「 Siargao Island, The Philippines 」
C H A P T E R T W O
After an extraordinary night drinking, partying, dancing and revelling with new found friends from my hostel and other nearby hostels, waking up was rather difficult! Especially thanks to the ridiculously cheap alcohol on this island (though slightly more expensive than usual for this country). However waking up was made so much easier by the glorious morning sunshine. I forced myself out of bed and proceeded to head outside. I was still a little drunk, but excited for the prospect of exploring the island. My time here was limited, so I had to make the most of every second!
One of the girls staying at my hostel, Iris, was already waiting for me outside by my scooter - more eager than myself to head out an explore! After a quick freshen up and breakfast, we set off towards the small village of Union which is located just 40 minutes drive through the island. Why Union you may ask? Well we heard that through the trees at the back of the village was a secret beach and completely empty due to its location. For me, that was enough of a reason to head over and at least try to find it! Not just this, but the roads to Union were a stunning adventure all on its own. The roads, oh the roads. I find thrill in motorbiking, but even moreso when the roads are exciting as this. We were winding through palm tree forests, up and down hills with views of the island as far as the eye could see, with the view obscured by palm trees on either side. It was glorious and I recommend anyone who can drive a bike to do it on this island. And best of all, the road was in extremely good condition which was surprising to see!
We finally arrived at Union, still reeling from the incredible drive we just had. Union was just a small village, with a population of no more than probably of a few thousand people. What was nice was there were no other tourists here, but despite this, all the locals were waving, smiling and happy which was brilliant to see! And best of all, they were willing to help us find this secret spot! Luckily the level of English in the Philippines - even in rural areas - is very good. So without much trouble, the locals kindly pointed Iris and I towards a discrete path that led through the palm trees, barely navigable by bike. Slowly but surely however, we made our way down the path, at awe at the sheer beauty of the palm tree forest around us and the shine glistening through the leaves. It was beautiful, breathtaking, and serene, passing through the occasional hut. After driving for a good ten minutes, the forest started to clear and we saw blue - BLUE! The sea was in sight and they were right, there was not a single person on this beach, that seemed to stretch on for miles.
We relaxed on the beach for a couple of hours or so, having a dip in the warm ocean to cool down, and dried ourselves off under the shade of the palms. This was truly a gem but it was time to head off, grab lunch and finally meet the others who were joining us for the second part of our trip. We had two destinations on our itinerary for the rest of the afternoon - Tayangan Cave Pool, which was an underground submerged cave system; and the more well-known Magpupungko Tidal Lagoons.
Eventually we met up with the rest of the group from the hostel and together we drove towards the cave pool, located approximately an hour away from the main town of General Luna. After paying $5 each for entry and our guide, we climbed down some winding steps until we arrived at the mouth of the cave. Considering the temperature was 30C, heading into the cave was a cold shock. We all clambered into the water, with the guide in front holding a lamp for us to see. Without it, it would be total darkness, which would've been difficult particularly because we were submerged in water keeping afloat simply but holding on to a piece of rope that guided us through the cave. What we could see in the dim torchlight however was mesmerising, stalactites and stalagmites in all different shapes and sizes, dark corners that could've been hiding anything and in front of us the uneven rocks that we had to climb to progress through the cave. The occasional bat would fly overhead, its wings flapping seemingly just above our heads. Some of my friends were shivering, probably through cold or through fear. Or both perhaps? After twenty minutes we made it into a clearing - we were out of the cave! The sunshine however was barely making it through the jungle canopy and was obscured by the high walls either side. The photo below captures the sheer size of the caves - daunting right? For me it was a fun little excursion but a few of the friends I was with didn't agree so much - they were absolutely relieved to be out of there!
After drying ourselves off, we headed straight to the main attraction of the day - the Magpupungko Tidal Lagoon. This place is very popular with tourists, and with good reason. It's essentially a large hole in the ground with a rocky outcrop in the middle, which when it's high tide, fills up and covers the lagoon. However when the tide falls, water becomes trapped in the lagoon and heats up in the sun, almost becoming a bath. Not only this, the lagoon is mesmerisingly beautiful as well, coloured a green-blue almost matching the sky. After an hour drive from the caves, we finally arrived at the lagoon, ready to explore and bath in water that wasn't freezing cold this time! Luckily we had arrived right on time - the tide was low so the lagoon was revealable, and many of the tourists luckily had left as it was approaching evening time. After navigating a short walk across the reef, the lagoon revealed itself to us. I was taken aback by its sheer beauty, but what I wanted to do more than anything was climb the central outcrop and jump straight into the water. It was glorious, warm and relaxing. There was nothing really that I've seen that sits in the same category as the Magpupunko Tidal Lagoon. It was a rare feat of nature, and we were extremely lucky to be on an island where something like this existed.
Siargao Island, The Philippines
D E T A I L S
🌏 | Siargao, The Philippines
📷 | Canon PowerShot SX730 HS/DJI Spark
🎨 | Lightroom Mobile edits used
Over the next few weeks I'll be trekking through The Philippines and I'll be sharing with you my stories, emotions, advice and tips about this wonderful place. I will be doing this while sharing my photographs with all of you too. I sincerely hope this inspires you to go out there and travel!
Please do follow if you want to keep up with my journey through this country <3
Any upvotes or reblogs are hugely appreciated! Much love, everybody.
Click on the photograph in case you missed the last adventure...
I N S T A G R A M 📸
Great adventure, what an amazing place. Maybe one day I'll make it. Have a safe trip
Many thanks @cliffpower, and I sincerely hope you do. Let me know if you want any recommendations for it if you do!
Love the drone photos of the shoreline
Makes me happy that you enjoy the content. The views from the drone are out of this world on this island!
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Such a beautiful country.
I appreciate that. It really is wonderful there!
The waters look so clean and unpolluted
Luckily Filipinos work particularly hard to ensure that their beaches are kept clean. There are lot of charities and organisations that work tirelessly to this end.
Wasn't always like that. When I was growing up there fishermen used dynamites to fish! Half the corals disappeared - luckily the education system continually improved and the economy got better :)
Ah kumusta, I didn't know you grew up there too! And yeah I'm so glad things have shifted. So many environmental and ecological movements have popped up all over the place so I'm hoping the damage will be stemmed somewhat moving into the future :)
Hi @seetheworld
Nice and well made drone captures!
I did a lot similar pics and movies in Indonesia in summer 2018 and need to post more from it. Thanks for inspiration!
See my video from Gili Air on Steemit
I couldn't access your link I'm afraid, I'm not sure why! Yes do make a post, I'd love to see the photos you have. Indonesia is a beeeeautiful country and I'd love to explore more of it.
I hope you had an amazing time in Indonesia :)
Oh thanks, had the link to this video at Dlive and this is not working anymore.
On Youtube
it works. This are only a few picture and not yet all the great footage from my Mavic AirAhh Gili, I never been! Looks like you had a very filled holiday, loved the video. Absolutely adore those happy wooden signs they've got!
It is still worth going there as it is quite relaxed.
We've been to Flores and Komodo as well, but this is a different story.
Looks stunning from your awesome photos and it’s great to hear everyone is so friendly and enthusiastic. The cheap alcohol could be your only downfall so carefully does it! 😂
Thanks for a detailed well written account of your adventure so far. I have not visited this area yet so am interested to read your blog! Have lots more fun! ( I know you will ☺️) RESTEEMED
Definitely have to go easy on some of the nights so I actually do manage to wake up in the morning! So glad you enjoyed the blog thus far, this island really made a mark on me and more than anything I want to share this experience with the wider community. Hope you enjoy the rest of it! :)
It really looks amazing and the lagoon is so clear and blue. Have a great time.
Thanks hugely! It's almost unbelievable how blue the sea is here. Thanks for stopping by!
Siargao looks amazing :)
I'm glad you posted another article from there, I love the pictures, it looks very peaceful
No problem, apologies for the delay in posting - its been a bit hectic! But glad you like the views nonetheless.
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Amazing drone shots
Follow me please I will follow back
Yo! Incredible photos! What a great experience! That blue lagoon water looks stunning, crystal clear! Enjoy your time there :) what a place, Philippines is on my list for the near future 😀🌅
Definitely put the Philippines on your list, you won't regret it!
Definitely put
The Philippines on your list,
You won't regret it!
- seetheworld.sgp
I'm a bot. I detect haiku.
This is place is a must to visit and i really want to go here if ever i will visit PH.
Hope you are able to get there one day, you won't regret it!
well u have a great places to capture totally amazing and well clicked
Many thanks bro!
That lagoon is so pretty! I'm not so surprised that there are quite a few people around! I would spend there all my vacation :)
Did you really fall off that tree?
Your photos are very nice and it looks like you had a lot of fun!
Thank you for sharing!
I'll need to come here again but reeeeally early to make sure there's no one here. Trouble is, there are no lights on the island so driving in the early morning while its dark is difficult!
And not quite, did scratch my legs though on the way down haha!
No problem, I'm glad you enjoyed the blog. Thanks for stopping by! :)
amazing
Thanks!
nice pictures
i loved them all
i will really appreciate it if you guys can help me grow on steemit and give me some upvotes
thanks
Much appreciated
thanks
Amazing place. Maybe in The future I will come there 😄super photos and story.
I hope you get the chance to visit one day! Thanks :)
The beauty of the nature are really great.I hope the journey was really adventurious.Those drones photos are so much beautiful.If i got a chance to go there,I will never miss that chance.
Really appreciate the kind words bro. Having the height advantage when taking photos really does make the difference!
Wow! Looks great! 🤗
Hehe thanks!
What a beautiful place. Great pictures too.
Hard not to take gorgeous photos of this island!
Truly amazing, though I admit I'm not a huge fan of beaches, when a place is awesome, it's awesome, incredible pictures!
Then maybe jungles, caves or mountains might take your fancy on this island instead! And many thanks, glad you enjoyed.
awesome poset ... I like it
Glad you enjoyed it!
Hermosas fotos, lugares preciosos de nuestro planeta. Esperando nuevas publicaciones de otros paisajes. Saludos desde la Hermosa Venezuela.
Thanks my mano
Great shots! I was in the Philippines for over a month but only spent 2 weeks in Cebu and 2 more in Palawan.
Thats a great amount of time over in the Philippines. Both of those islands are wonderful - how did you find them?
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@seetheworld.sgp its all awesome Man..
Many thanks brother!
@seetheworld.sgp Could you evaluate my photos and maybe give a positive vote?
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What a nice place to be! I would love to visit it one time!
Thank you for this beautiful post and pictures!
You're very welcome, and thanks so much for stopping by. Have a wonderful day!
Makes me happy that you enjoy the content. The views from the drone are out of this world on this island
Hi @seetheworld.sgp
Nice and well made drone captures!
I did a lot similar pics and movies in Indonesia in summer 2018 and need to post more from it. Thanks for a inspiration!!
Glad you liked it bro, always happy to be an inspiration.
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Wow! It's amazing! One day, if I have a girlfriend, I wish I could bring her at this place!
Not if but when haha, hope you get there soon!
Stunning view! 😍 i wish that sometimes in the future i can go visit this places. 📸
Strive for it, work hard and one day you will I am positive of that.
Congratulations @seetheworld.sgp!
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Appreciate your informative and interesting articles again seetheworld. Your visuals are also excellent.You do get around some it seems; keep it up and, enjoy!
Always happy to hear that its been informative and that you've enjoyed it. I'll definitely keep it up for all of you folks - thanks for the kind words!
I hope to know one day this beautiful and blue sea! I have started to follow you :)
Hope you get there too! And thanks very much for the follow.
so beautiful
Thanks!
Amazing place! Thank you for the beautiful photos!
You're welcome, and as always thanks for the kind words :)
The photos are so beautiful.
I didn't know the Philippin's were so beautiful.
It really is a gorgeous country.
wow! amazing Photography... wonderful Natural beauty... very nice adventurous place:)
Many thanks! Love the nature on this island.
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Ang ganda talaga sa Siargao. Sana sa susunod makapunta ako diyan :)
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Oonga grabe nga talaga sa Siargao. And yeah I hope so too! Meron ng promo flights sa Cebu Pacific, you can find some cheap ones there sometimes!
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Glad to see the use of a drone ;-)
I visit Selingan Island near the Philippines, it was beautiful also
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Beach and palms looks perfect on photos :)
@seetheworld.sgp you are lucky to visits beautiful places of Philippines, such type of natural places gift by the God.