Bantayan Island Trip 08-22-2009
Last week I went with a friend over to Bantayan Island for a night. I wanted to stay longer but unlike him, I’m not on vacation but I am on a budget, which is blown. My friend though, he’s still over there. Seems he likes the place as much as I do.
I wish I could get over to the Island at least once a month but I just can’t seem to make that happen just yet. Its not an expensive place to go. It can be but it doesn’t’ have to be. My overnight stay cost about $65.00 and that included transportation to and from the island.
My last visit was a peaceful one, nothing out of the ordinary happened, nothing but fun and one topless girl but she was too far away to see her at all. She was out in the water as was Joe and I so we headed that way and the top went back on quickly. LOL Oh well. Shhh I probably shouldn’t even mention such a scandalous thing. 
I Finally got a chance to take my underwater camera underwater! That resulted in some pictures from an unusual perspective.
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- Beth and Jessie in Santa Fe Bay
We stayed out until fairly dark. I looked around and noticed none of the locals were in the water and decided it was time to get out. Probably the worst that would have happened is not being able to see where I put my foot.
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- Jessie with the sun setting behind her.
The next day, we headed back out at low tide and went further out than we usually go. Saw a beautiful Sea urchin that looked like a cactus. Then I realized why it was a bad idea to stay after dark. One needs to see what they are putting their feet down on.
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- Sea-Urchin in The Philippines
The way the sun light gets focused into dancing lines on the sea floor fascinates me for some reason. I’m sure those that are frequent beach goers would not be so easily amused but I am. I would have cropped this picture off more but I love that dancing light.
I have too many pictures great to post in one article. I’ll include more in a gallery at the end of this article.
The water was warm, almost hot in places. That made it very pleasant. When we went in February, the water was quite cool but that also probably helped to keep the urchins further away from the coast line.
Speaking of the coast line. It changes quite a bit. When we were there two months ago, the sand was piled high on the beach at Tristan’s. Now that is gone, leaving a high step to get on the steps from the beach leading to the restaurant at Tristan’s. The sand has moved because the currents have changed creating this sand bar.
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- Coast line of Bantayan Island
I don’t know exactly when but that sandbar will later disappear again.
The day came to an end and we found that we had to return home. On our trip home we had a bit of excitement, not that I look for excitement when on a ship! We heard someone on the bridge yell something and the boat made a hard turn. We never did know what that was about. Some one the bridge had their heads hanging out the window watching something.
I don’t know if we nearly ran over a fisherman or if there was something in the water and the maneuver might have been routine because of some type of hazard. I have twice noticed dredging going on in that area so I suspect there is some kind of hazard there that the captains know how to avoid and that’s all that happened.
We nearly missed our boat home! Normally, the last boat leaves Bantayan Island at 4:30pm but there was some kind of problem with one of the ships. I had noticed that there were two ferries in port at the same time and usually there is only one. The ships gate was not positioned correctly on the dock, looked like it was teetering on falling right in.
One of Tristan’s employees had learned of this and raced back to the resort to tell us we needed to leave now as the last boat may not leave today. He took us by pedicab to the dock, by passing some of the normal steps so that we didn’t miss what probably turned out to be the last boat of the day. Its the kind of service that Tristan’s provides on a normal basis.
.jpg "Bantayan Island Port")
.jpg "Bantayan Island Coast")
.jpg "Jessie")
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.jpg "Joe and Beth")
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.jpg "Joe Bogo")
.jpg "Sunset")
.jpg "Bantayan Island")
.jpg "Hottie Filipina")
.jpg "Jessie")
.jpg "Jessie")
.jpg "Jessie")
.jpg "Jessie")
.jpg "Bantayan Island")
.jpg "Bantayan Island")
.jpg "Jessie")
.jpg "Bantayan Island")
.jpg "Joe and Beth")
.jpg "Joe Bogo")
.jpg "Jessie")
.jpg "Jessie")
.jpg "Jessie")
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.jpg "Fisherman")
.jpg "Jessie")
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.jpg "Rusty")
.jpg "Hottie Filipina")
Hi,
We are trying to move from Cebu to Bantayan Island. you. you have been there often, can you please give me some info about the place? Is it safe for an expat to live there? How about malls or grocery stores? How about the transportation from Cebu to bantayan Island? Thanks
Khris
You should visit and see for yourself.
It is safer than most places, much safer than Cebu City.
Take a bus too Hagnaya and tell them you’re going to Bantayan, they will drop you off at the port. Ferries run every hour or two.
I just discovered your blog and you give wonderful descriptions in your articles. I hope you’re still updating it.
I’m wondering, who is Jean?
Thanks!!
Jim T.
Hello Rusty….I was suring the web to inquire about Bantayan Island.
I was happy to find your site…..I use to enjoy your articles on Bob’s site.
I will be heading to Tristan’s in a few days….cause you said it is the place to stay!
Thanks for the heads up on Holy Week.
Gigi and I will take my scooter over there.
ps…you are still shooting great Pics….and that Cigar looks good on you
I visited Bantayan on Feb. 26 this year. Great day and then a full blown heart attack.
Unbelievable pain and hurried back to Cebu City. I immediately checked into Perpetual Succour Hospital and after a short but sophisticated list of tests I was on the table and under the knife in 45 minutes. All I can say is that both the hospital and the surgeon and his team were nothing but FANTASTIC! 4 days later we flew to Manila and stayed overnight with my sister-in-law in Las Pinas. Next day to Tokyo and then back home to Vancouver, B.C. I love the Philippines and have a Wonderful wife from Cabanatuan City. Thanks to the hospital and doctors I am now in great shape. Blue cross paid the entire fee of P600,000 or $15K Cdn., so that took the worry out of the financial commitment. However I missed Bantayan having visited the fantastic web site created by Paul James Just thought I would share this info and can answer any health questions at any time. Regards to all readers. Graham in Vancouver. graham @angels.LA
Wow, was just talking to about having a heart attack on Bantayan would be a bad thing. You’re lucky to be alive! No one suggested the hospital in Bogo City?
Bogo didn’t come in to the equation. We had a driver and he simply drove back to Cebu City as normal.. In fact I hadn’t told either him or my wife of my condition. I simply stuck it out and laid on the back seat on the pretense of being tired. Got to the hotel in Cebu City and as my wife fell asleep I, with the assistance of the on-duty nurse at the hotel went quickly to Perpetual Succour Hospital. I told the attending technicians that my wife was asleep at the hotel and perhaps I should come back tomorrow. However, at that point the surgeon looked at me and said “Brother, you don’t have a tomorrow”!..At that point I knew I was in trouble. Anyhow, as I have said everything turned out right and certainly just in time.
Awwww, I understand, you did what most of us would do, had your time of denial.
I know I would have it as I’ve had times I should have probably been airlifted and I still didn’t’ go.
Like last month when my vision went partially away I got as far as calling to see if they had a doctor there.
Yes, it worked out for you.
Yes, give me a yell when you get back. If you haven’t, check out my main site. http://www.cebuexperience.com I write on that site a lot. Just finished a new article about my monkey biting me!
Going to London, U.K. this coming Friday 13th. Need to visit there and Nice for a specific reason for 17 days. Will stay in contact with anyone while there. Graham
Hi Rusty, just a thought, flight tomorrow as I have said to London, U.K., however, 85% positive for a return to Cebu/Bantayan in either October and/or Novembercoming.
I will further advise. Graham
Maybe we can get together and get into trouble. LOL Okay, lets skip the trouble
Have a good trip.
I can’t promise anything, lately, its been hard for me to get out of the houses.
Hi Rusty, been in U.K. for 2 weeks and now in Nice for a few days. Back to Vancouver, B.C. on Tuesday 31 and mentally not really in a rush to do so. I lived in Cannes in the 70′s for 4 years and it truly is wonderful here in a different fashion of course to the exquisite Ph. islands. Anyhow, back to Canada and reality next week. As I have said I am almost 100% due in Cebu October or November. Hope you are fighting fit and will contact again next week. Semper Fi, Graham – Vancouver.
I’ve been talking to another X Marine, well as X as he’ll ever be on another website of mine.
Good to hear from you.. Hope to see you then.
I think that’s when he is coming too.
Its a good time to come. things start cooling off a bit. More in December and January. If that wind comes again this year, the Filipino will be walking around shivering.
Afraid my fighting days are over.
Hello Rusty, hope you are well. Just arrived back in Vancouver after a very great trip to England and France. I undertook 2 speaking engagements while there, subject: Counter Terrorism. A big favorite these days especially with western governments in seeming disarray and much chaos these days. Anyhow, looking forward to my up-coming trip to Ph. and specifically Cebu and will further advise before departure. It would be great to meet you and perhaps you will be able to enlighten me further on the + and – aspects of full time residency in perpetual sunshine.
Many thanks, take care. Graham in Vancouver
Hey Graham,
Good to hear from you. Speaking fees… Nice. Not my forte, I wish it was!
Cool emerging market too.
I hope we can meet.
I haven’t encountered any negatives in the Philippines that money couldn’t overcome, if I had enough to overcome them though, it would be better. LOL
You’re welcome to post here as long and as often as you wish but you might find a new site I setup better for YOU. http://philippinesexperience.com its a social site, new so its struggling. Perfect for chit chat but again, its up to you completely.
I saw bantayan island just last night on a filipino travel channel. and i didnt realize that many foreigners have lived there. and they really enjoyed living there. I’m a travel photographer, and I will make sure bantayan island will be next destitnation.
Hello Tim, I will try to visit your site. I love taking pictures. I wish I had a much better camera though.