I ❤️ Siquijor 2024 - Day 6 - 09/16/2024
The gods of travel must have heard our desperate prayers. After days of battling relentless rain and wind, the weather in Siquijor finally decided to play nice. We woke up at the ungodly hour of 2:30 am, feeling like zombies, only to be whisked away by our trusty tricycle to the Siquijor port.
It was 3 am, and the port was already buzzing with activity – a scene straight out of a zombie apocalypse, except instead of brains, everyone was after a coveted ferry ticket. Stranded tourists, their faces etched with a mixture of frustration and desperation, were camped out, determined to secure their escape from this idyllic island.
Now, you might think this sounds crazy, but trust me, this was the first time I’d ever wanted to leave an island during a vacation. The sheer tenacity of the other tourists, their unwavering desire to get off this "paradise," was contagious. We were determined to join the exodus, no matter the cost or the time.
At 5 am, the port finally opened its gates, and the scramble for reservation numbers began. We, being the cunning and resourceful Sunshine Girls that we are, managed to snag two precious numbers – one for Bohol and one for Dumaguete.
The announcement that the first ferry trip would actually go as planned was music to our ears. It was the sweetest sound we’d heard all week. We were assigned to the Aleson, a larger boat that was scheduled to depart at 6 am. As we boarded, we noticed that the smaller, faster ferry had already left, but we weren’t complaining. We had learned our lesson the day before when a smaller ferry had to turn back due to rough waves. We were determined to be on a boat that could handle the seas, no matter how slow it was.
At 6:30 am, we finally set sail from Siquijor, leaving the island behind. It was a bittersweet moment. Siquijor had been magical, but we were ready for a change of scenery. Maybe the island was just too smitten with the Sunshine Girls, too enchanted by our radiant aura, that it didn’t want to let us go. Whatever the reason, we were finally free.
This is just the first part of our epic Siquijor adventure. Stay tuned for the next chapter, where we'll share our experience with the Aleson ferry, our arrival in Dumaguete, and the unexpected surprises that awaited us...
The Aleson, our trusty seafaring steed, proved to be a far cry from the turbulent vessels we'd heard tales of. Despite its slower pace, it was a smooth and steady ride, a welcome change from the previous days' drama. The gentle rocking of the boat, combined with the cool ocean breeze, lulled me into a blissful slumber. I woke up with a smile on my face, feeling refreshed and ready to conquer the world, or at least Dumaguete.
After a leisurely one-and-a-half-hour journey, we finally arrived in Dumaguete at 8 am. Stepping off the boat, I couldn't contain my joy. I literally jumped for joy, capturing the moment on video and in pictures - a testament to the challenges we'd overcome just to reach this point.
As we walked out of the port, a wave of gratitude washed over us. Despite the day we spent stranded on Siquijor, we had been spared the chaotic and potentially traumatic boat rides through rough seas. It was a blessing in disguise, a reminder that sometimes the universe has a funny way of working things out. Maybe it was the Sunshine Girls' positive vibes, our aura of gratefulness that had protected us.
With a newfound appreciation for our safe passage, we wasted no time booking our flights back to Manila. At 9 am, I secured a ticket on Cebu Pacific, using my trusty voucher to keep costs down. The other Sunshine Girls opted for Philippine Airlines, and with a bittersweet farewell, I embarked on my solo journey back to the bustling metropolis.
A quick grab tricycle ride whisked me to Dumaguete Airport, where I indulged in a delicious ice latte at Bos Cafe and a breakfast of Skyflakes biscuits. At 10:30 am, I boarded the plane, and at 11 am, we took off for Manila. The flight was smooth sailing, a welcome change from the bumpy ride we’d experienced on our way to Siquijor. It was also my first solo flight, a thrilling experience that I’ll never forget.
At 12:30 pm, I landed in Manila, feeling a mix of exhaustion and exhilaration. As I walked through the airport, a random idea struck me. I decided to pay a visit to Papa, a small chapel in the Newport area. As I entered, I took a picture and said a little prayer. I couldn’t help but think that maybe my father had been with me all along during my Siquijor adventure, guiding and looking after me.
After bidding farewell to Papa at 1 pm, I treated myself to a hearty lunch at Popeyes. By 3 pm, I was in transit to Pitx, and by 4 pm, I was finally on my way to Cavite.
And so, our Siquijor adventure came to an end. It was a journey filled with unexpected twists and turns, but ultimately a testament to the power of friendship, resilience, and a healthy dose of sunshine. We may have been stranded for a day, but we left the island with a newfound appreciation for our safe passage and a collection of stories that will forever remind us of the magic of Siquijor. The trip was a reminder that sometimes the most rewarding journeys are the ones that take us off course, forcing us to adapt, to embrace the unexpected, and to find strength in each other. It was a journey that tested our limits, but ultimately brought us closer together, reminding us of the importance of gratitude, resilience, and the power of positive vibes.
#SunshineGirls #SiquijorAdventure #IslandEscape #TravelTales
