- Visiting Siquijor

One day we noticed some tiles in our living room buckling and notified our next door neighbor, Ariel, the caretaker. He notified the landlord (who is in Australia currently) and the tile man. The landlord’s husband (the Swiss lawyer) came over from Zamboanguita, and they determined that it would take three days to fix all the tiles that were affected and that it would be too dusty for us to stay there during the process.

So we decided to visit the island of Siquijor (seeky-whore). We had been wanting to visit since we arrived. Besides, that’s where Lolit, Kaye, and Liam were visiting her family who live there.

To many Filipinos Siquijor is full of mystique conjuring images of magic, some even of witchcraft and spells. Some people that investigated have found no scientific evidence of any of that, but the legend persists.

Wendie riding her broom

We ate a nice breakfast at McDonald's and jumped on the 7am Montenegro ferry to Siquijor. The trip of about an hour and a half on the ferry was very enjoyable, relaxing, and picturesque. In the municipality of Siquijor on the island of Siquijor we rented a van to tour the island. First we went to the other side of the island to Maria to pick up Lolit and the kids. We had a great time. We visited two beaches (Salagdoong and Paliton), swimming in one. The beaches of Siquijor are much nicer than any beach I have seen on Negros: beautiful white sand, extremely clear blue water. You can easily see your feet when you are in the water up to your chest. 

On the ferry

Leaving Dumaguete behind

Arriving at the port in Siquijor

At Salagdoong Beach in Maria

At Paliton Beach in San Juan

We also visited the old balete tree and the fish foot spa. They say the tree is four hundred years old, but I didn’t find anybody who could verify that. Regardless, it’s a beautiful old tree. And the fish foot spa! It was a weird feeling and sight watching dozens of 2 to 3 inch fish give me a foot massage! I was really surprised that my rough old feet felt so smooth afterward! We had a nice lunch in a little native cafe beside the highway.

The old balete tree and foot spa
Wendie, Lolit, and Liam on right

I didn't realize my feet were so delicious

Our driver didn’t waste any time on the road. He was flying—on the highway, in town, in the mountains. Speaking of the mountains, he said land costs 2000 pesos per square meter in town and 200 pesos per square meter in the mountains.

St. Francis of Assisi Church built in 1774

We rented a two bedroom house near the ocean for the night for about 1250 php ($25). Then we walked to an open air restaurant for dinner. As we ate, thirty feet in front of us was a beautiful swimming pool, and fifty feet beyond that was the dagat (ocean). We could see Cebu and Bohol. It was so picturesque and romantic!

We took Kaye with us the next morning as we boarded the ferry the next morning for Dumaguete. Her mom would follow in a few days.

Headed for the ferry

On board ready to return to Dumaguete

We thoroughly enjoyed our time on Siquijor and look forward to returning some day!