After my bittersweet experience in Mindanao Saga Flying Club, I went straight to find my homestay along Dahican's long stretch of white sand beach. I was dropped off somewhere near Dahican; it was only one motorcycle ride away to reach my homestay.
I found myself in my humble homestay called Surf Village Hostel. I found them on Facebook and after much consideration of the cost, this was the only affordable room that suited my budget. Other budget-friendly hostels and homestays were already fully-booked. This simply means even locals flock to Dahican on weekends to chillout and catch some waves. Surf Village hostel is not in the beachfront but the beach is within walking distance, say 150 meters away give or take.
I dropped my belongings and hurried back to Dahican Beach. I wanted to watch the sunset there. I thought there's no better spot to do this than in the ever-famous and crowd-favorite, DSR. Dahican Surf Resort, or what people fondly call as DSR, is home to Dahican's best surfers. I had a few enccounter with them during my visit.
This was supposed to be my top choice for my stay but they were fully booked; if I wanted to stay here, I'd be staying in a beach tent which I find uncomfortable. Still, I wanted to visit DSR and witness the iconic surf camp vibes everyone writes about in social media posts and even blogs.
Upon reaching the entrance of the resort which was heavily guarded, I was shocked by the sheer number of crowd that are either checked-in guests or like me who's only here to grab food and drinks for dinner.
I walked past the police; they were busy talking with other guests. Native huts lined up one after the other was such a sight to behold. DSR is a low-key surfing resort; it's no five-star but walking nearer the beachfront I now understand why people find themselves again and again here.
I finally reached the end of DSR where the breathtaking scenery of Dahican Beach could be perfectly seen. I've been to countless beaches all over the Philippines but still, Dahican didn't disappoint. I was mesmerized by how long the shore was; it's far as my eyes could see; and with the raging Pacific Ocean, hues of blue and green complete the formula for this to be called a paradise.
I settled in a log washed ashore and along with other tourists, I watched as the sun's glory disappeared in the background. Serenity filled the afternoon air; I noticed that lifeguards called out all those who were still swimming and surfing. The waves were getting stronger. It was time to call it a day.
Aside from the resorts that installed light bulbs in their vicinity, the beachfront was pitch black. My stomach was demanding great food to cap off a day filled with extra-ordinary adventures. I decided to dine at DSR.
DSR's bar and restaurant transformed into a vibrant hub oozing with life. Everywhere I looked, colors were popping; walls were painted with gigantic murals and well-thought off designs that may be different from each other but when you look at it from afar, everything goes perfectly well together.
Aside from their main restaurant and bar, there are other food stalls in DSR where you can find short orders like fries, burgers and fruit shakes. Be sure to check out the souvenir shops where you can find all sorts of things, keychains, t-shirt, board shorts, bracelets, ref magnets stamped with either the word Dahican or Mati.
I ordered my dinner. While waiting for it to be served, I soaked myself in the atmosphere. By this time, a live acoustic band started playing upbeat music; it was difficult not to bang my head every now and then.
More and more people coming in but most of them opted to stay near the beach. It was starting to get really loud; friends and family were talking about just anything under the sun or stars in this case. Obviously, I was all by myself but staff in DSR were kind to start small talks with me. I then met a young couple who introduced me to someone who'd drive me early the following morning. I got his number and my problem was solved. The young couple turned out to be champion surfers and they own one of the food stalls in DSR, too!
I would've wanted to stay longer but my call time the next day was as early as 4 in the morning. This was my last chance to try flying in the lightest aircraft in Mindanao Saga Flying Club and I wouldn't want to leave Mati without trying it. Ate my dinner and went home.
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