Now help me continue reminisce our epic road trip in Mindanao. If you haven’t read the first part, here is the link to Mindanao Roadtrip Part 1.
Our final destination is the beautiful island of Camiguin – we spent almost a week in the “Island Born of Fire”, in reference to its volcanic origin and characteristics. More on Camiguin, next time. I have LOTs of posts to share with you about Camiguin.
We arrived in Camiguin at 3pm, and Benoni Port (Camiguin) looks different. I think the Port Authority made a big effort in changing the infrastructures of each port in the country. One of the changes in the port is this..
All incoming visitors have to step on this rug of disinfectant while a personnel is in-charge to spray each wheel of all vehicles. Camiguin is a protected landscape and this will ensure its agriculture will not be harmed from possible diseases. They same is true when you enter Bukidnon.
Camiguin is still as surreal as I left it six years ago..
I think we covered all attractions in Camiguin and I’m hoping to check out some unknown attractions in the future. Camiguin is filled with water – beaches, springs, falls, pools..Thus, perfect for those with kids.
Liam at the Santo Niño Cold Spring, one of the oldest attractions in Camiguin…freezing cold!
My goal for my next visit is to end every single day in Camguin at Ardent Hot Spring which is open 24/7..
We spent Christmas in Camiguin. No opening of gifts for the boys — the long vacation is already a gift. We left Camiguin on the 26th, Typhoon Seniang was already coming. Glad we left before trips were canceled.
This is something different, my father, a ship man, was a little bit worried that the ships might collide at Balingoan Port. Turns out, it is how they manoeuvre all ships- let them slide. Cool.
Back in the city, we visited some attractions in Cagayan de Oro like Stoneware Pottery – yes, my trips are EDUCATIONAL. haha.
And then to Ostrich and Crocodile Farm in Opol just outside Cagayan de Oro City.
Instead of spending the night in CDO, we chose to just travel to my family’s place in Lanao. My boys were smitten with the presence of the soldiers, just as I was excited to see those military tanks by my grandmother’s window every afternoon when I was a little child.
We ate dinner in Iligan City and at 8 pm, finally arrived in Maigo, Lanao del Norte – my mother’s hometown. The next day, we went back to Iligan City to see for ourselves Maria Cristina Falls.
My mother spent her birthday in Maigo and we left the next day on December 29th. Rainy weather but lucky to have Mukas Port allowing vessels to sail. Ate lunch in Ozamiz City and off we went to Dapitan City, stopped to take some shots of Jimenez Church along the way.
It was signal #1, but it didn’t stop us from visiting Dapitan City’s most famous attraction – Rizal Shrine. Weather was really gloomy and rainy when I took this shot of Rizal’s landmark in Dapitan.
December 30, we were officially stranded. We stayed at Ariana Hotel. Tired mother.
Vessels were still not allowed to sail, so we took the time to explore Dipolog City while closely monitoring the weather and any road closures via internet ( Facebook specifically) and local radio because it seems Philippine TV was more into giving updates about the wedding of Marian and Dingdong than about Typhoon Seniang.
Weather was actually sunny with little rain in Dipolog. We did had a day tour in the city but these big waves reminded us to stay indoors.
Just before midnight on December 30, we tried our luck and went to Dapitan Port. The long queue of vehicles was like 1.5 kilometers plus those vehicles inside the port.
With prayers, we got our tickets but it was one hell of a ride. You can’t see it from the picture but this ferry was swaying left to right. Now, I always carry bonamine.
My father and husband didn’t sleep because the sea was really rough. Our assurance of a safe trip is that there was no wind and my boys were asleep throughout the trip. I guess, our trip from Dapitan back to Dumaguete as my mom describes it was, ” thrilling”.
We arrived in Dumaguete at 8am and the sea was very calm. Had breakfast and went to Sibalom for another ferry ride that will bring us to Cebu where we spent our New Year.
And that concludes our roadtrip in Mindanao. Thanks for reading!!