After island adventures in Coron and Borneo, Ito and I wanted to step out of our comfort zone and in the process ended up in Siargao, the “surfing capital of the Philippines”. Neither of us surf, but we both wanted to give it a try, and the cool, laid-back vibe of the island seemed extra enticing in a season of overcrowded beaches. Siargao sits in the Philippine Sea in the province of Surigao del Norte, and as soon as we booked our flight, we realized we were in for more than we planned. For one, the island turned out to be much bigger than we thought and places to visit were spread out, so after a few trips around in a habal-habal (a motorcycle that you flag down and ride behind the driver), we decided to rent our own motorbike for the freedom to explore the island at our own pace.
“Going with the flow” literally became our itinerary for the next few days, because most people in Siargao plan their days around the tide. On the times when the tide was low, people who weren’t surfing would just swing from hammocks reading a book, or hang around Cloud 9 enjoying a shake and watching the surf. Instead of following planned activities, we took to making our own, discovering delicious places to eat, exploring empty stretches of beach and riding until we had to fill up on gas using a Coke litro bottle filled with petrol. We rode past plantations, and mangroves, and crocodile reserves, and houses on stilts to swim in the stunning Magpupungko tidal pools. Or we lazed about our villa and cooled off in the sea, and feasted on freshly caught mahi-mahi grilled by our ‘chef’.
So what did we discover beyond our comfort zone in Siargao? That while we only learned the basics in surfing a wave, we quickly became proficient at letting go and going with the flow…
Have you been on an adventure in Siargao? What do you think of stepping outside your comfort zone?
*Photos by Ito
), making new discoveries are always part of the excitement of travel. When Ito and I flew into Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, this summer we didn’t know much about the island of Borneo. We were simply looking for a relaxing beach getaway that wouldn’t be too crowded! As it turned out, Borneo pretty much fit the bill. The largest island in Asia, Borneo is shared by Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei, and is home to wide stretches of beach, ancient rain forest jungles, and an incredible diversity of wildlife. Since we were just there to chill–not go diving in Sipadan or climbing Mount Kinabalu–we took our time strolling around, satiating our appetites and our wanderlust.
I’m sharing just a few of the items on my wish-list with you, although I’m pretty sure that with 70 retailers joining the fair, everyone will be spoiled for choice…
Dreamy watercolor artwork from Baguio digitally printed onto 600 thread count sheets by Tara Designs ( I think I’d be tempted to turn these sheets into a lovely dress!)
Gabby Sarenas tells stories beautifully by craftily embroidering local folklore onto the piña sleeves and panels of her wearable pieces
Textures abound and contrast wonderfully with the structured tailoring of this sleeveless duster coat by Joel Escober
Vivid colors and patterns inspired by the vintas above the ocean and the vistas beneath it are found in Ken Samudio’s gorgeous accessories
Graphic renditions of the traditional Maskara are hand-carved and hand-painted into hip, cool & very chic minaudiéres by Joanique
Originally from Mangyan basket designs, these wonderfully patterned bags and accessories by prolific designer Zarah Juan are on my personal wish-list 
This amazingly intricate Tboli hand-embroidered jacket by Filip + Inna is one of my favorites (imagine it with faded jeans!), especially when combined with this beaded leather bag by Rhett Eala & Zarah Juan. Winner combo!
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