Hi Hive!🤗
What is the most interesting souvenir that you ever bought on one of your island vacations? A keychain? An island t-shirt? Or a handcrafted little object with the name of the island carved on them? 😎
Buying "pasalubong" or souvenirs during travel is as exciting as traveling itself. Though some souvenirs could be very costly on our wallets not because of their price but because of the bulk and the number of souvenirs you will have to buy because you are aware that there are a lot of people waiting for you to come home (insert family members, friends, and some relatives😅) and excitedly waiting for the gifts/souvenirs that you have for them.
So today, I am sharing one of my favorite moments when it comes to buying souvenirs, and this happened, always happens every time I visit the small and beautiful island of Olanggo.
First, What and Where is Olanggo Island?
Olanggo Island is one of the famous 7 small islands of Lapu-Lapu and is known mainly for its wildlife and marine sanctuary. It is 12-15 minutes only away from Lapu-Lapu City by boat. Aside from its beautiful eco-tourism and white sand beaches, the fare going to the island is also very cheap making it so inviting and attractive to all tourists. With this, many would love to go to the island multiple times to escape the bustling life of the city. I'm not living in the city, but count me in! 🙋♀️
A screenshot from Google Map.
I'm from the Northern part of the Province surrounded by lush trees, hills, and mountains, no wonder I love to visit Olanggo Island for a different spectacle. Hehe. How I wish the reason is as simple as that, but NO! Olanggo Island has been part of the important pauses and breaths I need to have in my life.
I went to Olanggo Island multiple times already. On each of my visits, I have different reasons, moods, and different emotional states. If Olanggo Island could speak, it probably would say, "What is it this time Smile?"😅 I may have different reasons to visit and enjoy Olanggo Island, or sometimes no reason at all, but there is always one good thing I bring after my visit. I always bring my soothed and relaxed self and of course the most interesting - I always bring with me the unusual and quirky souvenir I always buy on the Island, that one bottle of Ginamos.
What is "GINAMOS"? 😋
"GINAMOS" is a fermented salted fish placed inside a closed container, usually a bottle. This is very famous in the Philippines especially in the Visayas. To make Ginamos, one should clean the small fish properly and mix them with salt, then ferment them for at least 2 weeks inside a container.
In the province, we paired this with cooked unripe Banana, Sweet Potato, or boiled Cassava or sometimes we eat it with rice! Ginamos is best when paired with Hot Chili and Vinegar! Ssshhhrrrlll. Its color varies on how someone prepared to ferment the fish. Sometimes, it's grey or dark grey and sometimes it is white. Its taste also varies, from salty to saltier to saltiest but surely you will taste the juice of the fish.😃
The white Ginamos is my favorite. Unfortunately, the white one is not common in my place. It's rare to find White Ginamos too in our local market. You can only find White Ginamos on some islands. One time I went to Olanggo, that was where I found the tasty White Ginamos! The Ginamos that I always come back to.😃
The buying of Souvenir: GINAMOS MY LOVE.😃
It was a lovely day that I finally caught on site the local who was selling White Ginamos at the port. My friend Rose, a resident in Olanggo, told me where can I directly buy the Ginamos on the island but that is if I'd be lucky enough to buy some stocks. The bagoong is always sold out! Moreover, she added that I'd be luckier enough to buy the Ginamos at the port if there are still some stocks left!
There are a few times that I have been searching the displays stretching my neck like a giraffe just to find the vendor and ended up with nothing.
Luckily, on one of my trips, I finally caught up with the vendor. She was sitting on the side of the road with her basket filled with the island's delicacy and the ! Huhu. Finally! I hurriedly went to the vendor, and my eyes glimmered with excitement when I saw the shiny bottle of Ginamos, the souvenir that I have been wanting for so long. 🤗🙏
I bought 3 bottles! My family liked it so much. They love the taste and how neatly prepared it is! There are times my family would jokingly say, when will I ever go back to Olanggo because they miss the Ginamos.! Haha!
Here are some of my travels to Olanggo which I always ended up buying my favorite White Ginamos as pasalubong.**
A. To Marine Sanctuary.
This travel of mine to Olanggo Island was together with my gay friend, Obet. We went there to enjoy the different tourist attractions of the island. We went to the bird sanctuary, and the mangroves, and ended up feeding the fishes in the sea. We rented a boat and paid a boatman to bring us to the middle of the sea of Olanggo. We enjoyed floating on the sea and watching the Coral Reefs and the colorful fishes swimming beneath the boat.
B. Camping Time
This time, I went camping at the Eco-Tourism Park of Olanggo Island. I badly needed a "Me-time" during this moment of my life to weigh, reflect and sort some things out. This was when I had a crisis in my relationship with my old-time boyfriend (ex). Haha. I am grateful for this time that I was able to see my worth and value.
C. Fiesta Time
This was the happiest of all my travels in Olanggo. I stayed at my friend's house in Sta. Rosa Orlando. She invited me to witness their very unique festival in the Barangay (I am not sure if it's for the whole island), it's the Binaliw Festival. This time was a pure celebration of what life has given me. (Sorry, I couldnt retrieve my photos on this travel of mine, its on my old phone and its broken.)
D. Adventure Time
There was also a time that I went to Olanggo and walk across a hip-deep sea just to get to Gilutungan Islet. The islet was where my best friend was assigned to teach in a public school. Hopefully, I will be able to retrieve my photos on this adventure so that I could share them here.
That's it! Have a blast Hive.🤗