Scribbles Abroad

Over the next couple of days we rode our motorbike and drove around the island to see what else it had to offer.  We headed towards Maria Bay and found a cozy resort called Princess Bulakna where we were the only guest.  It was a nice change from the $25 standard mosquito infested room we were staying in Larena.  At Princess Bulakna there were two types of cottages, ones that were ocean front and others with an ocean view for half the price.

Princess Bulakna Resort ocean view cottage

View from the hill where the cottages were

Princess Bulakna restaurant

Brincess Bulakna swimming pool

The beach near the resort wasn’t very attractive with rock hard sand and no real swimming area but snorkeling was surprisingly good.

Starfish

A coral head that Kahi thought looked like balls

A huge sea-snake we came across.  If one of these were to bite you, you’d die in a couple of minutes.

A cool cave we found while snorkeling around Maria Bay

Kahi standing outside of the cave
We really loved the resort.  The rooms were set in a beautifully landscaped garden and the staff were very friendly.  One thing we didn’t like about the resort was that they added a hefty 12% VAT fee and a 10% service fee to our bill, something that no other accommodation had done.

The next day we checked out of the hotel and made our way towards San Juan.  Before we left the resort we paid a visit to the famous balete tree on the property.  It is supposably the oldest and largest balete tree in Siquijor.  The roots of the tree flowed gently down the cliff side like running water, it was quite beautiful.

Princess Bulakna’s balete tree

We stopped to pet these really cute goats that were cruising near the resort driveway and Kahi said he’d get me one some day.

Siquijor children.

On our way to San Juan we took a detour to check out Cambugahay Falls.  The directions we had to the falls weren’t easy to follow and we made a couple of wrong turn before stumbling upon the really ugly sign that marked the way to the stairs down to the falls.

Ugly sign pointing the way to the falls

Near the bottom of the stairs we could see the turquoise blue water peeking through the trees.  The falls were gorgeous!   There were some locals that were leaving when we arrive but besides them we were the only ones there.  There were two main pools with small jumping rocks and above the two falls were a series or smaller infinity-pool-like swimming holes.  We were very impressed and spent a lot more time than we had expected swimming around and exploring the pools.

Stairs leading to the falls

Falls peaking through the trees

Cambugahay Falls first pool

Cambugahay Falls second pool

Kahi’s biggest barrel in Siquijor

Kahi doing a gainer off one of the jumping rocks

The upper swimming holes looked like natural infinity pools

Louise in a natural Cambugahay infinity pool

We spent some time picking up trash around the falls

Cambugahay Falls was the highlight of the drive around Siquijor for us, so here are some pictures and better directions for others that want to check it out.

When driving though …. turn right after the old Caltex gas station and continue up the road.

When you reach the fork in the road, take the road to the right

Continue up the road until you see the ugly Cambugahay Falls sign and the parking area.  It cost 5 pesos for a motorbike and up to 20 for a car.

We continued to make our way to San Juan and found a comfortable and affordable resort called Cliff Rock Resort.  The rooms were a great deal but the restaurant was a little pricey.  They spoke highly about the snorkeling right out front but we weren’t impressed at all.  Beach in front of the resort wasn’t very big but there was a small area to lie out and relax.

Our cottage at the Cliff Rock Resort

Cliff Rock Resort beach

Chairs to lie out and relax at the Cliff Rock Resort

The best way to watch the sunset was from the bungalows over looking the water

Another beautiful sunset

A small shack on the water near our hotel

The natural spring located in San Juan.  We didn’t swim here but it looked nice.

A cool cemetary in Siquijor

Since the restaurant was so expensive at the hotel we tried to find somewhere to eat in town.  It seemed like everywhere was either closed or just as pricey as the hotel.  We eventually found a little shop with a bunch of pots lined up where you pick what you want to eat.  We chose a variety of foods and chowed down.

Little roadside filipino fast-food style store

Ox tail soup, chicken congee, and beef steak!  Yummy!

There were the cutest little puppies running around the store.  They were sooooo cute!

On the motorbike ride to San Juan we saw a banner advertising a Fiesta in a small town a little ways out of Lazi.  It was near our hotel so we decided to check it out that evening.  We planned on getting dinner at the fiesta and assumed there would be a restaurant we could eat at somewhere in the area.  There was a DJ playing loud music in front of a large dancing area, carnival games, and numerous stands selling alcohol and other drinks, but no restaurant.  We walked into what we though was a restaurant and asked them if they had chicken adobo.  The lady laughed and said no, they had pork.  We asked if they had rice and she said yes.  Then she motioned for us to go upstairs.  When we got upstairs there was a huge lechon pig on the table surrounded by about 15 people chowing down.  We sat and ate with them.  What we didn’t realize was that this was a family’s house and they invited us to eat with them and that it wasn’t a restaurant at all.  They were very hospitable and we had such a great time we came back the following night to spend more time with them.

The Santa Barbra Fiesta

Carnival games at the fiesta

Lechon piggy!  Yummy!

Local guys chowing down

The Family’s house who invited us in.  Such a cool family!

Louise, Jecyl, Jocelyn, and Kahi at the fiesta

The following day we caught a ferry to Dumagette and spent a couple of hours there before catching another ferry to Cebu.

Our ferry to Dumagette

Here in Dumagette you can get you degree in Comedy at the Silliman University

Ferry to Cebu

In the Philippines they celebrate Christmas for two months, all of November and December.  Kahi really liked this Christmas display.