Ever since some of my friends started posting about the Floating Restaurant Bar in Camaligan, I’ve already ‘pencil-booked’ it in my head to go and check it out.  I started seeing their posts in the 1^st week of February but only had the chance to go there last week because of schedule conflicts and because the resto bar has always been fully-booked (you need to book in advance with them).

So here are some of the Frequently Asked Questions about the Floating Resto Bar:

How much?

It’s P500 per head inclusive of snacks and dinner (and of course the 4-hour river cruise)

Other than eating what else can we do on the cruise?

You can sing along or choose your own song at their videoke; there is also a live band on board depending on their schedule. You can explore your skills at photography (phone or camera) as the light changes as you explore on the river.

Is there a washroom (‘comfort room’) on board?

Yep! There’s one decent washroom on board. So you don’t have to worry about doing number 1 and even number 2. 😀 (will insert a sports-cam shot at the end of this post)

How do I get there?

If you have your own car, drive up to the Camaligan basketball court. The wharf is just across it (just behind the Rural Health Unit of Camaligan).

If you will take the public transportation, head unto the terminal of Camaligan Tricycle a few meters at the back of Master Square and get off the Camaligan basketball court, cross the street and head to the wharf behind the rural health unit.

Camaligueños are very friendly people and would be much willing to point you to the Water Park. Just make sure that you reach the Camaligan Basketball Court and you’ll be fine. There are many municipal employees in that area.

What time should we be there?

The floating resto bar leaves at 4.30pm but passengers would have to register first on the manifesto. So, it’s best to be there by 4pm.

What time does it return to the galley?

It comes back at around 8:30pm.

What is the route?

From the wharf, it cruises towards the area of Barangay Dugcal and Sua of Camaligan and turns and goes back to the opposite side up until the area under Tabuco Bridge and then returns to the wharf.

Do they accept walk-ins?

Based on our experience, we had to book with them in advance as their slots were always full.  We planned to experience the 4-hour cruise as early as the 3^rd or last week of February but were only booked by March 1, 2019.  Also, one must in advance to secure our slots.

How do we contact them?

You may contact Ms Kiks Veracruz at 09774455899 or Ms. Joy at 09175500034.

Do they have packages if we want to reserve the whole resto bar?

Yes, they have other packages depending on your activity/event.  Please refer to the uploaded photo of their packages below.

Any other tips?

Yes, wear sunblock (at least on your face) as during the early part of the ride, the sun would really be up in your face.  It’s not as scorching as in the early parts of the day but you know what they say (and what I’m learning just recently) skin care is life 😀 . Also, bring a light jacket or anything for the cold depending on how sensitive you are, it gets a bit chilly when the sun has set.

Also, don’t forget to check out the Camaligan River Park after docking.  It’s really hard to miss. Just follow the lights.

Overall, it was indeed a unique and laid-back experience for me and my friends. It was a refreshing break from the daily hustle of the city and a nice and short mini-getaway without really going away. 

You can bring your family or your barkada with you (or both).  You can also choose to bring a special someone with you for an intimate dinner date. Or you can book the cruise for yourself only, to just relax and meditate as you enjoy the sceneries and/or be amused by the other guests on board.  You may even get to make new friends as the setting is quite intimate.  There would only be around 30 guests per ride. 

On the night that we booked, we were the only ‘yuppies’ on board and majority of the guests were ‘golden girls’ and above who’d regularly meet up for a zumba session at the Naga City Plaza.  They were such a treat of high energy, laughter, congeniality and entertainment on board.  We even had some pictures together (I hope they get to read this 😀 as I will include some below 🙂 ).

This is a really nice move on the part of the LGU of Camaligan in promoting their town and the talents and skills of Camaligueños. So go and check it out guys and get some sweet sunshine on your face by the Camaligan River.

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Hi guys. Finally! Today is the day! This day, February 8, 2019 marks the first day of my first post on my very own blog. I’m so happy to welcome you all to my blog.  Welcome, welcome! I’m so thrilled that this is finally up and really nervously giddy at the thought that you guys are reading this at this very moment.  So, welcome to VanillaSunshine.com 🙂 This is going to be my personal blog where I intend to write about things that are real, beautiful, exciting, inspiring as well as those that are mundane, basic yet essential in our daily lives in the Bicol Region.  But from time to time, I will try to travel so I can also share about the other parts of the Philippines and hopefully the world 🙂  

You guys have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do this. This little project has long been in its (let’s just say) incubation stage.

Too long, probably.  Like roughly 4 years.

I know. Why the delay?

When I think about it, the delay had a lot to do with my self-imposed pressure for things to be perfect.  That, combined with my not-so-good time management skills and voila 4 years have passed and I’m still pondering on what could be the perfect name; ( Somebody beat me to the original name that I wanted. Sunshineandvanilla dot com has been taken up a little over 4 years ago); the perfect theme, the perfect layout, the best categories and topics and just about everything that I can control about my blog. 

See, I don’t like making mistakes and I have a lot of fears. But as much as such have protected me from doing really stupid regrettable things, they have also prevented me from exploring, discovering and taking leaps of faith.  Mind you, being wise enough not to do inappropriate, regrettable and irreversible things is good and beneficial but deep down I think my problem was different. It wasn’t like that. It was more like I didn’t want to take risks and make mistakes because I didn’t want to be wrong.  I think that may have a little or maybe a lot to do with pride- which is still (to my disappointment haha) so wrong.  I had second thoughts of putting myself out there and risk being criticized for not being and doing the best or for not trying hard enough. I still have those fears.

In 2017, I set the goal to finally release my website/blog in 2018.  Either in April (4-8-18) or December (12-8-18). Don’t ask me why I obsessed over the dates so much. I’m not Chinese and certainly don’t believe in luck or superstitions.  But I just like the number and the ability to be able to have a say in that aspect.  And yet, I wasn’t able to do it. I got too busy with life and all its obligations and complications. Realizing that it was already December 9, I’ve wanted to kick myself and I actually mentally beat myself over this over and over again. I kept thinking about the opportunities I’ve missed, the hearts I would have touched, the things I would have learned and the experiences I could have had.

But hey. I’m still alive and still able to make it a reality regardless of not being able to meet my previously set (somewhat ridiculous) standards.  That’s probably why I’m talking about this in my first post.

Today, I’m choosing to embrace the endless possibilities and opportunities out there . I’m still scared but I think that’s the point.  I’m taking a leap of faith.  Deep down, I know that I’ve been given a tiny seed of ability to communicate/write. And I haven’t been using it to the fullest.  But now I’ll try my hardest to turn things around.  And I hope that you’d join me in this journey as well.  I still do not have everything about this blog (and my life) figured out but I’m moving forward anyway. A few seemingly minute steps forward is better than being stoic and stuck in the same sad spot especially when there is no longer any growth.

I don’t exactly know what stage in your life you’re at, right now.  You may be at a crossroad, stuck or limping back and forth because fears or self-imposed pressure or whatnots.  I pray that you are also able to move forward, even just the tiniest bit.  Someone very wise once said that it is way better to have the tiniest bit of faith- even that of a mustard seed than none at all.     

So here’s to us, as we embark on this new journey.  Here’s to us, as we forego our fears and unnecessary-ridiculously-high-bordeline-crazy standards.  Here’s to us, doing our best but no longer scared to death of making small mistakes. Here’s to believing that we are wonderfully and fearfully made for a purpose higher than we can actually imagine. Here’s to us learning that we can never be fully in control of everything and that’s okay, in fact that should be a relief.  Here’s to us slowly, yet surely and humbly changing our perspective.  Here’s to a better you.  Here’s to a better me. Here’s to possibilities and breakthroughs. Here’s to life and actually living.

Here’s to spreading a dose of sweet and warm sunshine wherever we go. 🙂