CARAMOAN│Matukad Island: My Most Favorite Island Destination

Our Island adventure begin when we left Bikal port about 2 in the afternoon and ride a medium sized boat with our tour guide Kuya Joseph. After passing by so many beautiful Islands, we didn't imagine that we'll land on this mesmerizing Island.

From a far, you'll see this beautiful huge rock inviting you to swim on its bluish waters from your boat up to the shore. This view is just a glimpse and be ready to unveil the beauty you never seen before and I tell you, you don't want to leave this Island after your first step!

After an hour we finally docked at the Matukad's shore. My first Matukad Island step was so unforgettable. I feel like stepping on a "Pulboron", (a filipino delicacy composed of powdered milk, sugar, and flour) and I can help but to enjoy it like a child.

The time we visited this Island, the locals are cleaning the whole Island because Survivor India will held their episode shoot there, luckily we went there first, we might not experienced this beautiful island. Imagine it's beauty that made foreign Survivor team keep coming back Caramoan?

Matukad Island got it's name from local term "Mataas" or Steep based on how limestone rocks appears around the Island. In this picture, this limestone rock formation got my attention, it looks like a throne of the ocean's king situated at the front of the shore.

Behind this spiny rocks lies an intriguing mystery. Our tour guide told us a story about a mysterious "Bangus" or milk fish that made the Island more popular.

See how spiny those rocks? It would seriously scratch your skin if you're not that cautious. Be careful upon holding and stepping on it, always follow what your guide told you to do so, like where you should step and hold on to.

Upon reaching the top, here's the Matukad Lagoon where the 6 kilos milk fish reside for about 20 years. Would it really be true that a fish can live this long? Unusual but true.Then after seeing the lagoon and heard about the story (click to discover it), we climbed a little more to move to a certain spot where you can appreciate the whole Island. 

Wow! the only word I said. This spot is so perfect I never regretted I had stone scratches and bruises on my legs. From here, you'll see how beautiful the whole Island is. See those Islands on our background? How about those sea grasses saying hi from the waters?


This is the other point of the perfect spot, here our background is Matukad's shore together with the beautiful huge rock. And see where we docked our boat, the area we came from down there?  Weew, a little bit tiring but it's really worth it.


Here's the perfect view from the perfect spot! Now you know why I really love this Island! I never imagined I could see this kind of scenery that I only saw on paintings.


After the rock climbing challenge, get tired and bathe in so much heat and sweat (eeew) we immediately plunge into Island's cold bluish waters. So relaxing and so fun! Moreover, we enjoyed snorkeling around  as well.


I wasn't able to catch good underwater pictures that time but able to saw beautiful fishes even though the water is too shallow (about 1 ft. high). I can say that the Island is still rich from natural resources and nature.


I will never forget this great Island for its beautiful scenery, rock formations, powdered pure white sand, stories, snorkeling, rock climbing and swimming. All in one Island! That was my first time to do and see all those things in one particular place. So perfect, so beautiful. I know every people, adventurous or not, will definitely enjoy this place. I swear that you will really love this Island like I do. (this picture was taken under the huge round rock). After leaving the Island, I promised to myself that I will come back and hug this Island once again.

HAPPY GALA!
---felicitousgalaera :)

CARAMOAN│The Journey To The Mysterious Bangus

Caramoan has so many hidden beautiful beaches and Islands but there's a mystery behind one of it.
The most beautiful and the first Island we visited was Matukad Island. This Island has the finest sand among the Islands. You'll be mesmerized by its beautiful limestone formation as well, but behind these rocks lies a huge mystery.

Unveiling the mystery  isn't that easy, you should climb these rocks and reach the top to see the lagoon that houses it. Ok let's get it on!

We have to pass this challenge to know the mysterious thing that made people amazed and elude at the same time. It's not that hard to climb these beautiful limestone formation. It's not that sharp and there are plenty of branches that you can hold on to. Actually it's an advantage for rock climbers and mountaineers, but if you have the guts, muscle strength and endurance you'll definitely reach the top!



At last we're here. After Ascending those rocks, you have to descend in able get near the lagoon. We waited for awhile for the mysterious creature living here.

 Luckily we saw it, looks like it's finding for food and it's going towards our direction.

According to our tour guide, the story behind this 6 kilos mysterious fish happened  about 20 years ago, where 2 Bangus "milk fish" with unknown origin lived in this lagoon. During that time a man with his son went out to search for food for their family, unexpectedly, they found the said lagoon hidden behind the limestone rocks. They saw the 2 milk fishes, caught 1, brought it home and ate it. The day after, the family died. Since then, no one ever tried to catch the Bangus left anymore. No one also know what's the gender of the said fish. I ask our tour guide, why shouldn't they put a couple of Bangus there so that it will have some friends hehe, plus they can breed that bangus to other bangus and it will live happily ever after!hehe. They just prefer to leave it like that share to tourists.
Hope you can see this mystical bangus and experience the challenge as well!

August 1,2011

Happy Gala!

---felicitousgalaera :)