Novare SDG Team Building - Caliraya, Laguna - Part 1

The Novare SDG team had a team building at Caliraya, Laguna last Nov 12 and 13. The Microwarehouse BlackBerry team was very lucky to be included on this event. The head of SDG decided to include us on the cost, thank you Boss!! I heard the company gave a very generous budget this year, so they wanna go out with a bang! It took like a month to prepare this outing, from accommodation to transportation. There were 30+ people who attended the outing, excluding the ex/non-Novarians who got invited. 

The agreed meeting place was in Peninsula Court (office building) at 7am.

 Half of the crew

To check the map of Caliraya visit http://www.caliraya.net/manila.aspx

The enjoying part was the convoying carpool of 7 different vehicles on the stretch of SLEX, the stop overs and gotten lost from time to time. lol. I was in Val's car with Lawrence and driving it was Philip. 

The official driver, Philip.

My seatmate, Lawrence

 

Val

Check out the video I took as we get near the place.

 

 
There's a 2-3minute boat ride waiting at the docking station that will bring you on the other side of the lake.

Welcome to Caliraya's lobby

The corporate package that we got includes the following:

• Entrance fee to the resort (Check in time 2:00PM / Check out: 12:00nn) 
• Ferry boat ride (Approximatelt 2-3minutes)
• Overnight accomodation (airconditioned with cable TV)
• Fullboard meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner (eat-all-you-can) and merienda/snacks in between meals.
• Facilities you may avail and enjoy for free!

- Swimming pool

- Slide pinoy (Mini zipline)

- Their famous slip and slide (Mudslide)

- Earth ball game (I LOVE THIS!!!!)

- Use of house of prayers

We had our lunch and went to our respective rooms and we're advised to be back at 2PM to start our a la amazing race team competition.

We rented 3 dorms, each has a capacity of 15pax


5 double deck beds can be found on the first level and 5 mattresses are on the 2nd floor.


We found a beagle at the resort. He's so cute, they named him Charlie!

The beautiful ladies of Novare.

Bohol 2011 - Day 3 - Island Hopping (Virgin Island)

The last stop for that day was the Virgin Island, just 20 minutes away from the Balicasag Island. They called it Virgin Island because no one lives on this island. The island is clearly an additional attraction in Panglao, Bohol due to its long stretch of white sand beach during low tide. 

As soon as we arrived at the docking station a swarm of vendors headed towards us to sell different kinds of sea creatures from a variety of fishes, sea urchins (swaki) , shells, star fish and a lot more. If you want to make the most of your Bohol experience try the sea urchin. No, I did not try it. I had enough Tamilok (wood worm) from Palawan already. lol.

Also called the Oasis Island

 Mark just found his Starfish

 Mark and Mike were making fun of the 2 starfish they found

 And yes, I love the water! lol

 Jaydee

 The weather is so hot you have no choice but to dip into the water

We stayed for about 1 hour in the island. We even had coconut juice on our way back to the docking area. I get to do some chit-chatting with the vendors in the island. lol. They told me how they would go to the island everyday from mainland just to do a small business of selling refreshments and would eventually go back to the mainland in the afternoon. 

We noticed an island across the virgin island, travel time would most likely be 30 minutes. I asked the vendor what island is it. She said they call it the cat island. Because it's where people would put stray cats.

Our traveler feet. lol 

Back to Dumaluan. Look how low tide it was! 

We decided to make the most of our day in the resort since it will be our last day. After a quick shower we went to the resort's restaurant and just relaxed. Watching people pass by while having a merienda by the beach.

We had pancit guisado, all meat pizza and moist chocolate cake. When the food arrived I was surprised with the presentation but what made me more surprised was the taste. The food was great! I love it. All the time I was chewing I just kept mumbling. lol. Even the mango shake left me speechless! You really should try dining in their restaurant.

Jaydee chillin'

 My mango shake

 The pancit guisado, Yum!

 All meat pizza and Mark, Yummy!!

 The moist chocolate cake

We had a quick drink at the resorts bar. I had a bottle of beer and munch on some mojos. lol. I never intend to drink a lot that night as the feeling of have not yet recovered from the drunkenness still haunts me. lol. Just so you know I had the worst hangover when I traveled that Saturday to Bohol. We went back to our room at 11:30pm to get some rest as we need to prepare for our flight the next day back to Manila.

Mojos and beer are perfect!

I was having second thoughts on going to Bohol as it has not been two years since the last time I was there with friends. But I know I made a right decision to go back. Sometimes I would tell my friends if I win in the lottery I would like to buy a rest house in Bohol. The place did not disappoint me. From people to places - it just did not. I would love to go back to this place and maybe, just maybe retire to this place.

Bohol 2011 - Day 3 - Island Hopping (Dolphin and Balicasag)

Good morning Panglao! Our 3rd day in Bohol was more on water activities. On our day two I asked the hotel reception if we could make an island hopping reservation for the next day. The boat fee is Php2500. I deposited Php500 and was advised that we will be picked up at 6:00AM. Our itinerary consists of Dolphin watching, Snorkeling at Balicasag Island and Virgin Island.

We woke up at 5:00AM and had breakfast as early as 5:30AM and at 6:30AM we are on our way to see the dolphins. It's like an hour boat ride from Dumaluan to the Dolphin watching area near Balicasag Island. By the time we arrived in the area it's already almost 8:00AM and as per boatman, during this time the only specie of dolphins that we will be able to see are the flat nosed dolphins. By the way there are two types of dolphins that can be seen in the waters of Bohol. The flat nosed and bottled nose dolphins.

Good morning Mark and Mike! 

First stop, Dolphin watching - we knew it right then that we've arrived in the area when we saw several boats circling around and not so long enough we get to see a group of dolphins ahead. I was so excited that I almost fell off the boat trying to be in front of it. lol.

 Our first encounter with the dolphins

And another

Watch my video of a dolphin jumping. Forgive me for yelling on this video. I was just so ecstatic to see a dolphin. lol. We stayed for about 20minutes.

Not too far from the Dolphin watching area is our second stop, Balicasag Island - is a 400 meter marine sanctuary of healthy corals where you can do snorkeling and diving. You can explore the island in 45minutes. The island is covered with palm trees and different species of bougainvilleas. The sands are white and there's a lighthouse tower in the middle of the island. Although we're not able to check the lighthouse I can assure you that it has two (old and new). 

This is the picture of the lighthouse (new) when we visited Bohol in May 2010

Anyway, let's do what we came here for, Snorkeling! There's a Php150ea. entrance fee on the sanctuary. If you do not have a snorkeling gear you may want to rent for Php150ea. as well as the aqua shoes for Php300ea but since we already have a snorkeling gear provided by the resort only get to pay Php450 (aqua shoes and entrance fee). 

You can also have your lunch here in the island. They have a "paluto", you can buy fresh seafood or meat and you can tell them how you want it to be cooked for a fee (Php250). To be honest, we really kind of spent too much on this island but I told them it's the only source of income for the people in the island that consist of 100 families (aside from fishing, ofcourse). So I guess we can just consider it as a help to them. Just be friendly! I guess it also helped that I'm able to speak and understand their native language, we're able to negotiate on the food prices. lol.

Motorboats are not allowed on the Marine sanctuary, you have to transfer to a smaller boat for you be brought to the snorkeling area.

 The fishies!! These are the same fishies I saw in Palawan but a bit bigger and more friendly!

And here is Mark, just sitting on the edge of the boat. I didn't know that he cannot swim. lol. We were like teasing him because he was like too scared to even dip his head on the water. lol. So that explains why he never do diving even on the pool, he just stand there. lol. Mike and I were laughing while snorkeling because Mark even payed for an aqua shoes and snorkeling gear that he never even get to use. lol. Peace Mark! But he said he's pretty much enjoying just staying on the edge of the boat feeding fish.

 Me and Jaydee

 Mike

 More fishies!

 and more

We stayed for like an hour just snorkeling. When we got back to the land our lunch was ready! We had Sweet & Sour Lapu-lapu and Fried Chicken. I'm not saying that I am a great cook but I kinda thought that they could have done better on the food. =P

And so after lunch we headed to the Virgin Island.

Bohol 2011 - Day 2 (Tarsier, Chocolate Hills, Man-Made Forest)

Fifth stop, Tarsier watching - And so the Tarsier and I meet again. Last year you can do tarsier viewing on different places in Bohol on your way to Chocolte Hills but just recently, following an order issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, over a hundred of Tarsiers have been transferred to its natural habitat.

When we came to this 5.90-hectare tarsier conservation area, There were no entrance fee, only donations, but according to a memo posted - starting on Oct 29 2011, they have to ask for a Php20 entrance fee. This is for the maintenance of the place located at Barangay Bonbon. Approximate time you might spend: 30 - 45 minutes. 

Mark as a Tarsier? lol

 

Look! It's no bigger than Mark's palm. 

Tarsiers are subjected to stress as many visitors or tourists want to interact with them by day thus disrupting and disturbing their nocturnal lifestyle and this causes them to do suicide. If they feel distress or unhappy they bang their heads against hard objects (trees, cages etc). It is said that tarsiers are to live up to 24 years in the wilds, while in captivity its a little more than 12 years. Since these little primates are near to its extinction, selling or trading of this specie is prohibited.  For more info http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_tarsier

Sixth stop, Chocolate Hills, It was raining when we left the tarsier habitat. The driver said we should visit the Chocolate hills first before the man made forest. There's a Php50 entrance fee to this observation hill. You gotta be prepared going to this place. lol. It's exhausting! There are a total of 214 steps to the view deck. Whew! Don't worry there are resting stations on the left side every after, I think 20 steps. Haha!

 

 Jaydee, still poised while taking the 214 steps

 

As for me? I had to rest at the second station! lol

You know what's funny? I had to take a different route I just can't do the stairs, the flight of the stairs are quite high for me. Kill me instead! And so I took the ramp and it turned out I was the first to reach the top among my friends! lol.

 

And finally I made it to the top for this picture. lol You really have to get there on top. I swear the view is breathtaking! Mike and Mark just can't get enough of the view so they had to take A LOT of pictures! lol

There are a total of 1,776 hills surrounding the town of Carmen, below the hills you will see rice fields and trees. During the dry season, the grass-covered hills dry up and turn chocolate brown-ish therefore naming it Chocolate hills. For more info http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chocolate_Hills Approximate time you might spend: 1hour

Seventh and last stop, Man Made Forest in Bilar, There was a nationwide reforestation program launched by the government under, then president, Diosdado Macapagal in the 1960's. In Bohol, thousands of Mahogany seedlings were planted on a cleared area of Bilar and Loboc towns. For many years now, the lush green forest has been enjoyed by everyone who passes through it.Thousands of Mahogany trees can be seen along the road as you travel to Chocolate Hills. A side-trip to the forest is refreshing as the ambiance is cool and peaceful.

Jaydee and Mark

Mark

Mike and the Mahogany tree

Ooopppss, pasalubong buying. lol

A lot would ended up doing a "pictorial" on this place. Some would even lay on the road. This is understandable since the place is really alluring. Seeing the a lot of trees standing straight and so tall and all of them are with the same height. You just have to be keen on motorist or vehicles that would pass or else.. Approximate time you might spend: 15-20minutes

And we're one of those people. lol

I think we're trying to do a jump shot here. lol

 

 Jaydee, Mark and Mike.

And the tour ended at 3PM. Yes, we're exhausted but we can't complain. We enjoyed it so much. The driver brought us back to the resort safe and sound. The Php2500 van rental is so worth it!

 Mike, underwater

Mark and the sunset

 Dumaluan beach resort at sunset from the ocean

We took a quick rest and then went swimming at the beach till sunset, had dinner at DBR Grill where we had Pork Sinigang, Grilled liempo and Shake! Mmmmm..Yum! And then back to swimming (at the pool) Yeah, we're definitely having a time of our life! Tomorrow, is when we'll see the fishies!