Went with the IT Department to Puerto Galera in Mindoro last weekend. I decided to drive to make it more convenient for the girls as well as for GPS data gathering. So with my Garmin Foretrex GPS unit recording a track, I picked up the girls from various points early in the morning. The rest of the boys took the bus.
The trip took about 3 hours taking us through the South Luzon Expressway, the Star Tollway, several national roads, and finally to the Batangas Port where we caught the 5AM boat.
We were informed that boats are scheduled at 15-minute intervals. To our– and the other passengers’– irritation, “15-minute intervals” actually was just one boat waiting for a whole hour! Thankfully, the boat eventually filled up and finally left the pier and in about 2 hours we were in White Beach in Puerto Galera. Aby– who organized the trip (Thanks Aby!)– and her friend Maica welcomed us to our accommodations.
We wasted no time and went boating and snorkeling. We had late lunch at Portofino in Sabang. Everything was expensive so we just ordered pizza. Fortunately, it was good. The dough was soft and chewy. The topping was also nice with the mozzarella especially good. After lunch, we went back to the beach, rode the banana boat, had dinner. Then it was time to get wasted :P
The next day, we packed up, had lunch, caught the 1:45PM boat and sailed back to Batangas where Aby and Maica joined us in the car. The drive back was slower due to the traffic and the heavier load. But, with the help of the GPS unit, we still made good time and was back in Manila just before dark.
Looking back, it was a great trip. Puerto Galera was, as usual, crowded. Not good in my book. But this trip was definitely the most fun I ever had there. I guess in the end, the most important thing is not where you are but who you’re with.