Memories from SE Asia – Part 2

In part 2:

not everything goes as expected when travelling…
lessons learned – always keep backup of your photos
how to hitchhike a boat
diving the huge Japanese ships from WWII
Mt Pinatubo – my second volcano
setting foot in Taiwan – little and diverse 🙂
here is the link to Part 1 – Memories from a 4 months trip around South East Asia

Taal volcano

I set foot in the Philippines for the second time. I felt at home. Decided to go to Tagaitay to visit what’s left from the previous time – Taal volcano.

By 11 am I was at the hostel and found 2 French and one local. The local helped us to find a boat and we went together.

Taal is quite beautiful, I’m in love with this place. Taal is a volcano in a lake and in its crater there is a lake with a small island inside. On the way up you can see many holes smoking and the yellow dust.

The day was amazing I went alone to have dinner. The local just asked me where I’m going and for how long. When I was back to the hostel I immediately went to my room to find my 2 cameras stolen. With all the photos from Vietnam. I hate you, my Philippino friend! 🙁

Police didn’t help. I had his phone number and even spoke with him but with no success.

Diving around Puerto Galera

But I had to let it go, the nasty feeling of hatred.

I let go. And by the 3rd day I was happy again. Diving in the most colorful coral reef in Puerto Galera.

Reaching Puerto Galera was extreme. Haggling and making it through the slum. Terrifying experience but I made it to Sabang… with 2 prostitutes 😀 Apparently this city has to offer vibrant nightlife for men. 😀

The coral reefs there are so beautiful and colorful – it’s unbelievable. Probably the best diving so far. Diving is very cheap in Puerto Galera and Sabang.

From there I explored the area around Sabang and sat off to Sablayan – to visit the second largest coral reef in the world after the Great Barrier. I set foot on Apo Reef <3

Apo reef – the world’s second largest coral reef system

Apo Reef Natural park – **Apo Reef** is a coral reef system in the Philippines situated on the western waters of Occidental Mindoro province in the Mindoro Strait. Encompassing 34 square kilometres (13 sq mi), it is the world’s second-largest contiguous coral reef system and the largest in the country. The reef and its surrounding waters are protected areas in the country administered as the **Apo Reef Natural Park** (ARNP). It is one of the best known and most popular dive sites in the country. It is listed in the tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

I spent the most amazing time on the rangers’ island, only me (and my ex), 2 days and 2 nights, waiting for a boat to hitchhike to Palawan. There is only one lighthouse on the island. From there you see the most amazing sunsets and sunrises. I can summarize that was the most romantic time in my life.

The rangers’s island in Apo Reef – the lighthouse is on the right

In Apo Reef – where I saw tens of sharks – black tip and white tip

Adventure + Romance = Love

We found a boat to take us to Coron – an archipelago and an important bio reserve part of Coron Island Natural Biotic Area.

This is how I spent my time when I hitchhiked a boat

Coron

And here I am – in Coron diving the huge Japanese ships. Quite technical diving with strong currents. I saw my blue blood (I knew it!) The archipelago around Coron is fantastic!

I dove in a lake without a suit. I saw the thermal lines and the one and only barracuda in Barracuda lake, Coron. I was lucky! And I almost caught a shrimp.

One of the best dives there. Fantastic!