While planning for our Boracay trip next week, I was reminded of our trip to Nogas Island last month that I still need to share to you. Sorry, it took so long.
Nogas Island is one of Antique’s off shore islands, located in Anini-y town. If you want to explore Antique, Nogas Islad is a good start. For our visit, it was our last hoorah before my kids go back to school.
Nogas Island is one special island to me. Sentimental so to speak. I’ve been trying to go back and finally, after seeing my friends’ posts on Nogas, I just need to go back.
Nogas Island reminds me of my well-loved History professor, Prof. Henry, who passed away years ago. It was during his class and we had to make a town profile of Anini-y. It was fun because we rarely do have field work when I was studying History in UP, plus, it was an overnight trip. Overnight trips for college students seem like a trip to Disneyland.
After our field work, before going back to our campus in Miag-ao, Sir Henry brought us to Nogas Island. Back in the day, “travel” is not what it’s like what it is today. Honestly, it was just another island to visit because our bunch were more into our noisy selves.
But I do remember how blue the water was. There is a part that the water turns indigo. And my classmate wanted to keep on dipping his hand into the water while the bangka was running. Sir Henry tried to scare us to keep quiet and that there were sharks.
Some of the memories are snippets. I remember this line of Calachuchi, the flowers I used to adorned my curly hair whenever I do the Hawaiian dance. Today, it is mandatory photo spot among tourists.
We took a class photo on the exact spot sans the graffiti. I’m still trying to dig my friend’s Facebook baul to post the photo. Who would have thought I’d be going back to Nogas with these two beautiful boys?
We took a different trail 13 years ago. We went to other side of the island and took a longer time. I remember one of my friends, Reagan, with his purple batik sarong as shade from the scorching sun. And we I saw a mother and her daughter shore fishing for shells. The island was so to speak, man-free.
We never swam. Before going back, I asked myself why Sir Henry didn’t let us take a dip. I thought he was in a hurry or something. But to be honest, Nogas Island more on a snorkelling kind of an island rather than a dipping beach. The sand is bigger, coarser, and rock bottomed.
I returned after 13 years, and it was a low tide, I felt guilty stepping on healthy corals that I asked my kids and husband to just leave and head to the shore. I hope the local government can designate a swimming area for tourists to keep off from the corals.
I disrupted my kids’ playtime in the water to take a hike with the caretaker’s son as our guide. That’s another unique thing about Nogas, you can go on a short hike just like what we did in Mantigue Island in Camiguin.
Another phot op favorite is this Banyan Tree, though we didn’t see this during college days.
For a small island, you’ll be impressed with its vegetation. Kid2 asked if we were lost.
I love the moss covered woods.
I miss my college friends and my life back then. Good memories.
Still, Nogas is rich in marine resources. While I was rekindling college memories, my kids had close interactions with nature. Hello, Mr. Krab!
Is it you, Gary?
More shells..
A meadow of sea grass during low tide.
Nogas is a birding destination. These mangroves not only provide solace for baby fishes but to migratory birds as well.
I think we spotted some starfish here.
Thirteen years, I must say Nogas hasn’t changed that much. Though there are cottages in the island and a caretaker to assist tourists. To get to Nogas Island, travel all the way south to Anini-y, and just go to Siraan Hot Spring, pay the environmental fee and rent a boat for Php500.
Nogas Island is great destination for those who prefer somewhere closer. Let’s keep the island sustainably developed – no trash and don’t step on the corals!
Thanks for reading!