Elal Lasola Travel & Photography: Pandan Island Escapade

The welcome to Pandan Island view

It was early February of last year when we arrived at around 4pm in another small town of Occidental Mindoro named Sablayan. It is a place known as a boarding point to Pandan Island Resort and Apo Reef/Island. Since the fare for Apo is far more expensive especially if you are not going in groups, we settled for Pandan Island for now and hope to go back in Sablayan and see Apo Reef/Island next.

Shoreline at Pandan Island's Beach

Exploring the ends of the beach at Pandan Island

The fare to Pandan is around Php 100 and we arrived there after some 30 minutes. I immediately noticed some international tourists in the island and during our registration, I saw the different nationalities of the guests' list. Some were Germans, French, Koreans, Americans, among others. No wonder why because later we learned that the owner was a Filipina - French couple. While registering, the waitress/front desk personnel actually thought we were Chinese! Maybe because we were sleeping from the very long and bumpy ride from San Jose, it made our eyes smaller?

Sun at the Beach, Pandan Island

Pandan Island

Pose pose din. Haha Pandan Island

We were actually lucky to have one budget room left which is pretty decent and very close to the beach. The room of Php 950 per night can actually accommodate 2-4 persons with two beds, closets, bed side table and common bathrooms. The rooms were simple bungalows which reminds me of simple living.

Relaxing huts where we stayed

Sun bathing at Pandan Island. Chos

I was kinda hesitant, at first, for the safety of my things because it seems a little more open for a private space. But nah, they wouldn't get anything from me except my camera which I always bring with me. And I noticed that most of the guests are really looking for a place just to relax, read, snorkel and drink. Some of the people I've met have stayed there for about a week or so.

Their bathrooms faucets only provides salt water. They have fresh waters but it is in buckets and limited supply only.

Pandan Island greenery

Fave place by the beach. I can stay here for days!

Pandan Island

Pandan Island Resort has buffets, too, and they’re also requiring guests to avail at least 1 per day. I was hoping I could get to eat cheaper here but I had no choice at all. Good thing the meal was delish which makes it worth it.

Pandan Island

I'm not quite sure what this is.

Anyway, even if it was already late afternoon when we arrived, the blue-green beach was so inviting so I immediately changed and decided some afternoon dip! It was heaven to stay some place quiet and peaceful as it is here in Pandan.

Pandan Island | Occidental Mindoro

Waters at Pandan Island

Pandan Island

Pandan Island's early summer heat

After few minutes of being soaked and happily swimming, I grabbed my camera and captured some sunset snapshots ‘til twilight. We were very tired by the end of the day from the travel and swimming, so we immediately went to bed right after dinner.

Favorite time of the day --- Blue Hour

When the sun is about to set at Pandan Island

More blue

The next morning was a battle of getting up from bed and exploring the island further. Well, I woke up when lunch is almost served, so I don’t quite have a choice but to gather all my strength to get up, eat and appreciate the life of living beside the sea with only the breeze and waves serving as music to my ears.

Salad

Fried dumplings

Fried rice

Fruits

More fruits!

I noticed some family are also having just a day trip in the island but forgot the fee per person for those who aren't staying at the resort.

During lunch, we availed the buffet and was super stuffed right after that we went swimming, explored the place a little bit more, made friends with some guests, took snapshots here and there, sunbathed under the sun, and chilled at the bar ‘til around 4pm.

As much as I wanted to stay, we needed to pack our bags to hop on a 4-hour bus ride to San Jose to catch the next day’s early morning flight.