Saturday, August 05, 2006

Basilan: Off the beaten track in Basilan

Today, I visited Basilan. Just the mere mention of the name evokes fear among those unfamiliar with the place. Every time I told someone that I was on my way to Basilan, I received a shocked response. Who would want to visit Basilan anyway? But if not for the bad publicity brought by the Abu Sayaff many years back, Basilan would be a perfect ecotourism destination if developed properly.

I was planning to get up early today but that didn't work. I was still unusually tired. Anyway, instead of the early morning fast craft to Isabela City in Basilan, I was able to catch the 9:30 a.m. The fare for a first class ticket was PHP130. The ordinary seats at PHP100, although also air-conditioned, are usually jampacked. So the extra PHP30 was worth it. I arrived in Basilan about an hour later.

Greeting you as you entered the port were villages on stilts and the minarets of mosques at the center of these communities. From the port, I took a short walk up to the provincial capitol where I decided to take a tricycle to the passenger terminal to Lamitan. My first stop for the day was a waterfalls in the heart of a town made infamous by the sensational clashes between the military and the Abu Sayaff a while back. And here I was on my way there for a visit!

I took a commuter van to Lamitan which was about 27 kilometers away from Isabela. The trip costed PHP40. I was expecting to see bad roads after all that fighting years back but I was impressed since the roads to Lamitan were very well-paved, not a sign of the hostilities that ensued in the past.

As soon as I arrived in Lamitan, I asked around on how to could get to Bulingan Falls. I was pointed to a motorcycle-for-hire who agreed to take me there for PHP100. It was fair enough since the falls were quite far. I would figure it was a 10-kilometer trip from the town proper to the falls, which was bumpy most of the way and quite muddy at times. The trip took me deeper into Lamitan town which I'm sure used to be evacuated often before when hostilities between the Abu Sayaff and the military were ongoing.

You could still feel the turbulent past of the area since we passed by several military check points and camps along the way. One thing which surprised me was that the barangays going to the falls were predominantly Catholic since each had a little chapel. I didn't see a mosque either. It seems most of them could be found in the coastal areas.

Bulingan Falls was not tall at all. But what made it nice were the square shaped rocks from which the water cascaded down to the pool below. You could see that the falls was frequented by tourists since the mayor had the banks cemented and built several picnic huts on the side. They could have done a better job though.

It was then back down that dirt road to the town proper. Lamitan town has been turned into another of those nondescript Philippine communities. And the only distinguishing landmark in the center of town is the statue of its founder Datu Kalun.

From Lamitan, I took a commuter van back to Isabela City. It was about 1 p.m. and after lunch, I decided to take a walk back to the pier. My plan was to take the last ferry back at 5:30 p.m. but since the weather was unpredictable, it would drizzle then the sun would come out, I decided to take the 3:30 p.m. trip back to Zamboanga.

Since I had time to spare, I asked about Malamawi Beach. It turns out, Malamawi is the island just across the port. And the beach on one side of the island was known to locals as White Beach obviously because of the white sand. There are frequent commuter pump boats which take passengers across the strait for PHP5. So since I had a lot of time, I decided to check it out.

The trip across was just about 5 minutes. At the opposite end, motorcycles-for-hire were waiting to take you to any point on the island. I was charged PHP20 one-way which was not bad. Again, it was off the beaten track since once you left Barangay Carbon proper, there were no roads, just motorcycle trails.

It was quite a distance and the trip took you to the other side of the island, passing by small communities living in vast mangrove forests. Among the obstacles we had to avoid were the occasional cows grazing amongst the thick vegetation along the path.

We finally arrived at the beach. And I wished I had brought my swimming gear! When visiting Malamawi White Beach, it's best that you go with a group and take a pump boat straight to the place. If you're alone, you'll have to make arrangements with the motorcycle to come back for you at a later time.

There were a lot of run down beach huts and picnic tables all over the place; but just a small group of tourists enjoying the white sand. Sometimes you'd realize there are so many underrated beaches all over the country worth visiting, little pieces of paradise secretly tucked away for those diligent enough to search for them and enjoy the serenity they offer.

After a few photos, it was back to Barangay Carbon, and then back to the port of Isabela just across. Again, I purchased a first class ticket which was a passport to comfort since I did not have to join the rat race into the fast craft since only a few people buy the said tickets.

By the time we neared Zamboanga, I was already very dizzy. It was an ordeal walking back to the pension house. But I decided to take a quick snack at Tini's where I bought my favorite roti telor and roti kosong (flour pancakes accompanied with curry dip). When I got back to the pension house, the next thing I knew was I was asleep again. I made sure I got enough rest since I had to be up early to catch the boat to Santa Cruz Island the next day.

15 comments:

  1. Do you record how many miles you travel each year? Last time I checked your blog you were near Bontoc. And now you are in Basilan. You are faster than I can surf the internet!
    Enjoy your travels. (and yes I am a bit jealous) ;-)

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  2. Hi Sidney, welcome back! Now that you've mentioned it, maybe I should log the miles I've traveled. Hehe! Come to think of it, I was on opposite ends of the country in a span of just three weeks.

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  3. Anonymous16.8.06

    I've been to Basilan, and it's beautiful (they don't do it justice, but here are some old photos http://bealoca.multiply.com/photos/album/6). I was trying to show my friend the Pink Island off photos on the net, but it never does come out as pink as in real life!!!

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  4. Anonymous11.9.06

    i need your help. we're planning to go to basilan via zamboanga port on sept 21. could you help me how to get a fast craft going there? we need this info asap. hope you could email me your response at asjorda@sedp.ph. tnx!

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  5. Fast crafts leave the Zambonga port approximately every three hours. The sea routes between Zamboanga City and Basilan are well-covered by various shipping lines so no problem there.

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  6. Anonymous23.9.06

    You took in Basilan in less than a day (I mean daylight day)? Incredible! A visit to just Isabela (born and grew up there, by the way) would require more than a few days of ones time. Next time (but I dont think theres going to be any) you go there tell us what you have eaten, the people you have met (Samal? Yakans? Chavacano-speaking natives - a vanishing breed? - and less about mileage (kilometrage?) and fares. That will make your blog more enjoyable and informative.

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  7. I wished I had more time and funds too. But my clients would kill me if I took too long a vacation. Hehe! I don't remember eating much on Basilan since I wanted to cover more ground. But at least I was able to feature Basilan and showed people that it's safe (for the time being).

    In Zamboanga, I also wanted to visit the indigenous communities but time was not on my side. There is always a next time, especially when I visit Sulu.

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  8. Anonymous28.10.06

    Sid - Great to know you enjoyed your visit to Basilan. I'm part of the Alano Clan and I'm glad something positive and enjoyable experiences were noted. Sad to see Chavacano is a dying language and is being taken over by Bisaya - erg! Took me less than 2 days to be fluent in Chavacano and getting replies in Bisaya or tagalog was a bit disheartening. Food to eat when you are over in Basilan os Curacha. The Deep see crabs that's cooked on coconut milk - OH MY GOD! Boil me a pot of rice with that alone - GAME OVER! :-) Too bad you didn't swim the waters of Malamawi - that's like going to the vatican and not going to Church :-) Cheers and much luck on your travels. Bien Sabroso gayot de tuyo viyajes (Your travels are SWEET!!) Keep it up brotha!

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  9. Anonymous19.2.07

    Hi Ivan, I just got back from basically the same trip that you took. I am a foreigner and visited Isabela and Lamitan just as you did, including the falls. I found it safe, and would go back again.

    I also spent 3 days in Tawi Tawi, which was a dream! I recommend the place highly

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  10. Anonymous4.6.07

    The white beach in malamawi can only be express in words but never, I repeat never will be exposed like the pics you'd taken.,.tooooo risky my friend for foreign invaders, white beach is beyond comparable to the famous waikiki in Hawaii..Let the locals enjoy the priceless paradise..the place is heavenly made..I'll bet my neck if it will be privatised!YOU CAN TELL THEM BEEN THERE , DONE THAT! JUST A STORY TELLING KABAYAN! DONT OVEREXPOSED! Y'R ALWAYS WELCOME IN MALAMAWI..AS MY ABUELO ALWAYS SAY MI CASA TU CASA!

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  11. Hi! Was looking around and I stumbled upon your entry on Basilan. I was entertained with your account of your Basilan trip because you write very well (you are a good story teller). Also, I was relieved because I have always been worried of my husband going to ARMM. He is working for an international NGO focused on children and is assigned to monitor projects in ARMM. He frequents Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi. His usual trips worries me a lot which has affected me quite much especially that I am most sensitive now, being pregnant and all. I just wrote to say.... thanks for the entry. Remembering what you wrote will help me be calm in days I should worry about him. thanks again

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  12. thanks for featuring basilan! i really wish i can go back there. its great that you saw the white beach.

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  13. Anonymous15.7.10

    hi, thanks for this wonderful, insightful account of ur trip to Basilan I was wondering if u could reecommend places to stay in Isabela city and your impressions of them. Im planning to go there in 2 weeks time, im really headed for maluso, but plan to base in Isabela.Any suggestions of where to stay? Thanks a lot.

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  14. Anonymous11.10.11

    before i embark on my trips, i never fail to take a look at your posts and i must say your tips come very handy. im flyin to zamboanga city next march 2012. and id like to spend a day in Basilan too. im chinese - with all the features - and my pals say im kidnap-bait. do u recommend anyone who could probably accompany us while we spend a day around Basilan? thanks!

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  15. Anonymous8.8.13

    Isnt Basilan the most dangerous place to travel?

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