Singapore-Surigao-Siargao 2009
23-30 May 2009 - Saturdayafternoon Softball returns to the Philippines
23 May 2009 - The Adventure Begins
The 2nd Annual Lords of Death "Fun in the Sun" trip took us to the friendly shores of the Philippines. Much thanks to Martin and Emely for taking time out to help plan and facilitate our trip. We could not have done this trip without you guys.
We flew Cebu Pacific, budget carrier out of the Budget Terminal. The weird flight schedule meant a midnight departure, 4am arrival at Cebu Airport and an 8 hour layover till the 12noon domestic flight from Cebu to Surigao.
The layover wasn't a complete waste of time, as we discovered that right next door to the airport was a casino. Only Rugburn came out of the casino with his money (and he wisely stayed out of it on the return leg).
From the airport to the hotel to the beach. No time to waste. We dumped our bags, changed to our swim gear and hired the first boat out to sea. Since there wasn't much daylight left, we picked the closest island for exploration. Fantastic snorkeling and really beautiful coral. Sadly the trip was marred by a mercenary local on the island who demanded that we pay 300 pesos for using his beach. Of course that was utter crap and he was just trying to fleece us tourists. Little did he know that Martin was "local" and told the cheat off. We did not pay.
Boy was the tide low when we got back to the dock. There was a steep climb involved from the boat back up to the dock on a rickety plank. Lesson learnt. We have to be back by 4.30pm latest if we don't want to get stuck at sea.
Dinner was supposed to be at Mario's down in the town center. Unfortunately, when we got there, they told us that they no longer served BBQ. No worries, we ordered a couple of rounds of the coldest beer in Surigao (easily the best beer around) and a couple of plates of Sizzling Sisig. After the appetiser, we got on a couple of tricycles and headed down to Lotty's, a place supposedly famous for its BBQ.
Lotty's was full, so we went next door to its sister joint, AJ's. Fantastic food. The meat on sticks were incredible, and the sauce....exquisite.
Post dinner activities was the cursory 'Minimum' session with Tanduay. There was something wrong with the Tanduay on this trip. It did not taste good. The colour was off and it tasted like paint thinner. What happened to the Tanduay of yore that I had fell in love with?
We flew Cebu Pacific, budget carrier out of the Budget Terminal. The weird flight schedule meant a midnight departure, 4am arrival at Cebu Airport and an 8 hour layover till the 12noon domestic flight from Cebu to Surigao.
The layover wasn't a complete waste of time, as we discovered that right next door to the airport was a casino. Only Rugburn came out of the casino with his money (and he wisely stayed out of it on the return leg).
From the airport to the hotel to the beach. No time to waste. We dumped our bags, changed to our swim gear and hired the first boat out to sea. Since there wasn't much daylight left, we picked the closest island for exploration. Fantastic snorkeling and really beautiful coral. Sadly the trip was marred by a mercenary local on the island who demanded that we pay 300 pesos for using his beach. Of course that was utter crap and he was just trying to fleece us tourists. Little did he know that Martin was "local" and told the cheat off. We did not pay.
Boy was the tide low when we got back to the dock. There was a steep climb involved from the boat back up to the dock on a rickety plank. Lesson learnt. We have to be back by 4.30pm latest if we don't want to get stuck at sea.
Dinner was supposed to be at Mario's down in the town center. Unfortunately, when we got there, they told us that they no longer served BBQ. No worries, we ordered a couple of rounds of the coldest beer in Surigao (easily the best beer around) and a couple of plates of Sizzling Sisig. After the appetiser, we got on a couple of tricycles and headed down to Lotty's, a place supposedly famous for its BBQ.
Lotty's was full, so we went next door to its sister joint, AJ's. Fantastic food. The meat on sticks were incredible, and the sauce....exquisite.
Post dinner activities was the cursory 'Minimum' session with Tanduay. There was something wrong with the Tanduay on this trip. It did not taste good. The colour was off and it tasted like paint thinner. What happened to the Tanduay of yore that I had fell in love with?
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Singapore-Cebu-Surigao, 2 planes, 14 hours. Ready to go
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| 5.10am, Cebu Airport. Next flight. 11.50am. Long wait ahead |
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Sorry Martin, we couldn't find a True Brew in Cebu
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| Big Indian statue mean big casino, take white man money |
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| Mectan-Cebu International Airport |
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11am, 50mins till we get on the next plane
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| Finally. Surigao Airport (The blue skies are a prelude of things to come) |
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| Propeller Plane. Old school! |
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| Horfun shows her skillz (she was a great babysitter throughout the trip to Oscar, Ethan and Jack) |
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| Baby Jack |
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Baby Ethan
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Rotary International. There's one everywhere
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View from the Window
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| There is a GAP |
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| Blue Skies, Smiling at me (The building on the right is the Tavern Hotel) |
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| Mister Donut, Smiling at me too |
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| There was no litter in the water AT ALL (which is amazing considering the boardwalk was always filled with people) |
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| Mission 1: Lets get the swim on |
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| The Mick coping a feel the filipina girls could only dream of |
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| Who's your daddy? |
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| 300 pesos |
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Beer for Oscar?
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| No, Just Orange Juice |
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| Sisig at Marios |
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| The famous Lotty's in Surigao. It was full, so they directed us to AJ's next door (under the same management)We all wanted a piece of this guy's meat |
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| H1N1 prevention... clean hands |
24 May 2009 - Island Hopping
Day 2 started bright and early (the sun rises about 5am in the Philippines). Sadly, 2 hours was wasted at breakfast. 2 whole hours of my life, that I could have used for swimming and snorkeling, GONE! 2 hours sitting inside that damn restaurant at Tavern hotel waiting for my cold plate of scrambled eggs and beef. 2 hours of precious high tide and sunlight... GONE!
We finally got on the boat at 10am and headed out to sea. First stop was this (supposedly) incredible coral reef, teeming with life... or so we were led to believe. The coral reef was gone. poof! Like magic. There was nothing there. It had been entirely harvested during the last 2 years. There was nothing left. Bam. Strike 2.
We moved on. Stopping at the next bay along the next island and on and on, trying to find the elusive reef. Yes, we did manage to get in some good snorkeling, but that magical land of coral would remain out of our grasp.
Back to shore.
We went back to BBQ street for dinner, mouths salivating at the prospect of another round of that wonderful Chorizo. The call of the Lechon Manok was too strong, and we settled for the beautiful roast chicken and roast pork belly.
With the bad taste of the previous night's Tanduay still lingering in our throats, Martin generously broke out the bottles of Jameson whiskey for the 'Minimum' Session. Everyone wanted to lose, and even those who didn't lose wanted to drink.
There were many a drunkard in the Tavern Hotel this night.
4 men, a girl and a plate of rice.... 3 large chickens and 3 large pork bellys
We finally got on the boat at 10am and headed out to sea. First stop was this (supposedly) incredible coral reef, teeming with life... or so we were led to believe. The coral reef was gone. poof! Like magic. There was nothing there. It had been entirely harvested during the last 2 years. There was nothing left. Bam. Strike 2.
We moved on. Stopping at the next bay along the next island and on and on, trying to find the elusive reef. Yes, we did manage to get in some good snorkeling, but that magical land of coral would remain out of our grasp.
Back to shore.
We went back to BBQ street for dinner, mouths salivating at the prospect of another round of that wonderful Chorizo. The call of the Lechon Manok was too strong, and we settled for the beautiful roast chicken and roast pork belly.
With the bad taste of the previous night's Tanduay still lingering in our throats, Martin generously broke out the bottles of Jameson whiskey for the 'Minimum' Session. Everyone wanted to lose, and even those who didn't lose wanted to drink.
There were many a drunkard in the Tavern Hotel this night.
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| Good morning Surigao. Baby Jack needs to take a walk or he gets grumpy |
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| "Soon we'll be making another run" |
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| Martin and Oscar |
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| "Land Ho" |
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| The beach formerly known as the most beautiful coral reef in the Philippines (it was completely harvested when we got there) |
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| Sunset on Surigao |
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| Martin and Ethan |
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| And the Winner of the 2009 Follicly-Challenged Staring Contest is... |
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| Lechon Manok... Manna from Heaven |
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| Ready for the Meat |
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| Chilli be good |
25 May 2009 - Picnic by the Beach
We had to move hotels today, as the Tavern no longer had rooms for us (strike 3 Tavern). Another early morning, albeit with a much worse hangover. The Men were separated from the Quebecois this day.
We packed up, and moved out, but left our luggage in the hotel so that we could go on Mission 3: More Snorkeling. This time, we went in the opposite direction from yesterday, towards another patch of deserted islands on the other side of Surigao.
We all skipped breakfast in the hotel, grabbing coffee and donuts at the nextdoor Mr Donut, and headed out to sea.
This place was oodles better than Day 2. A beautiful deserted beach ringed by a fantastic coral reef. We spent the entire day here swimming up and down the island enjoying the underwater life. We were the only people on the island and it was utterly fantastic. Lunch was freshly grilled prawns and swordfish steaks. The seafood was incredible and I resolved to visit the market to see the catch for myself (see day 4)
Back to Surigao, but this time to Gateway hotel instead of Tavern. Gateway was by far the superior hotel. Better rooms with a swimming pool to boot. Location was not the most convenient as it was much further inland than the Tavern, and there was no BBQ within walking distance, but getting around was not that difficult. It is only a 7peso(about 20cents SGD) ride from the hotel to the BBQ/port/market. The restaurant at the Gateway was also much better than the one at the Tavern. Waiting time was still pretty long, but the food was better. (tip to travellers, when in rome... Ordering a hamburger and ceasar salad in the philippines may not be the brightest idea)
No post dinner card game as we were totally exhausted from the last 3 days, and the horrific wait for dinner.
We packed up, and moved out, but left our luggage in the hotel so that we could go on Mission 3: More Snorkeling. This time, we went in the opposite direction from yesterday, towards another patch of deserted islands on the other side of Surigao.
We all skipped breakfast in the hotel, grabbing coffee and donuts at the nextdoor Mr Donut, and headed out to sea.
This place was oodles better than Day 2. A beautiful deserted beach ringed by a fantastic coral reef. We spent the entire day here swimming up and down the island enjoying the underwater life. We were the only people on the island and it was utterly fantastic. Lunch was freshly grilled prawns and swordfish steaks. The seafood was incredible and I resolved to visit the market to see the catch for myself (see day 4)
Back to Surigao, but this time to Gateway hotel instead of Tavern. Gateway was by far the superior hotel. Better rooms with a swimming pool to boot. Location was not the most convenient as it was much further inland than the Tavern, and there was no BBQ within walking distance, but getting around was not that difficult. It is only a 7peso(about 20cents SGD) ride from the hotel to the BBQ/port/market. The restaurant at the Gateway was also much better than the one at the Tavern. Waiting time was still pretty long, but the food was better. (tip to travellers, when in rome... Ordering a hamburger and ceasar salad in the philippines may not be the brightest idea)
No post dinner card game as we were totally exhausted from the last 3 days, and the horrific wait for dinner.
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| Mission 3: Find more corals |
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| "One more child?" |
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| "err, yes?" |
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Nowhere beach on outback island, Philippines. Huts for your enjoyment
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| Mr Mom |
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| Rugburn, hottest man on Siargao. |
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| The Dalys |
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| Sagisi Island, Surigao. Those waters were teeming with Coral |
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| Ripken likes to throw stones |
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Baby Jack enjoying the sun
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| "We claim this reef for Saturdaysoftball" |
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| "Crispy Kangkong" (aka I'm glad I didn't order the hamburger) |
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