LittleSandyBeach

On our first full day on Siquijor we went to check out the main church in the town centre.

St. Francis of Assisi Church was founded by priests in 1783 however the structure was just built out of nipa (wood and bamboo strips). In 1795 they began to rebuild the structure out of coral stones and this was completed in 1831.

Afterwards we went to a highly rated museum on the island… Marelle’s Seashell Museum! It was surprisingly good with over 500 species of seashells from all over the Philippines. They also sell a nice selection of jewellery and souvenirs.

The next day we started off by going to an Ostrich Farm! For 100 Pesos (£1.28) we got a short private tour around the enclosures because as well as three African Ostriches they also have hundreds of chickens (many different species), Quails, Peacocks, Koi carp and Rabbits.

We even got to feed the ostriches but being next to the biggest bird in the world is slightly more intimidating than we thought! Just keep your distance as they like anything shiny!

Then we got to hold a real Ostrich egg that was laid last year and weighs 1.5kg.

Afterwards just down the road we checked out Lazi Church. The present stone church was built in 1884 by Filipino artisans followed by the bell tower the following year.

Just across the road is the convent which was built out of coral stones and hardwood and completed in 1891.

In the afternoon we went to the famous Old Enchanted Balete Tree. It is over 400 years old and is believed to be home to many spirits. It has sprawling roots and a natural spring-fed fish spa at its base.

Afterwards we went to check out the best beach on the island called Paliton Beach. It’s known for its crystal clear water, coconut trees and vibrant sunsets. It didn’t disappoint!

We enjoyed a nice cold beer at one of the small bars and then enjoyed a lovely swim in the water. It was paradise.

Near our bungalow there was a yard with some very cute puppies that we got to see everyday…

As we had a kitchen in our bungalow we made the most of it and made breakfast every morning. We got all of our ingredients from a small shop in Siquijor town which was all very fresh.

On Friday we went to the Cambugahay Waterfall, the most famous on the island. It’s multi tiered and is popular due to its turquoise coloured water.

We watched lots of people enjoying the rope swings into the water and also many people getting the perfect photo with the help of some local Filipinos.

Yesterday we went to another beach called Tubod Beach. This was a lot busier than the other beach and with very little shaded areas it was extremely hot. Still very nice though.

Afterwards to cool down we stopped at a newly opened lemonade stall just on the main road. At 49 pesos (63p) they were a bargain and just what we needed to cool down!

The Philippines is well known for its spectacular sunsets and we managed to capture it one evening near our accommodation….

This morning we had an early start as we had to be at the ferry port for 7am. Ferry ports in the Philippines are let’s say… interesting. Finally after an hour waiting we boarded our ferry in the pouring rain!

After a journey of two hours we arrived into Tagbilaran Port on the Island of Bohol. We then got a tricycle for 25 minutes to our hotel on Panglao Island. We’re here for 5 nights and we’ve got some exciting things to see… stay tuned!