Backpacking Landscapes: Spur of the moment visit to Tablas Island, Romblon

*continued from my Mararison Island trip

bulabog beach in boracay; hambil (carabao island) in the far end of the picture

woke up from my hammock in station 3 boracay after arriving late and no vacancy found on the inns i know (a.k.a. affordable). At 9am, i went to an internet cafe to charge my phone and look for some destination.

The plan was to roam around Aklan, but I wasn't really liking their (making it so expensive for) local tourism. I read about carabao island just opposite bulabog beach so I made it my next. Since the published articles say the boats that ply bulabog-carabao island leave at 9am, and it was already 11am, I just chanced on any more boat that may go. I was in the beach before noon and bored myself enough after more than 2 hours so I decided to swim.

A little while later a small boat arrived, and I thought about asking if he's going to Hambil (local name for carabao island). Mang Paquit said he can drop me off for P300, and we agreed at P150. With me being all wet from swimming, I ran to take my bag, and went back to the boat. Just a few minutes later, we left;

In the boat, I asked Mang Paquit where he's heading; he said Sta Fe...

When I was looking at google maps in the internet cafe earlier, I could see Sta Fe having a nice coastline; So, instead, I told Mang Paquit to forget about dropping me to Hambil and that we can go straight to Sta Fe.

It took us about 2 hours to get to Sta Fe in Tablas island (and the waves weren't easy in the middle).

Sta Fe, Tablas Island, Romblon

sand in Sta Fe, Tablas Island, Romblon

The island is surrounded by white sand, perhaps whole stretch of which is probably 10 times longer that the white beach of boracay. From the very end on the left to the opposite side in the right is all white sand.

Upon docking, we were met by Mang Paquit's sister in law, Aling Terna, and a drinking group (there's a wedding); From the shore, as they knew I was heading to Sta Fe which they assumed as Bayan/town proper, I was brought to the waiting shed where I am supposed to get a habal service. I told her to hold though as I want to charge my phone for the meantime since it's battery dead and i can't take pictures. He took my phone and went back to her house to charge (and she did not get back; when I asked the other people who met me in the shed, they said she was probably looking after my phone.. whoahhh! I was quite embarassed). Anyhow, I had no choice anyway since it is battery dead, so I just had halo halo for the meantime while running on conversations with the women there.

It was already 4 o'clock and I had to begin some exploration :-). When we were still in the waters, I could see a lighthouse in the right side of the island. I asked the women how long it will take me to walk to thee lighthouse, and they said probably 1 hour. So, I decided to approach ate Terna and begin the walk.

seaweed processing in Sta Fe, Tablas Island, Romblon

coast of Sta Fe, Tablas Island, Romblon

Along my marathon, I could see a family working on processing seaweeds so had a little chat. They culture the seaweeds, dry, and when done, ship it to Cebu where they proceed with the processing. I was told that the end product is a gulaman jelly. One of the workers there is bound for home which is just next to the lighthouse so I was told to go with him.

Sta Fe, Tablas Island, Romblon

seaweed processing in Sta Fe, Tablas Island, Romblon

Sta Fe, Tablas Island, Romblon

lighthouse in Sta Fe, Tablas Island, Romblon

After the lighthouse, I wanted to go to the far end of the island. I could see the blue shade of the reef so I thought it might be worth a look. I came across a family with a number of coconuts around; I was kind of thirsty so I asked if I can buy some buko; I was seeing some bukos in the ground, and they were what I asked; I was surprised though that Kuya went fast up the three and picked some fresh ones. He said those in the ground are for copra already. I had a long conversation and explaining and everything. It was beginning to go dar, so I insisted on my P20 bucks and left. The sunset was just along...

Sta Fe, Tablas Island, Romblon

When I reached Mang Paquit's house, I immediately looked for Ate Terna. There was a Kubo I came across and that time I intended to stay and rather hung my hammock around. The family who served me the buko said there will be a boat that will leave 7am for caticlan. However, because of that almost every guy in the sitio is drunk because of the wedding, I was told to stay in the Bayan instead.

I did not want anyone worrying for me so I said alright. She called in a motor service to drop me off to Bayan.

In bayan, there were 2 women in the bay. One of them is the loding house caretaker, the other is her friend, mayette. As I have not had my dinner yet, I asked where I can get some chow. All stores are closed though, and my only option is bbq. They walked me through and we all had bbq. After the bbq, we went back to the lodging house.

While walking back, mayette asked if I'd like to go videoke. They actually run a videoke house. We went straight there, had some beer, and 8 songs. By 10pm, since have to stop the videoke, I was brought next to the Perya. I lost P60 on three strikes in the colors game; while they were themselves trying their luck, I thought I was more secure with having beer. I walked towards a makeshift store, ordered a Gold Eagle mucho, and more and more talks with the vendor and the people there. Then, I was approached by some by stander who seem to want some beer. I gave some and we kept talking along with two more who came curious about my visit. It was past 12midnight when we left.

The morning after, I woke up just on time: 6:30am. The trip leaves at 7am through M/V Mary Jane (which the night before I thought was Meridien).