Biri Island

A VISAYAN ESCAPE

San Barnandino Strait view from Biri Island during sunset. July 2016

Located between the San Bernandino Strait and Pacific Ocean, is where the 18-piece Balicuatro Group of Islands are located, one of which is Biri Island.  A 45-minute boat travel from the north-western tip of Samar Island would take you to these scenic views naturally packed with rugged coasts, slopes covered in free-flowing greens with a background sound of perfectly timed roars of the seas. A perfect moment that can be enjoyed as your me time or with family and friends.

Rugged landscape in Biri Island. July 2016.

The island is naturally laidback where locals and nature are living every day on a harmonious relationship. There are few establishments and roads free from exhaust fumes and heavy traffic. Well, part of the laidback atmosphere is the fact that electricity here is not available 24 hours and runs only from 12 noon to 12 midnight. Cellular signals are present though, but expect that these are weak at some parts. It is part of the experience so just go with it. With a serene community, tourists can be confident of their safety and can surely enjoy the trip. The locals are accommodating and warm too. One can find solitude in visiting this island very well-known for its seven massive rock formations found on its northern coast: Magasang, Bel-at, Magsapad, Caranas, Macadlaw, Puhunan and Pinanahawan.

Biri Island. July 2016

Rugged terrain matched with dancing greens. July 2016

I have visited this place on July of 2016, but I would recommend that you visit it on the dry season (late February to early June). Biri Island can be reached from Luzon Island by taking a ro-ro boat from Matnog, Sorsogon to Allen N. Samar. The trip took more than an hour and costs PHP 140.00 pesos ($3.00) including its terminal fee. From Allen N. Samar, you can take a tricycle to Lavezares N. Samar. Me and my friend paid PHP 300.00 ($6.00) total for the tricycle. From Lavazares, ride a passenger boat to Biri Island. The trip will take for more than an hour and will cost you 50.00 ($1.00). Be prepared as the total cost can be split to the number of its passengers. Brace yourself as the journey starts with the welcoming big and strong sea waves. I suggest that you drink a medicine before this trip.

Magsapad Rock Formation, Biri Island. July 2016

Upon arriving on Biri Island port, you can easily get your habal-habal (motorbike) to take you to your accommodation in the town’s center. The ride costs 10.00 pesos. Habal-habal is the most common mode of transportation in the island. Talk to your habal-habal driver because he will be your guide while you are on your trip. We could get a justifiable rate of PHP800 for the trip for two persons to Magasang and Bel-at rock formations.

Biri Island can be toured within the day. After arriving on our accommodation (Biri Resort Dive Center), we took a quick prep for our tour that day.

Things that I recommend you to bring:

     a. drinking water (there are no convenience stores in the tourist spots)

     b. foot sandals (you don't want to walk barefoot on sharp rock edges)

     c. some sweets or food

     d. hats and shades

     e. sun screen

      f. camera and an extra battery (expect tons of snapshots)

First stop, the Tourism Center, few minutes’ walk from the Biri Resort Dive Center, to pay a tourist fee that costs PHP 50.00 ($1.00). It is a minimal fee for the maintenance of tourism services in the island. Also, you can eat here since restaurants or food shops are not common in the island. The Tourism Center offers rice meals, pasta, sandwiches and the like. After defeating hunger, our journey continues.

MAGASANG ROCK FORMATION

On the way to our first stop, Magasang rock formation, one can already enjoy the picturesque view of the sea and the greens. The legend has it, as relayed by our habal-habal driver, that the rock formations are inhabited by fairies and one must keep quiet during the tour for not to disturb them. Also, as folks said that once there lived a lovely woman in the place named Berbinota, showing the resemblance of a woman's shape in the rock formation left of Magsapad's. From this woman is where the town took its name.

Magasang Rock Formation on the right. July 2016

View from the top of Magsapad Rock Formation. July 2016

In Magasang, one will have to walk through the concrete bridge to get access to the rock formation. From here, you can already see from a distance the Macadlaw and Puhunan rock formations covered in greens.

Concrete bridge leading to the Magasang Rock Formation. July 2016.

Bridge to Magasang. July 2016.

The waves are strong once you arrived the rock formation, path is slippery and there would be steep slopes, and I suggest you to be careful. But thanks to that waves, as through time it has created a masterpiece the Biri island treasures. The place resembles that of the green slopes of Batanes, where the grasses dances to the rhythm of the wind. This rock formation alone, already justified the cost of the trip.

View from the top of Magasang. July 2016

Natural wall back drop of Magasang. July 2016.

Magasang, Biri Island. July 2016

Kiko's friend on the ledge of a steep slope in Magasang. July 2016.

A man spends his afternoon in the beach. July 2016

BEL-AT ROCK FORMATION

After enjoying the Magasang, we are on our way to our next rock formation the Bel-At. It was a few minutes ride on the habal-habal from the Magasang to Bel-at. In Bel-at, you'll have to cross the wooden bridge matched with the lush vegetation of mangrove forests and coconut trees. At the end of the bridge, an amazing surprise awaits you: a big tidal pool that invites every visitor to take a dip on its cool waters. We took a swim and enjoyed the natural pool, but don't stop there. Go up to the top of the rock formation to get a wider view and a better snapshot.

Natural tidal pool in Bel-at rock formation. July 2016

View from the top of Bel-at rock formation. July 2016

View of Bel-at Rock Formation. July 2016

Try to walk around and you'll see more tidal pools that you can dip into. Also, different angles and different views of the rock formation will keep you in awe. The rocks were perfectly chiseled by time creating smooth edges and rugged lines perfectly matched together to create a natural masterpiece.

Biri Island. July 2016

Natural masterpiece. Biri Island. July 2016

The trip to the Bel-at rock formation ends our day trip to Biri Island and I call it quits. I got satisfied with what I saw and with what I experienced. This is not an ordinary island I should say and an experience I can be proud to share. But let's not just stick to the famous rock formations the island offers. It is also a good place go for camping, rock climbing, snorkeling, bird watching and surfing. Start to grab your bags now and start the trip that ROCKS.

San Bernandino Strait view from Biri Island. July 2016.

Kiko at Biri Island. July 2016.

Hiroshima, Japan. Its a Day Trip

HIROSHIMA, JAPAN:

Hiroshima Castle

It delighted me a lot seeing trams in Hiroshima. To my excitement, I quickly jumped on the tram that I needed and started to explore the city.

Hiroshima is a very famous place especially on history books due to the atomic bomb dropped by the Americans on the later part of World War II. Seeing the place now, decades after the war, Hiroshima stands at its own glory to continually remind the world about peace.

HIROSHIMA PEACE MEMORIAL PARK / ATOMIC BOMB DOME

The Hiroshima Peace Memorial, one of Hiroshima's well known landmarks, was preserved to commemorate the lives who sacrificed during the atomic bombing on August 6, 1945.

A few hundred meters from the Atomic Bomb Dome is where the Hiroshima Place Memorial Museum is located. It is normally open from 8:30 to 18:00. During the month of August, it closes at 19:00 while from December to February, it closes at 17:00. The fee is not expensive (50 yen) and one can grab the chance to understand more the facts in the museum about the tragic bombing.

One can reach the place by taking the tram line 2 or 6 from Hiroshima Station to Genbaku-Domu Mae station. The ride will approximately take 15 minutes and will cost you 160 yen.

HIROSHIMA CASTLE

From the Peace Memorial Park, one can visit the Hiroshima Castle. It is a 15-minute walk. Another option is taking  a 10-minute walk from Kamiyacho-Nishi or Kamiyacho-Higashi tram stop (a 12-minute ride from Hiroshima station by lines 1, 2 or 6 and will cost you 160 yen).

The main keep of the castle is normally open from 9:00 to 18:00 but during the months of December to February, it closes at 17:00. The fee to the main keep is only at 370 yen and the rest of the castle grounds is free.

The original Hiroshima castle was also destroyed during the 1945 bombing. What stands now is the replica of the original. It was rebuilt on 1958 and now serves as the museum for Hiroshima's history prior to World War II.

(I was also supposed to visit Shukkein Park. Unfortunately, the park was closed due to a tea ceremony.)

FOOD

To feel Hiroshima's rich flavour, one must try the local style of the "Okonomiyaki". It is a different swing compared to other okonomiyakis I tried. It has its own unique flavour and noodles making it stand out. I bet, you'll be coming back for more because its a two-thumbs up for me. Their okonomiyaki shops are scattered everywhere, so you'll never have a hard time looking for one. I tried the one in the train station, and it did not fail me.

Hiroshima style Okonomiyaki

Atomic Bomb Dome

Atomic Bomb Dome

View from the Hiroshima Memorial Museum facing the Atomic Bomb Dome

Hiroshima Castle

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Date of Trip: December 29, 2016

Day Trip in Tomonoura, Japan

TOMONOURA, JAPAN:

On this 2015 year end holidays, one of my trips is visiting Tomonoura.

Tomonoura is a simple port town 14 kilometers south of Fukuyama Station (35-minute trip by bus from the station) in the Numakuma Peninsula. Two reasons why I decided to make a visit here are:

1. I'm a Ghibli fan, and this location was where the creator found inspiration for his film Ponyo (you guys should watch Ponyo).

2. "The Wolverine" movie was shot here. I saw Hugh Jackman's photo on one of the town's park.

So I guess, those 2 reasons kept me very interested on this trip.

The place is simple yet so calming. You have a very good view of the sea, and of course lined with old picturesque Japanese houses. Its a walk back to yesterday in serenity.

Another advantage of this place is there are very few foreign tourists. Since all the sight-seeing spots are within reach, walking is very much enjoyable. You can take a good shot in your camera without photo bombers and of course a good selfie to serve as your souvenir.

Tomonoura town overview

Start your trip by taking a bus infront of Fukuyama Station. Buses bound for "Tomo Port" run every 20 minutes at bus stop No. 5. There were no English signs and I just asked the bus driver for confirmation. The trip is around 30 minutes (520 yen) going to the "Tomonoura" bus stop, and  35 minutes (550 yen) to the "Tomo Port" bus stop.

The "Tomonura" bus stop is near the visitors' center. For my case, I proceeded to the "Tomo Port". From the bus stop, walking to the attractions is recommended. You could take snapshots of those classic and lovely houses and alleys of the town.

I went immediately to the "Joyato Lighthouse". It is around 35 feet tall and serves as a symbol of the town.

Joyato Lighthouse

To get better views of the town and its bay, I recommend you to go to the Ioji temple. It is  a 15 minute ascent up the hill. The hike going up is steep, but indeed worth it.

Tomonoura town view from Ioji temple

You could also take pictures of the town and its bay from its pier. On the eastern part of the bay there is a long pier that one could stroll and enjoy the scenery.

Another famous attraction here is the Bentenjima island. Ferries touring around the island are available and its ferry station can be found between the "Tomonoura" and "Tomo Port" bus stop. If you have no plans of going to the island, I recommend you take a photo from the Fukuzenji temple. From its temple window, you could get good framing for your photos. Fukuzenji Temple has an admission of 200 yen and is on a top of a hill near the "Tomo Port" bus stop.

Fukuzenji Temple

A day visit to the Tomonoura is very satisfying. I hope you could enjoy it as well. Send me your comments if you find this article helpful.

Ponyo figurines in Tomonoura

Ponyo fountain along the alley

JR Fukuyama Station

Date of trip: December 28, 2015

Kiko Blogger 2015