In the Middle of Summer – My Caluya Adventure | April 2008
It was the middle of summer and it had been raining for a week already. I was mostly spending my time in my room, staring at the computer all day because the weather wasn’t all that great. I was bored, itching to go out of the house and do something more exciting. My phone’s ringing woke me up one morning and my friend (on the other line) mentioned that he was going to Caluya on that very day for a photoshoot/news coverage that he was going to do. I quickly screamed my excitement and jealousy at him and in return he invited me … well sort of (it was more like a kind gesture). I took it seriously though since it’s not everyday that I get the opportunity to go to Caluya.
While I was enjoying the scenery during the trip, I listened to a song that really captured what I was feeling that very moment. So please play this song as you read my post and browse through the pictures that I took during my trip.
In case you’re wondering where Caluya is, it’s a town in Northern Antique Province. It is composed of a group of islands approximately 36kms off the coast of Panay. The most famous of the islands is Semirara, where one of the largest Coal Mine in Asia is operated. I’m sure you’re familiar with Boracay, well, Caluya is in the same area as Boracay only that Caluya is 3 hours away by boat from the mainland instead of the 5 minute boat ride to Bora.
After a minute of planning, 10 minutes of packing and getting ready, 20 minutes travel time, I was already in the terminal, where the vans heading to San Jose, Antique are stationed. We arrived at San Jose (the capital of Antique) after 3 hours and talked to some locals. They advised us not to go on with the trip because of the bad weather and told us that the waves there can get really gigantic. What’s worse was that it was already raining really hard when we got there. After a bit of thinking, we decided to push through with the plan anyways.
From San Jose we rode a grueling 3 hour bus ride to Libertad, Antique, where we spent the night. At about 3am the next day, we woke up to catch the boat going to Caluya. Let me tell you about the boat: It’s made of wood and looks like a pump boat only that it’s a lot bigger and can hold almost a hundred people + cargo. It was crowded, noisy, and really smelly. I’ve heard about this kind of ships before, they’re called “Lancha” or Barges and they have a good track record of sinking during big storms.
To our relief it didn’t rain that early morning (yet). In fact, the sea was so calm and the moon was almost full. The atmosphere was just perfect! We were seated at outside portion of the ship’s front deck when a slight drizzle came, which started to get stronger and stronger. Since the inside part of the ship was crowded we had no choice but to go inside the ship’s “basement” (not sure what it is called exactly). It’s the part of the ship where they put the cargo like ohh say: Rice, Poultry and Livestock feeds, and Live Pigs …. yes! there were pigs and they were smelly but we had no choice. Good thing I was able to doze off.
When I woke up, it was already dawn and my Caluya Adventure already started. In the island, we got to meet some public officials that toured us around. The storm ended that day and we were blessed with the summer heat! The place was beautiful and the people were very friendly and accommodating (not to mention, good looking). It was great having to spend two days in paradise! I had a lot of fun but I couldn’t help but miss my friends and wishing they were with me.
After my trip to Caluya ended and I’ve already arrived at the mainland. I wasn’t prepared to go home yet and wanted to see more sights before I return home. I decided to go to Boracay to visit another friend. Luckily, I found a jeep that goes straight to Caticlan from Libertad. My journey continued and I experienced another first …. going to Boracay via Antique!
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chymera00
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July 15, 2008 ;
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16 July 2008 at 12:26 am #
if Amazing Race knocks on my door, hell man, i’ll ring you to be my pakner!
20 September 2008 at 1:57 pm #
that was so kind of you to post such nice pictures here, i even know one person from here, c mrs. aguirre,hehe! this place..well, its paradise, our paradise!
21 September 2008 at 7:11 am #
Thanks. Absolutely love your place! Paradise gd man.
13 November 2008 at 4:23 pm #
Iloilo City is paradise! I miss you guys!
14 November 2008 at 1:25 pm #
marc,
tnx for posting thiz bro. can u pls tell me whats the most interesting thing to visit or experience in thiz island. having a plan to visit guimaras for the 2nd time when im home this summer , im thingking going to caluyan island as well. thnks and u take care
13 December 2008 at 1:38 pm #
Aside from its fine beaches, you should totally try eating their coconut crab, I haven’t tried myself because there weren’t any available when we went there. The people there said their coconut crab is unlike others because it is colored bluish and not black and it tastes better.
You also should try eating Sea Urchins (tirik)! They have tons of them there, you can gather a whole sack just by walking along the shore. I know it’s kind of gross, but if you have an adventurous spirit, no allergies to seafoods, or don’t have a sensitive stomach then give it a try! The locals said that it’s an aphrodisiac, I’ll let you decide if what they’re saying is true. I’ve tried them raw, grilled, and “adobo”. The adobo tirik tastes more palatable for most but I like the salty/sweet raw taste better.
26 December 2008 at 4:09 pm #
nice shots! grabe ang galing mong kumuha.
28 December 2008 at 3:07 am #
thanks ^_^
28 December 2008 at 6:35 pm #
wish i could go back to caluya.
28 January 2009 at 5:02 pm #
WOW!
kanami sang lugar namun ba.
gusto q na gd da magpuli.hehe.
btw,ri q sa iloilo gatuon subong.hehe.
10 February 2009 at 5:05 pm #
nice, nice and nice! brings me back home…momentarily
12 February 2009 at 1:39 am #
ahhh.. When I see the photos, I also want to go back to Caluya. It’s such a beautiful place filled with very nice people. Alluring guid ya.
[...] and I was dying to set forth on another ultimate adventure, just as I did last year when I visited Caluya Islands in Antique. While I was on my usual rounds of the city, my friend Tara (an excellent photographer I look up [...]
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