Surigao del Norte
This yet another hidden paradise of the Philippines is located in Mindanao.
Siargao Island is a teardrop shape island composed of 9 municipalities; Dapa, Del Carmen, San Benito, Sta. Monica, Burgos, San Isidro, Pilar, Socorro and General Luna (GL). The island contains the largest mangrove forest reserves in Mindanao.
Getting there: The travel took two and a half hours from Surigao City to reach Dapa Port in Siargao Island.
Surigao City Terminal, here where tickets can be purchased.
Dapa Port in Siargao Island
Dapa Port and Siargao Airport are two entry points on the island. "Dapa" which is "prone" in English, were the refugees lay down on the ground to remind them of the Moro raids during the Spanish era. The area is largely protected with mangrove which gives time to hide.
From the port, we took habal-habal to General Luna (GL), the surfing point. It was raining hard and the road is trully rough. Habal-habal is a motorbike designed to seat 4 pax including the driver with a canopy for rain or shine trips.
This is Dario, our habal-habal driver and guide. He was a degree holder and once set foot in Manila in expect of a better job but can't survive with the living standard there. He is proud to be a driver guide as he has the chance to meet a lot of people and proudly present the Island of Siargao.
It took us an hour to reach the Ocean 101 Cloud 9 Resort in General Luna, where we spend overnight. Cloud 9 among the surfers is thick hollow tube waves, where domestic and international surfing competition is held.
The point of setting feet on the island is to see what makes this islet a famous destination in the Philippines. Surfing? I do not know how and I have a fear that waves will bury me alive :-). Hence, I must try it or be sorry to leave the island without the feeling of Cloud 9. I'm in! Let's get it on!
My friend and I set an appointment for a Surfing 101 in the afternoon. Since we can't start surfing right away as it was low tide, we walked around the area and let our camera to do its job. Luckily, the weather goes along with us.
Lovely place, such a hidden paradise.
The Ocean 101 Cloud 9 Resort in General Luna
Map of Siargao, next day we're going around the island
The Boardwalk
Around 18:00 when we started the surfing lesson. Here we were taught on how to shift the body from prone to standing and feet positioning on the surfing board while at the beach surface. It is white sand beach but sharp stones on the water area, pain on barefooted. After few trials of board jumping, a meter long rope tied on our ankle connected to the board so it will not be drifted far from us.
How was your training June? :-)
Drifting
Waited for the big waves to play along with it but it keeps on throwing me away every time the wave comes.
Fun! Fun! Fun! Acrobatic features are far to rate my performance there :-).
Get's rollin' and twisted,
Get's tumbled off the board helplessly :-)
Board, once I was on top, often it's on top of my head :-)
Board went missing ohhh there tied on my ankle hahaha.
Wooohoooo! I did it once. I did it twice. I made to stand on the board and float along the wave wooohooo! My instructor was happy and so am I :-) not bad for a beginner with only an hour surfing :-).
Yeeppeey!
Sadly, the camera was not able to capture the winning actions and boast that I did it, but I did it. I swear :-). It was already dark and far the for camera to capture the scene. In my heart, I did it :-).
Went back to the room and saw the bruises and abrasions on my knees. Anyway, it will get cured but the great experience I just had forever will remain.
Had dinner and took more pictures while we still have the energy to keep up.
Luv this photo of June and Vani
The alarm has been set early for the next day. Woke up with great body pain, on the lower back...on my shoulder blades and discovered more abrasions than seen last night. No complaint there, just saying it and that is part of the fun :-).
To digress, Dario the habal-habal driver who dropped us to General Luna came at 0600. We hired him for Siargao Island's habal-habal tour. At 0630 we hit the road and we went straight to Dapa Port, get a room near the port so we'll just walk to the pier for our next day early departure. We left our things in the room and fueled ourselves with breakfast :-).
It was staggered rain and shine weather as we hit the road. Now is sunshine :-)
The Road
Our first stopped, Municipality of Del Carmen previously called as Numancia which was introduced by a Spanish priest, founded in 1600. It was the oldest headquarters of the diocese of Eastern Mindanao.
Del Carmen Port
Del Carmen Port
Del Carmen Church
The vast mangrove area
We just past the Municipality of San Benito, previously known as Talisay. The town is composed of six (6) barangays, namely: Talisay, Sta. Cruz, Nuevo Campo, San Juan, Bongdo and Maribojoc. San Benito is one of the richest fishing grounds in Siargao.
Municipality of Sta. Monica, previously called Sapao, it is subdivided into 11 barangays Abad Santos, Alegria, Bailan, Garcia, Libertad, Mabini, Mabuhay, Magsaysay, Rizal, T. Arlan and Tangbo.
Taktak falls located in Sayug, Rizal
Beach
Beach
Cave
Cave
Alegria Beach Resort
Alegria
The municipality of Burgos is facing the Pacific Ocean, with 6 barangays Baybay, Bitaug, Matin-ao, Poblacion 1, Poblacion 2 and San Mateo.
Municipal of Burgos
The municipality of San Isidro composed of 12 barangays and one of those is Pacifico.
Pacifico Beach
Pacifico Beach
The municipality of Pilar was created in 1953, covers 15 barangays. Pilar is facing the Pacific Ocean.
I need to get into this boat :-)
Magpupungko Rock Formation
Tidal Flats and Lagoon in Pilar
Best time to visit is in the afternoon during low tide, the limestone floor reveals lagoons in different shapes and sizes, with crystal clear water.
Whew! Washing off the stress :-)
Kicked and washed away those stress on to the water :-).
My head is greatly shaken on the12hours habal-habal trip on the rough road. I was seated last on the motorbike and feel the impact every time the power-horse bike is jumping. I had a headache. Not, to mention my aching behind. No kidding here :-).
Siargao Island
Surigao del Norte, Mindanao
Philippines
May 2011
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