Back in high school I was this young, confident, adventurous, outgoing, crazy, kalog type of guy until I got my heartbroken in 2009…(to be continued later)


But first, more about my travel experiences. 


DAY 1: 

This is my first time to travel solo to a province I was clueless about. Heck, I don't even know how to speak Bisaya.  I just reserved a room at Gabby's Bed and Breakfast online. Upon arriving at Dumaguete airport, I didn't know how to get to Gabby's. So I just rented a tricycle at the airport that will lead me there for 120 pesos. (That was my first mistake. But hey what can an ignorant traveler do?)

At Gabby's Bed and Breakfast, I asked them if I could rent a motorbike. The staff gladly gave me a map of Dumaguete and helped me rent a motorbike for P20/hour (Gas excluded). 

Guess what? I don't even how to drive a motorcycle---but I'm here for the adventure. So who cares? Haha.


After touring around the province for 3 hours by myself, my first comment was, "Ito na un?". I even double checked the map to see if I visited all the landmarks.

The province of Dumaguete is really small but there are a lot of good restaurants to try. 



Ancient wooden house along the roads of Dumaguete. Great Architecture!




Gabby's Bed and Breakfast is a nice place for solo travelers. Here's why:


Around 4 in the afternoon, I went back to my hotel. At the lobby, I saw a girl sitting alone checking her phone (FYI: When I arrived at Gabby's Bed and Breakfast around 1PM, this girl was at the same table alone just checking her phone). In fact, there are a lot of solo travelers around the hotel. 

I decided to sit at the same table with her and started a conversation with her.  To my amazement, she just talked straight for 3 hours and I was just like, "Oh really?", "How was it", "Cool!"  

The girl (Jenny/Gelie) that I met is from Hong Kong and was on her first year anniversary with her husband touring around the Philippines and Malaysia. They courtship lasted for 8 years and this was their first year of marriage. She told me her husband went to the market to buy some fish. They toured around Cebu, Palawan, Siquijor, Dumaguete, and Bohol. Sa isip-isip ko, "Kanina ka pang ala-una naghihintay sa asawa mo. Anong oras na? Alas-sais na? Nawala ba cya? Gaano ba kahirap bumili ng isda sa palengke? " 

After dinner, Jenny's/Gelie's husband has not arrived yet. Fearful that her husband might arrive anytime  soon and may probably be suspicious about us, I told Jenny/Gelie's that I have to go back to my room and rest. I do want to be the guy that causes trouble. 


Jelly's/Gelie's husband arrived at Gabby's around 9:30 in the evening. More than 8 hours mong hinintay asawa mo bumili ng isda? Huh? 


Gabby's Bed and Breakfast facade

….



As promised, here's the continuation of my story. 

It took me until 2011 to get over the girl. From 2009 to 2011, I immersed myself in books, programming, astronomy, etc. I became your typical introverted nerd. I was a shy and aloof geek. I was your Leonard Hofstader and your Rajesh Koothrapali.  

Needless to say, there were a few girls who even introduced me to their family. One girl even invited me for a vacation in Western Visayas with her family. I went with them but I still had my heart guarded. I was still this aloof type of guy.  I didn't even ask these girls out afraid that I might get hurt again. 





DAY 2: 

From Dumaguete, I decided to take a ferry going to Siquijor. My only information about Siquijor is that it's famous for it's black magic. I learned from Jelly/Genie, that there are a lot of resorts in San Juan, Siquijor.

Upon arriving at the port of Siquijor, you will be invited by this clean blue and cyan waters. 
Cleanest and bluest port that I've seen in the Philippines




Near the port is this white sand beach with cyan waters



At the port, however, there will be a lot of tricycle drivers forcing you rent their tricycle so that they can bring you to your destination for 150 to 200 pesos.  Yes, literally forcing you! One guy even followed beside me and rudely shouted, "Excuse me sir, rent ka ng tricycle? San ka papunta?"  


Not wanting to be taken advantaged of again, I ignored the guy and just kept on walking until I saw a jeep going to San Juan. It took around 20 minutes to arrive at San Juan. The trip from Siquijor port to San Juan just costs 25 pesos. 


At San Juan, you will see a lot cottages and resorts. I decided to stay at Charisma Beach resort's dormitory room for just 350 pesos per night. The room had 12 beds (6 double deck beds) and was very spacious. You could literally run around the room and play tag. Luckily, there was another female solo traveler (Kisha or Keisha) who was renting the dorm room as well. We had the whole big dormitory room for ourselves. 




This is just 1/4 of the dormitory's room!!


Kisha, I believe, is in her mid-20s. She's a gorgeous lady from New Zealand who just arrived at Charisma Beach Resort just a few hours before me. She is on an 8-week long vacation. She's making the most of her 9-day long stay in the Philippines. She has travelled solo in Bohol, Palawan, and Oslob Cebu. She showed me pictures of her whalesharks' encounter in Cebu. In her 8-week long vacation, she plans to visit Europe and China after touring around the Philippines. I asked her if she toured around the island yet. She told me that she'll tour around tomorrow since she was tired from her 3-hour travel from Cebu to Siquijor. Sayang! Pagkakataon ko na! Haha!  As I was pressed for time, I had to tour the island by myself. I rented a motorbike for 250 per day gas excluded. 





Capilay Spring Park







Old Balete Tree
To be honest, I liked the Balete tree in Baler more 






Lazi Church






Driving a motorcylcle on the way to Cambugahay Falls
Amazing view




Cambugahay Falls






Road to Salagdoong Beach Resort

Sarap mag motor dito, parang ako si Owen sa Jurassic World. Haha!!



That's how blue the water is. No photoshop here! 


Salagdoong Beach Resort pictures
Yes, you can go cliff diving here! 







Assisi Church and Bell Tower



It took me around 4 hours to travel around Siquijor. Sad to say, I did not see any witches! Back at Charisma beach resort, Kisha was already lying down in her bed. Balak ko pa naman yayain magdinner. Mukhang pagod nga talaga!   

I had dinner at Treasure Island, one of the best pizza restaurants in Siquijor. Aside from your standard Pizza flavors, they had African, Curry, and Squid Pizza. Their pizza costs 200 pesos which is already good for two people (8 slices) .





Near the port, there's a also a good turo-turo restaurant, Joel's Canteen,  which serves cheap and delicious Filipino Food.


DAY 3: 

                                                                           ….

Around October or November last year, I met this beautiful Fil-Chi lady.  We talked and chatted a lot everyday for several hours for a few months. Everytime I talk to her, she brings out this "kalog" and "crazy" nature inside me that I haven't felt since high school. 




I admire this girl a lot, but here in Manila, you'll be surprised about the Fil-Chi Culture. #filchi problems. Sad. I cry. Haha! 

                                                                    ….


Upon waking up, I invited and treated Kisha for breakfast. I suggested the nice places to visit around the island and how to get there. As I had to catch the ferry, we went on our separate ways. It was nice meeting you, Kisha! 



Back in Dumaguete, I had nothing else to do but wait for my flight tomorrow morning. Kaya ng computer shop na lang ako at nagtrabaho! Haha, Workaholic boy!


DAY 4: 

The fare from Gabby's Bed and Breakfast to the airport simply costs 20 pesos. I-compare mo yan sa 120 pesos na binayaran ko nung umpisa. Ulol! 

The locals are very warm and kind-hearted people. Even the tricycle drivers roaming around the town are very honest. It just irritates me that the tricycle drivers standing by at the airport and Siquijor/Dumaguete piers do try to get advantage of the tourists. This is really bad for our tourism. 

While waiting for my flight at the airport lounge, I reminisced my recent 3-day solo trip. 



  • How I managed to get to Gabby's Bed and Breakfast (back and forth) and learned that you can rent a tricycle for just 10 to 20 pesos and take you anywhere in Dumaguete.
  • How I learned how to drive a motorcycle; and drove at a speed of 80KM+/hour (fell down thrice..hahah!)
  • How I explored at the town Dumaguete and Siquijor not afraid to get lost (and that's without Waze)
  • How I gained a lot of information around Dumaguete and Siquijor without any internet research beforehand
  • How I conquered my fear of not knowing where to go, what to do, and what to say
  • And lastly, how I bravely approached two beautiful female strangers and befriended them. 





So I guess, this solo adventure transformed me into the the confident, adventurous, outgoing, crazy, kalog type of guy that I used to be. Not to mention, young! Hahah!