that was on a Saturday on a three day long weekend when i decided to explore this island which i discovered through Google Earth. took a three-hour bus ride to Lucena, Quezon province's capital city. only to learn that from Lucena it takes another six hours bus trip. 
if there's something that pulls out this part of Quezon province from the rest of its popular towns, it would be its isolation from Maharlika highway. i almost decided not to proceed as i though it would just be 3hours max from Lucena. 
i took the chance, i can't deny the island of Alibijaban was just something too bad to miss. it's this kind of trip where when you board a ride, everyone seems to know each other but you. so when they ask, "who are you visiting there?" all that i can answer is "i am going to Alibijaban island". 
one thing great about going solo, you don't have someone to talk to but the locals... for a six-hour road trip. passing by the towns of Pagbilao, P. Burgos, Agdangan, Unisan, Pitogo, Macalelon, General Luna, Catanauan, San Narciso, Mulanay then finally San Andres, the take-off point to the island.
majority of the trip, we passed by concrete roads and some which were still being paved. within a year, for sure trips there will be faster. main transportation between towns are tricycles, which somehow serves like a jeepney by the look of the number of people that it accommodates.
it took rounds of songs on my playlist and some chat with some of the passengers. they gave an idea of what was in their town and the island but they were a bit hesitant. just to discover, that it was actually very rare to see a stranger going to their town.
arrived at 7:00pm to the town of San Andres, it was too late for me to cross to the island. so i decided to stay overnight with a family who welcomed me to their home. an early boat trip to the island the next day deserved a good sleep.location:
island: Luzon island
town: San Andres, Quezon
GPS location
13^ 19' 22.3" N
122^ 40' 38.0" E
33 comments:
May kamag-anak ako sa Tayabas, quezon..maganda ang lugar ng Quezon ang tatayog ng mga buko...tanaw na tanaw mo ang bundok... sarap magbakasyon dyan....probinsyang probinsya...
you've been here? LUCENA? tsk tsk... too bad i didn't even see your shadow sir dong...
oh my gosh, 6 hours from Lucena? holy molly, ang layo talaga!but wait, you didn't explore San Andres? what are the points of interest in town? can't wait for the next post!*biting my nails* LOL
bitin! i'll surely wait for the next post. hehehe though naikwento mo na ito, i would love to see the place.
awww bitin ako kala ko naman makikita ko na yung glimpse hehehehe aabangan ko yung susunod na entry Dong....=)
>Moks, i must agree. kung talagang probinsiya ang hanap na accessible by road from manila.
>hi Ailee, next time.
>hi Luna, yes. it actually made me think twice if i should still go. in san andres, there was not much to see just a usual coastal town with residents not used to strangers.
>Archie, bitin talaga. hahaha... hindi na nga naisama ang ibang nakwento ko.
>hi Ellen, i knew that but i just really need to show first how far it is from manila before one decides to go there.
oh my.. ganon, ganon kalakas loob mo talaga? grabe ha, tsk.. akala ko yung post mo na alibijaban island na yun matagal mo pa puntahan at kelangan mo pa mag research, yun pala, pinuntahan mo na talaga.. sobrang bitin naman, wait ko next post..
kung ako nanay mo, nagalit na ako. :P madami kayang NPA dyan! hay naku....:)
island of Alibijaban?
twas my first time to read/know of such place exists in our country; where's my geography anyway?! *shame on me* but i'm sure i am not alone of being clueless of its location; much more of its existence.
...c'mmon, take us there with your next post, dom..
can't wait for the next post =D.
you really have a knack on discovering unfamiliar places dong. keep it up!
nakakabitin naman to!
wow! di naman pala siksikan sa tricycle eh!! ahihihi!! :))
Nice sequence of views, beautiful places, it's interesting to see the road of the fourth picture, so picturesque and genuine. Surely I'm waiting for the next post!
trailblazing is exciting Dong! even the thought of not knowing what to expect is already something to look forward to.
Wow that's a long bus ride. So nice of the family to welcome you to their home. Cant wait to see/read about the rest of your adventure.
Goodness. It is an honor to share the discovery with you.
Idol talaga kita sir Dong! Balang araw makakapaglakbay din ako gaya ng ginagawa mo. Naaliw naman ako sa sinabi mo..."one thing great bout goin solo is you dont have someone to talk to but the locals". I agree to that bec aside from the beauty of the place, the real beauty are its people. Cant wait to see the next post. Ingat!
An exciting solo trip. I agree with some of the comments, nakakabitin naman. Looking forward to the next post. :)
this is so exciting Dong. i like to read the rest of this series and soon.
The people must be really friendly there
ganda ng pilifens:)
I've never been to Quezon province, I'll have to see it through your camera for now until I can go there someday.
Btw, what kind of engine is that tricycle with that many passengers fitted with?
six hours? haba naman nyan. sounds exciting so far. i like your drive by shots. galing.
dom,
join ako sa decemebr travel mo if any. free na ulit sked ko (wag lang before dec12)
the preview of the beach... kakabitin!!!
next post please. :)
ang galing mong manghuli ng moment. kaya may buhay yung mga pics. mahirap gawin yan, lalo moving objects. this is something na tatak mo na Dom.
ibang level of adventure na naman to kuya dong to think na di gaanong napupuntahan to ng maraming tao. glad you had a safe trip.
wow! ibang klaseng adventure, im waiting for that island
Wow! Can't wait to read the rest of your stories. Exciting.
Looking at your photos, naalala ko ang trip ko sa Mindanao alone. The whole day nasakyan ko ata ang dapat masakyan - eroplano,taxi,van,barko,tricycle,escalator at elevator (no exaj).Kaya pagdating ng hotel, sukang suka ako sa pagod.
Masaya ko ding naalala ang mga locals looking at your photos. Ito ang masarap sa mga trips, nakikita mo ang mga buhay ng tao.
Ingat. Thanks for sharing this story.
Kuya dong san lugar yung picture mo sa title ng blog mo?? astig panalo!
totally like seeing your pictures! they tell stories :)
The kindness of strangers - I just love that idea
eto nakaka-miss long road trips. and you're right, sa mga remote places ikaw alam agad nila na d ka taga-roon kase lahat sila magkakakilala nd all you can say is that you're going to this island or something haha
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