In less than an hour of a boat ride, we found ourselves in paradise. Kalanggaman Island was every bit as mesmerizing as I had imagined – clear turquoise water, a verdant coconut grove, and an endless stretch of white sand. It was nothing short of perfect, and it's no surprise it caught the attention of international cruise liners.

I spent my first hour on Kalanggaman Island relishing the sandbar. It was pure bliss being surrounded by crystal blue waters on a ridge of white sand with a patch of green in the distance.

Later, I joined my friends who had already begun preparing our lunch. We secured a small cottage for our little picnic. After that, we enjoyed the quintessential beach moment – toes dipped in the sand, an ice-cold [drink], and plenty of good stories. A nearby group of campers had a guitar, providing us with the perfect background music, the ideal chill.

Note: In addition to the cottages, the island features comfort rooms and grilling areas, making beach outings more convenient for everyone. There are no rooms available, but solar panels are present in the area, presumably for lighting at night.

We departed the island at 2 PM, freshened up quickly, and boarded a van to Ormoc City.

As we were unfamiliar with the van routes, we asked many questions about getting to Naval. The locals were incredibly friendly and helpful. Since no vans were heading directly to Naval, we opted for one bound for Ormoc, then alighted in Libungan, as advised.

The wait in Libungan was quite long, so when a van bound for Tacloban stopped in front of us, we inquired about alternatives. They agreed to drop us off in Lemon, where more vans headed to Naval were available.

Indeed, there were more vans, but most were full. We thought we might be stranded. It was already dark, and we considered asking for homestay options in the area. Problems like that were bound to happen when traveling without an itinerary, but we knew it would work out in the end. So it did. A driver offered to take us to Naval for P 150.00 each, and we gladly accepted.

By 8:00 PM, we were already in Naval, inquiring at the first lodging we found. Fortunately, the first one we spotted was TJ Pensionne.

TJ was a good choice. Our room was only P 700.00, good for two, and we paid just P 100 for the extra person since we didn't get an extra bed anymore.

We were tired, so we had dinner at the nearby diner called Gelo's and called it a night.

We researched online and learned that boats bound for Maripipi Island leave at 10:00 AM. We went to the port early, but we found out boats do not travel on Sundays. Strike 2!

Luckily, we found an alternative. As I said, things always work out in the end. We took a multi-cab to Kawayan, about 30 minutes away from Naval, where there are boats available for rent.

We hit strike 3 at the port of Kawayan. We encountered a bit of a situation. But again, it turned out well, at least for us.

Operators were pressuring us to rent a boat from them, which we found to be too pricey. We initiated negotiations starting at P 3,000.00 for a round-trip journey, eventually reducing to P 1,200.00 for a one-way trip to Sambawan Island. 

However, we spotted a boat bound for Maripipi, which can accommodate the three of us. Since we preferred staying on Maripipi Island and taking a boat to Sambawan Island from there (given its proximity to the port and early morning departures to Naval), we decided to join the passenger boat, sparking heated discussions among the locals.

It was a more economical mode of travel, costing us only P 100.00 each. Moreover, we had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Jun Salas, owner of a lodging facility near the port. We secured a nice room for only P 1,200.00. 

The highlight of our stay at El Paseo Homestay (contact at 09173111368 or 09176734632) was the warm hospitality of Mr. Salas and his wife, Wilma, making our homestay experience truly feel like a home away from home.

Subsequently, we discovered that boats can be arranged from Kawayan to Maripipi, or vice versa, for P 500.00. Boats to Sambawan Island rent for P 1,500.00 from Kawayan.

The optimal choice is to take the ferry boats from Naval to and from Maripipi Island, then simply rent a small boat in Maripipi Island to reach Sambawan Island.

Mrs. Wilma Salas assisted us in securing a habal2 (P 30.00 each) to Olog Village, where boats to Sambawan Islands can be arranged. The process was straightforward, with only a short wait for the boat. We paid P 500.00 for the round trip.

In contrast to the serene ambiance of Kalanggaman Island, Sambawan felt a bit more rugged, with its mountainous coastline. Nevertheless, it was equally stunning. Like Kalanggaman Island, Sambawan Island maintains a lack of commercialization, providing the perfect retreat for travelers seeking a genuine escape from the ordinary.

By 6:30 AM, we had arrived at the Naval Port. After having breakfast, we took a van to Tacloban City, where we spent our time exploring various cafes.

So, that concludes our trip. We boarded our plane back to Manila at around 8:00 PM, feeling satisfied with a truly worthwhile travel experience.

Yep, traveling without an itinerary can be a bit challenging, but it's the best!