Mulz from Hindang

The steep stairs go up 100 feet with no railing and in some places it would be a 100 foot drop onto razor sharp coral and limestone outcroppings. Once at the top there’s a huge covered meditation yoga platform area with a spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean. The platform is in good shape but the roofing material and screening was damaged and/or long gone. I don’t know what happened or why it’s fallen to disrepair.

there's a great view from up there and a nice breeze off the ocean

Twenty minutes of enjoying the platform in the trees and we’re rushing back down the trecherous steps so we can get to the next stop.

these boys are playing a game throwing their flip flops, kind of like a marble game

This is the little townn of Sulangan where the main atraction is the old church.

We spent about an hour at the main square lined with venders’ booths offering an assortment of souvenirs and snacks. The old church is undergoing repairs and renovation. All the people with me were buying up bundles of little dried fish. They are so small and thin they look like potato chips.