Hi Steemians and Uloggers,
How's your week?. Do you have any plan to go surfing this weekend?. How about exploring an island with full of great people and palms trees?. Well, I know a perfect place to make your weekend exciting and memorable then.
Did you heard about Siargao Island?. It is the "surfing capital of the Philippines" that located south of the Philippines off Mindanao. Siargao Island offers the kind of chill and laidback island life that everyone could ever wish for.
HOW TO GET THERE:
From Cebu there are airlines flying to Siargao such as Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines just check on their site.
From Manila to Siargao, you can check Skyjet, and Cebu Pacific or you can book ticket going to Surigao City then take a Ferry to Siargao.
GETTING AROUND:
I have a friend who went to Siargao 2 months ago and she told me to contact "KUYA TING" (habal-habal driver) whom she meet and help her as well to explore the island with a cheap price. Since the most common modes of transportation in Siargao are tricycle and habal-habal. Kuya Ting is perfect for us aside from the fact that he is local, he help us to looked for cheap accommodation.
A lot of Backpacker Lodge and Hostels where you can stay with cheaper price but the thing is you need to book before you will arrive to the place. In our case, we were thinking that we can easily find rooms to stay for 6 days since we are just two but unfortunately all were fully booked and thanks to Kuya Ting he let us stay to his house and we just pay him, he insist not to but we still pay him (kay ma ikog mi..lol)
HOW WE EXPLORE SIARGAO:
Upon arriving to Kuya Ting's house, we just leave our bag to the room and we go straight to General Luna where Cloud 9 and Jacking Horse located and then we eat after.
Take a pose to this instagramable boardwalk (cloud9)
My friend Ann and the Surfer
Souvenir Shop
Sunset in Jacking Horse
It's a wrap for the Surfers
We decided to eat and grab some wine in "la carinderia". Actually you have a lot of choices where to eat in General Luna but at this point we are starved to death (char lang, pero gutom na jud mi ba!lol).
Wine bottles
The restaurant is along the road, it's easy to find!
DAY AFTER:
Kuya Ting, asked us early in the morning as he served us coffee where to go. I told him we want to explore Guyam Island, Daku Island and Naked Island....for short we will doing an island hopping. As a reply he called a friend who can bring us to the island and just a snap of his finger and boom! all are set. (habal-habal driver na, tour guide pa..asa paka?..hahah)
Kuya Ting (gray shirt) and his friends!
Naked Island has its pure white sand and clear water which they got its name.
Daku Island is along stretch of white sand. You can stay here overnight since the island do have cottages that can be rented.
Guyam Island is a paradise because of its white sand and tons of coconut trees.
We stayed in Guyam till 4pm and went back home. (arrived home at 6:00pm). As the wife of Kuya Ting served us dinner she even asked us what's our plan for tomorrow and I was like "we are planning to try surfing but we don't know how". and Kuya Ting which is happened heard our conversation he was like "i know a friend who will teach you guys on how to surf, live it to me". (bongga jud nis Kuya Ting woi.)
Early in the morning when I woke up, I saw this.
A motorcycle and longboard attached to it. (this is it)
We had coffee and straight to "paradise place" where beginner used to surf.
When we arrived to the place Kuya Ting introduced us to his Friend "Bugoy" he explained to us the basic on how to stand at the board, how to puddle and some safety tips and we jump into the water after. (ingon ana ko ka excited..hhaha)
Bugoy and I
Puddle til we reach the spot
waited for like about 5 min. for the perfect waves!
Scared at first but i remain calm..hahhaha
And here I'am, was able to stand at the board..Yheyyyyy!
We last for 3 hrs. to wrap up everything!
I did enjoy that surfing experience even if its my first time, I was able to stand at the board without falling. As Bugoy told me after "youre good for a first timer". (ning daku akong heart..hhaha). I don't mind to try it over and over again.
After we surf, we went straight to "Sugba Lagoon" that took us 2 hrs. from Paradise Place.
Went for a boat ride!
I even saw a cupcake or maybe I'm just hungry.hahah
Arrived at Sugba Lagoon and did puddle boarding.
I jump to wrap up my day in Sugba Lagoon.
From Sugba Lagoon we went straight to "Magpupungko Rock Pool"
Magpupungko Rock Pool is a beach but it has been called a pool because it resembles an infinity pool during low tide.
The waves never bothered me anyway..hhahahah
Crystal Clear water!
Waiting for the coconut vendor. (ako daw mag adjust.hahha)
We stayed at Magpupungko for about 2 hrs. and decided to explore "Taktak Falls"
Taktak Falls a cool little spot to hang for a day and for the record this is the only waterfalls in Siargao.
It was a long day for us, as we left home at 6am and went back home 7pm. When we arrived home we went straight to the room and sleep. (knock down ang peg besh..hhahha)
UNTOCHED ISLAND:
Kuya Ting (habal-habal driver) was born and raised in Siargao so he knows everything that the tourist don't. I asked him if theres a place in Siargao that was not yet discovered by tourist and he said that he knows three island that located in San Benito Siargao namely the Pagbasayan Island, Kangkangon Island and Kambiling Island. See the photos below. (way sa pag duha-duha among gi adto dayon.hahha)
The powder white sand, warm seas and palm trees created a pristine paradise for you to enjoy alone.
I suggest to bring umbrella or tent if you have plan to visit on this island because there are few trees and foliage.
Actually this Island is located in Caraga, Surigao del Norte, a few minutes from Kangkangon Island which is located in San Benito. A white sand island with crystal clear water and waves are too strong here, overnight stay in this island is not allowed since it slowly disappears as night fall.
Hope you guys like this post and if you do decide to go to Siargao don't hesitate to contact Kuya Ting, everything was too easily for us to explore the island because of him. Promise you won't be disappointed.
Kuya Ting at your service! I took this photo along Borgos, we stopped because the view is just stunning.
Thanks for dropping by, till next time...