Isla de Gigante - Pawikan Cave

Isla de Gigante - Pawikan Cave

Pawikan Cave is a must-see attraction whenever visiting Isla de Gigantes  Sur in Carles, Iloilo. Upon entering the mouth of the cave, visitors are greeted with a huge entrance chamber and the sight of spectacular rock formations. There are numerous cave chambers further inside the cave that are aptly lit by atriums (or openings) at the cave ceiling. The unique subterranean views evoke an other-worldly feeling. A talk with the local guides would reveal how their elders would often tell them not to go inside as not to disturb the “spirits” living in Pawikan Cave.

Pawikan Cave got its name from the large egg-shaped rock formations (resembling giant turtle eggs) positioned at one of the deep chambers of the cave. According to the locals, the “pawikan eggs” were actually devised by the Japanese Imperial Army as a marker to denote the location where they buried gold bars (locally termed as “bulawan”), which were believed to be part of the Yamashita Treasure. Today, the “pawikan eggs” are gone with extensive dug up holes at the site. The locals speculate that treasure hunters have already looted the Pawikan Cave of all its “bulawan.”

How to Get to Pawikan Cave

Pawikan Cave is located at the southern side of Isla de Gigantes  Sur. It can be reached by conquering a steep cliff and entering a forested area on top. The hike is very steep, which will be a challenge for most people. The incline is around 45 to 70 degrees  and 200+ft high. Visitors are advised to take extra precaution when climbing the hill, especially if the trail is wet. From the starting point at the seaside, it takes 30 minutes to an hour to get to Pawikan Cave. The starting point itself is approximately 30 minutes (by pumpboat) from Brgy. Lantangan.

When in Okpo

Okpo-dong is a neighborhood in the city of Geoje in South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. The village is located on the eastern coast of Geoje Island and a center of the island.

The Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) shipyard is located close to the town. A large portion of DSME employees live in Okpo, and DSME jackets are a common sight in the town at night.

There are very few standalone houses in Okpo and most residential accommodation is fulfilled by high-rise apartments. Rent is high.^{[citation needed]}There are a number of local accommodation agencies offering apartments for rent to incoming foreigners, as well as other supporting services.

Okpo has a large foreign transient population due to the shipyards and as a result there is a 'Foreigner's Club' by the Admiral Hotel which is run by the local expat residents themselves, as well as over fifty Western bars and two dozen western restaurants serving a variety of 'western style' meals. There are also Indian, Pakistani, Vietnamese and Turkish restaurants, and local franchises such as a 'Dunkin' Donuts', 'Quiznos', 'Baskin-Robbins' and 'Lotteria' (Korean fast food burger chain).

From Busan airport, the journey time by taxi, by way of the Geoje-Busan Bridge (10,000KRW toll each way), is under 1 hour, although heavy weekend traffic can be up to 90 minutes.

There is an international school called the Okpo International School - which is very convenient choice for foreign workers bringing their families to Okpo.^[1]

Okpo has an amusement park, Okpo Land, on the outskirts of the city. It went out of business in 1999, but because the land has been zoned for environmentally low-impact projects, it remained abandoned ntil 2011 when it was finally demolished.

Isla de Gigantes Escapade 2016 - as tourist guide

Isla de Gigantes Escapade (2013)

Named as it was rumored to have been a home of giants, the Gigantes Group of islands off the coast of Carles Iloilo, located Northeast of the Panay Island, is a place of un-spoilt Islands and Islets with towering Karst rocks, stretches of twin white beaches, hidden natural pools and rich floras and faunas, not to mention that this is a rich fishing ground supplying seafoods of export quality. Almost all of Municipality of Carles’s esteemed notable beaches are actually from Isla de Gigantes, all eight of them as listed in Wikipedia. There are more beaches to be explored and discovered due to its remote location. The coastal side of Panay Island from Capiz down to Iloilo is the Country’s supplier of Seafood, even giving Roxas City Capiz the tagline of Seafoods Capital of the Philippines due to its close proximity and easy accessibility to these sources. These islands are fairly new to explorer’s horizon, considering that our country is archipelagic, every province situated along a coastline would more or less have an offering of group of Islands to explore, or a scattering of Peninsula in its body of waters. Isla de Gigantes still has a long way to go in embracing its tourism potential, but it holds a lot of promise

When In Busan

Trekking Mt. Tres Marias Located in Almeria, in the island province of Biliran, its highest peak stands at about 1,315 meters above sea level

You can Visit also the below link for your reference and itenirary.
Mt. Tres Marias: The Beautiful Sierra You Don’t Want to Miss

Summit (Mt Aminduen) to Sea - Sambawan Island, Maripipi, Biliran

From Volcano Trails to Island Paradise: Hiking Mt. Aminduen to Sambawan Island

Biliran Province is one of the hidden gems of the Philippines, full of natural wonders waiting to be explored. One of my most memorable adventures there was trekking Mt. Aminduen on Maripipi Island and continuing the journey to the beautiful Sambawan Island. It was a trip that combined volcanic landscapes, mountain views, and tropical island scenery all in one unforgettable experience.

The journey began early in the morning on Maripipi Island. Mt. Aminduen, the highest peak in Biliran Province, stands proudly above the island at about 1,340 meters above sea level. The trek started through quiet villages and green forests, where the cool mountain air and the sounds of nature created a peaceful atmosphere.

Along the way, one of the fascinating natural attractions was the Sulfatera Vent. Here, you can see steam rising from the ground, reminding visitors that Biliran is a volcanic island. The smell of sulfur and the sight of smoke slowly escaping from the earth made the place feel mysterious and powerful. It was a unique stop that showed the island’s volcanic character.

Continuing higher into the mountains, another highlight of the journey was the Mt. Janagdan Crater Lake. Hidden within the mountain landscape, the crater lake is calm and quiet, surrounded by thick vegetation and volcanic rock formations. The deep green water reflects the surrounding forest, creating a peaceful and almost magical atmosphere. It felt like discovering a secret place in the middle of the mountains.

Finally reaching the summit of Mt. Aminduen was an unforgettable moment. From the top, the view stretched across the Visayan Sea, revealing nearby islands and endless blue waters. In the distance, Sambawan Island appeared like a small paradise waiting to be explored.

After descending from the mountain, the adventure continued toward the coast and eventually to Sambawan Island, one of Biliran’s most stunning destinations. The island is known for its crystal-clear waters, white sand, and rolling grassy hills. Climbing the hill on the island offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the surrounding islands and the sparkling sea.

The entire journey—from the volcanic trails of Mt. Aminduen, to the mysterious Sulfatera Vent, the peaceful Mt. Janagdan Crater Lake, and finally the tropical beauty of Sambawan Island—felt like traveling through different worlds in a single adventure.

It was a reminder of how rich and diverse nature can be in the Philippines, where mountains, volcanoes, and islands exist side by side, waiting for travelers willing to explore them.

Apple Picking Experience - Miryang South Korea

It’s that time of year when the leaves are changing colors, we break out our jackets, and the smell of apple pie wafts through air. This year, the goup of OFW working in SHI decided to visit and got to go to a Korean apple orchard in the Miryang region and pick our own apples. And we were told the Miryang region’s apples are regarded as the best, juiciest apples in Korea.

We filled up our box to what we thought was full, found out we went a little overboard, but thankfully they allowed us to just take out the extra apples instead of paying for them. I think 10kg (or 22 pounds) is plenty for the eight of us!

After we picked apples, we sat along the creek and ate lunch. It was a really pretty day, even if the wind made it quite chilly.

Naejangsan National Park Solo Backpacker

MT. NAEJANGSAN NATIONAL PARK

Mt.Naejangsan is a famous mountain in the Jeolla-do province of Korea, and the best mountain in Korea for viewing autumn crimson leaves. Naejangsan National Park was designated as the 8th national park in Korea in 1971. It is one of the 5 characteristic mountains on southwest Korea, as well as one of the 8 most beautiful mountains in Korea. 

Naejangsan was originally named “Yeongeunsan” after its main temple, Yeongeunsa, but was later changed to “Naejangsan”. The name Naejangsan means there are many hidden treasures in the mountain. The mountain is also referred to as "Geumgangsan of Honam(southwest)".

The park is beautiful not only in autumn, but also in spring when the azaleas and cherry blossoms bloom, in summer when the mountain turns fresh green, and winter when the unique rocks and cliffs covered with snow. All throughout the year the mountain shows an amazing scenery.