Siargao Adventure: Hits and Misses

My Siargao trip would have to be my most action-packed, survivor-ish trip to date.

Well, hello Siargao!:)

Went there for a test run on our recently concluded project (which, I would say was a big success).

But before that success, had a few hits and misses along the way. Haha.

Our first boat ride to adventure!

How to Have the Ultimate [Mis]Adventure in Siargao:

1. Do the Great Kayaak Challenge


Looks darn easy, but mehn, kayaking is effin challenging! Aside from the difficulty of paddling, coordination with partner is the key to keep moving and stay on course. Which we sorta failed at. Haha. Obviously, the other team won.

L-R: briefing with our tour guide; Team Marco-Roanne; Team Jojo-Ivan.

2. Sleepover on an Island and Get Drenched in the Rain
As the locals explained, Siargao has a bipolar weather. True enough, we were preparing dinner one minute, craning our necks at the star-peppered sky (you know how we NEVER see that in Manila). The next minute we were looking like this:

Stuck in a lone kubo (hut) on the island after rain literally poured.  

After about 15 minutes of heavy downpour, the rain stopped (yeah, weather really is bipolar like that) and we were finally able to enjoy this:

Bawi-bawi na rin.:) || All fresh seafood dishes. 

I've always been an outdoor girl, and had slept in secluded islands several times before. But this sleepover was the most challenging memorable so far. Don't even ask about the CR. Haha. If you've ever watched Schindler's List and remember how a couple of kids jumped into some pit to hide from the Nazis, well... you get the visual peg. :p


3. Light Up Some Sky Lanterns

Still in Kawhagan Island. Notice, I just mentioned light up the lanterns and not to make them fly? That's because lighting them is already a challenge. Spent one hour, several pits in the sand, two rolls of tissue and one lighter just to light up five lanterns. One made it to the sky. HAHAHA.

The 1-hour sky lantern-lighting challenge. Haha. 

4. Explore Unexplored, Bat Shit-Infested Caves

We climbed onto this 4-storey, almost-vertical trek on the side of the mountain, went through about a square meter wide mouth of the cave, climbed down to a pit of what we thought was mud but was actually bat shit (thank goodness it doesn't stink haha), climbed up 4 or 5 stories high to get out of the cave, and get drenched (yet again) on the climb down the other side of the mountain which leads to the lagoon.

Seriously, I didn't know how I survived. Haha.

5. Eat Sea Centipedes

Surprisingly, these guys taste REALLY good. || Sea centipedes cooked in gata (coconut milk),
they're also good as kinilaw (soaked raw in vinegar).

6. Build a Bamboo Raft (and Desperately Try to Make It Float)


Well, the boys built the raft, I took the pictures. Hehe.

You can do it boys!:)

Unfortunately, the bamboo we used were still fresh- not as buoyant as the dry ones, so it could only carry two people. Well, I volunteered to try it out. :)

The challenge of staying afloat. Haha. 

7. Get Stuck on an Island
Even if our raft really floated, we still wouldn't make it to the other island (Kawhagan) because it was low tide. The fishermen who own the boat we're pretty cool about it- strolling along the shore, blasting Metallica on their radio while smoking Fortune. I guess they're used to getting stuck like this whenever the tide was low.

As for us, getting stuck on a beautiful island like Banahaw is really no problem. But then again, we had to try to keep our sanity after the first couple of hours.

Five degrees of boredom beaters. || Clockwise from top left: boat fail; camwhoring; starfish-ing; exploring; sand castle making; and hermit crab racing! 

8. Man Local Fishing Boats
Oh yeah! Rowed all the way from the pier to the mangroves view deck (about 1km, one-way) and back!

Launch of my dragon boat racing career. Haha. :)

Well, I had Kuya Nino with me, but still, half the effort was mine. Haha.

I. Couldn't. Feel. My. Arms. Afterwards.



Even if I went home beyond exhausted, tanned, bruised and devoured by mosquitoes, I really have no complaints. Our five days in Siargao was a real humbling experience. I had a new found appreciation for the simplest things in life- drinking water, good food, fresh air, a roof above our heads, bottled Coke, toilet bowl, neighbors to talk to, dry bed, stars at night.

I realized how we all stand at the mercy of Mother Nature. We do not capture uninhabited islands, the islands capture and mesmerize us. We don't conquer caves and mountains- the mountains conquer us. In the greater scheme of things, in the law of nature, we are but specks of dust that can be wiped off in whim. We are but receivers of what beauty or wrath She has to offer.

And I became convinced that God- or whichever great being others believe in- spent a little more time on the Philippines. It's only just that we be thankful for, be proud of and most importantly protect our God-given naturals wonders.

For the experience, discoveries and loads of misadventures- thank you, Sairgao.:)

See more photos of the beauty of Siargao here. 
Read about my Siargao sidetrip in Cloud 9 here. 

Special shout out to the wonderful people of Siargao Adventure who guided us, fed us and took care of us every step of the way. :) You can reach them at www.siargaoadventure.com of 02-8719929.

Roanni

*Note: Wrote this post three weeks ago, right after our test run on one of our projects at work. Had to wait for the project to conclude (which it did, successfully) before posting.