The sky looks so purple in this picture taken at Siargao island, Surigao, Philippines. That is not the sun but the full moon at dawn. The picture was taken while we were on a ferry on our way to the mainland.
On the other side of the full moon is this purplish sky covering the port of Dapa in Siargao, Surigao.
This is my entry for:
For more photohunters, go here.
To our amazement and surprise, the cave looked well-lighted inside when we got in. The reason for this was the light that came from outside reflected through the waters and bounced off on the shining minerals on the cave walls which gave the interior of the cave its mystical color. That is why we have to be silent as this place is also well-known for being enchanted. By the way, this cave can only be accessed during low tides. The picture was taken in Sohoton Cove, Socorro, Isla Bucas Grande, Surigao del Norte.
Kakayanin mo bang pumasok sa isang kuwebang tingin mo’y puno ng tubig, lalo pa at inaakalang madilim na madilim sa loob? Napatinag kami nang sinabi ng aming bangkero na kailangan languyin ang pagpasok sa kuwebang ito (nagbibiro ka ba, bangkero??!) Eh, napakadilim kung titingnan galing sa labas. Ngunit dahil na rin sa kanilang pagbibigay katiyakan ng aming mga bangkero na hindi ganoon kadilim ang looban ng kuweba ay dahan-dahan kaming lumangoy sa loob. Laking gulat at mangha namin nang sa pagpasok ay parang inilawan ang kuweba (siyempre pa, lumalangoy pa rin kami habang nakatunganga). Ang dahilan daw nito ay ang liwanag na nanggagaling sa labas na tumama sa tubig at dinding ng kuweba na may mga makikislap na mineral kaya parang mistikong nakailaw ang loob nito, kaya naman kinailangang tumahimik kami dahil daw kilalang engkantando ang lugar na ito. Siyanga pala, napapasok lang ang kuwebang ito tuwing pagkati ng tubig.
Kuha ang litrato sa Sohoton Cove, Socorro, Isla Bucas Grande, Surigao del Norte.
Translation: Can you get inside a cave that you can see to be full of water and you thought to be quite dark inside? It took us a while to think about this after our boatman told us that we needed to swim to get inside this cave (are you kidding, boatman??) The cave looked so dark as we see it from the outside; however, with the assurance given by him that the cave was not that dark, we took the plunge and we slowly swam in. 
Siargao is far different from the usual beach destinations in the Philippines. It still has its raw but simple ambience that is quite different from that of Boracay or Puerto Galera. Like Palawan, it has its off the beaten track places that are more known to the locals than the usual tourists. Personally, I would want Siargao to remain unchanged by development (except for the roads that could really hurt one's tail) as I don't want to happen to Siargao what happened to places like Boracay--overexposed and overused plus displaced locals all for the name of tourism development that are mostly unregulated and undisciplined. But am digressing…
Travelling to Surigao City from Davao will take about 7-8 hours which is quite an improvement from 10 hours. of travel about 4 or so years ago. Thanks a lot to the improved roads. We took the night bus to save time (you know, do the zzzzzzzzzz while the bus zooms away). Somebody suggested to rent a van but we deemed it dangerous to travel at night in a van, and of course, since we were traveling with 9 guys in a group with only 3 gals, the van would make us tight sardines inside it compared to a more comfortable airconditioned bus.
Hereunder is our itinerary:
03/19/2008 (Wednesday)
730pm-8:00pm – assembly at Mister Donut (beside gate of Ecoland terminal)
9:00pm–330am Davao - Butuan (Bachelor Bus aircon bus)
4am-620am(03/20/0 – Butuan – Surigao Bus terminal (Bachelor Bus de luxe)
aircon bus: P448(Davao-Butuan),deluxe bus: P119 (Butuan-Surigao)
Note: Jeepney ride from Surigao city terminal to downtown or Surigao port is P7.50 per person
03/20/08 (Thursday)
8am-11am Luneta Park, San Nicolas Church and Jollibee (for lunch)
12nn-410pm – Surigao City – Dapa, Siargao Is. (Roro-Montenegro Shipping Lines) P151.00 economy/P259 aircon
415pm-440pm – Dapa-General Luna(Jadestar Beach Resort) –
P500 per van or P150 per habal2
Jadestar Beach Resort rate:
P1,500 per cottage with aircon and bath (6-8pax)
03/21/08 (Friday)
Whole day island tour –P3,500 per van
Magpopongko Natural lagoon, Taktak falls, Pansukian Resort and mangrove forest, and Tuason Pt. (Cloud 9)
03/22/08 (Saturday)
Island hopping (3 islands + Sohoton cave) – P3,500(negotiable), (3 islands only) – P1,500
03/23/08 (Sunday)
5am-545am – GL-Dapa
6am-930am – Dapa-Surigao City
(Roro-Montenegro Shipping Lines) P151.00 economy/P259 aircon
brunch at Chowking upon arrival in Surigao City
1130am-2pm-Surigao-Butuan (Bachelor aircon bus. Aircon bus for Surigao-Davao will leave at 230pm)
230pm-800pm Butuan-Davao (Bachelor aircon bus)
aircon bus: P148 (Surigao-Butuan), P485 (Butuan-Davao)
Home sweet home!
Ang pinakapaborito kong oras ng araw ay ang bukang liwayway at takipsilim. Sa bukang liwayway nakikita ko ang pagbabadya ng bagong araw at bagong pag-asa sa buhay. Sa bukang liwayway makikita ang pag-aagaw ng liwanag sa dilim. Ang litratong ito ay ang pantalan ng bayan ng Dapa, Siargao. Kinuha ito habang kami ay nakasakay na sa barkong pauwi papuntang siyudad ng Surigao galing sa isla ng Siargao. Makikitang ang tubig ay parang salamin ng lahat ng nasa ating kapaligiran. Kung sira ang kapaligiran, masisira din ang tubig na nagbibigay-tulong sa ating buhay at kabuhayan.
Translation: My favorite hour or time of day is sunrise and sunset. In sunrise, I can see the coming of a new day and a new hope in life. In sunrise, one can see that light overcomes darkness. This picture is of the port of Dapa, Siargao. This was taken while we were on board the ship on our way to Surigao City from Siargao Island. It can be seen that water is like a mirror of everything around us. If our surroundings get destroyed, water which helped us in our lives and livelihood will get destroyed too.
(last two pics courtesy of my friend, Lou)
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