The ABC of Summer 2015

After weekend-upon-weekend of hopping from one island to the next, discovering heavens on earth and overdosing on #VitaminSea — satiating the #AQUAholic in me — I finally have a weekend off!

As #Summer2015 begins to wind down, I sit back and take a moment to relive the fun and adventure that I embarked on — each journey made with different groups of people, most of them became dear friends.

I know, I know… we have yet a week to go before #Summer2015 officially ends. Hmmmm…. Do I hear an #endlesssummer cheer from out there? Well, might as well be, as we have 7,107 reasons to want an all-year-round summer extravaganza!

My #Summer2015 was spent exploring, discovering, and revisiting destinations that you seldom hear about… as well as, going back to the basics of travelling and adventurism, where hotel reservations are shunned. Have backpack? Will travel.

Doing so, I uncovered the wonders of ABC: Alibijaban, Balabac and Burias, and Culebra.

Paradise, Lost?
Alibijaban Island, San Andres, Quezon

Playground of the #AQUAholics

The clear waters surrounding the mangrove forest is surreal

I can just sit here and watch the day go by

Well, this looks like a nice spot too.

One of many white-sand beaches dotting the coastline of Alibijaban Island

Our humble abode by the ocean

Paradise, Found.
Balabac, Palawan

Never have I seen white sand as soft and as fine as these

More that 10km-long sandbar

I yet unnamed sandbar off Candaraman Island which I christened “Starfish Alley”… for obvious reasons

Pink sand. Blue waters. What more can you ask for

Great snorkeling site

Did I mention crystal clear waters?

Constructed in 1892 by the Spaniards, the Faro de Primer Orden de Cabo Melville soars about 90 feet above sea level and illuminates Balabac Strait up to almost 300 feet. The tower still retains its original clockwork but it is inoperative.

We owe much of Onuk’s “discovery” to famed photographer George Tapan, who captured the essence of this island paradise, earning him the 2011 National Geographic Photo Contest (Category: Places) plume.

Paradise, Regained.
Burias, Masbate

Maldives… not! The white sands and pristine blue waters of Sombrero Island

Sombrero Island: The centerpiece of Burias tourism

No, your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you. That’s not Kapurpurawan Rock in Ilocos. That’s one of many eye-popping formations in Animasola Island

Animasola Island is being developed by the LGU of San Pascual, Masbate as an adventure zone, complete with rappelling and rock climbing

Get a dose of adrenaline-pumping excitement from jumping off this 20-foot (thereabouts) cliff of Iniwaran Island

Cap off your day in Burias with this magnificent view of the sunset from Tinalisayan sandbar

Beach camping at its best in Tinalisayan Maliit Island

Paradise, Revisited
Culebra Island, Dasol, Pangasinan

The ever changing landscape of Culebra Island assures you that surprises will never run out

Where there used to be a tidal pool in June 2014…

… was all sand when we returned #Summer2015

… but the white (or was it pinkish) sands remain.

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