'Twas our last getaway before one of my besties flies to the US to be with her hubby and to finally start working on her dream career. 'Twas supposed to be a trip for the whole gang but unfortunately, the two dudes got stuck in a family emergency. So it's just the four of us.
Kalanggaman Island is exactly located in the municipality of Palompon in the province of Leyte. It is a dream beach destination in the Visayas; famous for the crystal clear blue waters that calmly laps its most talked about white shore. Kalanggaman Island has a length of only 753m and was used to be uninhabited but is now being developed due to its high tourist demand.
Experience all that in Kalanggaman Island.
Kalanggaman Island has been the talk of the summer season ever since pictures of its immense beauty and serenity flooded social media. People from different corners of the country dream to experience everything this secluded paradise has to offer. The island has gained the attention of beach bums and travel enthusiasts and has been tagged as one of the best summer island getaways in the recent years.
Kalanggaman Island is exactly located in the municipality of Palompon in the province of Leyte. It is a dream beach destination in the Visayas; famous for the crystal clear blue waters that calmly laps its most talked about white shore. Kalanggaman Island has a length of only 753m and was used to be uninhabited but is now being developed due to its high tourist demand.
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| Photo from isla-calanggaman101.blogspot.com |
The term 'Kalanggaman' in the local dialect refers to birds, but the island did not get its name from the diversity of avian species that settle on it. The name was given because the island looks like a bird in aerial view, a shape made prominent by the sand bars on both ends of the island, which is what made Kalanggaman island distinguishable among other island destinations.
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| A view of the island from the sandbar showing widely distributed coco trees |
The island is not covered with shady trees. In fact, most are taller-than-usual coconut trees and some are really short palms. Looking for a perfect spot on a hot summer can be difficult especially in the midst of a lot of tourists. So make sure you have packed your sunblock, coz you're definitely gonna get a lot of sun.
There's not a lot of cottages but they have tents, benches, tables, and chairs for rent. They have one store and two grill areas.
The front side of the island is where the boats dock and it is perfect for swimming because of its fine white sand.
The other side, however, is made up of those mossy concrete-like slabs, that's interestingly piled on top of the other. The area looks fascinating but not many people frequent that side.
Because of the elongated shape of the island, you can already see the opposite side, even when you're on the dock side. You can also get there in less than 5 minutes. Moreover, you can get from the end of the sandbar to the other end of the island in just a few minutes.
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| Photo of the front side of the island, taken from our campsite, near the rear side of the island |
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| Photo of the rear side of the island, taken just a few steps from the front shore |
The island's sandbar is the main attraction and the best time check it out is late in the afternoon, when it's not too hot, so you get to enjoy the stroll and take pictures without squinting. The water may look shallow on both sides of the sandbar but it's definitely not. As a matter of fact, swimming is not allowed on both sides of that long stretch because of the riptide; a current that pulls you away from shore and can usually cause drowning.
Most pictures of the sandbar deceivingly show sugar-fine sand, and you may think of taking off your flip flops and walking barefoot. DON'T! The sandbar is made up of washed off shells and coral skeletons, so make sure you wear those slippers if you want to enjoy the stroll.
The best site to watch the sunset is on the west side of the island, which is on the left end. A man-made walkway lined with coconut trunks will show you the way
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| The walk way leading to the other end of the island. |
A nipa cottage is perfectly situated near the cliff facing the sunset. It's just the perfect spot to watch the slow dance of colors in the majestic sky.
The sand bars and the sunset are not the only things you get to enjoy in this island. Check out the blog posts below for the ultimate guide to the island.
Check out our experience on the island.
Ever had that feeling when you've lived in the same province for eighty percent of your life and yet, there are still too many nooks and corners that you haven't explored? Coz I had. So we packed our summer necessities: sunnies sunblocks and bikinis, coz we're off for a dip. We went for a drive down south for about two hours until we reached the rocky paradise of Tangkaan Beach Resort located at Padre Burgos, Southern Leyte.
"DRESS CODE: Skirts and dresses that are more than two inches above the knee are not allowed!"
UGH! That's probably the worst news I've ever heard since I started my practice teaching. I instantly began to worry coz most of my skirts won't get me past security. And I tell you, I am not planning on buying maxis, jumpsuits and palazzo pants for the remaining two months. So you know what my dilemma is; What am I gonna wear to work?
I used to be an impulsive buyer when it comes to black apparels. You can always see that twinkle in my eyes when I see one. It seems that whatever the design is, as long as it is black, it'll never fail to impress me. Funny thing is, every time I see a design I like, I always look for its black counterpart even if the color displayed is stunning. It's like I knew that the black version will always be better or else, perfect. Though I love anything pink, I actually choose black over pink when it comes to clothes. Maybe not all the time but definitely most times. I love how black always makes me look more trendy even without accessories. It always takes my outfit to the next level. Plus, I don't have to worry about picking a piece that I can pair it with, because black goes well with any color.
If you own a denim jacket, then you'll definitely love the denim polo more after you read this post. And if you don't have this multi-purpose polo yet, I know you'll end up planning on getting one...soon.
What do you think would you be doing on a blackout in a place where there is no cellular network connection? Does a place like that even exist? Hmm..
I am currently taking my long awaited staycation in my hometown. Staying in the city can be tiring at times; for me at least. Some of you might really love the city and I do too. I just need a little bit of that calm provincial breeze from time to time.
It's gonna be the li'l dude's birthday in a week and we haven't decided on what to do yet. We were torn between having a party at home or spending it on the beach or a pool. After a few days of deciding, we thought that, for for a sixteen-year-old, the house party might be boring especially because we are situated in an area that's not very accessible to some of his friends.
So we ended up deciding to spend it either on a pool or at the beach. Now, the only question is where? It should be a safe and secure resort coz you know how teenagers can be. And as much as possible, we're looking for a place that is not so crowded. We have thought of a lot of places and we decided to check it out ahead of time so we could also book early.
So we ended up deciding to spend it either on a pool or at the beach. Now, the only question is where? It should be a safe and secure resort coz you know how teenagers can be. And as much as possible, we're looking for a place that is not so crowded. We have thought of a lot of places and we decided to check it out ahead of time so we could also book early.
Summer is just around the corner. Yay!!! But not everyone is happy about it, unfortunately. It may come as a surprise to you and you might be like, ' What? Who on earth hates the vacation season?' But you never know. Wait 'til you live in a country experiencing El Niño, where the scorching heat can squeeze the water out of you 'til your shirt is drenched in sweat. And it sure as hell can dry up any moisture from any surface it touches. Going out and feeling the extreme heat at 31°C is enough to make many Filipinos wish for winter in this equatorial territory. Can you believe people are wishing for summer to end before it has even started? Well, not me.
