Monthly Archives: May 2014

Giant Clams

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At the very southern tip of Camiguin is a giant clam sanctuary. Now, I’ve eaten clams before, but I never knew how big they can grow to.
When you walk in there is a small area where they have some tanks to show you some of the smaller ones.
Even some of the smaller ones are much bigger than I had seen before.
You can then go on a one hour snorkeling tour with a guide which was really awesome.  Out in the ocean he pointed out some clams that were almost 2 meters long!  Apparently they can live to over 100 years and can grow over 2 meters long.
I are lunch there too, but they didn’t serve clams! They did serve fish that was caught that morning though so it was really fresh and very cheap.

Hiking Mount Hibok-Hibok

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It was a very early morning when I woke up at 5am.  The hike started at 6:00.

The reason for the early start was to hike before it got too hot.  Even so, the climb to the summit took a lot of work.  I hiked with a Filipino guide and two Australians and we were all pretty sweaty by the time we got to the top.
I decided to take a #selfie about halfway up and I think I already looked pretty rough!
I’m still pretty white, but I am starting to get a bit of a tan 🙂

There was a pretty good view even at the halfway point.  You can get a good view of White Island.

White Island is not actually an island at all, but a sand bar. Depending on the tides it changes shape and more or less of it appears.  You can take a short ferry ride across to visit it.  There are no trees and no shade though, so it’s pretty easy to get sunburned.
The hike up was mostly canopy covered so there was lots of shade. It’s easy to see why you need a guide when you see the “trail”.
There is in fact a small path through there, but it’s hard to find.  The view from the top was great, and we got there just before the clouds rolled in.
Looking down, you can see the crater from the last eruption in 1950. I’m told in the wet season it fills with water and you can swim.
It took 7 hours in total, 4 up and 3 down.  Overall it was a good but tiring hike.

Mount Vulcan

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Mount Hibok-Hikok is the highest point on Camiguin.  However, there is a smaller peak, Mount Vulcan. I decided to take a hike up Vulcan this morning, kind of a trail run before I hike Hibok-Hibok tomorrow.


Back in 1950 Mount Hibok erupted and over 3000 people were killed.  The trail up to Vulcan is set up as a memorial to these people and in Catholic style it is set up as the stations of the cross.

The stations of the cross depict images of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection as you hike up the trail. Even though it was bloody hot there were many Filipinos praying along the trail, some of them out loud.
Catholicism is really strong here, probably more than anywhere else I have been.  The first ferry I boarded from Cebu to Bohol had the Lord’s Prayer after the safety announcement. Praying on a ferry makes me kind of nervous that the bloody thing often sinks!
The views from the top were pretty good, but they should be even better from the top of Hibok tomorrow.  As you can see, it’s hot and sunny with lush green forest.  The lighter part of the ocean is coral reef.  A lot of places on the island are good for snorkelling and diving.