{"id":65,"date":"2008-02-01T12:16:30","date_gmt":"2008-02-01T11:16:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southeastasia.fr\/blog-de-voyage\/2008\/02\/01\/siquijor-lile-tranquille\/"},"modified":"2019-02-17T04:23:29","modified_gmt":"2019-02-17T03:23:29","slug":"siquijor-ile-tranquille-philippines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/petitesbullesdailleurs.fr\/en\/siquijor-ile-tranquille-philippines-20080201\/","title":{"rendered":"Siquijor, the quiet island"},"content":{"rendered":"

I did a great job of leaving for Siquijor <\/strong>without waiting. At the arrival, I find an almost deserted beach, the beautiful Sandugan Beach<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

From Alona to Siquijor in banca<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Jeril embarks me so the morning since Alona<\/strong>, as agreed, on his banca<\/em>. (Read the previous post \u2192 Why am I going to flee Alona Beach<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rate for this crossing from Panglao peninsula to Siquijor island<\/strong> : 1 200 pesos (18 \u20ac). Besides my little person, there is Sarah, a young German girl, and Sunny, her Filipino boyfriend, as well as the captain of the boat and another guy who is there to help with the manoeuvres.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The weather is nice. Blue sky and calm sea, the crossing looks good. I think I would have hesitated to do it if there had been waves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because a ride in banca<\/em>It is very nice, but especially if the sea is flat. Once, in Sogod Bay (Leyte)<\/a>During a return from a dive, the weather turned and we were quite shaken. The banca<\/em> was fortunately quite comfortable, large and well equipped for divers, but this kind of boat is still limited when there is a swell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On our way to Siquijor (pronounced \"Siki-hor\") a stop snorkeling<\/em> (or PMT in good French, that is to say palmes-masque-tuba) is planned at the island of Balicasag, <\/strong>in front of Panglao. A rather small island, with cute white sandy beach, located about three-quarters of an hour \/ one hour from Alona.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Balicasag<\/a>
Balicasag Island has beautiful coral reefs. It is a famous diving spot, but I will only do a little bit of snorkeling<\/em> (swimming in fins-mask-snorkel) during the crossing Panglao-Siquijor. (Philippines, Balicasag, February 2008)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

At the edge of the coral reef, there is an impressive concentration of bancas<\/em>: diving boats, boats transporting tourists snorkelers <\/em>(swimmers with palms-mask-snorkel) like us, small boats of fishermen reconverted in floating shops of rent of fins, masks and snorkels ...<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am amused to see the guys rowing frantically towards a big boat that has just arrived, loaded with Koreans (probably), recognizable by the fact that they all wear a visible orange life jacket. In Thailand, these tourists who do not know how to swim are similarly recognizable... <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was the first one to go in the water with fins, mask and snorkel (which took the water), lent by Jeril, so I didn't have to unpack my diving gear. Between the beach and the edge of the drop-off, the corals are quite damaged. The underwater life is concentrated below our banca<\/em>where the superb coral wall descends to the blue depths. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We stay a few moments to dabble, then we head for good on Siquijor<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"In<\/a>
In front of the island of Balicasag, the captain of our banca is clever with a small dried fish. Behind, arrived in their small boats, renters of palms for the tourists. (Philippines, Balicasag, February 2008)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"The<\/a>
The reneurs-fins-masks-snorkel come in mini-banca offer their services to big bancas which transport the tourists to the day on the reef of Balicasag. (Philippines, February 2008)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Offshore, we have the chance to see, from far too far, unfortunately, a dark mass which disappears quickly between two waves. \"A whale! \u00bb,<\/em> Jeril says. A whale? Or a whale-shark? We scan the waves, where the shadow has disappeared, in vain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A little later, twice, we also spot dolphins, which leap gaily over the surface. Again, the show is too far away and too short for our cameras.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sandugan Beach, Siquijor<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

An hour and a half later, our banca arrives at Siquijor<\/strong>, on the beach Sandugan<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n