i wonder where siquijor got it's non too positive rep. having stayed there for two days, i might have a few neg comments (like the dual treatment of receptionists on their brown and white guests...but i guess this is quite a nationwide cancer) but my overall impression made me think of visiting it again.
where else can you enjoy the beach and the mountains at one time? well dakak in dapitan is one but i mean, it's a rare op. transportation is rife unless you plan to stay in the beach resort which offer coach transfers. When backpacking, which is what we did, travel in groups of 10 to 14. as we rarely saw PUJs plying the route we passed. Most are rented from the pier and habal-habals are tres expensive.
the closest to a scary adventure that we had was passing by a hag at the stairs going down from the exploring the Lazi 18th century convent. the old woman, with her white hair uncombed sat on one side of the stairs holding her half-filled sack grumbling about us not working and wasting money going places like that. everyone's laughter was suspended as we slowly made our way out of the building. the experience was scarier than the hours we spent in darkness inside the cantabon cave even though the experience made our trip to bohol's hinagdanan cave looked like a joke now. the entrance was only less than a kilometer away from the highway and the opening can only allow one 'intruder' at a time. the trip actually falls on the easy category. if only each of us had a headlamp. geared or not, brian (our all too friendly guide) went through it like we were only trekking through to guintubdan falls. under the little illumination that we had, our bodies let off steam from our exercise and nobody among us bothered bringing bottled water for rehydration, it was unanimously decided to go back after admiring the much published pristine stalactites and stalagmites and reaching the bathing pool.
if you want to stick out with experiencing the outdoors, camping at the salagdoong beach resort is an option. camping is welcome but accommodation and grubs can be availed at a minimum in this government run getaway. swimming in the cove is quite a treat and there's a log set amongst the trees where you can hide and smoke some lights without fearing discovery that might smear your rep...hehehe. or you could splurge and spend a bit at coco grove. their food is excellent and the serving size will not leave the guest wanting at a reasonable price. the coast looks inviting with its white sand and a sizable sprinkling of seagrass which offers a home to some exciting water denizens. inhouse guests are also treated to a whole lot of freebies like the use of their canoes and surfboards and pool and the list goes on.
apart from that i have seen nothing really that suggested the works of the dark supernatural :) it's a place which make you want to go back. and i will, maybe in a year.
