To the Pacific we go! | Sulangan, Eastern Samar

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Adventure after adventure after adventure

Right after our morning trek in Homonhon Island, we left the island bringing nothing but great memories and intentions to return. We arrived in Guiuan proper right on time for lunch, we checked out the only high-end-looking restaurant only to be disappointed with their serving. They charged a dime for their subpar-quality food.

We looked for an auto rickshaw that will take us to ABCD Surf Camp in Calicoan, Guiuan. Prior to this trip, I called the surf camp but according to the owner, they don't accept reservations. We traveled about 25 minutes (roughly 15 kilometers) from Guiuan Proper to reach ABCD Surf Camp.

Three minutes on the road I started to feel and see the island vibe. If you live in the Metro most of your life, you'll notice the glaring difference when visiting far-flung and underdeveloped Provinces in the Philippines like Eastern Samar; from the number of vehicles and people wandering about in the street, to the number of establishments and skyscrapers. The concrete jungle is replaced with an expanse of greeneries the eyes will definitely feast on.

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Detours like no other

We reached ABCD Surf Camp and were relieved that there was one more room left for us. There were three of us but two of my friends will be arriving in the evening to join us on our trip.

Initially, we had only one spot in our itinerary on our Day-3 Eastern Samar backpacking and that's Linao Cave. Sadly, it was closed for renovation during our visit last year. We figured it was still early to retire in our humble abode, we thought we could use the extra time to explore nearby destinations. We initially haggled Php 200 ($3.6) for the fare from Guiuan Proper to ABCD Surf Camp then added another Php 100 ($1.8) for the trip to Linao Cave. We asked the driver to take us somewhere else then he mentioned this white beach down south. At this point, we were game for anything. After talking, we agreed to pay Php 600 ($11) for the entire afternoon tour which was further divided into three. Not bad!

The driver suggested Loading Point Beach Resort. It wasn't my first encounter with this destination; while doing my intensive research, I came across this destination but didn't include it in our final must-visit list. Not long after, we reached Sulungan where the beach is located.

There were too many unexpected destinations we visited during this trip and Loading Point Beach Resort is top on the list. We followed the sandy pathway; we passed by a few mini-stores selling food of all kinds. Unlike any resort you have in mind, Loading Point Beach Resort isn't fancy or special. It looked like a public beach with various mini-resorts that rent out their open cottages and rooms for guests. It's like a mini Moalboal; that's the vibe I got!

Loading Point Beach Resort is just across the bridge connecting Sulangan in mainland Eastern Samar. Imagine how shocking it was, well at least for me, to see this powdery white sand beach in what I could describe as a depressed area. There were plenty of houses in Sulangan and it was inevitable to see them from this side of the beach.

The beach here was unexpectedly clean and enchanting. We spent most of our time on the western side of the beach facing Homonhon Island. It was a fiery afternoon; none of us dared to take a dip afraid to roast our already tan skin. We were definitely cutting back on our expenses so instead of renting a cottage or a tent, we looked for a spot where we can hide from the sun's rage. Luckily, this spot gave us the most appealing view of Loading Point Beach Resort.

We could've walked along the shoreline but the afternoon hotness told us we were better off sitting, relaxing, and enjoying the view.

It would've been nice to swim here but we weren't amenable to staying until sundown or until it was perfect to take a dip. For a public beach without an entrance fee, I'd definitely recommend this destination; just keep in mind the best time to visit which will be more likely early in the morning or late afternoon. So you won't think about hiding and stuff just pure fun!

More photos of Loading Point Beach Resort.

On our way home, we dropped by the bridge that I mentioned earlier. You might be wondering why we stopped by just to take photos. What's so special about this bridge? There's nothing really; we just took the rare opportunity of taking photos on a real bridge. In Cebu, you'll be dead before you can even snap a single photo.

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Finally, we met Calicoan!

We hurried back to ABCD Surf Camp located in Calicoan Beach.

All the trips I had in the past started as a wish or dream. Some of these dreams were sparked by what I see on Social Media. I couldn't forget the first time I saw Calicoan in a vlog of a local Filipino influencer. My jaw dropped to the point of no return; my eyes dilated in excitement.

"I'm coming for you!" I shouted at the back of my mind.

This 'meet-up' felt like a whirlwind of emotion. It was my first trip after Covid first reigned in 2020. It felt surreal to just stand in front of the Pacific and be carried away by the magnanimous waves.

There a various surfing spots in the Philippines all thanks to its proximity to two bodies of water the Pacific Ocean in the east and the South China Sea in the west. Most of the surfing spots in the Philippines are along the eastern coast from Aurora down to Siargao and all the way to Mati City. I've been to the most famous surfing spots but each is uniquely beautiful.

We decided to spend the rest of the afternoon watching things unfold in Calicoan Beach. It was past 4 in the afternoon and surfers started to wade their way into the water; befriending the waves as much as possible. Aside from Dulag in Leyte, Calicoan is the top choice of pro-surfers and even hobbyists for its unobstructed access to the Pacific ensures you fun playtime.

More photos of Calicoan:

We walked to the other side of Calicoan where we spent the rest of the afternoon, taking photos, exchanging stories, and enjoying the slow life we don't get to experience every day in Cebu.

We waited for sundown and off we went back to the surf camp.

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Curious if we surfed in Calicoan? Check out my next post! 😊❤

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