Gil picked us up from the lobby at 6am and took us to a part of the Alona Beach where several bancas (a type of motorized boat that they use) were moored. From there, another guide and his helper took over and brought us out to the vast open sea. Was looking intensely at the sea to spot the wild dolphins, but all I saw were just cute flying fishes skating swiftly along the water surface.
6.15am at Alona Beach
The guide's helper standing steadily despite the rough jerks of the banca
Suddenly, the guide shouted for us to look in the direction he was pointing, where a few fins were gliding through the water surface. The boat slowed down - we had reached the spot where the dolphins were congregating and feeding. As they were wild, they would not approach the boat, and besides, the loud engine noises scared them off. Hence, we could only look at them (or rather just their fins) from a distance.
Like a shark
It was not easy trying to capture a shot of these dolphins, as you never know when and from where they were going to come up to the water surface.
One of the better shots of the dolphins
Finally decided to catch them on video
We spent the next 30 minutes or so watching the dolphins. Was jealous Slug got the opportunity to see a dolphin jump out of the water in front of him, whereas I was looking around in painstaking concentration and yet never got such a sight. Our guide told us there are whale sightings too, but very much rarer nowadays and he blamed it on overfishing by the fishermen from Mindanao. What a pity.
As the sun rose higher in the sky, the dolphins went deeper into the sea and the show was over. We were taken to Balicasag Island, a quiet and pretty island that doubles as a great diving site because of its marine sanctuary, a protected part of the coast that houses a thriving coral reef and schools of small cute fishes. Sadly we were not divers, so I could only snorkel while Slug chose to stay out of the water.
Balicasag Island
Basically I just snorkelled around at the marine sanctuary, mesmerized by the vibrant colours of the vertical coral reef wall and the many fishes swimming around me. Slug was really missing out on the beauty. After that, we were taken to Virgin Islands nearby, an extremely small and uninhabited island. The only attraction there was the powdery white sand and the sandbar that links Virgin Island to another small islet. The water was crystal clear but the dead seaweed that it was washing ashore was ruining the tropical beauty.
Virgin Island
Long walk down the sandbar
Huge dead jellyfish along the shoreline
I realised we could be just in time for breakfast if we hurried, so we asked the guide to take us back to Panglao. Upon landing at the beach, we ran madly back to Amorita and reached there at 9.55am. Imagine us, with dishevelled hair, slippers oozing seawater, sand dropping off our legs and panting fiercely, arriving at the posh resort restaurant. Must have scared the other guests. We feasted like hungry ghosts for the next 30 minutes.
Breakfast
View of Alona Beach from the resort which is on a cliff
Were too exhausted so we took an afternoon nap. Went for a swim and some sun after that at the cool Infinity Pool, which is a swimming pool that seems as if it opens out to the sea.
Slug near the lobby
In the Infinity Pool (fishing boats spoiling the scenery)
Had a pizza dinner at a small inn along the beach. Prices were exorbitant, for a place like this. We thought the crab soup which cost 110 pesos would contain real crab meat, but it was actually 90% corn starch, 5% corn kernels, 3% egg white and 2% crabstick. What a ripoff.
Pizza overflowing with cheese!
At the inn's pizza outlet
Was falling in love with the nightly strolls along the dark Alona beach. That is what I call a relaxing getaway.
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