A VISAYAN ESCAPE
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| Biri Island. July 2016 |
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| Magasang Rock Formation on the right. July 2016 |
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| 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.
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| Concrete bridge leading to the Magasang Rock Formation. July 2016. |
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| 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.
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| View from the top of Magasang. July 2016 |
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| Natural wall back drop of Magasang. July 2016. |
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| Magasang, Biri Island. July 2016 |
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| Kiko's friend on the ledge of a steep slope in Magasang. July 2016. |
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| 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.
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| Natural tidal pool in Bel-at rock formation. July 2016 |
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| View from the top of Bel-at rock formation. July 2016 |
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| 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.
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| Biri Island. July 2016 |
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| 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.
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| San Bernandino Strait view from Biri Island. July 2016. |
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| Kiko at Biri Island. July 2016. |
