1. Manila based routes: https://goo.gl/iiS1jJ
2. Non Cebu/non Manila based routes (1): https://goo.gl/GCZPGh
3. Non Cebu/non Manila based routes (2): https://goo.gl/9f0X2a
4. Cebu based routes (1): https://goo.gl/gxHE2f
5. Cebu based routes (2): https://goo.gl/tJIXZm
6. Cebu based routes (3): https://goo.gl/dMOlQW
We need these maps. We need them to understand and make sense of island denser regions of the Phyls from foreigners' point of view.
Let us first take a look at the area surrounded by the islands of Masbate, Leyte, and Samar. Let us also turn on every single layer on our clickable maps.
Turning on all the ferry routes does not mean we want sea travels only. We initially want to see what kind of pictures we get if we do that. We also want to see traffic density because at the end of the day we want to go to seafood restaurants. They are more likely to be found at the ends of heavy traffic lines.
This is the area we are potentially interested in. Island denser sub-regions are in three squares. At this scale of the map noticeable towns are found only on the island of Samar.
We expected, naturally, that there be a fairly large town where Samar is ferry linked to Luzon. There is none. It means that the area in the topmost square will drop out.
We are not interested in towns in the outer fringes of these islands as it will mean bus ride of consirable distances. We also note that if there is a system of island hopping with fishing then Calbayog and Catbalogan must be the key ports.
Now, with that in mind and if you turn on the Manila based map you will find that there is no ferry service from Manila to these towns, which is surprising. And, there are only two ferry operators looking after these two ports and they all operate out of Cebu.
(Cebu based 2 and 3)
Take a look at the following map.
This map came about because my gut feeling was that in order to reach this region one easiest way was to fly from Manila to Calbayog. There is an airport there, but flights are few and far between and are rather expensive.
You can plan better if you fly to Cebu instead, but there still remains the question of what next then from there. Remember we are interested in the small islands and seas around them for our fishing and island hopping within this polygon in red.
One way seems to be the trip by bus from Cebu to Bogo, and there is a clear indication on this Google map that Bogo and Cataingan on Masbate are connected by ferry. So, if we can cross over to Calbayog from Masbate then we can start thinking about our fishing expedition there.
Unfortunately, there is no ferry service from Masbate to Samar, which is surprising. So, in oder to get to Samar we will have to take a ferry direct from Cebu to Calbayog or Catbalogan. (See Cebu based 2 and 3)
By the way, the easiest way to handle these clickablle maps is to start from the bottom layer and work upward. That way you will have a better view, Start by having all layers turned off.
From my seperatre searches the bus ride between Calbayog, Catbalogan, Tacloban, and Ormoc is just under three hours each. Tacloban is where Samar is bridge connected to Leyte.
So, we now have a grand picture of trips for this region. Fly Cebu and ferry to Samar. Do your fishing and island hopping down Calbayog/Catbalogan and somehow reach Ormoc by bus and ferry back to Cebu, and fly out to Tokyo from there.
In the next article we will be looking at what actually may be done in this region.