Unexpected trip to Occidental Mindoro

We paid around Php 900.00 each at the Transport Roro Bus (EDSA Cubao near Santolan beside Petron gas station Quezon City), hand carry bags have no extra charges. Aside from our road trip from Cubao to Batangas, this bus fare already include our Roro transport from Batangas City pier to Abra de Ilog pier and the road trip from Abra de Ilog to San Jose, Occidental Mindoro. It’s better to ask for the scheduled trips first and to buy ticket earlier, before packing your things to avoid camping at the terminal.

Cubao to Batangas around 4 hours, because there are a lot of bus stops.

Roro Batangas City pier to Abra de Ilog pier around 2 hours

Abra de Ilog to San Jose around 5 hours

From San Jose bus terminal, there are a lot of tricycle drivers waiting for passengers.You have to be careful. Good thing, I already contact my cousin to fetch us at the terminal. According to my cousin the tricycle fare from San Jose to Monteclaro is Php 40.00 per person. Their tricycle can load up to 10 person, just imagine how it looks like. Three passengers inside, another three passengers at the side of the driver and the other passengers will sit at the top of the tricycle.

We visit our relatives at Monteclaro, it’s around 1-2 hours long trip. The ride is fun, it’s like riding a Ferris wheel. We pass several mountains, rice fields, corn fields, tobacco plantations, and rivers. It’s a wonderful experience. ^___^

Monteclaro

Mangyan Village

Living at the province with fresh air, fresh vegetables and surrounded by different farm animals was really great.

Turkey's nest

Shells and clams from rice field water canals

Little fish at the Aroma Beach Resort in San Roque, San Jose, Occidental Mindoro.

No entrance fee, you can just swim at the beach.

From Monteclaro we went to Amaling to visit some of our relatives, it’s around 1 hour trip. We passed by “Bato Ile”, they said that this river is enchanted. There are stories that this river take some of the swimmers.

When I was young, we use to swim there and as we stay longer, the water on the river becomes deeper.

Going back.. here's a photo of Amaling. We harvested some onions, they call it “magsagraw”.

And it’s a long walk going back to the road.. ^__^

From Monteclaro we ride a tricycle going back to San Jose. And from San Jose we ride a bus going to Sablayan (Php 150.00 per person), around 4-5 hours trip. We also visit some of our relatives.

We pass on a river during our trip, I feel lucky to see that crystal clear river.

From Sablayan market we ride a tricycle going to Alag (Php 20.00 per person), maybe it’s less than an hour trip.

They caught some fish, they call fishing as “mangangawil’.

From Alag we went to Ilvita, also to visit some of our relatives. It’s a 1 hour drive. The mountains looks like Chocolate Hills.

Here’s what you can see at Ilvita, Sablayan

It's a Pakak tree (very tall)

During our way back home, we ride this hand tractor up to Sablayan market, then we waited for a bus.

I really enjoyed my stay at Occidental Mindoro… ^__^ and meet a lot of relatives.

#philippines #occidentalmindoro #trip #ilvita #sablayan #monteclaro #amaling #province