Balinmanok: Getting to Paradise

May 26, Saturday, our destination, Villa Balinmanok, Pangasisnan. Unfortunately, we woke up late. Instead of leaving Manila at 6:30 in the morning, we start our travel passed eight in the morning. At the Cubao station of the  Victory Liner Bus, we rode an Alaminos bound bus. This begins the long road to Balinmanok.

From Manila to Alaminos, it took us 5 hours of travel. Actually, we never thought that the travel was supposed to be that long. This is a consequence for not listening to Kuya Ogie’s instructions (Kuya Ogie is our contact person at Villa Balinmanok). According to Kuya Ogie we should left Manila Friday night by riding an Alaminos bound bus at Pasay. This trip will only take about 5 hours of travel. But we didn’t listen, thus we miscalculated the time.

along the road

We reached the town of Alaminos passed two in the afternoon. We immediately took our super late lunch, for we still need to take another bus that will bring us to Burgos market. This bus ride fortunately lasts only for thirty minutes.

 Once we reached Burgos market, we hired a tricycle that will bring us to Villa Balinmanok. When you reached Burgos Market there are two options in reaching the Villa, either by tricycle or boat. We opt to take the tricycle for the very reason that it is cheap; the one-way boat ride is Php 1,500.00 . If you opt for the tricycle be ready for an hour ride and the rough road. The boat ride though expensive is way faster than the tricycle ride. We also negotiated with the tricycle driver to fetch us again the following day on our way home, since tricycle are seldom to be seen around the Villa.

the smooth road

the rough road ahead

Here is our transportation expense for the trip:

1. Bus from Cubao station to Alaminos  – Php 478.00 per person (two-way trip)
2. Bus (ordinary) from Alaminos to Burgos market – Php 60.00 per person (two-way trip)
3. Tricycle from Burgos market to Villa Balinmanok – Php 600.00 (two-way trip)
4. Boat ride to get to the nearby islands – Php 2,000.00