ROAD TO CLOUD 9: The Attempt

Surfing is something I do for.....uhmm....for, uhmm....ok, it's just something that I do! There. Take that! We got quite a few places to go surfing here in Southeast Asia artificially or natural. But there's a place that's making news around the world that is right at our own backyard!

Siargao Island *harps on cue*... that tiny little island off the coast of Mindanao in the Philippines. It's supposedly a secret place for the best and the mundane surfer community of the world but hey, all secrets would be uncovered eventually thanks to our human nature -- being such a big mouth ass***** as we all are. It's also a treat to Southeast Asian surfers because we don't need a fu***** visa to go there! (Eat your heart out Laos!).

I heard about this place like around 3 years ago from a friend of a friend of a friend. News buzzed through the Thai hip community who are used to taking a trip to far, far away Hawaii and the news lingered. I didn’t paid much seriousness to it because when I was living in the Philippines 8 years ago, I didn’t hear anything about this place.

Anyways, this is a picture taken by the great Kage Goyun that made me decide to embark into this great adventure:

You wouldn’t think this is just around the corner, would you? Awesome!

This is our village map. Here's the plan….

I WON'T be booking anything with a travel agent. I would attempt to go there on my own wits; with just my tanning oil, a backpack, my laptop and my ever trusty American Express card (huh! As if!), and just in case I got bored, I'll bring along my GameBoy. There. Take that!...Ah! of course, my Billabong Surfboard! Jeez! How can I forget that?!

I just thought I have to endure suffering and reward myself by reaching this place.

Come and join my quest for paradise…..

TAKE THAT!

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I'll be picking up my hooligan friends along the way...so, I have to pass by 2 other cities before crossing the seas.

COMING UP: Picking up the Hoodlums in KL