Mindanao Challenge Day 10: From City To Paradise

I wake up early in Mati City, I waited for the sun to shine on the baywalk of  the city. This reminds me of my many mornings at the Baywalk of Puerto Princesa City. Seeing the clouds form and the rays of light slowly appear on the horizon is just awesome. I just sat there on the corner of the breakwater and admire the sight.

 

 

I believe Mati City would easily be on my Top 5 Places to Visit in the Philippines (I’ve been to alot of places already). The food is cheap, the people accommodating and kind and the spots are simply awesome.

 

About lunch I went to Dahican Beach, famous for its waves. People from around the globe visit this place to surf and skim when its season. Surfing season starts on October and ends May but you can skimboard all year round.

Tweet: “Im wearing my boardshorts. Surf’s up! Going to dahican beach. sana may waves! #mindanao400“

I’m planning of staying for a night in Dahican then go on with the trip to Cateel, but when I arrived on the Amihan beach I was just stunned! I can’t explain how I reacted, I just said, “WOW!!!” I was stilled for some minutes because I was captivated by the beach. If it was a woman, it would be 36-26-36, sexy!

I was enthralled by the crashing waves.

Tweet: “Stoked! Hanep ung mga bata dito sa dahican, ginagawang surfboard yung skimboard. Chill! #mindanao400“

Then Banggoy (one of the Amihan boys) welcomed me, he was talking in Cebuano and even thought I’m having hard time understanding what he was saying I know that he wass happy and smiling because I was there.

I was introduced to the Amihan boys there and some from Manila skimmers who are also visiting the islands.

I left my bag on the nipa house and just sat on the beach… I was so into the beach that I forgot I brought camera.

After about an hour, I rented a skimboard and tried the waves. I was stoked!

 

I think I was there playing with the waves for more than 2 hours, I want to play some more but its getting dark, I need to set up my hammock and buy some food for the night.

Tweet: “Malagkit at puro buhangin kaka-skimboard. Magtatagal ako dito sa Dahican beach, Mati. #mindanao400“

I instantly bonded with the community and we ate dinner together. It was like a family.

I ended the day with this tweet,  “My hammock is already set up. Crashing waves, white sand beach, coconuts, sea breeze, fresh fish. #mindanao400.”

Twitter followers said, its paradise. I said, INDEED!

 

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Expenses for Today: Php 326

Php 10 – Coffee
Php 9 – Bread
Php 44 – Internet rental
Php 38 – Lunch (Tinolang Tuna and rice)
Php 40 – Motorcycle fare (Downtown, Mati City – Amihan, Dahican Beach)
Php 100 – Skimboard rental
Php 35 – 1Kilo of rice
Php 50 – 600grams Fish (Tulingan)

______

Php 326.00.

Finally, I was able to live within my budget. My accommodation? Free of charge, what more its fronting the beach. Love it!

 

Word for Today:

Balod. Alon or waves. Kadako ng balod! The wave is big!

 

Reflection/Lesson for Today:

“Learning to trust others is one thing, learning to trust ourselves is another. But learning to trust God is intimately related to both. We can hardly trust God regarding His care and love. And we can hardly trust God’s purpose and direction for our lives if we are constantly racked by self-doubt .” (Dare to Journey with Henri Nouwen by Charles Ringma, Reflection 58)