Siquijor, Dumaguete and Lake Balinsasayao

It’s been months since my last post! And I apologize to my three readers that I took so much time posting the continuation of my Siquijor sojourn that I did in September!

I’ve been busy lately writing this TV show called Wako Wako. It’s a fluffy, feel good, kid-friendly fantaserye which airs in ABS-CBN daily 5:45 pm before TV Patrol.

So before the next deadline hits, let me recount my amazing Siquijor-Negros Oriental adventure that I cannot wait to share with you in full blast soon!

Cambugahay Falls

Black Virgin Mary

SIQUIJOR

Siquijor. I went here September of 2011. A truly magical place. I suggest you come visit this province and spend about three days or more. You’ll enjoy every minute as the place feels so faraway. The isolation transcends. It makes you feel one with nature. I went here alone (coming from Dumaguete) and indeed found the peace, the reflection, the alone time and the self-awareness I am looking for. The place is teeming with natural wonders! From beautiful beaches (I suggest Villa Marmarine resort) and waterfalls ! Everywhere you look, you’ll find God’s work of art.  Reserve an entire day for the island tour. And no it’s not a tour inside a jeepney or a freaking van. Get out there hire a habal habal, slop on sunblock, wear your sunnies and pump up the volume of your Ipod and rip the coastline of Siquijor. That’s what I did! Turquiose water everywhere! I enjoyed riding the habal habal to the point that stopping feels like a hassle.The stops were interesting though. Maria Church (where you can find the Black Virgin Mary).  Lazi convent and others. I also saw and swam in a waterfalls for the very first time! And the waterfalls is a delectable shade of soft teal. Perfect!
 Now if you want to search and discover the sorcery and witchcraft which Siquijor is known for, you can do that (some resorts even have packages that will give you a guided tour) but if you don’t, you won’t actually feel that the province is known for sorcery. Magic maybe because being in the island is purely mystical.

DUMAGUETE

I enjoyed Dumaguete because of the youthful charm of the place. The city is accessible by easyrides or tricycle which cost only around 7 pesos each. What I liked about Dumaguete is the clean and relaxing boulevard! I also loved the artsy cafes and restaurants. I celebrated my Epicurean leanings and sampled the treats in Sans Rival cafe (yummy Silvanas!), Cafe Antonio, Lab-as . I stayed in Honeycomb Tourist Inn and it was glorious. I felt like I was a rich retired businessman who is on eternal vacation. Haha. I could do this forever.

LAKE BALINSASAYAO

While in Dumaguete, I decided to do a DIY daytrip to Lake Balinsasayao. I rode an easyride, then was dropped off at the terminal. I boarded the bus going to San Juan and asked to be dropped off by the highway where there are habal habals waiting for commuters. The fare is 200 one way. Steep huh! Because the road going to Lake Balinsasayao was indeed steep! But I looooved the trip going there. It was bumpy yes, but I didn’t have a single care. I just felt my arms spread wide open! With the cool air I felt like flying. We were literally inside a forest.  And then the road clears, leading us to a cliff! It was quite an exhilarating experience. An adventure which doesn’t feel forced. There must be this little nature lover in me because  I enjoyed this a lot. I lounged around the lake  and found the calm that would satiate me til my next travel.

Up next: Boracay Virgin No More! 

Spellbound in Siquijor

I conjured or even imagined many excuses to delay writing this post. Workload, laziness, more travel, root canal. etc. etc. Why? Because I don't know exactly how to begin. Looking from the outside, the trip that I made was somebody else's nightmare. But for me, it was a dream come true.

PAL flight from Manila to Dumaguete

Before stepping on the pristine, beautiful and enchanting Siquijor shores, I had no idea what is in store for me. See, I've only just dreamt about going to Dumaguete and nearby towns in Negros Oriental. San Juan, Valencia and Dumaguete are my main purpose on this trip. And maybe Apo Island. Siquijor was just a  loosely researched plan. All depending on my mood. But why oh why, did I find myself alone in a nipa hut right smack in Siquijor town in Siquijor province? Listening to strange noises rustling through the walls of my rickety abode for the night?

Simple.
I was spellbound.

Like a helpless victim with dazed eyes hypnotized by witchcraft and sorcery I found myself in the waiting area of the pier at the end of the Boulevard, waiting to board the vessel for which I shall spend the loooongest 45 minutes of my life. It was the choppiest ferry boat I have ever experienced. First fifteen minutes, I was having an internal battle with myself, and I was actually calculating if turning back is still an option.

After that, everything went by really smoothly. Like it was in a dream. And what welcomed me was this.

If it isn't spellbinding, I don't know what is.

The first thing I see in Siquijor and I've fallen in love with it already.

Siquijor Island Tour on my next post.

Seven Destinations, Seven Weekends, One Whirlwind Local Travel Adventure

I am one of those people who wish to travel in foreign and local destinations and stay there for a week, a month or even a year. Forget all the trappings of work,  and just set off on an adventure while still doing what I love to do - to write. I long for long-term travel. And who doesn't? That feeling of freedom and abandon. That spontaneity. That opportunity to live the life of my dreams. Ah. A girl can dream.  

But because I need money to fund my escapes, and because I looove my job and I don't want to lose it by resigning or being fired, I have to make a compromise. Because life is about compromises. We can't have it all. Or can we?

So to  at least satisfy my yearning to travel locally, I availed of this airline's promo which promised that I can have unlimited travel for ten grand. Impulsive me went for it! But there was a catch, heck, there is always a catch - you can only avail of the "unlimited" travel within the period of seven weeks. Since I cannot opt for long-term travel, I decided upon the next best thing to enjoy this deal - I decided that I will travel every weekends for the next seven weeks!

The grand plan:

Dumaguete – Siquijor        August 28- September 2

Kalibo                              September 3-5

Cebu                                September 11-13

Bacolod                           September 17-19

Legazpi                            September 24- 26

Davao                              October 1-3

Palawan                           October 13- 16

So this was the plan: I'd travel every weekend, even for as short as three days for seven weeks. I told myself, I will complete the itinerary. Short vacations are still vacations. Weekend travels may be short, but it's enough to feel the vibe of the destination, to sample the local food, to connect with new people. I promised myself that I would go, even when I have deadlines. I'd bring my trusty laptop so I can write, inside the hotel, or at a local cafe. There is still something exhilirating about working in a new setting.

Plus it will be a great way to fight lethargy - all tickets are already printed for the next seven weeks. All I need is a map, moolah and myself! 

So, was I able to stick with ze plan?

I traveled solo but I think TRAVEL FATIGUE tagged along. 

I was only able to travel to four destinations out of the projected seven. Sigh. Three things, flexibility, graciousness and simple gung-ho attitude can make you brush your disappointments like yesterday’s dandruff.

And I still think that the whole experience is one for the books.

Plus, despite not being able to complete my itinerary, I realized that the four-local destination glimpse to our motherland made me state this  very important thing that I have learned: Whoever says that The Philippines is inferior to another country when it comes to natural wonders and beauty is a complete fool.

Nothing can beat that one moment - when you are riding the local habal-habal ripping the coastline of a remote island, sleeping alone in a hut in no less than Siquijor Island, riding the ferry boat traversing the choppy Bohol Sea, eating buffet lunch in Mactan Island, writing/working while having breakfast in Real Coffee, or being stranded in Bicol because of typhoon Pedring- whatever you do, that moment can come unexpectedly, when you realize that you are living your dream, you are exploring and you are happily, breathlessly alive.

Up next, the first leg: My solo Dumaguete-Siquijor Adventure!