Deep Sea Fishing in Siargao

A few days ago, a friend asked me about Siargao because she is scheduled to go there in a couple of weeks. I went to Siargao in February 2011 but I loved it so much that I remember every detail of my trip as if it was just yesterday.

Of course, I recommended that she go to the beautiful Sohoton cove. But the most amazing experience that I had in Siargao was deep sea fishing.

I started the day checking and sending out emails before having a quick breakfast. It was during a time when my workaholic self would work every chance I had. Looking at my photo now, I could not help but cringe because I can re-live how incredibly stressed I felt during those times. 

The whole CARAGA region was under typhoon signal # 1 the night before and even in the morning so we were not sure if our activity will push through. But it was sunny in the morning so we decided to go.

From our resort, we rode a tricycle going to a beachfront property where the local fishermen and their families lived. When we got there, our boat was ready. It was a small motorized boat with wooden benches on each side and a small roof above them.

Junior, our boat captain was a man in his late fifties. He said he has been doing this for a long time and affluent deep sea fishing enthusiasts would book him for a month to go fishing with them in their yachts. 

Not long after we took off, the wind began to get a lot stronger and the waves became higher and higher. We could not take our hands off the handles on the boat for fear of going overboard. Junior and his first mate, on the other hand, were very relaxed and were even snacking on bread while we were too nauseated to move.

There were only a handful of times when we were not traveling on stormy weather because the typhoon season is less busy for us in terms of work. We are used to braving stormy seas but when the waves seemed to reach above 1-storey during this adventure, we just had to ask the captain if we should turn back. He said they are used to even bigger waves. He also told us not to worry because he was the one who made his boat and he is sure it is unsikable. As soon as I heard the word unsinkable, I gripped the handle harder and looked for a life vest because I remembered the movie Titanic.

There were brief moments of calm when I was able to enjoy the view and the deep blue sea but those moments were often short lived.

Amazingly, despite the rough seas, several big fish bit the bait. Once the first mate screams HIT, we would prepare to reel the fish into the boat. This is when I realized how extremely tiring angling is. The humongous waves made it even more challenging. 

Fishermen have many tales. I must say I was very much entertained by the stories of our captain and our first mate. They talked about catching a huge shark, about their rich clients who would take them fishing in their yachts and the Japanese clients who were always ready with their knives, their wasabi, lime and soy sauce so they can eat their sashimi straight from the sea. They said that the fish tastes much better, almost sweet, within two hours of being caught from the sea. I thought to myself..."We will have to see about that".

After a few fish, we were ready to call it a day.  

We only took two of our catch back to the resort and gave the rest to our boatmen. We had the smaller fish cooked three ways - sweet and sour, battered & fried and curried. The other fish we sold to our resort so that we ended up having to pay next to nothing for our total bill for three nights after deducting the price of the fish.

Fresh fish does taste so much better than the ones bought in the market. Even the texture is different. It is much more firm.

Since I have been to Siargao, I have always longed to go back. At one point, we even planned to settle in this island. I've had so many great adventures in this island that I do not know which one in particular drew it close to our hearts. One thing is for sure though, that my first deep sea fishing adventure will definitely not be my last. I cannot wait for my Summer to experience it and for us to finally try that mouthwatering sashimi.

Monday is almost over. Let's drink to that! :)

It Was Once Just A "What if?"

I can make a long list of reasons why I hate the summer heat but in an effort to live an optimistic and happy life, I consciously choose not to. This has been a huge personal growth for me for more than a year. Instead of negativity, I like to look at the good side of things, those that I can be thankful for and remember with a smile. This particular memory never fails to make me smile...

It was summer and Holy Thursday in April 5, 2007. I've been crying my eyes out to the point where no more tears would flow. I was dehydrated and I did not have the appetite to eat anything. A few days back, I just ended a relationship and realized that this time, it really was over. In an attempt to regain my sanity, I spontaniously decided to come to my friends' flat in Makati just to have someone to talk to and maybe momentarily forget about how terribly in pain and betrayed I was feeling. 

When I got to the flat and started to hangout with my two friends, I did begin to feel better. We had our usual conversations while our friend was cooking chicken adobo for their out of town trip the next day. We were foolishly doing log rolls on their baby floor mats when we heard a knock. We immediately sat around the dining table before one of us opened the door. It was Russell. He came to borrow my friend's backpack for their trip the next day. Ofcourse, I already knew him from that frisbee party in January when I came from a photoshoot to fetch my friend so we can go home to the South together. He probably did not remember me because he was so drunk while he was talking to me. 

We were introduced again. I said hello. My friend mentioned that I was a mountaineer who traveled a lot and that I wanted to document my travels around the Philippines. Because he was planning to put up a travel agency, he said maybe we can work together on something in the future. I politely said "Yes, perhaps". But the whole time we were talking, I could barely look at him. I might have come across as being rude and a snob. I was not ashamed about my puffy red eyes. I just could not see him clearly because my eyes and contact lenses were all dried up from all the crying. He went home and that was the end of our chance encounter. We went back to our log rolls immediately after he shut the door.

As I was on my way home that night, partly tearing up again, I thought it must be nice if I went out with Russell or someone like him because it must be fun to have someone that I can travel with and someone who has a taste for adventure for a change. It made me smile to think about that possiibility. But I quickly brushed it off because I remembered swearing off men from my life.

A few weeks later, he asked me out through our mutual friend but I said no because I was not ready to date again. It really wasn't him, it was me. I was perfectly happy drowning myself with work. I repeatedly said no to his invitations months later. Needless to say I eventually said YES to dinner and tea...then to a lifetime of adventure with him.

It Was Once Just A "What if?"...something I thought would never happen in a million years. But deciding to take the leap by starting with a simple friendly date turned out to be one of the best decisions that I've ever made. In 5 minutes I imagined that he could be someone I can share my adventures with. I never thought it would become a reality. Life has a funny and twisted way of making things work out, doesn't it?

My 5 minute what if turned into cliff jumping in Siargao, snorkelling in Apo Island, boat rides on stormy seas, mountain climbing in Mt. Mayon at alert level 2, crossing a river just after sunset without knowing where we were headed, underwater swim to a cave in El Nido, game fishing in Siargao, swimming with the whalesharks, swimming with a sea turtle, walking through murky mangrove, sudsod barefoot in muddy mangrove, sand dune surfing in Ilocos, outrigger boat ride for 8 hours from Coron to El Nido, 2-hour motorcycle ride in Dumaguete, endless backpacking, whitewater rafting, encounters with sea snakes, meeting people from different regions and different countries, foodtrips and eating just anywhere, jumping off a boat and swimming for several kilometers to a sandbar, spelunking for 10 hours, flying an ultralight plane and many more fun and crazy experiences.

Who knew that some "what ifs" can come true?

Happy weekend!

Pre-nup shoot in Anawangin

Pre-nup shoot in Anawangin

Pre-nup shoot in Anawangin

A List of Firsts

I never thought I'd live to see myself transform into a mommy. I know our journey has only just begun but these past two weeks and four days have brought more joy to me that I have ever felt in my entire life, combined.

I will never forget the first time I heard you cry. It was a very soft cry as soon as you got out, followed by another sot cry and followed by another loud, continuous cry as they were cleaning you off right before I dozed off completely. That moment, I knew that I will do anything and everything for you.

I will never forget the first time I saw you in person. I saw you through a glass viewing window while you were in the incubator in the NICU. I remember how I desperately wanted to come to you and hold you in my arms.

I will never forget the first time you heard my voice. It was as if you heard a very familiar voice and you started moving your tiny body, as if searching for the source of that sound and listening to every word I was saying. 

I will never forget the first time I touched you. I gently stroke your soft little fingers as you held my finger and would not let go. I stayed until you fell asleep that day.

I will never forget my first Mother's Day celebration in May 10, 2015. Thank you for making me your mom. I could only see you through the incubator and I can only touch you instead of holding you in my arms but just to be able to look at you is more than enough for me.

I will never forget the first time I saw you open your eyes. It was as if you were looking for the voice singing your favorite nursery rhymes while you were still in my womb. I looked at your eyes and you looked at mine. I know it will still be a while before you really see me though.
   
I will never forget the first time I held you in my arms. My heart was pounding so fast but I quickly got used to holding your tiny body next to mine. Until now, whenever I would hold you, you quickly fall soundly asleep.

I will never forget the first time I breastfed you. I could just stare at you all day and not notice time passing.

I will never forget the first time I saw you pout your tiny lips. Your were so so so cute. I also remember thinking that your Papa and I are in so much trouble because you will surely have us both under your control. Of course, we will pretend it isn't so.

As I said, I know that our journey had only began. And I'm sure it will be one heck of an adventure. We are new to this but we will get better as we get to know you and you get to know us. Although life is full of surprises and uncertainties, I know one thing is for sure. That we will always love you will all of our hearts and we will always be by your side through this whole ride called life.        

Ready to Take a Leap? ...Five Awesome Cliff Jumping Adventures

A cliff jumping adventure is not for everybody. It is almost always scary when you're about to jump. Plus, since you will be hitting the water, it will be a bit crazy to do it when you don't know how to swim. 

For novice cliff jumpers, the Philippine cliff jumping sites are ideal because it varies in height. The ones that did not make my cut are in the rivers in Laguna and Cagayan de Oro during the whitewater tour because they are quite low but they are perfect for first timers.

One thing is for sure, these cliffs always look lower from below than it actually is. But once you're at the edge, there's nothing left to do but to take a deep breath and take the leap. Don't even give it any thought!

Ariel's Point, Boracay 
Try it if you dare. The fun starts at the boat going to Ariel's Point where party music plays and unlimited alcoholic drinks are served. They say it helps build up your courage. The more you drink, the more you dive. Because I do not have a death wish, I opted to pass on the alcohol. 

There are several jump points with varying heights - 2 meters, 3 meters, 5 meters, 8 meters, 15 meters. Go ahead and take your pick. 


Malapascua, Cebu
The cliff can be reached through an outrigger boat during your island hopping tour. Frankly, this was my favorite part of the island hopping tour. The drop is approximately 50 feet. The view from the top is definitely much more scary than the view from below.

Enchanted River, Surigao
This river is as mysterious as it is beautiful. There have been many stories about this river and this is still being studied continuously. The jump is one of the lowest I've ever tried but it is one of my favorites because I was jumping into one of the clearest, deepest aquamarine waters I've ever seen.

Bucas Grande Island, Sohoton Cove National Park, Siargao 
The Sohoton Cove National park deserves a whole article because of the many things to see and experience inside. It is like an entirely different world with an elaborate maze of islands inside.

Magkukuob cave is partly submerged in water. When we came, the water was almost up to my shoulders and the cave entrance was about to close. There are some stalactite and stalagmite formations and one has to climb through the rocks leading to the cliff where the only way out is to jump! 

Salagdoong beach, Siquijor
Siquijor remains to be one of the hidden tourism gems because very few have come to visit the small, quiet town. We were just there to relax at Salagdoong beach when we saw several kids jumping over, and over and over. We got curious and tried it out. Jumping into clear turquoise water is always an amazing experience!

My Favorite Zip Line Adventures

In a span of a few years, Zip Line has gained a lot of popularity in the Philippines. So much so that it is now being offered in almost all known tourist destinations, even in the Metro. It is set up with a pulley suspended on a cable and mounted on an incline. The user travels from top to bottom. The steeper the incline, the faster the user travels because of gravity.

A zip line experience has started to grow old for me because it is now being offered everywhere and I have tried almost all of them in every destination I've visited. I narrowed my favorites down to five. The weather, speed, safety and the unique experience are among the factors that I considered.

Danao Adventure Park, Bohol
The adventure park is 2 hours away from Tagbilaran airport. This is also where I tried the infamous canyon jumping called The Plunge!

The park calls it the Suislide. The cable is 480 meters long with a 200-meter drop. What I like about this adventure is the unique setup. The zip line is set up in a canyon ( a deep ravine between two cliffs). Throughout the ride, I could see the thick vegetation and the river below.

The canyon - used for the Plunge

View from the top - a beautiful view of the river

Dahilayan Adventure Park, Bukidnon
The park claims that this is the longest dual zip line in Asia. I do not have reference to say whether this is true or not. It is 480 meters long with a drop of 100 meters. One can either ride it alone or in tandem.

What I like about this adventure is the very cool weather and the thrill of feeling like I would crash into the pine trees and the other tall trees. 


Agas-Agas Bridge, Sogod Southern Leyte
This ride is easily accessible since it is located at the side of the Agas-agas bridge. 

What I like about this adventure is the view of the bridge, which is something I have seen only once in the Philippines. As you are released at a very fast speed, you'd first pass by the Agas-Agas bridge and see some vehicles passing by below you. I could also see a narrow, almost dried up river, tucked between thick vegetation. The fact that the drop is lower that other zip lines is an unusual plus for me because you can fly close to the passing vehicles along the bridge. The ride is almost a minute long and the landing is smooth.

 El Nido, Palawan
This is a fairly new attraction in El Nido, as if all the amazing outdoor adventure was not enough. Going to and from the jump off point of the ride requires a bit of hiking. From the parking area, one can ride a motorcycle or hike for about 20 minutes. After the ride, going back to the parking area, one has to carefully go down some ladders and walk on the beach. 

What I like about this adventure is crossing through the sea, looking over the passing boats and swimming tourists below. I happened to go there when there was a typhoon so the wind was extra strong. It made it even more worth trying. The launch was fast but it slowed down towards the middle which was okay with me because I was able to enjoy the sea view longer. Because I did not want to walk back on the sandbar, I opted to ride the zipline going back. Both landings were smooth and there were many attendants making sure that the ride is very safe.
 
Camp Sabros, Davao
The road to Camp Sabros is very rough and one could only get there via 4x4 vehicle or habal habal or a horse. The place is surrounded with pine trees violently swaying because of the strong wind. The breeze was cold (similar to the temperature in Baguio on a cold day).

What I like about this adventure is that they offer several stages of zip line that vary in distance and form. Unlike some of the ones that I have tried before, the distance of each stage is enough to get your blood pumping and leave you wanting more. The line is positioned in a way that your speed gets faster and faster as you reach the end of the line. It will give you quite a good rush as you enjoy the view!

A Long Overdue Visit to Calaguas

I have been planning to visit this island for years since my mountaineer friends first told me about it. It is this isolated island several hours away from the mainland that is inhabited by few families with no electricity, scarce running water, no commercial lodging and bathrooms, no restaurants (nor carinderia or canteen at the time) and absolutely no network connection...just pure gift of nature. It is a place where even the elderly locals were afraid to go in fear of being engulfed in huge waves. This was at the time when typhoon after typhoon ravaged the Bicol region. To get there, one would have to hire a fishing boat and combat the massive waves. The description alone is enough to send a comfort traveler running fast to the other direction. But tell that to this mountaineer and adventure seeker and her backpack will be packed and ready even before you finish your story.

Many years after I first thought of going, at the peak of summer I find myself on a 9-hour roadtrip to Vinzons which would be the jumpoff point to Calaguas. The news was there are stores and establishments there now which makes it more (although not totally) convenient for guests. We left Manila at night at were in Vinzons port by 8:00am. We had to wait a while for our boat to fetch us. As we were waiting for our ride, I was amazed at the influx of tourists. Most of whom were obviously from Manila in various ages, with some even carrying their pet dogs. There were groups in 4 vans, jeepneys, even buses! Clearly, this was no longer the hidden paradise from the stories of before.

The port has a small fish market with several mini stores around where tourists can buy bottled water, foodstuff, toiletries and other supplies that they will need in the island.

Finally, our boat arrived. Now, getting into the boat is one thing and getting out of the port was another thing. It must have taken us 20 minutes to get out because it involved a careful maneuver of boats coming in and out of the very narrow passing. I remember how eager I was to hear the motor running just so I could finally feel some cool sea air brush though my flushed and sweaty face and body. 

I alternately listened to music and slept during the approximately 3-hour boat ride in surprisingly calm waters, asking myself "are we there yet?" everytime I wake up from my naps. Then, I saw a row of huge boats lined on the white sand beach and I knew we were there.

Calaguas group of Islands in Camarines Norte, Luzon, Philippines is comprised of minor islands/islets such as Maculabo and major islands such as Guintinua Island and Tinaga Island. 

Tinaga Island is where the recently famous Mahabang Buhangin is located.  It is under the jurisdiction of the municipality of Vinzons and Barangay Mangcawayan at approximately 14-15 nautical miles  from Paracale and 19-20 nautical miles from Vinzons. It first gained the attention of mountaineers who were looking for an untouched paradise but has remained unfamiliar to many until the past two years. In a short period of time, it had gained popularity especially to the younger crowd and families from Manila who are looking for an alternative to the more known beach sites.

 

Mahabang buhangin is comprised of about a 2-kilometer stretch of beach. Its crystal clear waters and powdery white sand are undeniably one of the best in the Philippines. It might be an injustice to the beautiful island that has its own unique beauty but speaking in a manner understandable to many, I'd say as of this writing, it is the only beach in the Philippines that I've been to that is comparable to the waters and the sand of Boracay. The backdrops of the island are rolling hills that are perfect for short treks.

  

The first thing I do as the boat arrives in any island wherever I go is look at the water as we approach the beach. The water turned from dark blue/dark green to aquamarine to a very transparent white. I got off the boat wearing my flip flops and a few steps away from the water, I took one flip flop off to feel the sand. The I knew it indeed was like Boracay's sand, only more cream-colored than white and a lot cleaner! 

These days, there are some mini stores (sari-sari stores) in the island, some huts, basic toilet and bath facilities but still no electricity and no mobile and internet network except for some parts way up in the hills.

It was scorching hot when we arrived at 11:00am on a summer day. There was hardly any shade from the few trees and all of the huts were already reserved. We bought halo halo from one of the stores for Php45.00 each. There was no special ingredient in it but it was very refreshing. Our delicious lunch was in one of the stores where we had steamed native veggies with sweet bagoong, grilled fish, sinantol, pininyahang pork and chicken and some fresh fruits.

My struggle with the heat came after lunch as the heat of the sun became much stronger. It is amazing though that many were swimming, playing volleyball and football and taking pictures at the beach at high-noon. I, on the other hand, opted to take sanctuary in this tiny tree and read my book. I dozed off for a few minutes but I was too uncomfortable with the humidity to fall in deep slumber. 

Reading under this small tree

Extremely bright and sunny day, where's my mojito?

A couple swimming at high-noon with an umbrella - only in the Philippines LOL!

4:30 in the afternoon and the sun was still high but we decided to go for a dip. I have not enjoyed swimming in sea water this much in a long time, or maybe ever. The water was so clean with absolutely none of the itchy feel that I get in other beaches.  

At around 5:30pm, we decided to take a shower to beat the long lines of people trying to shower before dinnertime. We paid Php10.00 per pale of fresh water. I thought this was a fair price considering the local's effort to carry the water from the well all the way to the bathrooms. Before sunrise, I was already refreshed, had read more pages in my book and was ready to watch the beautiful sunset.

Dinner was laing, grilled tuna, grilled pork belly and very sweet mango. By this time the breeze was cooler. There was non-stop lightning from afar but our skies were clear. Since I was still tired from the land travel I slept early, not minding the noise from different groups drinking and having fun. At 3:30am, I woke up. It was already quiet and all the lights were off. I decided to get my mat and lay on the beach to watch the stars. Oh man! There were millions of huge stars. I might have stared at them until just before sunrise.  

The next morning at 8:00am, it was time to pack our bags and be ready to leave.

Was the 9-hour drive and 3-hour boat trip worth it? I'd say it depends on who's traveling and what you are looking for in a destination. Certainly, this is one of the most beautiful beaches that I have ever been to.

A resort is fast building an establishment on one side of the beach and I will not be surprised if there will be more in the future. This can be a good sign - work for the locals, more comfort for tourists who are willing to pay - everybody happy right? I just hope that visitors and residents can be disciplined enough so that this pristine island can preserve its cleanliness and beauty. Ofcourse I can only hope.

Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time.

It is now raining hard outside which reminds me that my travel season is here. Time to leave an out-of-office reply in my email and pack my bags again for another adventure! :)