ging-on-blendedmentorship: WHALE SHARK WATCHING @ Oslob, Cebu

Me and my friends were planning to go on a travel with not much on baggage, not with our kids and with our hubbies, as we were used to, in short, a hassle free trip. We decided to have this to relax and to release the stress we had during school days, since there are only few days left for our vacation. Next week and the coming weeks would be another busy weeks for us teachers.

We finally decided and pursue with our plan though it’s already late in the evening last Monday. The next day, Tuesday, we met at Minglanilla plaza at 6am supposedly but then, we made it at 7am.Some of our friends did not appear for some reasons but the six of us were excited to go just anywhere...just anywhere, because what we have in our minds was the road trip that was planned long ago. We'll enjoy the rides in a Ceres Bus wherever it takes us. As we were waiting for the bus, we kept on asking each other, "where are we going?' but we were all uncertain, we can't decide where to go until the air-conditioned bus came, the door opened and the conductor asked our destination, there's a pause for a while and after that silence, we burst our laughter because we could not answer him. We told him to bring us in a nice place in the south of Cebu where we can unwind, chat and share our food. He suggested some resorts and places but we’ve been there already. Until he said,“Tan-awan, Oslob, ma’am? There’s a cottage, facing the clear sea water with white sand”. Without a second thought what is in-store there for us, we agreed to be there.

me and @Nona Villordon...

with @Maki Servado &@ Farah Marie Baylon Cabigas

and with @ Mary Jane Dinampo and my frienship my bff,@ Carmelo Pacheco...

We kept ourselves busy talking and eating without noticing it took us 2 hours and 30 minutes to reach the place. Right there and then, we know that we were already in the much talked place now, in Oslob, Cebu, where the Butanding, as we adopt the Tagalog or Filipino name for whale shark but it is known as “Tuki” to the locality.

At first, there was hesitation but as the staff and the boatman persist and explained how much and what we’re paying for, P70 for the entrance and usage of their amenities,P300 for whale shark viewing. We sit and had a pose, maybe to show that we agreed to it, there’s no choice to it, for me, we’re here so, let’s enjoy, savor the risk and the adventure and at the same time, the fun of being together.

just arrived the place...

We paid P370 each and preceded to our cottage which the sea water is under it, we saw group of different kinds of small fish, even that alone, we felt how relaxing it is plus considering the sea breeze hmmm...what a relief!

the six of us...

As the day getting hotter, we wore our life vests for we were ready to view the most talked sea creature nowadays. Viewing of butanding is only allowed until 12:30 in the afternoon for 30 to 45 minutes after the briefing from the municipality on the do's and don'ts with the whale shark.

we're getting ready for the Butanding....Yahoo!..

All along I thought we will travel for 10 minutes or more to get nearer with the butanding since it’s only a paddled banca, but to our surprised, we were already in front of the first butanding we saw that day. I was speechless for seconds, I had mixed emotions, can’t believed we were there up close with the butanding. Then later, we saw another one and another one…we saw seven of them…I was amazed with these creatures, they are so huge yet friendly.

the first butanding we saw...

we saw another one...

and another one...

kept on coming... and we saw seven of them...

Me and my one of my co-teachers can’t help the inviting clear water and to be nearer with the butanding, we jumped in the water and joined some of the spectators and the boatmen.