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Itinerary Planning:
Day 1
●Arrive at Siargao
●Surfing after checking in at the beach
●Cloud 9
●Afternoon tea at Shaka Cafe
●Watch the sunset from the accommodation
●Have a barbecue dinner at Mama's Grill
Day 2
●Watch the sunrise at Cloud 9
●SOHOTON Jellyfish Lake Tour + island hopping
●Roast chicken + beer + stargazing
Day 3
●Rent a motorcycle to explore the island
●Coconut groves
●Magpupungko Rock Pools
●Surfing after checking in at the beach
●Depart from Siargao
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Day 1
The source of all my guilty pleasures comes from "surfing." Out of curiosity about world-class surfing destinations, I discovered that only two places rank among the top in Southeast Asia: one is Bali, Indonesia, and the other is the Philippines... Siargao?! What the heck?!
Combining this trip with a job interview, I checked transportation and accommodations to balance work with my desires, and I made a decisive plan. I thought to myself that if I still had a bit of drive, I shouldn't let it go to waste and regret it when I grow old.
I flew from Myanmar to Singapore for a layover and took a quick chance to buy a drone. Then I flew directly to Clark, Philippines. After a day full of interviews, I squeezed onto a non-air-conditioned bus in my suit with my suitcase around 4 PM, heading to Manila.I arrived in Manila at 8 PM, caught a flight to Cebu at 10 PM, and landed shortly after 11 PM.
I changed out of my suit, quickly freshened up in the restroom, and collapsed into a chair at the airport to sleep.
The next morning, I woke up at 6 AM to brush my teeth. After the exhausting travel and various twists and turns, I finally boarded a small plane to Siargao.
On this flight, you could sit wherever you wanted, without having to follow the seat numbers on the ticket. There was no luggage weight limit, and you could still check in small bags for free. How generous!
As we got closer to the island, I could see a few little islands outside the window, radiating a blue-green glow. That was the clean and clear ocean I had yearned for in Southeast Asia, and I was incredibly excited.
From above, it was clearly an undeveloped area with no tall buildings, just vast greenery and hills.
When I exited the airport, I saw many vans waiting to pick up travelers. The shops worked together to consolidate the rides, and once the vans were full, they would deliver everyone to their hotels. My assigned van wasn't full, and there were no other travelers, so the driver came over and said we could leave for 300 pesos each. However, a charming foreign couple chimed in, "You just said 250 pesos!!" Everyone nodded in agreement, so we set off at 250 pesos each.
Although the driver didn’t check the map and didn’t trust us when we insisted on asking for the locations of each hotel, he diligently delivered everyone to their accommodations, regardless of how rough the paths looked.
I arrived at my accommodation at nearly 12 PM... but my excitement remained undiminished! After checking in, I tossed my things aside and borrowed a surfboard to hit the water — more on my accommodation later.
The beach has a small stretch of sand followed by rocky areas; after passing the rocks, you finally reach the ocean, which is made up of rocks and a bit of sand on the seabed. This posed some challenges for surfing because you had to be careful not to step on the seabed when moving or getting onto the board, or it would hurt. After being tossed around by the waves for over an hour, I came ashore for lunch at a nearby pizza place.
I walked about 10 minutes to Cloud 9, the most famous spot on Siargao Island, where international surfing competitions are held every year. During this season, the water level isn't very high, and although it's high tide, the waves are still hundreds of meters away from the shore, and the wave height is not significant. If the water level rose a bit more, it would cover a larger area, allowing for direct surfing from the open sea to the shore. Here, the long wooden pier extends out into the ocean, where you can watch surfers ride the waves.
Up close, the seabed appeared shallow with sandy terrain and some seaweed. Depending on the strength of the tide, if you stood on the pier facing the ocean, the right side is for the skilled surfers, while the left side is surprisingly for beginners.
Getting even closer to the waves, I saw many experts weaving through the swells. When will I be able to surf like that?!
At the entrance, there were a few small houses renting motorcycles and booking tours, and I arranged my itinerary for the next day. On my way back to my accommodation, I found a seaside cafe (Shaka Cafe), where I enjoyed the laid-back atmosphere. They offered fresh fruit smoothies in addition to coffee, which I highly recommend; you can check out photos online!
When I returned to my accommodation, my room was ready, and I was staying in a backpacker hostel, which suited my simple requirements for solo travel. The bed had a light and an outlet with a curtain for privacy, plus there was a locker to store my belongings. Additionally, the shared facilities were great, making this place my ideal accommodation. The bathrooms in the room were clean and spaciousand outside, there was a separate building for showers and toilets. Additionally, there was an open kitchen with a dining table and various hammocks and cushions to help guests relax.
Moreover, the hostel arranged different activities every night, including KTV nights or beach bonfire parties. I think what attracts backpackers the most is the opportunity for interaction and sharing joy with strangers. Another great feature is how casually you can walk just 30 meters to the beach, whether you want to surf or just take a break.
With hammocks, wooden benches, and lazy couches along the shore, combined with a gentle sea breeze, I listened to the sound of the waves and the rustling of coconut palm leaves, enjoying a bottle of beer — it felt like a lazy paradise, perfect for watching the sun rise and set.
Oh... after sitting there a while, I realized I was on the east side and wouldn’t see the sunset... only the gradual arrival of night. However, seeing a sliver of sunset from the sea was still nice!
In the evening, I wandered along the roadside looking for food; after passing several eateries,
I chose this well-rated restaurant online: Mama's Grill. The place was bustling with lights outside, and looking inside, I was amazed!
The business was so good that it seemed like everyone in the area came here to eat. The interior was packed, and the grilling area was smoky, but the aroma was enticing. I ordered grilled pork belly and two skewers of honey-glazed meat with rice and beer, devouring everything until I felt stuffed.
After eating, I unconsciously found my way to the beach, gazing at the starry sky and longing for the beauty of a simple life.
Day 2
The next morning, I woke up early to see the sunrise. There were quite a few clouds, but they couldn't cover the sun breaking on the horizon, showing shades of pink, purples, and various reds across the sky, reflecting beautifully on the water.
At that moment, I saw a few surfers striding toward the ocean, and I snapped a photo of their cool silhouettes.
Against the backdrop of the rising sun, the distant silhouettes bobbing on the waves looked like little ducks and geese, when they were actually early risers catching the morning waves.
As the sun continued to rise, I strolled back on the wooden pier to enjoy breakfast.
I chose a roadside café, ordered a simple croissant and coffee, marking a wonderful start to the day.
Besides wanting to see the sunrise, I also had a tour at 7 AM, so I sat in the agreed spot with the tour company and played with a dog.
"Oh, if I don't pet you, you'll snuggle up to my feet to ask for affection!"
This was a boat island-hopping tour, and since the dock was about 5 kilometers away, the shop provided a tricycle for free to take me there.
Arriving at the dock around 7 AM, many tourists were already waiting. Most of the tourists on this island were Filipinos, along with a few Caucasians and a handful of Koreans. In the days I had been here, I hadn't seen any Chinese faces, making me quite a rare foreigner.
They took special care of me throughout the tour, asking if I needed to use the restroom before boarding, if I had my life jacket, or which boat I was getting on. Of the eight people on the boat, I was the only foreigner, but the boat owner and the other passengers were very considerate, making me feel the warmth of their hospitality.
The water just off the beach was green, and I took out my lucky charm, hoping for a smooth journey.
As we ventured out to sea, the water turned a beautiful blue! Talking with fellow passengers, listening to the engine’s roar, and admiring the pristine ocean, we reached our first destination after two hours.
The area was filled with underwater rock formations, looking top-heavy because the lower layers were eroded away by the water, and surrounded by beautiful light blue-green hues.
The boat stopped at a small island, and following the boat owner's instructions, we headed right.
Looking down into the clear water, I could see the seabed and the fish swimming clearly beneath me.
To the right, there was a little wooden path, and at that moment, I wasn’t clear on what the attraction was, so I blindly followed others onto a small boat.
After the boatman paddled, we suddenly realized everyone had stopped in the same area and began to communicate. He pointed into the water, revealing a jellyfish!
The boatman explained that this was Jellyfish Lake, inhabited by many jellyfish, but no worries, they are non-stinging jellyfish. After confirming several times, and fearing I might misunderstand in English, I finally felt at ease after seeing the boatman touch one directly.
The jellyfish felt QQ and slippery, a unique sensation.
After returning to that little island, we grouped intoe ight people per boat, but everyone had to wear a helmet. The tour would allow us to see many oddly shaped rocks with seawater flowing over them, and get close to some fascinating geological formations.
Wearing helmets was not only to protect us from anything that might fall while we navigated through the rocky islands, but also because the boat would pass through some naturally formed underwater rock tunnels with lower water levels.
One particularly memorable experience was a hidden cave beneath the water's surface. You had to dive down and swim through a section of rock wall to see the wonders inside. It was a bit scary because I didn’t have a snorkel, so I had to close my eyes and push through a distance I couldn’t see before coming up for air. Facing the unknown ahead, I followed the boatman as we counted down from three, took a deep breath, and then was pushed underwater, swimming forward with all my might. But in reality, the boatman helped me along the way, and the distance wasn’t far—if I just took a breath and didn’t swim, I would still make it through.
Another interesting part was entering through a rock formation; it was very simple to float and climb up to the top.
Yes, this was the place you could jump off! It looked a bit high, but once you jumped, it was a quick thrill.
After circling around, we returned to the original small island, where lunch had already been prepared.
This place was Sohoton Lagoon, and I only saw beautiful photos online; the tour simply included this stop. Initially, I had no idea what to expect, but I wanted this to be part of my itinerary, and I absolutely don't regret it. After enjoying a decent meal, I took my drone and captured the beautiful rock formations shimmering with blue-green hues scattered around.
Next, we would take about a one-hour boat ride back toward the departure port, with a continuous island-hopping trip. The islands included Naked Island, Dako Island, and Guyam Island, with each stop lasting about 30 minutes.
The first stop, Naked Island, is an island with nothing but sand;
it’s stunningly beautiful, surrounded by crystal-clear water.
I immediately took out a bottle and collected some of the unique white sand from this special island — another addition to my collection of sands from around the world!
After about 30 minutes at Naked Island, we boarded the boat again to head toward Dako Island (Pavilion Volleyball Island). This island had more amenities; in addition to pavilions available for rent, there was also a volleyball court, and vendors selling grilled foods and coconut water.
However, since I had limited time, I preferred to spend it in the water, so I walked to the other side of the island where the water was incredibly clear, with fine, silky sand.
I took off my shoes and got ready.
As I stepped in, I was fully submerged, not just in my mind but in reality.
I had a blast and got completely soaked, but my bag wasn’t waterproof, so I worried about the water seeping in and soaking my belongings.
Just a tip: before you head out, there are many shops selling waterproof bags at reasonable prices; it's worth getting one!
After about 30 minutes, we headed to the next island, Guyam Island (Rock Island).
This island had more rocky formations surrounding it.
Interestingly, once I learned about the itinerary, I began managing my “gear” time, checking my phone, GoPro, and drone.
The most time-sensitive device was the drone, which had only three batteries, each lasting about 25 minutes, so I had to manage my time carefully.
I used over ten minutes capturing the sunrise and surfing earlier, and then used the remaining time in Sohoton Lagoon (first battery gone!).
When I reached Naked Island, I dedicated 25 minutes to getting aerial shots (second battery gone!).
For the second island, I saved the drone for last to take different perspectives, while the phone was used for photos and to control the drone, maximizing downtime for charging.
Therefore, upon arriving at each island, I double-checked the boarding times with the boatman, then jumped off the boat to set up my planned gear for a big photographic session.
It felt really fulfilling and hectic; comparing with the other passengers on the boat, some played on the first island, relaxed by the boat on the second, and seemed to zone out on the third; they probably wondered how I could keep going without getting tired!
Dressed in casual attire, with the shadows of palm trees reflected on my clothes, I thought life should occasionally be this leisurely and relaxing.
Watching the sun gradually descends toward the ocean, the sunlight became less harsh, giving off the afternoon’s ease and warmth.
On the way back to the port, a basketball game had already started on the shore, and the mix of flip-flops and canvas shoes did nothing to hinder the competition.
Looking at the map, I walked to a roadside rotisserie chicken shop, where I bought a chicken and some beer from the nearby grocery store, then called a ride back to my accommodation.
The combination of "chicken" and "beer" was delightful; the rotisserie chicken was delicious, especially while sharing lively conversations with other guests.
After chatting, taking a shower, and doing laundry, I unpacked all my gear to charge, reviewed the photos I took, and then went to sleep.
Day 3
After a day on the water, it was time for a land adventure. I rented a motorcycle to explore the island. The main roads were relatively smooth and easy to ride, flanked by lush natural scenery.
In the middle of the island, there was a north-south road marked on the map as "Coconut Trees View Deck," which, as the name suggests, was a viewpoint from which you could see the entire coconut tree forest from a high vantage point. Keeping your eyes open, it was guaranteed to be visually stunning, and you wouldn't accidentally miss it.
Thinking about it, I should give the motorcycle that would accompany me for half a day a chance to shine!
After adjusting the height and angle of the drone, it was time to GO — capturing the beauty of the vast expanse!
As I descended the hill, it revealed a straight road cutting through the coconut forest, which was very distinctive.
Previously, the hills I had seen from afar appeared like chocolate drops; up close, they looked like this!
Next, I rode to Magpupungko, located in the middle of the right coast of the island. There was an entrance fee of about 50 pesos for cleanup, but it is closed every year in January and February. Upon entering, there was a beach, and the main attraction required crossing through shallow and very clean water to the left.
At the attraction, two staff members wearing orange vests told me where to place my belongings and enthusiastically introduced the area. They even asked me to stand in certain places for photos. At first, I was a bit wary, thinking it might be a scheme to extort money, but I eventually realized they were kind, and perhaps these services were included in the entrance fee. However, I remarked, "Brother, asking me to stand here gets a bit backlit; are you trying to shoot the coastline?" It was only after looking up other people’s photos online that I learned they wanted to capture the unique rock behind me, which was the smaller stone beneath a much larger rock overhead — a somewhat precariously balanced sight reminiscent of Myanmar's famous golden rock!
The adjoining natural rock pools were also a highlight here. But don't be fooled; the middle area is quite deep, where one cannot touch the bottom. Interestingly, the same wave of ocean water transitioned from blue in the distant sea to white frothy waves in the middle, and finally emerged as a beautiful green in the pools at the front.
From another angle, the drone could capture a clearer view of this beautiful area.
And that stone in the middle of the pool? Yes, you can swim over it, climb up, and take a leap off!
In the blink of an eye, I had gathered some other tourists who were ready to pose, and I was already climbing onto the rock to take my place!
After spending over an hour there, I was satisfied with my memorable photo and continued my island tour.
I initially intended to rush to another beach at the northernmost tip of the island, but time was not on my side, and I had other plans. Thus, I cut across the horizontal road slightly north of the island's center, grabbing a quick lunch along the way, and wrapped around 2/3 of the island back to my accommodation.
Why rush back so quickly? I wanted to return to the source of all my sweet guilty pleasures—the very reason I was impulsive enough to come here: surfing. I checked out of my room and talked to the pre-arranged shuttle driver, “Please, can you come back to pick me up last?!”
With my surfboard in hand, I dashed toward the beach, bringing a nice symmetry to my journey's beginning and end, soaking up the water.
Wearing my reef-safe sandals, and after a couple of tries to gain confidence, I finally began to surf a bit more smoothly. I watched the sky filled with unique clouds and the fish leaping exuberantly in the waves, wishing time would slow down just a little.
While my skills were not yet expert, and the waves this season were not huge, I hoped to improve even more on my next visit. After coming ashore, I rinsed off, packed my bags, caught a ride to the airport, and flew out of Siargao.
Next, I headed to Cebu, then to Manila, spent the night at the airport, and finally flew to Singapore and then to Myanmar, completing my wild journey.
Epilogue:
Although this trip was quite wild, involving two nights at the airport and numerous flight transfers, I successfully secured a job after the interview and decided to head to the Philippines for work. Besides the professional gains, I also experienced so much during my travels.
I felt like I explored many unique features of various places, such as the rock formations at Sohoton Lagoon, the white sand beaches of Boracay, the pristine waters surrounding Naked Island, and the Chocolate Hills of Cebu.
If you were to ask just how relaxed and enjoyable the atmosphere is here, you could simply ask the dogs that don’t even care about their appearance, and they’d tell you everything you need to know!
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