Stranded in Siargao

Hu-Waw Philippines

Riding the no-frills travel tide is probably the best way to experience Siargao.

First, I suggest you take the cheapest available flight to anywhere in Mindanao. Promo rates from PAL or Cebu Pac or SEAir or Asian Spirit or Air Philippines are ALWAYS available, if you book on the right time or hit the right season.

Once in Mindanao, take any bus that brings you to the Surigao pier. As long as you are in Mindanao, I believe there will be a bus in any town that would pass by and take or connect you to the Surigao pier. Ask around town, I'm pretty sure the locals would know and be more than happy to help you get there. Your bus ride alone is a eye candy in itself. The scenic view is simply amazing. From little barrios to to rural areas to fishing villages to rice paddies to bustling towns to emerging cities.

Take the local 3-hour boat ride from the Surigao pier and you will pass mangroves and islands. There are probably other ports but the one I took was probably one of the "fastest" ways to get there. The boat was not anything like the quintessential tourist ride, instead it was a life line connecting commerce with locals transporting goods.

Upon arrival, take the route to where the cement road ends and see the island present itself with one of its most blinding characteristics, sun-drenched powder white roads. I have been to places that have such prestigious claims of white sand, but only a few have the right. Siargao and its little towns uniquely have the best white roads I have ever seen.

got milk?

Let the roads be a testament to life in the island. At time of travel, which was back in August 2005, I saw nothing but white sand roads. No asphalt, but instead nature created its natural road which was probably caused by the tropical climate of intense sunshine after a short rain shower. In the course of time, wet to dry to wet to dry, it turned itself to one huge ass white brick. There were probably only a handful of cars in the town, I just saw two in my entire four-day escape. No I am not stupid enough to make such a judgment without backing it up. I was located in one of Siargao's main towns. 'Nicer' houses were starting to be built but still the most dominant and easiest mode of transportation was the motorcycle/scooter/bicycle. It was a two-wheel barrio.

Although the island of Siargao may have its share of luxury resorts such as this and this. It is still best experienced as a Philippine backpacker's sanctuary.

I stayed in J-spot. A simple abode that has a bar on the ground floor and a sleeping area above. Nothing fancy but the host was great! Just like most of the locals.

You really can't expect much from the town to have fancy places to eat when you see omelets having some 'unions'. Nonetheless do not get me wrong, just head on to the wet market and grab the freshest catch of the day. Continue the no-frills vacation by grilling your own meal. Then prepare a pitcher and pour the San Miguel Pale Pilsen, gather around and let two half-full/half-empty glasses circle the shots of beer so that everyones gets the same amount at the same drinking pace. Remember this is the Philippines' surfing capital, everyone here is a surfer who enjoys singing, strumming their guitars and pounding the local Kahon to Jack Johnson. This is what I have come to experience as the so-called surfer's lifestyle. Simple and down with nature.

Head on to Pirate Pete's bar and find out why it has such a name. A local resident of the island who everyone probably knows.

Cloud 9

Wet or Dry

point A to point B

Siargao maybe best known for its surfing spots, but let it be known that it has more to offer. a bounty of pristine islands a few minutes away while steady bathing waters on the other side of the tide. I was not able to go, but Siargao also offers a jellyfish lake, similar to the one in Palau.

I suggest you experience the island by stripping yourself from vacation luxury.

KISSS! Keep Siargo Simple Stooooopid!

*post also available in triptayo

Playing with fire

Interesting post from my friend over at Anitokid.

This is what mine read.

You are The Devil

Materiality. Material Force. Material temptation; sometimes obsession

The Devil is often a great card for business success; hard work and ambition.

Perhaps the most misunderstood of all the major arcana, the Devil is not really "Satan" at all, but Pan the half-goat nature god and/or Dionysius. These are gods of pleasure and abandon, of wild behavior and unbridled desires. This is a card about ambitions; it is also synonymous with temptation and addiction. On the flip side, however, the card can be a warning to someone who is too restrained, someone who never allows themselves to get passionate or messy or wild - or ambitious. This, too, is a form of enslavement. As a person, the Devil can stand for a man of money or erotic power, aggressive, controlling, or just persuasive. This is not to say a bad man, but certainly a powerful man who is hard to resist. The important thing is to remember that any chain is freely worn. In most cases, you are enslaved only because you allow it.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

MiStIQUIJOR

Hu-waw Philippines!

No! That queasy feeling is not because of the one-hour ferry boat ride to the island. And let's just say you are not drunk either. It's simply that one of a kind feeling - of goosebumps, butterflies in the stomach and that tingling sensation you get when you are trying to hold your crap and then a cold draft passes by, - all rolled into one.

Yes now, thhhat feeling.

It's YOURS to explore

Upon arrival on Siquijor, one notices that the place is not a usual tourist destination. Although there might be no transportation junction in this country void from Madam Gloria's Wow Philippines campaign banners, blinding commercial advertisements seen in famous destinations cease to exist. Instead, rust and chipped paint color the the pier and the sound of distant silence lurks. Siquijor gives me that one of a kind feeling where, time stops, spirits roam and Animism becomes a forced religion as earth's manna will come knocking down your door.

Nothing. Nil. Zip. Shall I say more?

Thanks to the logic behind economics, prices at Coral Cay Resort are very much reasonable. For 800Php you get a fan room, queen-sized bed (the real size definition and not those malnourished bed size claims often said by provincial over-night 2star hotels), dark wooden interiors, pure and clean whites from tiles to beddings. Instead of dragging your lazy ass 50m further, you can opt to take a dip at the resort's pool or if you feel like taking an exercise, why not borrow their kayak free of charge!. Then paddle to Coral Cay's floating dock where you get to have the best view of the island on one side and the ocean horizon alongside with Apo Is. on the other.

*There are barely any resorts along the strip.


Apo island on the distance

The mighty Green Flash from Coral Cay Resort will be waiting for you at the pier ready for transfers.

Jonas

Besides the friendliest staff, there are additional shiny-happy-people residents from the resort.

Bingo and Mr. Crabs



Cantabon cave

Silence and tranquility may be a killer for some. R&R is very much available in Siquijor as recreation can be done via spelunking in Cantabon cave and taking a dip at the pastel blue waters of Cambugahay falls.

*Cambugahay Falls

I have been to almost every region in the country. From North all the way down South. Siquijor is by far the best island I have been to and comes second to none.

It's the type of place where time standing still meant that when the sun hit half-way down the horizon, dinner was to be served in an hour's time. The sun is about to rise when engine warm-up of tricycles and jeepneys start to buzz. Its quarter to seven when you see the young lady walking down the dust road with her basket of fresh vegetables bought from the market and 3pm strikes when the old man wakes from his afternoon siesta and sits by his rocking chair sipping his coffee. The island had its own biological clock and calendar. Monday meant seeing hugs and well-wishes at the pier as individuals head off to the city as they start the work week once more. Escalating Witching Festivities of enchantment signaled Black Saturday. Siquijor is a living being. It's alive.

*photo by Michael Sieberath - Von bremen
** triptayo Siquijor was done in Jan. 2005
***also posted in TripTayo

BOHOLidays

Hu-waw Philippines!

Alona beach*

Located in Panglao island, Bohol, Alona beach is its main strip of white sand. Alona Kew provides one of the budget friendly places to stay.

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The loboc river cruise is a complete feast for the senses. As the stream tugs you down the river, let's hope you're not color blind since different shades of green paint the facade. From the river to the coconut trees to the passing boat man's banana-leaf hat, there is no need for that so-called 'certain shade of green'. The tropical weather takes part in setting the mood. After mother nature sprinkles the river with scattered five-minute rain showers, sunshine comes into play as it seeps through the coconut tree canopy and the scent of wet-earth tingles the nose. The water twinkles like stars. Birds whisper songs, voiding the need for mp3 players. Although there is beer served on the boat, let yourself feel the natural enchantment reek from your pores thus completing the fiesta on all five senses.

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Although it may be part of the tourist itinerary, it is possible to hire your own boat for around 4,000-6,000Php and it even comes with a lunch buffet meal. In addition, in exchange for additional cash, there are other platform-boats that include a group of serenaders. Always remember that the bigger the group, the cheaper the rates fly.

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rockstar Wanda


Tarsier

The postcard shot of the chocolate hills is just the tip of the iceberg

On the road leading to the tourist-shot spot, already, a smorgasboard of chocolate sizes and shapes. All the way to the horizon, until where your eyes can see. So why waste time and try to get your I'm-so-vain-solo-picture in the same viewing deck as everyone else, when you can just head down the road and see the other less popular hill spots. Just ring that bell, head down the steps and spread out; there is plenty for everyone.

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The tour around Bohol can be done in one single day. It's now up to you how long you want to stare at the acid-laced sunsets along the beach strips of Panglao island.

*photo by Michael Sieberath - Von bremen
**photo by Annie Lastrilla
***posted in triptayo

Balicasag Island

Hu-waw Philippines!

Balicasag island

Another one amongst the thousands of diver's-paradise islands. Balicasag island is about an hour away from Panglao island in Bohol.

The island has just one operating resort.

Now chose your vice.

If you conveniently find yourself drunk by noon, it would be nice to rest and take a walk around the island. After a leisurely 20-minute stroll and 3 spliffs later. . .

you hear nothing but the sea breeze lulling you to the nearest beach cot

or you can always decide to take a dip

power up on a four-legged blue star

and then you will find Nemo

*posted in triptayo