HikingBlahs#6: TIPS │ Limatic Prevention Tips

Limatik looking for its perfect spot to sip, too bad for him, he's on the wrong place, hehe.

Limatiks are leeches, small worm-like creatures residing at most rain forest areas.These parasitic creatures suck blood on their preys to live through sensing vibrations around them and hitch to make their plans...blood, blood, blood.

Evidences and experiences show that prevention from limatik bites is not necessary, but for female like me, I can't help it but to be conscious about this. Even tiny wounds left by those, the feeling of something's weirdly moving on my clothes and imagining the tendency of those getting it in to my ears and eyes, which is alarming for me (maybe some would not), I formulated these tips. Hope this helps especially girls! :)

LUMATIK PREVENTION TIPS: 



1. Wear appropriate clothes like leggings, long pants, socks and sleeves/jacket. Just keep those shorts, sandals and sleeveless/sandos for the meantime.



2. Cover your ears using a bandanna or ear plugs if you have any. Goggles,if you are comfortable wearing it.



3. Avoid too much contact with leaves, plants and trees around, those creatures are just sensing vibrating signals from their victims.



4. Always check your clothes or ask others if you have any leech hitch hiker already.



>>How to remove it?

They say that it is inadvisable to remove it because this causes the leech to vomit back the blood it has ingested and might worsen the wound condition. However,  in case it just fled to your skin and think there is a greater chance to remove it at once (Limatik will just start the sucking process), you could do this tips.



5.  In case the leech already resting on your skin, remove it by simply getting a dry towel (because it is too slippery) or try pinching it tightly using your nails in the middle of it then pull. Don't worry they'll not break, they're really tough I tell you!





6. Apply any chemical like alcohol/alcogel, perfume, repellant, alcoholic beverage or flame directly on it. However, if Limatik get's into your eyes, you could put "eyemo" if you have one or just do tip #5.



WOUND CARE AFTER THE BITE.

If Limatik succeed from poking your skin and left a wound, this tips could help.

7. Keep the wound clean. I suggest not to cover it after cleaning to allow oxygen circulation and increase healing. You could apply antiseptics like alcohol/alcogel and/or betadine (when you got home).



8. If you have sensitive skin and tend to have skin allergies/irritations after a skin bite, then you could have anti-histamine meds over the counter but try to do tip #7 first to avoid it's side effects like drowsiness.

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VacationBlahs#8: TIPS│Getting to Beautiful Peninsula of Caramoan

Matukad Island, Caramoan.

When we had trip to Caramoan, we had direct flight to Naga and outrigger boat to the said Peninsula.

Plane tickets to Naga.

Book any of domestic flights to Naga City (377 km South of Manila) and enjoy the 8 hour ride from your favorite plane to Pili Airport, Naga.

Naga Airport.

From Naga City Central Terminal, you can rent a van or cab that take you to Sabang port (2hr ride). There are two ports in Sabang so remind your cab driver to take you to port going to Caramoan.

However if you have accommodation and city tour at Naga, they have free transport from airport to hotel. Same as to your Caramoan accomodation who'll take care all of your Naga-Caramoan-Naga Airport transports.

Ferry boat from Guijalo port Caramoan docked already at Sabang port, 10:00AM.

We left the New Crown Hotel at Naga around 6AM and came 9 AM at Sabang Port where we took commercial boats (bangka) that ferry passengers to the Guijalo, Caramoan Port. Unfortunately, we didn't make it to the first trip which was 6AM and just waited for the next one, 10Am. Hotel Roa owner in Caramoan, Dr. Ramon Roa who accompanied us said that locals (wearing black shirt in the above photo) used to carry passengers and luggages on their backs to keep them dry from and to the boat. But because of gender difference among lifters and passengers, especially among females, they made this wooden bridge to help them cross safely. Schedule varies depends how long a boat takes to fill up passengers and luggages, but usually hourly boat departure starts at 5 AM with travel time of 2-3 hours.

1030AM and we're off to Caramoan. A boat with capacity of almost 50-60 person started to sail. I think this boat was powered by a car engine because of its sound, moreover it has an exhaust same with a vehicle.

Guijalo port, 1230PM.

For a two hour ride, the seat for me was uncomfortable. It is wooden (made my gluteus max ache) and has a narrow seat distance from one seat to another which was basically not comfortable especially for tall people, you tend to side sit because your knees might bumped to back of the front seat. On the other hand, if you want to have a nice view of Islands and beaches during your sea travel to Caramoan, you sit on right side facing the sea. If you were late you have no choice but to sit on the left side where minimal view is unappreciated.

Our ferry boat.

Boat reached Guijalo at 12:15PM. We were almost near the port then, but I was puzzled why this commercialized ferry boat stopped quite distant from it. Then after seconds, several small boats came fetching passengers. We're like being attacked by pirates! haha. We'll it was low tide that's why. All the passengers' things that time were located on a certain area so we can't get it at once, they just asked us to ride the boat first and waited for our baggages at the port. Of course I was nervous about our things, but nothing to worry, all of the locals and lifters were honest, just keep an eye on other passengers, they might carry away yours.

Leaving the port.

When we reached the port, we noticed unusual bigger tricycles offering ride and hotel accommodations. So if you haven't took any tour packages, don't worry, Hotels will make it easier for you and will arrange everything in a very cheap price!

Remember: Boat ride from Guijalo Caramoan port back to Sabang Naga is until 11 AM only.


Land Travel From Naga City to Caramoan:

There are five Naga-Caramoan-NAga jeepney that carries maximum of 25 passengers which is only available during months of March, April and May. Jeepney Caramoan-Naga terminal is located at San Francisco Church Naga City. Schedule of departure is at 12 midnight till 1AM. 

July 31, 2011

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