Boatman

Island Hopping in Port Barton, San Vicente, Palawan

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Since the jeepney from Roxas arrived a little past 1 PM from Roxas, Palawan there’s really nothing that I could do in Port Barton but to walk around, sit on the beach and talk to locals. One of the locals that I have talked to offered me an island hopping tour. Originally the prices of the island hopping tour for 2 pax is 1,200 Pesos and for 3 or more pax it’s 500 Pesos each. Since, I was alone I agreed so that I would not pay the hefty amount of 1,200 Pesos all by myself. He said that for the 500 Pesos per person to proceed he will look for other people to join me. We exchanged numbers and I went back to my lodging. Night came, there was no message that the tour will proceed. Next day around 7AM came, there was still no message so I texted him back to confirm of the island hopping tour. I decided if he does not message me at 8AM, I would have to take the offer of another local who offered me 800 Pesos for a boat for island hopping. I got word that on off-peak season, the boats could go that low. 8AM came, I texted the other local and he replied that the boat will be ready at 9AM.

Beach at Port Barton

Went to meet the local at 9AM and turns out he was not the boatman. So he referred me to my boatman and first things first, we needed food to eat. We looked for fresh fish so that we could cook on the islands. Though the front of the beach of Port Barton has been filled with accommodations Port Barton is still a fishing village so what we did was we went to people who they knew buys fish from the fishermen and sells them again at the market. Unfortunately, their fishes has either been reserved by the resorts or had been delivered to Puerto Princesa or Roxas via their public jeepneys. We saw a woman peddling some fishes and since it was either too big or too small, we decided that we’re having squid for lunch. Bought some onions, tomatoes, kalamansi, snacks, water and some cooked rice. Just when I thought we were going to start, he suddenly said that he’ll get some utensils from their house so we can use it. I think that’s good service. Around 9:20AM we road the boat and it was time to visit the islands of Port Barton.

Photo Wednesday: Caramoan Boatman

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Last December 2008 I joined a group tour by Radical Adventure Concepts and Events to Caramoan Peninsula, Camarines Sur. During the island hopping on the second day we rode a big bangka that has about three crew members. 1 of them is the captain who controls the rudder.

Bangkero Resting while waiting for us to settle down

Bangkero resting while waiting for us to settle down

Ingenious way of controlling the boat's engine

Ingenious way of controlling the boat's engine

I noticed that the engines release of power was dynamic but no hands were controlling the power of the engine.

Amazingly, it was also being controlled by the captain. He was standing with his right leg on the side of the boat to see where we were going, left hand on one of the bamboo poles for his own stability, right hand on another bamboo pole which he moves to control the rudder and the left foot controls the engine by angling it on a small hinge that is attached to the engine via a nylon cord.

INGENIOUS!

Sometimes, the bangkero who controls the engine does what the others do.

Fixing the anchor before leaving

Fixing the anchor before leaving

Pundakit Tourism

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I am a big fan of Pundakit, Zambales. I have seen its progress from a small fishing village to now a jumpoff to spectacular tourist attractions such as Anawangin Cove, Nagsasa Cove, Talisayen Cove, Capones Island, Camara Island and the water falls that are around the place.

Last weekend was my 10th time on this place. I still could remember my first time in Pundakit last 2006. The tricycle drivers did not mind us as we alight the bus in front of the Municipal Hall of San Antonio. Tricycle fare was just 20 pesos per person and the price for the boat was just 600 pesos if you are going to Capones Island and Camara Island. But as the price of fossil fuel hiked up so did the price for tricycles and boats, but that did not stop the increase in the number of people going to Pundakit.