I Heart Travels

Day 3: When the Weather Plays Hide-and-Seek (and We Chase Sunsets)   Siquijor, you fickle island, you! Day 3 started off with a promise of adventure, but Mother Nature had other plans. We woke up to a sky that looked like it was trying to decide whether to rain or shine, and we decided to play it by ear.   First stop: BuCafe for breakfast. Their breakfast menu is a delicious mix of Filipino and Western favorites, and we were ready to fuel up for a day of exploring. The coffee was strong, the food was satisfying, and the atmosphere was cozy. We were feeling good!   Next on the agenda: Kawayan Resort. We'd heard great things about their beach, and we were eager to soak up some sun. But as we arrived, we were met with a closed gate and a sign that read "Closed due to weather." We were a little bummed, but we weren't about to let a little rain dampen our spirits.   We decided to head to Paliton Beach, another beautiful spot on the island. ...

Coco Grove: Where the Sun Shines and the Waves Crash (But We Didn't) - Typhoon Edition   After a lunch that stretched into the late afternoon (and probably involved a full meal, let's be honest), we decided to embark on what we affectionately dubbed an "ocular tour" of the Coco Grove Resort. Now, I'm not talking about a rigorous, map-in-hand exploration. This was more of a "ooh, look at that!" and "wow, that's pretty!" kind of tour, punctuated by frequent stops for photos and the occasional "I need a nap" moment.   The resort, in all its tropical glory, was a feast for the eyes. Lush greenery, vibrant flowers, and the ever-present gloomy sky (thanks to the ongoing typhoon) created a scene straight out of a moody travel brochure. The amenities were impressive, too. There was a pool that looked like it was designed for Instagram influencers (though I'm not sure I could have even reached the bottom), a spa that pro...

From Beach Bummers to Coco Grove Elite: A Siquijor Lunchtime Revelation   After our typhoon-tossed beach hopping adventure, the Sunshine Girls were famished. My stomach was grumbling louder than a disgruntled monkey, and my energy levels were lower than a sloth on a Monday morning. I suggested we head to Runik Resort, a place I had heard whispered about as the hippest spot on the island, boasting modern amenities and a touch of luxury.   However, the price tag for their pool access, a hefty 800 pesos for two hours with consumables, gave me pause. My inner accountant, ever vigilant, calculated the cost per minute and declared it a financial disaster. The Sunshine Girls, ever the optimists, were unfazed. But I, ever the pragmatist, was not convinced. We needed a haven, a place to recharge, but not at the cost of our wallets.   So, with a touch of reluctance, we opted for the humble Coco Grove. I had heard it was a decent place, but I wasn't expecting...