I 🖤 Siquijor 2024 - Day 5 - 09/15/2024
The rain, our nemesis from the previous day, had decided to make a grand entrance into our Siquijor adventure. It poured relentlessly throughout the night, leaving us stranded in our hotel room, our hopes of returning to Dumaguete dashed once again. We woke up at 4 AM to the sound of angry rain drumming on the windowpane, and the ferry website remained stubbornly silent, offering no updates. The sunshine girls, our internal cheer squad, were starting to lose their pep.
"Let's just order breakfast and eat in our room," sighed one of the girls, her voice tinged with disappointment.
"No way," I countered, "It's too depressing to eat in the room. Let's go to the cafeteria. Maybe the sunshine girls will get inspired by the fresh air."
So, with a glimmer of hope flickering in our hearts, we ordered coffee and breakfast at 8 AM. As we sat there, a fellow guest approached the receptionist, inquiring about the ferry situation. We all leaned in, our ears perked up like curious puppies, eager for any news.
"The 6 AM ferry left successfully," the receptionist announced, a smile lighting up her face.
The news hit us like a bolt of lightning. We were suddenly energized, our breakfast forgotten. "We need to get to the next boat!" we exclaimed in unison, our voices filled with newfound determination.
The next ten minutes were a blur of frantic activity. Breakfast was devoured in record time, coffee gulped down in a single, scalding sip. We scrambled back to our room, packing our bags with lightning speed. Bathing was out of the question; we were on a mission. "Talo-Talo na To!" we joked, embracing the possibility of smelling like a day-old adventure.
A tricycle driver, our savior, whisked us away to the port. As we sped along the road, we noticed a sea of vehicles heading in the same direction. It seemed the news of the ferry's return had spread like wildfire throughout the island.
We arrived at the port at 9 AM, only to be greeted by the familiar news: the 8 AM ferry had been cancelled. We heard tales of the 6 AM trip to Dumaguete, a four-hour rollercoaster ride through crashing waves, a journey that normally takes a mere 45 minutes in good weather. The 6 AM ferry heading to Siquijor had even turned back to Dumaguete due to the strong currents and waves.
Tension was mounting as everyone, stranded on the island, waited for the port announcement. We decided to take a 10 AM brunch at a local carinderia, hoping to calm our nerves and fuel up for the waiting game. By 11 AM, the waiting game had officially begun. There was an option to take a bigger boat to Bohol, but the journey would take six hours and cost a fortune.
The only way to reach Dumaguete was by ferry, and our flight back to Manila was scheduled for 11 PM. The clock was ticking, and our stress levels were rising.
We waited until 4 PM, and the official announcement came: all trips to Dumaguete were cancelled. Sighing in defeat, we accepted reality and made a quick decision. We booked a hotel for the night, requested a refund for our cancelled Dumaguete room and travel (which we didn't get, but hey, a girl can dream), and booked a new flight back to Manila.
By 4:30 PM, we were checking into Zias Homestay, a cozy and relaxing haven situated near the port. After settling in, we decided to treat ourselves to a well-deserved merienda at Jollibee, a classic stress-eating solution. No one dared to question our choices, and we ordered everything our hearts desired, indulging in our frustrations. We even ordered takeout for dinner.
At 7 PM, we enjoyed our takeout dinner at Joel's carinderia, and by 8 PM, we were freshening up and preparing for rest. We knew we needed to get to the port early, as early as 3 AM, and camp out until the port opened at 6 AM. So, we unanimously agreed to wake up at 2 AM.
Our plan was complete, just as we were supposed to be at the airport, flying back to Manila. Before drifting off to sleep, we whispered a simple prayer for good weather and a safe journey.
#SiquijorAdventures #SunshineGirls #FerryDrama #TaloTaloNaTo
