Travel Philippines, Season 2, Ep29. Siquijor Island province, 35kms from Dumaguete in Central Visayas region. Its capital is the municipality also named Siquijor. To the northwest of Siquijor are Cebu and Negros, to the northeast is Bohol and to the south, across the Bohol Sea, is the island of Mindanao. Siquijor is the third smallest province in the country, in terms of population as well as land area (after Camiguin and Batanes). For a time it was part of Negros Oriental. During the Spanish colonial period they called it the Island of Fire (Isla del Fuego). Siquijor is commonly associated with mystic traditions, I did not buy the magic potions sold to tourists. You can take a ferry from multiple locations, it took me about 1.5 hrs from Dumaguete Port. See Coco Grove Beach Resort ferry schedule below. Some people may be interested in retiring in Philippines to live their dreams. I highly recommend you visit first, and explore the areas you are interested in first. Take a few weeks or months to see if you like it and can fit in. I know successful expats who stayed and have a happy life, and others who left Philippines after a few years. Living in a city long term is not the same as a short vacation. So you will have to get use to local standards. A local standard of living cost can be very affordable, depending on your lifestyle. But a high Western standard like living in America or Australia would cost the same or more than living back home in USA or AU. I've seen other party goers living beyond their means and they get into trouble or run out of money real quick. Please subscribe to B Adventures on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/c/badventures B Adventures Facebook Page for latest updates. https://www.facebook.com/BAdventuresAU Ferry times can change regularly so I found Coco Grove's website schedule very helpful. http://www.cocogrovebeachresort.com/getting-there From Dumaguete Port I got a slow ferry, I recommend getting the Fast Jet ferry if possible to save time. Arriving at Siquijor Island, I hired a multicab truck and driver to take me on a tour for PHP1500. This would be a great option for a group to share the cost, and plenty of space on the truck. Otherwise you can hire motorbikes and automatic scooters to drive around yourself. Capilay Spring Park, natural spring park located in the middle of the town proper. Popular public pool with three chambers. While I was there it was very clean, even the air quality was noticeably fresh and cleaner. Please keep Siquijor clean and beautiful. Don't litter or throw trash, and keep your cigarette butts until you find a trash bag or can. I hope the local government keeps it this way, too much tourism could destroy the small island. Travel Tips: Everyone spoke English and generally very friendly. It is important to have photo ID for flights, hotels, and if police ask. It is common for taxi drivers in Manila and every other city to try rip you off, or overcharge foreigners. Ask them nicely to put the meter on, or negotiate the price from the start. Ask locals what it costs to your location. If you are not comfortable, don't use that taxi. Don't be afraid to move on and find another taxi! Shopping mall culture, locals love the mall for the aircon and to get out of the heat. Generally you will notice ash and dust particles in the air as burning trash and charcoal BBQ cooking is quite common. Also if there is a lot of vehicle traffic in that city from Jeepney buses, motorbikes, trucks and cars. Locals often inflate prices for foreigners and tourists. Haggle and negotiate nicely. Be firm and confident, but always be respectful and polite. Shop around, you can often get a better price. Ask around about local fair pricing for things you want to do. "Tip" can also mean bribe, so don't be afraid to ask what you're paying for upfront. Locals often do things to try help you, but then expect a tip. The average basic worker earns PHP200 - 300 a day. So tipping PHP 20 - 50 is fine. I have permission to use this music by the following artist, and credited below: Del Sound - Lost Island https://soundcloud.com/del-sound/lost-island https://soundcloud.com/del-sound https://www.youtube.com/user/TheDelsound https://instagram.com/del_sound/ https://twitter.com/Del_Sound http://delsound.tumblr.com/ Travel Philippines series, Filipino culture, Filipina, Pinoy, Pinay, travel guide, documentary, vlog, video blog, video blogger, vlogging, blogging, hotels, accommodation, explorer, exploring, travel tips, travel advice, food, comedy, wanderlust, things to do, tourist attractions, activities, islands, sea.

• published: 01 Sep 2015
• views: 2140