The First Trip of the Year

This year is going to be a fab travel year. I just feel it in my bones. How can it not be a year of fun travels when the first month of the year I already accomplished one of my goals for 2012. One of my constant goals/resolutions every year is to visit a place in the Philippines I've never been to before. It makes no sense for me to go traipsing all over the globe when I haven't even celebrated the unique beauty of my own country. For my new place in the Philippines for 2012, I went to the island of fire, Siquijor.

I've been wanting to go to Siquijor since like forever but nobody wanted to go with me. Siquijor has got this (undeserved IMO) reputation for being an island of voodoo practitioners. For a fee, there are people you can hire to put hexes and curses on persons you passionately hate. (Why else would you go to all that trouble to hire a voodoo priest/priestess?) Well, nothing has happened to me (so far). :D But don't ever let your fear of the mystical keep you from visiting this beautiful island. You will be missing out on a LOT. The serene island is a balm to a city-stressed soul like me and anyone else who is looking for peace and quiet in not only tranquil but absolutely enchanting surroundings.

 You wake up to cool mornings and will be greeted by an absolutely magnificent sunrise. And end the day sitting on the beach watching a majestic sunset. Don't believe me? Take a gander on the following pictures of gorgeousness.

Gorgeous Siquijor sunset

Good morning Siquijor! When you wake up to this, its always a good morning.

Wading in the tidal pools left by the low tide. Aren't me red nails fab? :D

We stayed at the Hambilica Resort and I highly recommend this place. The place is beautifully relaxing and the owner is accommodating as can be. But what really sold me on the place was the mention of a firefly hatchery on its website. And there really were fireflies at night. A lot of them. It was magical seeing them light up a tree. Its like a Christmas tree with random moving lights all around. I was thinking they were tiny fairies playing around at night. Siquijor and Hambilica especially is the kind of place that inspires you to be whimsical. And the night sky as can be seen in Siquijor is something else. The sky was fully carpeted with stars. I feel I could just grab a handful from above.

If you can't tell yet, I'm totally in love with Siquijor and I will definitely be back. I hope the fireflies welcome me back again.