SIQUIJOR DIARIES WITH LOVE Part 1
Image Credits: kneelyrac
Who doesn't want to travel? I guess all of us right?
Now, this will going to be a long blog because I want to pour every moment I've had in Siquijor from my first trip to the extended trip and to my second trip. At that time, I still don't have a Smartphone so I don't have enough high-quality pictures to offer. For this reason, I'm planning again together with my boyfriend and our officemate to visit Siquijor and be mesmerized by its beauty over and over again. Hopefully, we have the right gear for our next Siquijor Getaway.
Now when I was in college, my green-eyed self always envied my classmates who get to travel in local and international areas. I told this to my parents then they told me that I've already gone to Zamboanga, Manila, Basilan and Siquijor. I asked them when because I can't even remember a single thing about it and then, they replied when I was three to five years old. My eyebrows crinkled because how can a mere five-year-old child remember her very first expedition much more when she was a three-year-old toddler.
After I finished my thesis, I said to myself that I want to travel even if it's within Mindanao only. I was able to travel to Cebu and stayed there for 6 months but wasn't able to visit the beautiful places. I went home and got hired right away and then, it was announced that our Team Building will be held in Siquijor. I was ecstatic thinking that I'm going to visit another island in the Visayas and this time, I can visit some of their tourist attractions.
Our trip was on October 30, 2016, but still, the memories are very fresh and I still can share it with you guys.
Image Credits: kneelyrac via facebook
SIQUIJOR
Siquijor is located in Central Visayas and known to be the third smallest island in the Philippines. Some people are afraid to go and visit this Mystical Island, but I tell you, Siquijor has more to offer. It is also called as Virgin Island in which it is blessed with crystal blue water, historical places, waterfalls and has an amazing sunset.
HOW TO GET THERE?
Since we're from Lanao del Norte, our route was from Iligan City to Ozamis City to Plaridel, Misamis Occidental to Larena, Siquijor. If you are from Cebu, there's a ferry you can ride and same goes to the neighbouring Island like the Dumaguete and Bohol.
Video Credits: Rona Marie via youtube
To sum up the total travelled hours:
From Iligan City to Mukas, we travelled almost 2 hours. There was no traffic since we rent a van and departed from Iligan around 2:00 am. We waited for the first trip of Barge which is 4:00 am and by 30 minutes, we're in Ozamis City and ready to depart all the way to Plaridel which is approximately a 3-hour ride. (I'm not totally sure of this since I slept for the whole trip, I just ask my officemate!)
Image Credits: kneelyrac via facebook
When we arrived, the waiting game was still not over since we have to wait for the ferry to arrive around 12 noon and ready to set sail by 12:30, approximately. The ferry doesn't have an everyday schedule but that day was Tuesday and my second trip was scheduled on Thursday. Now, there are lots of people lining up for the tickets that is why we travelled at dawn. The ferry took almost five hours of travel to reach the Larena Port, Siquijor.
UPON ARRIVAL
As the crew repeatedly said, "Standby, standby for docking manoeuvre!", you will be amazed by the colour of the sea and the colour of the sky. When we arrived, the sun is still in its 60 degrees from the horizon, thus you'll get to see the beautiful golden hour!
TRANSPORTATION
Image Credits: kneelyrac via facebook
The means of transportation in Siquijor is not the usual way like the big and small cities and other neighbouring barangays. In Siquijor, the jeepneys and coaster are limited only since most of the people there own a motorcycle. As for them, it is not difficult but it is for the tourists. Now, there are options that you can choose: one is you'll going to rent a van, motorcycle, tricycle ( a 3-wheeled motorcycle that can carry 5-7 passengers). In our case, we're 27 so we rented an air-conditioned minibus or coaster to accommodate us all.
WHERE TO SLEEP
Image Credits: kneelyrac via facebook
Our ADMIN prepared all the stuff needed for food, materials, transportation, and accommodation just to make sure our team building is at its steady and smooth pace.
We stayed at Tori's Paradise in Dumanhog Siquijor. The Resort has its own pool and unfortunately, that pool closes at 8 pm when the placard tells 10 pm! Like WOW!
Image Credits: kneelyrac via facebook
Girls were group into two and the room and bed are big enough for two, not to mention the bathroom and the terrace facing the crystal blue sea that meets the clear blue sky. Oh, let's not forget this, 2 humans and 1 not human to be exact, in our room only. HAH! I suggest you skip the room, 2nd to the last, in front of the big empty pool.
For the boys, they were divided into two. Half of them were in a house, still inside the resort and the other half was in the dormitory room. All in all, all our rooms were two thumbs up!
Every Friday, there's a fire dance and a buffet wherein we only added a hundred pesos to avail the said buffet. I was delighted to see all those mouth-watering foods especially the seafood and the maki and the desserts! And the result was two plates full of foods in one round and ended up having three rounds! Hehehe!
Image Credits: kneelyrac via facebook
TEAM BUILDING
The team building started the following day on the arrival day. It was full of fun-filled activities and it lasted for 2 days. The host was from Bacolod, Negros Occidental. I forgot his name though but he's really a good host for a team building activity.
Image Credits: kneelyrac via facebook
Let me share with you some of his games:
GAME: What would you choose?
- Sense of Smell or Sense of Taste
- Plaque or Money
- Classic or Rock
- Day or Night
- Language or Music
We also had a Bingo wherein every one got a random question to every participants.
Image Credits: kneelyrac via facebook
THE SIDE TRIP
As for the third day, we visited some of the tourist attractions of Siquijor. It was just one day trip and we have to travel for a couple of minutes just to arrive in our destination, with that, we just dropped for several minutes and then go to another spot again. I never had the chance to play with the blue water, swing in the falls and other stuff because of the time. But my officemates especially my supervisor enjoyed the splashing, jumping and swinging while I enjoy the picture taking.
It was so short like a one day trip in Siquijor is not enough so some of my officemates including me decided to stay for another 2 days. I didn't know my relatives in Siquijor but thankfully one of our officemates, offers a place to stay in Olang, Siquijor which is near to Salagdoong Beach Resort.
Image Credits: kneelyrac via facebook
Wonder why I titled this as SIQUIJOR WITH LOVE?
Well, it's because of the hot seat led by our very own project leader in which three promising love team were spotted and out of the three, two are successful while the other one is still ongoing! How great is that! So much love! hehe
Video Credits: byebyemimi via youtube
UP NEXT: THE PLACES WE VISITED
~ kneelyrac ~
