Nardias – The Farm
Backpackers and other trendy, uncomplicated folks who are traveling around and need a break for a couple of days or even for some weeks, then you should come over and join us.
Living for free in a native bamboo house, called kubo kubo. I’m a freaky Swiss girl who knows what backpackers like, cos I was one too many years ago and still now. Like being in places which are cheap, nice, friendly, and around with other great people in a good atmosphere, that’s a fact. Of course we wan’t serve you with 5 star hotel service which akes the lanudry, cook which will cook, or any other helpers or funny hostesses. Smile..
For that, I’ll promise you. A stay in a fantastic and beautiful place under coconut palm trees with a view over the sea. In only 15 minutes by down walk (300 meters) you’ll reach the romantic white beach with turquoise water. Simply perfect for snorkeling or chilling around. No tourism Scene, no dealing, no fakes only lovely local people will be around you. They like to be there for you, cook for you or do your laundry, if you wish. It’s all about you, feel free.
What else can you expect? See what happen in a day with only 12 hours electricity, how we cook with open fire, and what alternatives we can offer than watching TV. Climb the coconut tree, try to catch a coconut, learn how to open it, and look how we process the fresh mature nut into oil in 8 hours. I call an experience….
So if you are pretty sure and you don’t need any kind of luxury, or make an adventure fifty years back and you like the easy going life, I’m sure you’ll take plenty of impressions from our island for your further travel.
Why Nardias – The Farm?
Our duty is to improve jobs for the locals, giving them salary and work. We take the more difficult way to produce our cold pressed Virgin Coconut Oil in our farm on an island far away from the main cities, but with the best quality of coconuts and the happy helpers.
New members added to our family are 4 goat, and an almost one month old lamb, 4 chicken with a cock, and two gooses….A sight to be hold….
We’ll never be a resort, that’s not our intention. Our business is focused on Coconut Oil! For all that, we are happily offering some overstay, because we like travelers and for the locals it’s a nice exchange. We are rich in human, this we can offer and we don’t like to obligate for anything. Your satisfaction is your responsibility.
If you prefer a bungalow next to the see, just let me know, there are options available. Prices are between 500 and 1500peso per bungalow. You can come over for a visit and check out what we are doing. It would be a pleasure too, even it’s just a short stop.
Do you like some more information about the journey, the Philippines in general or you have some other requests, go ahead, just drop by an Email to info at nardias.ch
Little present as seeds for grass (planting for our goats for feed), any kind of magazin, lighters, pencils or cloth would be very welcome. And for the luxury a small cheesy would be nice…smile
GETTING TO THE PHILIPPINES
By Airplane to Manila (Ninoy Aquino Int. Airport) or Cebu City (Cebu Island)
By Boat from Malaysia to Tawi Tawi (Philippines)
Many unlicensed boats ply back and forth between the Malaysian state of Sabath and the southern Philippines, but note that these craft are often overloaded and poorly maintained.
By Boat from Sulawesi (Indonesia) to Davao (Mindanao Island)
Five passenger ferries sail from Bitung in northern Sualwesi , Indonesia to Davao via General Santos.
GETTING TO DALUPIRI ISLAND – NARDIAS THE FARM
By airplane from Manila to Catarman or Calbayog (Samar Island)
Asian Spirit Airlines flies to Catarman (Samar) on monday, thuesday and friday, to Calbayog (Samar) on thuesday, wednesday, saturday and sunday. (P3200-3800 one way). From there by jeepney or bus 1 hour to Victoria.
By bus from Manila to Victoria (Samar Island)
There are Philtranco, Silverstar and Ultrabus- busses daily from Manila (Pasay) to Matnog/Allen and finally Victoria (approx. 14 hours trip) . Fee ranges from P700 to P1100 Aircon one way. Aircon and non-aircon (ordinary) busses are available. With air-conditioned bus take a long shirt with you, it’s getting cold in a long journey.
By Ferryboat from Cebu City (Cebu Island) to Calbayog (Samar Island)
Departure is daily 8pm in Cebu, arrival in Calbayog 8am. It is a big ferry boat sleeping place and bar. Costs are around P600. From Calbayog by jeepney or bus 1 hour ride to Victoria.
By motorcycle from Allen (Ferryplace) to Victoria (Samar Island)
Take an open motorcycle ride to Victoria, from where one takes a motorboat trip to San Antonio in Dalupiri Island.
From Victoria (Samar Island) to San Antonio (Dalupiri Island)
From Victoria getting by boat (banka) special trip P150-P250 or with passenger boat P25 to San Antonio in Dalupiri Island, (15 minutes) available the whole day.
Note: If you need assistance for booking a flight or to make a bus reservation, just send an email to info@powerpure.ch
The high traveller saison for the locals are from march to june, 1th of november and christmas time. Be sure to book early.
Dalupiri Island – San Antonio
The island is blessed with many natural wonders and was even known to be a sanctuary of fish and birds, the reason why settlers from the mainland of Samar in the start of 19th century found this place a very ideal ground for fishing.
They come to the island to catch fish and hunt birds and goes back after a handful of catch. Cebuano and Boholano settlers came to the island in the second half of the 19th century and introduced a method of catching fish using net, called „laya“. Eventually, the island was first called MANOGLAYA which literally means „mano nga paraglaya“ or fishermen using laya.
A naturally blessed island with pristine white beaches and beautiful caves, rich culture, diverse interests, proud heritage and colorful history waits you, promising the most enchanting travel experience in the region.
San Antonio is only a dot in the world map but a closer look at the island is worth a treasure. With the massive ecological ruin that many parts of the world have been subjected to in the name of development, very few are the places left where the integrity of the oceans and the forests has remained intact.
The conservation of our marine and forest reserves and preservation of our culutral heritage are our humble accoolishements that have vecome our collective source of pride. The white beaches and the Lagbangan Lake are beatiful attractions to the tourists. For the locals and tourists alike, who love adventures and dare the elements, there are caves all around the island waiting to be explored. Two caves worth mentioning is that which are located in the mountain of Barangay Rizal and in the Nardias-The Farm in Barangay Ward III.
To our guests and travelers, we offer you a journey abounding with breathtaking sceneries, distinct sites, rich cultural heritage and the warmth of the people.
Note: Short important facts for staying in Dalupiri Island:
>Here we have electricity from 12noon to 12midnight.
> No internet available on the island.
> Not possible to change money. Here is no bank, western union or an ATM.
> No fruit or vegetable market. (bread, rice, food in cans, beer, rum, gin, coke
are available)
> Money should be not bigger than a P500 note. Best are P100, P50, P20
notes.
> No landline for fax or calls.
Note: only ideas for staying in Dalupiri Island or in general Philippines
> Night and day you can wear slippers (flip-flops)
> The whole year are shorts and shirts enough. (not for official), for Shopping
Malls and in Aircon Busses long will be better, it’s getting freezing.
> Raincoat or umbrella nice to have, for short but heavily rainfalls.
> Use high-factor sunscreen and wear dark glasses and a sunhat.
Around Dalupiri Island:
DONSOL – Whale watching
The peaceful fishing community of Donsol lies almost equidistant between Legaspi and Sorsogon Town; you can get there by frequent bus fromeither in less than two hours. The area around Donsol is best known for one of the greatest, concentrations of whale sharks in the wolrd, and your first stop in town should be the Visitor Centre. (daily 7am – 4pm) next to the town hall, where you can complete all the formalities of hiring a boat for a whale shark-watching trip. The number of sightings varies: during peak season (Dec-Jan), there’s a good chance of seeing ten or fifteen whale sharks – known locally as butanding – a day, but on some days you might strike out and see none.
Tourists intent on seeing the sharks are not allowed to board a boat, without first being breifed by a Butanding Interaction Officer (BIO), who explains how to behave in the water near one of these huge creatures. The number of snorkellers around any onw whale shark is limited to six; flash photography is not permitted, nor is scuba gear, and don’t get anywhere near the animal’s tail vecause it’s powerful enough to do you some serious damage. Take plenty of protection against the sund and a good book. Once a whale shark has been sighted you’ll need to get your mask, snorkel and flippers on and get in the water vefore it dives too deep to be seen.
Boat costs P2500 for up to six people, and there’s also a registration fee of ?300 for foreigner and P100 for Filippinos. Each boat has a crew of three, the captain, the BIO and the spotter, each of whom will expect a token of your appreciation (at least P100 to each person) at the end of a successful day (and even an unsuccessful one). All this makes it an expensive day out by Philippine standards, but take heart from the fact that your money is helping the conservation effort.
Sorsogon Town and Gubat
On the southeastern trip of the Bicol peninsula, Sorsogon Town, capital of the same-name province, makes a good base for visiting Donsol and exploring the beaches of the eastern seaboard, where waves hamer in from the Pacific and surfing is a growing industry. One of the nicest beaches is Rizal Beach, in the barrio of Gubat, a twenty-minute jeepney ride from Sorsogon.
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES
Entry requirements and visa extension
Most tourists do not need a visa to enter the Philippines for up to 21 days, though a passport valid for at least six month and an onward ticket to another country are required. After 21 days you can make extension for 59 days until 1 year, Fees between P2200-5000. (one exit per year is required). If you need more help or information, feel free to contact me. Info@powerpure.ch
Money
The Philippine currency is the peso. In Manila in the Tourist Area Malate/Ermita are you able to change all major foreign currencies. Just be carefull, count after getting the changed money back in front of the cashier. Don’t leave for counting.
Travellers cheques are not everywhere acceptable, can be problematic. However, if you are likely to be going off the beaten track, you should always have a ready supply of cash, in dollars or pesos: and ake sure you keep small denominations of pesos handy for transport and tips.
Kreditcards are only in major cities or tourist areas accepted.
Mobile-Phone
The Philippines has embraced the mobile-phone age with vigour, partly because sending text messages is cheap and because mobile netorks provide coverage in ares where landlines are limited. If you want to use a cellular phone bought abroad in the Philippines, you’ll need a GSM/Triband phone and before you leave home you’ll need to make sure the global roaming service is activated as well as checking charges for making and receiving calls. Another way of getting mobile access in the Philippines is to buy a local SIM card, available at dozens of mobile phones outlets, kiosks, food shops as sari sari and more for any of the country’s three mobile networks; Smart, Globe and SUN Cellular. Globe and Smart are good for traveling around, SUN for staying in Manila and area. Costing just P150 – 200, the card makes your home cell a member of a local network, but you’ll need to make sure before you travel that your phone isn’t looked to you local netword and have it unlocked if needed. Once you’ve inserted your local SIM card, you can buy prepaid cards, which come in units P100, P300 and P500, to make calls. Standard Rate domestic calls from mobiles cost from P6 a minute, short text are P1.
Basic mobiles in the Philippines are inexpensive, starting at less than P3000, so it can be worth buying one.
Time Difference
The Philippines is eight hours ahead of London (GMT), twelve hours ahead of New York, sixteen hours ahead of Los Angeles, two hours behind Sydney and four hours behind Auckland.
Medical resources for travllelers
www.istm.org
The website of the international Society for Travel Medicine, with a full list of clinics specializing in international travel health.
Philippines Information Websites
