After spending three wonderful days in Siem Reap, we  bid farewell to our tuktuk driver (Sok Menea) who made our Siem Reap trip extra special. We head to Giant Ibis transport office located in Sivutha Boulevard and purchased tickets online for a five hour trip to Phnom Penh, Cambodia's capital for $15 ( Php 770.00). Our journey does not end there, we still have to board a bus for another five hours bound for Sihanoukville, a coastal town famous for having some of  the best beaches in Cambodia. I'm not in any way connected to Giant Ibis or paid,  but I highly recommend Giant Ibis for safety, comfort, reliability and road worthiness. The bus comes with onboard WIFI, power outlets, sanitize blankets, pillows and toilet. By the way, before you board, you will be given a plastic bag to put your shoes in. The bus had single and double berths, purchasing your tickets online gives you the flexibility to choose your berths. As of this writing, they had just open Siem Reap to Sihanoukville route to cater tourist who wants to go directly to the coastal town. You can book your tickets here and they charge  $1.00 (Php 51.00) processing fee.




Phnom Penh, Cambodia's Capital

The following morning we arrived in Phnom Penh. Most shops and stores around  are still closed and had to wait for 3 hours before we can board the first bus to Sihanoukville. Unfortunately, we were stuck in traffic for over an hour and had to change to another bus because of  a faulty air conditioning system.We continued on and we only have one bathroom break for the entire journey.



The Coastal town of Sihanoukville

We arrived in Sihanoukville past noon and while they are offloading the luggage's, one of the passengers lost her mobile phone. I recognized her because we took the same night bus from Siem Reap. Gladly, they found her phone and was returned to her the following morning. Afer getting our bags, we took a 30 minute  tuktuk ride to Otres Beach that will cost around $2.00 ( Php 110.00) . We passed by a roundabout called Golden Lion, It's  the most prominent landmark in Sihanoukville that was constructed in 1996.

There are two beaches you can enjoy while visiting Sihanoukville: One is Ochheuteal Beach where late night bars and gigs are found, and the other one is Otres Beach if your looking for serenity and relaxation. We chose Otres over Ochheuteal because it's more quieter and serene. Oh I almost forgot,  there's a third beach called Independence - It is less busy and quieter and good for swimming. We booked our 2 night stay in Mary Beach Bungalows- the location is great as well as the breakfast but quite disappointed with our room because it's not what we expected for $50 room. The roof is made of Nipa leaves with no ceiling and had a strong smell inside.

During our second night, we were awakened by a strange noise in the Nipa leaves just above us. We turned on the lights and spot something blending in the leaves. "At first I thought" it was a snake but it's a gecko about a feet long. It will probably freak me out  if it's a snake.



Beautiful Sunset

We were greeted with a beautiful sunset as we walk along the shore and got to photograph some of the activities that made this part of the beach a laid back feel. Also be prepared for hawkers to approach you throughout the day selling fruit, sunglasses, massages, boat tours & leg hair threading

Beautiful Sunset

Good food and Relaxing Ambience

There are no  large restaurants on Otres, just a string of beach-shack bars and small restaurants. On our first night, we ordered some wood fire pizza nearby called Tokae and it was great. Breakfast buffet is included in our stay which is delicious and had to pay for additional $20 ( Php 1,000) for two for our lunch and dinner buffet. Most all of the beach restaurants serve seafood and more, but each place has its own unique flavor.


Cambodia's Paradise

Otres Beach is the next beach south of Ochheuteal Beach and resembles Ochheuteal in many ways - a three kilometer crescent of near white sand facing the southwest. But Otres is far less developed and touristed than Ochheuteal, offering a more leisurely, relaxed atmosphere, and caught the eye of Forbes this year, listed amongst the Top 22 Beaches in Asia.


Snorkeling and Plankton watching

You can do beach hopping or you can join a swimming and snorkeling day trip to Koh Rong Island - an island  known for its sandy coves and coral reefs. Round trip ride cost around $30.00 ( Php 1,100) and takes 45 minutes or so or you can go the Sihanhoukville ferry terminal and ride from there which cost around $10 ( Php 510.00) per trip.  If you're staying in Koh Rong, the easiest way for you to see the plankton is by booking a boat tour from main pier of the island.



 Lounging and Relaxing


Our time here were spent lounging, eat good food and on my last day leg hair threading - a technique of hair removal using just normal sewing thread for about $5.00 ( Php 220.00) Quite effective because the hair did not reappear for another few weeks.




Getting Here

Getting here is fairly easy. Head to the Giant Ibis main office in Siem Reap in Sivutha boulevard and catch the bus from there. You can book your tickets at their main office or you can get it online through the website. Once you arrived in Sihanoukville, hire a tuktuk to get to your hotel or guesthouse.

For Discounted Hotels you can sear


Travel Tips

• The beach is safe but the main road have no lights. Always bring a torch or something to navigate.
• Otres Market is only open on Saturdays during high season, It's a Goa-inspired weekend market featuring all sorts of local handicrafts and products, food and drinks. After dark, live music and dance acts start playing to the crowds.
• Otres Beach is more cleaner than Ochheuteal Beach and Serendipity in terms of garbage and water quality.
• Always have a travel insurance when traveling to Cambodia. You can get a free quote below. 

Overall, we enjoyed staying at Otres despite the issues we had with our accommodation. The people are friendly and safe. Just lounging and relaxing by the beach is  what we need to prepare ourselves for the back breaking ride to Phnom Penh and finally a 10 hour bus trip to Ho chi Minh City.

The Khmer Rouge took control of the Cambodian government in 1975, with the goal of turning the country into a communist agrarian utopia. Polpot (Khmer Rogues leader) wanted to reset everything, Anyone considered an intellectual, including teachers, doctors, nurses, journalists, authors and people who wore glasses is killed. His victims were often forced at gunpoint to dig their own graves which are now known as "the Killing Fields." Forms of livelihood that were difficult to centralize were also destroyed, including hospitals, medicine and trees. His three year regime finally ends when Vietnam invaded and depose Polpot and later died in his sleep on April 15, 1998, at age 72 due to heart failure. An estimated 1.5 to 2 million Cambodians died of starvation, execution, disease or overwork during the Khmer Rouge regime. Plague by massive starvation, Cambodians took to eating whatever insects, snakes, snails and frogs they could find. And now, without further ado, here is my top 5 exotic Cambodian treats we dare you to try.


STIR FRIED SILKWORMS PUPAE

Silkworms aren't just good for silk but a tasty snack as well to the Cambodians. Haven't tried it but I think it's gooey on the inside. They use strong marinade mix before roasting to replace the flavour and to get rid of the strong metallic insect taste. I read it somewhere that trying it is a liquidy and popping experience.



FRIED WATER SNAKES

Water snakes are the most exploited for food and only found in the waters of  Tonle Sap in Cambodia. They are insanely popular as a delectable treat by Cambodians, however, their numbers are declining because of wholesale slaughter that ends mostly in the streets of  Cambodia. The snakes are gutted out, sprinkled with mix spices and powder, speared it in a bamboo stick then fry. Some say they taste like chicken but haven't tried it.



FRIED TARANTULAS

Tarantulas gained notoriety  for their black ,venom and fearsome appearance to humans. In Cambodia, this creepy crawlies are considered a delicacy. They are sprinkled with spices and some seasoning then into a hot pan for several minutes. Some of them are slightly shriveled during the cooking process and sold in Cambodia streets for Php 50.00 ( $1.00). I think there is some sort of cooking techniques when cooking tarantulas with the urticating hairs on because from what I've heard, the hairs will give you some sort of gastric distress when consume.



STIR FRIED CRICKETS

Crickets are considered plague in most parts of the world, but in Cambodia, they are eaten as snacks and are sold for less than a dollar in Road 60- a famous street market. I think they used a strong seasoning and bath them with spices to get rid of the Cricket's foul odor.

STEAMED RIVER SNAILS

The snails are spiced either with red chili sauce or with garlic and salt. Sold by the bucket or the cup, it makes for an interesting treat to snack on! Batches of snails are sold by the container, an entire “bucket” costing roughly 30,000 riel ($7.40). Some vendors sell up to 100,000 riel worth of snails per day.


To eat safely this street food you want to make sure the snail are thoroughly cooked. Try a sample and decide if you ready to indulge for more! By the way, some of the stalls have a " No Taking of Photos Sign"  you have to buy first before you can take pictures.

Located in the outskirts of Siem Reap town, about 15-30 min by Tuktuk, is a place where locals hang out after days work. Every evening after 5:00 PM, this one-kilometer stretch of road comes alive as locals gather to dine or buy fresh produce which is much cheaper from the city. Food stalls offering a variety of local bbq and snacking options, a night market selling everything from deep-fried tarantulas and crickets to silk worms and a rainbow of tropical fruits. Many mats are laid out for visitors who wish to dine or drink "picnic style". Other stalls sell everything from Children toys, jeans to bags to shoes to bracelets, cellphone chargers and accessories.  Quite early to check the place out but we took it as an advantage to capture some images with a less crowded scene. It's exclusively local and you won't find a mass of tourist coming your way not like Pub street in downtown Siem Reap.


Getting here
Hire a tuktuk from downtown Siem Reap for Php 1,200 ($18-20) round trip. Just tell the driver "Road 60" or show him the location in the google map.

Vibrant Atmosphere

Mats are laid out " picnic style "

Some have portable stoves for DIY cooking

Fruits are much cheaper than those in downtown Siem Reap

Fruits to be sell in the stalls

Prepping some Cambodian snacks to sell

Heading towards the aroma of fried insects

CAMBODIAN DELICACY

It's worth a try but we have solid itinerary the following day. I don't want to mess that up with a bad stomach or something. A cup of boiled snails is about 2,000 Riel ( 0.49 USD) and fried silkworms cost around 3000 Riel ( 0.74 USD). These edible critters are a good source of protein and a daring experience for foodies and tourist

Fried Crickets and Silkworms

Boiled Snails

Tuktuk

An hour later, we're back on the road and into the Cambodian traffic.We bought some exotic fruits like Salak and Burmese Grapes for us to try, then went outside the hotel to grab some Angkor beer and dinner at a nearby store to finish off the night.Our Road 60 experience was great and that stretch of road is a summary of  Cambodians way of life. The only strip where they can dine, be merry and drink in their own local way " Cambodian Style" .

A beautiful and rustic church, perched on top of the hill in Albay, Nuestra Señora de la Porteria Parish Church commonly known as Daraga Church built by the Franciscans in 1772 under the patronage of the Our Lady of the Gate. Certain church sections were declared as a National Cultural Treasure of the Philippines in 2007. The design of the Daraga Church can be described as a blend of architectural styles: Renaissance Gothic and Mexican baroque and  was supposedly built by the women (thus the name "Daraga" which means Lady/Single Woman). The facade was carefully carved from volcanic stones and some distinct  features of the Daraga Church facade include four spiral columns with medallions at the center of each column bearing images of the four Evangelists. One of the best location to see Mayon's beauty and grandeur.

Getting here

From Legazpi City: Ride a jeep marked ‘Daraga-Legazpi’. Alight at the Daraga Municipal Hall. A staircase at the right of the Municipal Hall will take you to the church.

The church facade and the majestic Mayon

The arch over the entrance has an inscription in Latin which reads, "Bene fundata est domus Domini supra firmam petram" (Well founded is the house of the Lord on firm rock)

 

A simple and perfect interior with natural lightning

What a spectacular view!

Restoration had been completed. Exposure to the elements for more than 230 years has eroded the architectural details of the facade made from blocks of volcanic rock. A lime coating was applied which is meant to save the church for future generations although it obliterated the famous ‘old world’ look temporarily. The protective coat will enhance and protect the structure and in a year’s time the church facade will return to its original look. Today, the church is one of the most visited destinations in the province of Albay and a good location to see Mayon.

Our trip to Caramoan is one of the highlights during our Bicol trip and were incredibly blessed to have been able to cross this one off of the list. Eric and I wanted to visit Caramoan ever since, but the plan have been shelved for the time being due to lack of time and rising airline prices. It took us 2 years to finally mapped out and include Caramoan in our travel plans for 2016. This half-hidden paradise located at the tip of Caramoan Peninsula , has made its name as one of the top destinations in the Philippines and on a par with Coron and El Nido. Not just that, Caramoan soared to fame even more when the popular reality show " Survivor" was filmed there.

Getting to Caramoan
It is quite challenging to visit because of the different transportation modes you need to use before you can reach the island but getting there is definitely worth it.You can check this post on how to get here.

What to see?

The main draw are its beautiful islands surrounded by crystal clear waters and populated by diverse rich marine corals making it in our top list as one of the best so far. So here is a quick list of islands and beaches we visited during our trip. Some of the islands are closed because of the ongoing filming of the Survivor franchise.By the way, we paid around Php 4,000 for a whole day private boat tour excluding lunch.

According to our guide and boatman, the Survivor franchise contract is 20 years

MINALAHOS ISLAND

Minalahos is known for the towering limestone cliffs  comparable to Coron in Palawan. It's quite unique because you can walk to the opposite side in under 5 minutes.Crystal clear water gently laps the white sandy shore of the island.

Crystal clear waters of Minalahos

Just a short stroll to the opposite side of Minalahos

Such a Beautiful Island

MATUKAD ISLAND

Just a short boat ride from Minalahos is the most popular island in Caramoan " Matukad". Our guide and boatman had already informed us the day before that he's unsure if Matukad is already open because of the ongoing filming of Survivor. Luckily, the filming crew had already left before we arrived. We climbed up for about  10-15 meters without safety ropes or gears to see the lagoon and to get a good view of Matukad. The climb was definitely worth it as you get to see the amazing view at the top. On the opposite side  is a lagoon where a giant milk fish lives. The locals believed that the little creature protects the island and brings ill fortune to those who harm it.

Gorgeous view from the top

The hidden lagoon where a giant milk fish lives

Majestic view from the top

LAHUS ISLAND

Located just minutes away from Matukad is Lahus Island. It's closed for filming so we don't have the opportunity to visit the island.

COTIVAS SANDBAR

From Matukad we traveled for an hour to a sandbar near Cotivas Island. We docked and saw the dreaded box jelly fish. You can easily tell that it's a box because of its long tentacles and boxy umbrella shape body. Unlike most jellyfish, the box are fairly adept at navigating around obstacles and swimming swiftly to a desired location. The box jellyfish's venom is among the most deadly in the world, containing toxins that attack the heart, nervous system, and skin cells. You're in serious trouble if you get stung because the nearest hospital is in Tawog which is an hour away from Cotivas and another 20 min to the hospital by trike. Going back, we lose track of the jelly fish and our guide set up a beach umbrella for us while they head off to Cotivas Island to cook our lunch. About an hour later, our lunch is cooked and off we went to the most visited sandbar in Caramoan " Manlawi Sandbar". 

Calm and Blue Skies

Box Jellyfish

Idyllic place to doze off

MANLAWI SANDBAR

Manlawi Sandbar is situated east of Cotivas Island and on the shore of Lahuy Island. It only appears during lowtide and completely submerge during high tide. Entrance fee is Php 50.00 and Php 100.00 if you opt to rent a hut. We didn't rent but instead we set up our beach umbrella in the middle of the sandbar and put a table and chairs courtesy of our boatman. It was just an idea I shared to him the day before the island hopping but he did a good job in turning it into a reality. A fantastic experience and amazing place not to be missed when visiting Caramoan.

Mouth-Watering Lunch

SNORKELING NEAR CAGBALINAD ISLAND

Snorkeling in Cagbalinad is one of the best experienced we had during our Caramoan trip. The well intact and flourishing reefs is a good sign that Caramoan is not over exploited by unsustainable and excessive forms of tourism and fishing as their main livelihood on the island. I wonder how great it will be if the reefs in Boracay is as good as this.








SABITANG LAYA

The Sabitang Laya came from two words which means in English "to where fishing nets are hung." Local fishermen use this area as their staging ground in fixing their nets before they go on fishing along other parts of the seas of the Caramoan peninsula. This island is also in Survivor's top list and will be closed if they are filming.This piece of paradise is a must visit and the shallow emerald-green waters are perfect for swimming and snorkeling.

These are the list of islands closed during filming of the reality series: Sabitang Laya, Lahos, Matukad, Catanhawan, Pitogo Bay, Tupan Lagoon, Inayun-ayunan, Tayak and Mantapas

Picturesque Sabitang Laya

Sabitang Laya have the longest shore line in Caramoan

Back to our inn, I was really glad and personally thank our boatman and guide for the amazing experienced. The journey is long, quite hard and worth it all. Caramoan is a complete package- jaw dropping limestone cliffs, delicious food, kind people, amazing reefs, beautiful islands and not that touristy. Seeing the box jellyfish in Cotivas prompts us to call out the local government to be proactive on this matter. Teaching basic first aid to tour operators is the first step and hopefully resonates to other prime destinations like El Nido and Coron.