Travel Notes | Long Vacation in Dumaguete

Day 0

Depart from Tianjin

After taking off from Tianjin, we arrived in Hong Kong around 2 o'clock. Board the airport bus and go all the way to the B&B in Mong Kok.

Mong Kok is unusually quiet in the early morning, with only the dazzling array of neon signs on the street highlighting the hustle and bustle of the day.

I fell asleep without talking all night.

Day 1

Hong Kong-Manila

We woke up early and spent half a day doing some serious things (buying critical illness insurance in Hong Kong). In the afternoon, we started shopping and eating. We first found a tea restaurant for a big meal, and then went to Victoria Harbor to see the scenery. We also met the Hong Kong folk band playing in the square (I really wanted to join in).

Rush to the airport in the evening and prepare to fly to Manila.

We arrived in Manila around 12pm. Regarding the visa in Manila, here is an important mention to prevent everyone from stepping into the trap.

Although Manila officials stipulate that holders of Japanese visas can enter the country without a visa for 7 days, but if you have a flight ticket and the ticket shows that you are flying out of Manila within 24 hours, they will not allow you to enter and let you move around in the airport ( This happened to PP when he went to Thailand, and he almost slept on a stool at the airport overnight).

Therefore, the correct approach is to show your Japanese visa and then say that you haven’t bought a return ticket yet.

After successfully passing customs, we started looking for the hotel we had booked. There is another big hole here. The terminals of Manila Airport are very far apart. You have to leave the airport to reach another terminal (it is basically several airports collectively called Manila Airport). Be sure to check which terminal you are getting off the plane from. Because the other terminal may be on the other side of the city.

2555~ When we left the airport, we discovered that the hotel we booked was close to another terminal. It was very late and we couldn’t get a taxi, so we found a nearby motel to spend the night.

Day 2

Dumaguete

In the morning, we braved the risk of traffic jams and took a taxi to another terminal to catch the plane to Dumaguete. I arrived at the airport on time, but the plane was delayed. I successfully boarded the plane after waiting for an hour.

After getting on the plane, you find that there is another big hole waiting for you. In-flight services on Philippine planes are actually chargeable. The stewardess will pour you tea, and then ask you for money after a while. We only brought credit cards and very little cash, so we awkwardly negotiated the price with the stewardess (because we can’t swipe credit cards, only cash).

The air conditioner on the plane is turned on extremely loudly because it encourages you to buy a blanket. Yes, blankets also cost money.

In this way, we finally arrived at our destination, Dumaguete.

After getting off the plane, we took a short ride on a tutu (an electric motorcycle that pulls people), and soon we arrived at our intended accommodation.

Brother Fan helped reserve the place to stay, and they arrived a day ago. This is a villa hotel run by Chinese Americans. The environment is not bad. Our room is located on the second floor.

After the pitfall experience last night and this morning, everyone was exhausted, and Brother Fan led the team to visit the nearby outlying island Xidao. We rested at the hotel until evening.

In the evening, after we were full and hungry, we went out to look for food. There were many local barbecue stalls outside the door, but they felt that the hygiene level was not very good. We were determined to give them a try and it turned out that they tasted really good.

After walking for a while, we came to a local vegetable market, which was full of all kinds of rare tropical fruits. Out of curiosity, we all bought some. Our favorite is the first fruit below, marang (Chinese name is "extremely fragrant breadfruit"), which is particularly sweet and has a fragrant aroma.

Passing by a 711 convenience store, the 711 goods are different in each country. There are many local specialty drinks, which are worth a visit. Sure enough, I found a few drinks with Beer written on them and thought they were beer, but it turned out to be a soda made from plant roots.

After walking for a while, we arrived at the beach, just in time for the sunset. The sunset dyed the water red and was extremely beautiful.

We sat on the beach for a while and then returned to our place after dark. Plan your itinerary for the next day, wash up and go to bed. Hmm~ The itinerary is planned now, not decided in advance, it’s just so free.

Day 3

smilon island

I planned to go snorkeling and dance with wild beluga whales, but I got up late and missed it. So according to the guidance from the front desk of the B&B, we took a quick trip to a small port and prepared to go to Smilon Island, a small island with a white beach. After a while, Tutu pulled us to the beach closest to Smilon. There is a small pier on the beach where you can take a boat to Smilon.

Since it was close to noon, there were only two of us tourists, so we boarded the "special boat" with only the two of us tourists and set off.

About half an hour later, the cruise ship approached the beach and we stepped off the cruise ship on the wooden board. It is said that this island is privately owned, so the entire island is managed uniformly, and life jackets and snorkeling equipment are distributed upon entering the island. Putting on life jackets and snorkeling gear, we started diving underwater to look for small fish.

There are a little less fish here, but the scenery on the island is still very good. After playing in the sea for a while, we ran to the island's famous swallow-tail white sand beach to play.

It is said that there are many shellfish here, and the shells have been washed by sea water all year round, forming such a white beach.

This beach lies quietly on the seaside like milk powder. Due to the erosion of the sea water, it extends into the sea in a swallow-tail shape. With the blue sky and clear sea water, a gentle and romantic picture is presented in front of you.

Before you knew it, the sun set and the cruise ship appeared on the beach. The boatman called all the tourists on the island to get on the boat and return to the pier. Along the way, the purple-red sunset filled the sky, like a fairyland.

After just getting off the boat, I took a quick trip back to the B&B. I asked the boss about the nearby food, and then chose this famous local restaurant for dinner.

The seats in this restaurant were already full, and we had to wait in line at the door for nearly an hour to get a seat. We were so hungry that we started to eat and drink.

After eating and drinking, go back to the B&B and sleep, and then join the big group to go to sea the next day~

Day 4

Going to sea – dancing with sea turtles

Going out to sea requires getting up early, so we got up at 6 o'clock and took a quick trip to the agreed-upon seaside diving club to gather.

Um? Did we come too early? The door was closed, so I knocked on it and found no one there, but the view was shocking. In front of the yard was the sea. I saw the rising sun hanging not far from the sea. There seemed to be no boundary between the blue sky and the sea. A small white sailboat was parked quietly not far away.

The infinity pool was like a mirror at this time. I couldn't help but change into my swimsuit and take pictures.

Ps: Why was my figure so good then? Look at 2555 now~

After taking the photos, the troops didn’t arrive, so out of boredom, I started counting the pesos I had exchanged for change. You really have collected all kinds of pesos, they are colorful and you can summon the dragon~

The main force finally arrived, we changed into our swimsuits and got on the boat.

It turns out that the boat on the sea just now was prepared for us.

Today we will stop at several diving spots. Some friends will go deep diving, some will go snorkeling, and we will also go snorkeling near an island with turtles. If you are lucky, you can dance with turtles.

About two hours later we arrived at our first dive site. The deep diving partners set off (this time the depth is relatively deep, and professional training experience is required to dive deep). We snorkeled in groups of two, and each group had a guide. The guide took us into the sea in groups.

Wow~ The sea bottom here is much richer than the one I saw on Koh Samui yesterday. Sure enough, you still have to go deeper into the sea for snorkeling.

After playing for about an hour, everyone got on the boat one after another. Diving partners also came on board to share the scenery they captured from deeper places.

After everyone gathered, we headed to the next diving spot. The diving site this time was near an island. The water was relatively shallow, but the corals were beautiful.

After playing for an hour, it was noon, and we had a light meal on the boat. Let’s head to the next dive site.

This diving spot has relatively strong wind and waves, but the corals are said to be beautiful and suitable for deep diving. We went into the water as usual, but the wind and waves became unbearable. We felt seasick after being pushed around by the waves for a few times. So I signaled to the guide that I wanted to go back, but as soon as I got on the boat, I vomited and became "sick".

After lying on the boat for a while, we felt better. After half an hour, everyone returned to the boat and continued to the next diving spot, where you can see giant sea turtles.

Sure enough, when we got off the boat, we saw a big turtle swimming by us, and after a while another one swam over. They were not afraid of people, and swam around us. Their huge bodies looked like two meters long.

This diving spot is close to the beach and we swam a few times before landing. After playing on the shore for a while, we continued to go into the water to see turtles.

Before we knew it, it was sunset and we set off back. An hour later, we returned to the club we started from in the morning. After getting off the boat, we went back to our accommodation to take a shower. Tonight, as we were meeting up with a large group of people, we changed our accommodation. It was a small single-family villa, which was very comfortable for two people.

After taking a shower, we went out to look for food~ We took a quick trip to a relatively prosperous shopping mall here and found a restaurant to eat.

After eating and drinking, I went back to sleep and spent the night without talking.

Day 5

Manila

Due to air tickets, we left the group early in the morning and took a flight back to Manila.

Today we will stay in Manila for one day and then fly to Hong Kong.

So, we got off the plane, arranged accommodation, and took a taxi to the center of Manila.

You can visit the church and ancient city ruins in the city center.

The church looks majestic and majestic, and you can visit it for free. There is a special room inside to display the church's style in various periods. This church was once destroyed and rebuilt after a fire.

After leaving the church, I found a small restaurant with a nice environment in the alley behind and had lunch.

In the afternoon, I went to visit a nearby ancient city. The ancient city is not big, but the scenery is unique and full of exotic customs.

Before we knew it, it was evening, and we took a taxi to the largest shopping district in Manila to go shopping and eat. This business district is very large, with seven or eight shopping malls connected to each other. It is said that luxury goods are super cheap, making it a paradise for shoppers. Unfortunately, neither of us is interested in shopping.

I also found tribute tea from Thailand (Picture 4).

Eat and drink enough and go back to sleep~

Day 6

Hongkong

We got up early to catch a flight and flew back to Hong Kong. When we got off the plane and were very hungry, we ran to Mong Kok to eat and drink.

At this time, night fell, and we walked to Victoria Harbor to see the night view, just in time for the light show.

I took some photos, went shopping, bought a bag, and rushed back home happily~

I got on the plane and returned to Beijing, and this trip officially ended~