The island of the sweetest lanzones
On October 20,2007, me and my hubby finally got to Camiguin. We have been wanting to go for many years, and we finally did it. The overnight boat trip from Cebu direct to Mambajao was painful to say the least…no more bunks, and we had to make do with hard benches. And what is more, a group of really irresponsible people shouted their hearts out on the videoke right by the seating area.It was the most horrible boat trip I have ever been. And for the first time, I understood why videoke murders happen.
Arriving on Mamabajao the following was wonderful, the end of an agonizing journey. A ray jumped in the water as if to welcome the new day and our boat as we neared Camiguin. And we even saw a pilot whale mother and calf (or at least, that’s what I thought they were).
First thing we did upon reaching the house of Atty. Jun was what else? Eat lanzones. They were everywhere! They had at least 10 trees that were full of the mouth watering fruits, and I wasn’t gonna stop myself. It was the Lanzones Festival we came for, and eat lanzones we will.
The first day we spent going around the island. We did the usual tourist thing of renting a tourist shuttle and visiting the sites. We first went to the Old Volcano and the Via Crucis, and then to the Sunken Cemetery and the ruins of the old Church. And then to about three cold water springs, Katibawasan Falls,to White Island, and to Ardent Hot Springs. We were exhausted when we got home indeed.
The following day,we went to the Philvocs observatory, and then to Benoni, and had lunch by the lagoon. We took it easy, strolling through Mambajao in the afternoon and visiting the centennial Pili tree. It was really big at 18m tall, and one couldn’t help but feeling small next to it.
The following day was the highlight of our trip. Me and Arne rented a motorcycle to go around the island. With a circumference of 64 km, it was small enough to go around in a day indeed. We must have been an unusual scene: me driving a Honda XRM with a dreadlocked mestizo at the back. We went to Tuasan Falls, which is not as developed and harder to get to compared to Katibawasan, but definitely worth the effort. And then we visited Enigmata, a haven for art and culture in the island. The dinner of wild spinach pizza (which was actually wild fern covered with mozarella….yum!) and fish curry was the best food we had on the island. We were even able to play sungka there!
I must have gained at least 2 kilos on the 3 day trip from eating so much lanzones and pastel (soft bun with yema filling, the best!), but it was worth it.
We will alway remember Camiguin for the sweetest lanzones, the wonderful pastel, the huge century old trees that were everywhere, and the wonderful people who greeted us with "Hi friends!"
Definitely, we will "kam agin" to Camiguin….
October 25th, 2007 at 12:14 am
Portia! Mayo pa ka inday hehehe I’ve always wanted to go there but the 8-hour bus ride from Davao to Cagayan de Oro discourages me. But now after reading your post it seems that it’s all worth it =)
October 26th, 2007 at 8:51 pm
add another 2 hours from CDO to Balingoan, and then a 45 min trip to Benoni….. It is very worth it,I tell you. But go when the lanones is fruiting, and go with good friends and it will definitely be a trip to remember. Oh, and stay at Enigmata, you will love it, I’m sure….