I have proven how nice Mati's people and destinations are in my previous posts but there's another thing you absolutely couldn't miss if you're in Mati. Yup, this post's cover photo says it all: Surfing!
I have surfed a few times in famous surfing spots in the Philippines including La Union, Siargao Island, Gubat in Sorsogon, Dulag in Leyte and Calicoan in Eastern Samar. And I was thrilled to add this new spot in the list of places I've surfed.
It's my third and last day in Mati City. I jumped out of my bed and ended up in another morning stroll in the beach. There, I found more people than my first visit. People either gearing up for a morning surf or just chilling by the beach while soaking themselves in the morning sun.
At first, I was just there as a bystander; I haven't made up my mind to surf. I wanted to observe and check how my surfing skills fared with the waves that morning. From the shore, the glistening waters looked calmer than the day before. The waves were stunning and strong but they looked manageable, or so I thought.
I came across other tourists doing touristy things such as surfing for the first time. You don't need to be a seasoned surfer to take the least control of Dahican's waves; it's just a matter of balance, with a dash of courage and confidence. With this being said, you can either rent a surfing board or bring your own. But if you're like me who have surfed more than twice but hasn't grown enough self-esteem to do it yourself, there are always guide around who can accompany you for an hour for Php 500 (~$8). Not bad if you really wanted to enjoy and ensure your safety at the same time.
I've had enough scrutinizing the place and the vibe. I've decided to go back to my homestay, change into a proper surfing attire. "I'm not missing this!" I told myself.
In less than 30 minutes, I was back in the beach ready to stand up for my life on that huge board. If you're getting a guide, they'd usually start with a crash course of how everything you need to know before going to the battlefield. The quick discussion will cover, but not limited to, topics such as how to stand up on the board, if you lose balance which side should you fall, how to ride and enjoy the long waves, paddling, etc.
While waiting for my turn, I spotted kids as young as five (5) years old who looked like they own the entire ocean; they were fearless. Each move they made in the water was calculated to show nothing but their perfect control of each spin and turn. I can watch them all day!
I started my own crash course with other tourists; we were all eager to learn and in my end, relearn the basics of surfing. If you think you can't do it, think again. I still encourage you to give it a try! The guides in Dahican were super friendly, kind and patient; you might not learn everything at once but you'll pick up just the right information to least, get started. And for any beginner surfer, this gives you enough confidence to try.
Then off we go. By this time, more and more people gathered by the shore. Others came to spectate while others went for a swim although I'd say this isn't the best spot to swim. The waves were massive and strong.
I imagined myself finding my rhythm as soon as I'm deep in the water but I was wrong. In fact, everything went really wrong. Every time I tried to stand up on the board and ride a wave, I lost all the balance my body could muster; balance was nowhere to be found. I watched other tourist stood up and rode the waves effortlessly and just when my time was about to ran out, I thought of changing my technique and voila! I stood up, high and mighty, like a queen commanding the waves to carefully carry me from start to end. Euphoria took over my entire being; it felt like I took a strong drug and all I feel was a heavenly bliss each time I'm up and riding a wave. The entire time I was doing this, my supportive guide was right behind me giving me hints of which wave to ride and boosting my confidence.
But just like anything, the hour passed by so fast; it was time to take photos of the 7-8 feet of before retiring it to the next renter. I thank my guide and of course, myself for breaking the limits. I would've felt really bad if I wasn't able to ride even a single wave.
This activity toasted my entire body. Look at those perfect morena skin I got after an hour of exposure in direct sunlight! Not complaining tho! Be sure to bring a lot of sunscreen when you're out exploring especially here in the Philippines. As we say, it's always summer somewhere in the Philippines. 😅
One thing I am thrilled to share are photos of me that a standby photographer took. On the onset, you have to tell him if you wanted your photos to be taken while you're surfing. You don't have to pay him in advance, you'll only pay for the photos you like. He took photos of me (tons actually) and after surfing, I selected 4-5 photos which I paid Php 50.00 for each. No cash? No problem, you can wire the money via Gcash. It's a way to help a local earn decent money and damn, my photos are so worth the money I paid. These aren't photoshopped; he snapped photos as if I was the only one there surfing. Impressive photography skills! 👏🏻
Surfing might not be for all; it looks scary from afar but if you ever find yourself in a situation where you can surf, give it a go! It's soothing to the soul and rightly so, meditative. You don't believe me? Try it then and go back to this post! 😎
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