You do not really need to go that far to be convinced. In low tide, the underwater world of San Juan emerges, enchanting lovers of all things marine life.

On the surface, the beaches of San Juan are raw, unprocessed. Unlike the well-manicured white sands of Boracay, San Juan beaches appear as what they should if left untouched by human habitation. This natural state, however, is threatened by the burgeoning tourist industry in the province of Siquijor and the relentless construction of accommodations along the beach to address anticipated demands in the near future.

The best time to visit Siquijor was yesterday. In a few years, San Juan beaches will no longer be kept a national secret. People from near and far will be coming in droves, and horrors, such deluge of troops might transform the slow pace of life in this ultra-laidback province into one hectic scramble for a piece of beachfront property. Before that happens, pack a pair of bikinis and a set of snorkel gear, and hop on to the next ferry.

Deserted San Juan beach in a residential area

San Juan has miles and miles and miles of white sand beaches that are, surprisingly, crowd-free even in stretches where there are residential properties. The entire time I was swimming (and the sun was already high), I was the only person in the water.

San Juan beach has coral and sea weed cover

San Juan beaches are covered in coral stones and seaweeds. Further offshore are the best dive spots one can find in Siquijor. Some of the snorkel spots are difficult to get to. If you do get there, you risk owning the place for the day.

A backpacker’s lodge on San Juan beach

There are a handful of extremely affordable accommodations right on the beach. Camping is one option.

San Juan sunsets are golden

This is the part of the province that gets an unfair share of sunsets. The sun sets over Cuernos de Negros, a pointed mountain range in Dumaguete, and casts its golden glow on the palm-fringed beaches of San Juan.

A resident white crab fleeing from a human predator

Intertidal life come out of the hiding when the water is low and the sun is up. Herons and egrets also scope out the shore for free crustacean meal.

Blazing sunsets despite overcast afternoon

San Juan sunsets are the most dramatic in Siquijor. Not even clouds could get in the way.

Lighting bonfires at dusk is a rural Filipino practice

If there is one down side to beach bumming in San Juan, it’s hauling yourself up right after sunset if you don’t have accommodation nearby. Transportation can get tricky after-hours.

Click here for next article (Siquijor series) – Buhisan Lodge Review>>

Photos by Cherry Vic Patalita

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More than the well-preserved structures, however, what struck me was the uncanny feeling that I was present at that particular time period when the church was just being built. A breeze blowing through the airy windows of its convent and a bright, quiet afternoon all made for one precious time travel experience. For this alone, Lazi should never be missed.

San Isidro Labrador Church

The San Isidro Labrador (St. Isidore the Laborer) Church was constructed from coral stones and local hardwood and finished before the turn of the 19th century.

Herringbone pattern of wooden floor is still extant

The wooden floors of San Isidro Labrador Church are remarkably well-preserved (and shiny!). A walk down this aisle would be, well, historic.

Impressive retablo

The Baroque design of the church is reflected in its ornate and gilded “retablo” or shelves “behind the altar” that contain sacred images.

Pulpit from where priests originally preach from

Priests used to give their sermons from pulpits like this. This one was recently restored through the help of the United States Embassy.

The Pieta

Iconography is central to Catholicism. San Isidro Labrador Church has managed to preserve their century-old icons. The “pieta” or the image of Mary holding the dead body of Christ is one icon always present in old Catholic churches.

Still functional confessional

The confessional is where Catholics perform the Sacrament of Penance; where they confess their transgressions to the priest and are, in turn, forgiven. Catholic friars during the time of the Philippine Revolution in the late 19th century were suspected of using this sacred booth as a medium for espionage.

Retablo on side altar and pulpit on the left

The “retablo” on the side awaits restoration, whereas the pulpit on the left has just been given facelift.

Official inscription of the church as a National Cultural Treasure

The plaque on the wall recognizes the church as a National Cultural Treasure. The plaque was inscribed in 2001.

Still functional Lazi Convent after more than 100 years

The convent is still used by the priest as his residential quarters. A small Catholic school operates downstairs.

Side view of Lazi Convent

The Lazi convent is reputed to be the biggest of century-old convents in the Philippines. Up close, it is immense!

The second floor of the Lazi Convent

I travelled back in time as I gazed out of the convent’s windows and into the church on a lazy, quiet afternoon. The Siquijor Heritage Museum, found on the same floor and just opposite this perspective, contains a collection of mostly Catholic artifacts special to Lazi. The museum could use some serious restoration. Picture-taking was not allowed.

The church as viewed from the Lazi Convent

Looking out of a huge window into a sunny, quiet afternoon was an experience unto itself. I seemed to have been transported back to that day when the acacia tree was just a sapling.

Click here for next article (Siquijor series) – San Juan, Siquijor >>

Photos by Cherry Vic Patalita

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Even better, there are plenty of things to do aside from toting binoculars and pointing them at unsuspecting subjects. Birding is one outdoor activity that goes well with mountaineering, beach bumming, cycling, off-roading, kayaking and even plain nature hiking. So the next time you lace up your boots for some other outdoor adventure, grab a pair of binoculars, bring your life list or start making one and head to these “doi” (mountain) and birding hotspots.

1) Doi Inthanon

Close cousins of this minla are residents of Thailand’s highest mountain (Photo by Ron Knight)

The highest mountain in Thailand located in the northwest near the Myanmar border is also the choicest birding mecca in Southeast Asia and one of the highly desired spots of birders around the world. Brimming with about 400 species, more than half of which are endemic to Thailand, Doi Inthanon makes it easy for birders of all stripes to tick off their life list in one fell swoop.

2) Doi Ang Khang

This laughingthrush in Doi Ang Khang will make you more than smile (Photo by cuatrok77)

Chiang Mai is not only the Thais favorite for winter vacations, it is also a birder’s favorite during dry season. Ranked as one of the best bird-watching point in Thailand, Doi Ang Khang has 250 bird species that are both residents and migrants.

3) Doi Chiang Dao

Parakeets are a common sight in Doi Chiang Dao (Photo by Peter Tan)

This birding location in Chiang Mai is not an easy one to get to, but the 20 kilometer of up and down rough road will make it worth your while. Considered to be one of the best birding sites in northern Thailand, Doi Chiang Dao rewards the patient birder with plenty of species to identify and tick off their life list, including parakeets.

4) Doi Suthep-Pui National Park

Orange-bellied leaf birds fly free in Doi Suthep-Pui (Photo by Ron Knight)

This national park offers an entertaining diversion for day trippers in Chiang Mai who want to see birds up close in their natural habitats. Only 15 minutes away from the urban center, Doi Suthep-Pui is home to orange-bellied leaf birds and a huge number of other feathered friends.

5) Khao Yai National Park

Long-tailed minivets are one of Khao Yai’s resident avians (Photo by Archit Ratan)

This park is one of Thailand’s first because of its proximity to Bangkok (a mere 2.5 hours away) and its considerable size at more than 2,000 square kilometers. This swath of moist evergreens is home to some of the most intriguing winged characters in the animal kingdom, including long-tailed minivets that can be found here in abundance.

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To get to Maria, you can take a “habal-habal” (heavy-duty motorcycle that should only seat two but usually seats four or more depending on the direness of the situation) from Larena for US$5 to and from. Or, you can rent an entire tricycle for a whole day tour around the diminutive island of Siquijor (which only takes two hours on moderate speed) for US$25. Some even pay less if they are only a couple. Travel time from Larena to Maria via a mountain highway is one hour or shorter one way.

For day-trippers, Maria is doable in two, maybe three, hours. But for an unapologetically slow traveler like me, Maria deserves a day by itself. Here’s why.

One of the two banks with ATM in Larena (the other being LandBank)

Larena is the commercial hub of the Siquijor province. Larena is also its transport corridor. Mini-buses that ply the Larena-Lazi route pass by Maria. Fare is US$1.25 until the Salagdoong junction. Then there is the two-kilometer walk to Salagdoong Beach under the canopy of “tugas” trees (remember how scarce public transport is in this province?), unless you hire a “habal-habal” from Larena, in which case the two kilometers will be a breeze.

View of Maria Bay from an elevation

Maria Bay is spectacular even on a cloudy day. The protrusion on the left of the bay is the Salagdoong Beach.

Our Lady of Divine Providence Church

This church features Santa Rita de Cascia, Patron Saint of the Impossible, abused wives and mourning widows (having previously married herself).

Altar of Our Lady of Divine Providence Church

The ornate and gilded “retablo” (literally, “behind the table or altar”) is one of the oldest in the province. Santa Rita is the black and white figure to the right. Images of other bloggers reveal that her face looks eerie, and that she holds an upside-down crucifix in her left hand, and a skull in her right. I wanted to come up close and take a picture, but there was an ongoing “novena” (rosary prayer), which would make crossing over to the altar “blasphemous.” Siquijor legend has it that Santa Rita is a somnambulist (nightwalker) because locals claim her feet would be sullied in the morning.

On the way to Salagdoong Beach

I would have wanted to walk this two-kilometer stretch all the way to the beach. Locals call this the “katugasan.” That same name is thought to be the original name of Siquijor instead of the Spanish name “Isla del Fuego” (“island of fire”, in reference to the swarms of firefly they saw upon arrival). The hills of Siquijor were once covered in molave trees; if so, this forest is likely primary growth. On the map, this patch of “tugas” trees is marked as Salagdoong Forest. The contrast of the sounds of birdlife and the otherwise deafening silence of midday struck a primeval nerve.

Entrance fee at US$1 (2pax and 1motorcycle)

“Salagdoong” refers to these gi-normous birds. No luck finding their scientific name.

The beach grounds

Salagdoong Beach is owned and managed by the provincial government.

One of the beach amenities

The swimming pool is just one of the modern amenities on the beach. Guest rooms are also modern and made of concrete.

Slide and diving platform

The slide and the diving platforms are popular with kids and screaming adults.

The C-shaped beach on the other side of the diving platform

This is the sandier portion of Salagdoong Beach. The rock overhangs are a favorite playground of children and adults alike. (Overnight) camping by the beach is allowed (US$2.50 per person exclusive of tent).

The highest diving platform

The waters are unbelievably inviting. A jump from here would land the brave of heart straight into the white sands below. The current, however, can be strong, so caution has to be taken when jumping.

Children jumping off from a lower platform

“Ambak” (cliff-jumping) is apparently popular among intrepid kids.

Hotel rooms viewed from the diving platform

Salagdoong Beach is a jewel even in overcast days. You can get accommodation facing the bay for exhilarating views upon waking up. You can check the price per room at Agoda website here.

Click here for next article (Siquijor series) – Lazi, Siquijor >>

Photos by Cherry Vic Patalita

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A look at a photo compilation of these landmarks and you would understand why the Marina Bay has also become the subject of choice by many aspiring and professional shutterbugs.

1) Marina Bay panorama

Marina Bay with the Esplanade Theaters in the background (Photo by Choo Yut Shing)

On the southern part of Singapore and east of downtown, Singapore’s prime waterfront is a picture of efficient urban planning – of course with human touches thrown in – to make the city not just conducive for commerce, trade and logistics, but also for healthy and productive interaction with each other and with the city’s natural resources. Putting into account the challenges of limited commercial space, access to naturally breathtaking views, efficient transport of people and products, and social dimensions that encourage exploration, exchange and entertainment, the Marina Bay of Singapore – an engineering feat by day and a simply exhilarating view at night – exemplifies what a small yet determined country can do in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges that make countries far bigger than itself push the limits of their own potentials.

2) The Marina Barrage

The Marina Barrage (Photo by akosihub)

Water reservoirs in Singapore have become architectural wonders and venues of water-based activities and not just simply sources of water. Such is the case of Marina Barrage, the most recent of Singapore’s effort to dam the mouth of Marina Channel, pool rainwater for a larger volume of freshwater supply, and alleviate flooding in prone areas such as Geylang, Chinatown, Jalan Besar and Boat Quay. But since the water level of the catchment basin is kept constant year-round, the Marina Barrage has also become a playground for water enthusiasts of kayaking, windsurfing and dragon-boating. Various pumps force out the water to sea in case of heavy rains, and the by-product force resulting to fountains of water, as pictured above, also provide an engaging entertainment.

3) The Helix Bridge

The Helix Bridge (Photo by Erwin Soo)

The Helix Bridge makes it possible to explore the Marina Bay and Marina Center on foot, and to take delight in the Singapore skyline from one of its canopies furnished with seats and adorned with works of art. Inspired by the Chinese philosophy of yin and yang, this sinuous bridge was constructed with extreme precision and remarkable feat of engineering. A walk along this bridge at night treats pedestrians with colorful lighting that creates different moods.

4. The ArtScience Museum

The ArtScience Museum (Photo by Michael Elleray)

Conspicuously designed after a lotus flower, the ArtScience Museum, found within the vicinity of Marina Bay Sands, is a welcoming gesture to all Singapore visitors as much as it is a venue for cultural, scientific, artistic and design/architecture exhibits curated by its partner museums.

5. Marina Bay Sands

Marina Bay Sands (Photo by Choo Yut Shing)

Billed as the most expensive standalone casino property right in the heart of Marina Bay, Marina Bay Sands was developed by its namesake management from Las Vegas. Featuring a staggering 1.3 million square feet of convention/exhibition center and 2,561 rooms, the Marina Bay Sands also holds two theaters, one museum, a 800,000 square-foot shopping mall, an ice skating rink, and an atrium casino featuring 1,600 slot machines and 500 tables, easily the largest of its kind. The Marina Bay Sands is also the venue of choice for the mesmerizing Singapore Light Shows.

6. The Light Shows at Marina Bay Sands

The Helix Bridge (Photo by Erwin Soo)

Making an extravagant hotel even more spectacular, the Light Show is to Singapore what the aurora borealis is to the poles (OK, the comparison may be extreme). But if you want to see for yourself, come early and grab a strategic seat. Shows run nightly for 15 minutes at 8PM and 9:30PM, and on Fridays and Saturdays, an additional show runs at 11PM.

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