![Siquijor: In Search of Resonance](/2023/jan/siquijor/thumbnails/siquijor.jpg)
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Location : Cebu City, Philippines
Summary
At the start of 2022, I was all set to leave Thailand and venture out. That didn't happen until October when Thai Immigration stopped issuing out Covid 19 visa extensions - 10 months later. But it finally happened - after 4 years in Thailand, I'm out. I always say that it's good to put the intentions out there, but don't obsess. It will eventually happen...or not. I have full faith and trust that my benevolent universe will do what's right for me when the time is right.
Here in Cebu, Philippines, my benevolent universe again assured me of its presence by paving the way for me. Abundance is here and life is relatively easy with promises looming on the horizon.
The year started out with lingering feelings that remained after that cancel-culture attack on me by 'woke' friends who abandoned critical thinking and formed a bee hive. It was a rude awakening for me on what human nature is...not to be a cynic but simply to be aware of human dynamics. I've since become mindful of the people I allow into my sacred sphere. Anyone who nurses an unresolved life-trauma, who has a mental imbalance or emotional disturbance, I keep out of this sphere.
Many people have passed through my revolving door (as I have passed through theirs). Some have come and gone, and some are here to stay, regardless where I end up.
Mike
As a former enforcer for the Chinese Triad in Singapore, Mike is one 'badass mutha' you don't mess around with. He is tough as nails. Consider yourself warned. But to those he likes, they'd feel safest around him. It doesn't matter that I'm no longer in Chiang Mai. Mike will always loom large for me. When shit hit the fan, when friends turned against me over a malicious lie, he was there for me - staunch and unwavering. He was always there for me. We continue to keep in touch...Christmas, birthdays, etc. I'll always be there for him too.
Kris
At 26, he's a man on a rush - on a rush to make his millions, on a rush to be enlightened, and on rush to save the world. Full of idealism, he is focused, driven and kinetic. He is always full of ideas he's willing to share and equally full of questions he wants answers to.
I didn't realize that I haven't seen him since April. But we communicate not a lot, but consistently over long passages on Messenger. He defers to me (amongst many) for my views and opinion. He is one of many who shifted my thinking that even though my insight is mundane to me, it could be powerful and compelling for other seekers.
Kris Quotes
Simona
I haven't seen Simona since I left Chiang Mai, but every once in a while, we still keep in touch. She was a friend who wasn't swayed by the bee hive that swarmed against me. She stood her ground while maintaining her peace with everyone else. She's been a part of my Pizza Nites, Moka Coffee gathering, yoga and just plain chillouts.
Tom
&
Chunyah
What lovely couple! I met Tom early on when he arrived in Chiang Mai...attended his yoga class as he attended mine. I was there during the early days when he and Chunyah got together. As a couple, they attended my Pizza Nites, ice baths, yoga and Moka Coffee gatherings. I was there on Tom's 2 Muay Thai fights (which he both won). One day, I'm sure to see them again, that time with their bundle of joy, Gaewalyn.
Mikko Pato
Hostel Seven Cebu
I've said a lot already about Mikko even though I'm only getting to know him during this brief visit. But the more I hang out with him, the more I appreciate him. Loved by many, envied by a few, ladies are impressed by him and guys just wanna buy him beer. He looms bigger than life...at least in the context of Cebu. He is an amalgamation of James Bond (flamboyant, suave, debonair, a lady's man and a man's man), Warren Buffett (for being generous, bordering on magnanimous), Lionel Messi (an all-around athlete...marathon, cycling, football, boxing) and Anthony Bourdain (although eclipsed by his athleticism, he is more than competent in the kitchen). He plays hard, lives hard and pushes the boundaries while disarming you with his charm.
On a personal level, I would rank him on my top 3 of people I hold dear to me...because they all went beyond the call of money to make life easier for me. I don't forget kindness and I find ways to say 'thank you'...but in my currency as I don't have money.
Marky
Marky is one of Cebu's saving grace for me. We got to know each other almost by default (since no one showed up at the Theosophical Soceity meeting except him and me, so we ended up talking). Unassuming, mostly silent but always alert and observing, Marky is reliable and gets things done. He's solid. I've always thought that if I were a man of means, I would like to have a 'Gigit' (in the same way that men of means*** are happy to have me within their orbit even if it's just my presence). Marky comes closest to that.
men of means***
These are people who already have an uncanny ability to make money - but they're short of people who have all these abilites - people who can be trusted, who can make things happen, who are reliable, and who will look after their interest, especially when they're not around. Since they have means, it makes no difference to them if I benefit from their largese without realizing their ROI - they just want me around their orbit. Not every 'men of means' get this - as most are bogged down by nickels and dime. So yes, should I become a man of means, I would also like to have a Gigit - modesty aside.
To learn more about people who have broken boundaries in their pursuit of perfection, I made efforts to view podcasts of renegade thinkers, books by illuminated sages, or lectures by wise men, whether it be spiritual, life-hack or neo-science. This gave me a sense of a personal guru...the best of the best, without having to seek audience for it. They're not accessible to me anyway, and if they are, I probably cannot afford them. My gratitude to Joe Rogan, Jiddu Krishnamurti, Moran Cerf, and Donald Hoffman for sharing their wisdom and life experience. Since September, I had been synthesizing Hatha Yoga Pradipika and adapting my practice accordingly.
The pressure was high in getting jabbed. It was a roller coaster ride - things would ease up and normalcy would inch its way back in, then a new variant, Omicron, appeared from nowhere and slammed the door to normalcy. 3rd shots were required. Believers were polarized against the conspiracy-theorists. Families were divided. Friendships were tested. It was a disruptive time. Society was fragmented. Opinions were best kept inside or they might add gasoline to a raging fire. Everything was volatile. The year ended quietly despite the Monkey Pox variant. Travel restrictions were eased. Covid-19 visa extensions were no longer given so in October, I had to leave Thailand and start life from scratch in the Philippines.
I continued my kitchen adventure as a culinary alchemist with my Pumpkin Tahini, Carrot Cake, Coconut Bread and Coconut Pancake. Even though I didn't have a stove in Chiang Mai, I had 2 fully functioning industrial ovens. It's a little different now in Cebu where I only have access to a water kettle for my Vietnamese coffee.
In keeping with my fitness program, I resurrected the ABS-Fitness Challenge. In a braggadocio way, ABS has been my trademark. I continued to deepen my yoga as I continued to teach it in innovative ways that make sense to me.
It pays that I am the embodiment of my practice so I don't have to convince people that my brand of yoga works. For a guy my age, I remain strong, disease-free and somehow remaining young while keeping harmony with my world - and that's very transparent. It's my day-to-day life, but people unfamiliar to this state-of-being are curious, motivated and nudged to try it.
Also by teaching it, I am inspired to dig deeper into the subject - and knowing them by heart. I can almost recite the yama and niyama, the chakras, mudras, perform the many powerful permutations of pranayama.
Another practice I've embraced and conducted is the ice bath. I subscribe to its many benefits. Yoga and ice bath are 2 sides of the coin in my practice. I've attended ice baths by Jason, conducted my own classes at Alt_Chiang Mai and at my hotel, Nawa Saraan. I've formed a community with my weekly icebath where we gather at My Moka Coffee for socials after the bath. It was a wholesome and vibrant community with regulars and fly-bys.
I think I'm unique by being identified by my Pizza Nites. It's a tradition I began in Canada and somehow carried with me along my travels. It's always fun - I invite select friends to gather and make their own pizza from their own ingredients. We take individual turns baking it and we all share the pizza. Some bring wine and share that as well. It's fortunate that in my hotel, I had 2 industrial-sized ovens to get the job done.
Anywhere I end up, if I have access to an oven, a Pizza Nite will inevitably happen.
Location : Nawa Saraan Hotel, Chiang Mai
Pizza Nite is a gathering of FOUR (4) friends (me included) for pizza-making. Why only 4? Because if bigger than 4, I get stressed! It can be anytime during the day or evening (not just 'nite'). Everyone makes their special pizza for sharing. We will all be assembling our own pizza together. 4 people, 4 pizzas. 2 pizzas at a time will be baked. When we are finished, the next 2 pizzas will be baked - this way, the pizza will always be hot.
Pizza Dough
Three ways to bring your pizza dough to Pizza Nite:Ingredients:
Preparation:
For a more complicated pizza dough but much better, here's a video by Vito Iacopelli
Pizza Sauce
Two ways to bring your pizza sauce to Pizza Nite:Basic Pizza Sauce
Ingredients:
Preparation:
Now that I'm back in the Philippines, I miss Chiang Mai's music scene where weekly Blues music is just there for the taking - Boy Blues Bar, My Secret Cafe, Northgate Jazz Coop, My Bar, Paapu House, etc. Despite Cebu being the Queen City of the South and the 2nd biggest city in the Philippines, Blues music is a rarity. Cebuanos are great musicians, there is no question about that, but Blues is not on the radar. Besides, live music is not cheap in the Philippines.
Throughout 2022, money was just hovering between near-depletion to almost depleted. It's just a sign of the universe for me - that it's hovering above me. It's a repeating pattern I've seen so many times that the scarcity of money doesn't worry me anymore. Had I left Thailand early on in the year, I would have done so with just $100 - seriously! But somehow in mid year, I've had many classes from many students paying me my full rate (I learned painfully that it doesn't pay to teach free yoga...or to give valuable anything for free). The classes eventually stopped, but I already saved enough money for travel to the Philippines.
And this is what I mean about my universe finding a way to see me through when the time is right.
(Oct 11-13, 2022) After leaving Chiang Mai, all I wanted was to reach the Philippines fast and settle down for a new life. Still, I thought it was a good idea to spend 3 nights in Bangkok before I finally kiss Thailand goodbye. Being out of Chiang Mai rekindled my instinct for traveling - thinking fast, thinking processes through, acting quick and ensuring my bases were covered. It was good to have that juice still flowing.
(Oct 13, 2022 - Jan 9, 2023) Cebu has been awesome! Big thanks to Mikko for making it happen. Without him, it would have been just another place.
I tried my best to make a new life upon arrival. During my short stint in Cebu, I held 2 yoga talks, 2 ice baths, conducted an advanced Pranayama class, moderated a Theosophical Society meet up, and snorkeled at Moalboal and Mactan. On the horizon, I had project plans with Mikko for a Pecha Kucha night and a Pizza Nite.
But despite the abundance, I felt the need to move on. Every passing day, no matter how much I tried to be productive, felt like ground hog day - a repetition of the day before. After 3 months in Cebu, it became clear I had to leave - despite the deepening friendship I had with Mikko, Kobe, Maiko, Marky, etc., despite having more cash than usual, despite the free stay at Hostel 7 Cebu and despite a shaman telling me my place is Cebu. But for where?
Ending Thoughts
I guess the biggest thing that happened to me in 2022 was leaving Thailand after nearly 4 years in residency. It felt bitter-sweet. On one hand, Chiang Mai never felt the same after the Cancel Culture attack on me by wolves in 'friend clothing' so it was a relief to have a change in scene. On the other hand, I love Chiang Mai and I miss its wonderful offerings. The last 2.5 months in Cebu was about adjusting back to being in the Philippines, finding a place that resonates, getting my bearings and perhaps getting settled.
So, 2023 is all about the NEW chapter...crossing my fingers.
--- Gigit (TheLoneRider)
YOGA by Gigit
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More on Cebu City:
The best and fastest way is by Ceres Bus at the North Bus Terminal, adjacent to SM City. The bus takes 4.5 hours going north until it reaches Hagnaya Port. From there, you pay the ferry company separately. The bus boards the ferry until it reaches Sante Fe Port (1.5 hours) in Bantayan Island. From Santa Fe, the bus goes to Bantayan Poblacion and then to Madridejos.
Ceres Bus - PHP 260 (to Santa Fe), 4.5 hours to Hagnaya Port + 1.5 hours by ferry.
Schedule: according to the dispatcher, trips begin at 6 pm (this arrives Hagnaya around 10:30 pm but the first ferry leaves at 1 am...that's a 2.5-hour wait at the port), leaving every hour until 1 pm the following day (I speculate that 1 pm is the last trip to avoid rush hour traffic along Consolacion). This doesn't match the ferry schedule so the bus simply waits until a ferry departs. e.g. the 6 pm trip arrives 10:30 pm and waits for the 1 am ferry. The last trip, 1 pm, arrives 5:30 pm, in time for the ferry's last trip.
Bus arrives at terminal 30 mins before departure. Luggages are P150/pc if no passenger.
Alternatively, you can get off the bus at Hagnaya Port and take the ferry independently. There are 2 ferry companies:
Super Shuttle Ferry
PHP 359 + 25 Terminal fee, 1.5 hours
Island Shipping
PHP 350 + 25 Terminal fee, 1.5 hours
Cebu City to Dumaguete by Boat
Cebu City to Dumaguete via Liloan (bus, boat, jeep, tricycle)
Cebu City to Tagbilaran, Bohol
Cebu City to Siquijor, via Tagbilaran
Sugbo Urban
There is only one bus plying this route - Sugbo Urban. Tourist class coach, a/c, comfortable, Sun-Fri (these dates keep changing). P420 for bus, P275 for ferry to Liloan. Leaves Cebu City (South Bus Terminal) at 8 pm (Sundays 1 am), heads south to Liloan (Santander), takes the ferry to Larena Port, Siquijor, docks around 5 am, makes a clockwise roundtrip around Siquijor Island - Larena, Enrique Villanueva, Maria, Lazi (stops at Lazi market for breakfast and leaves 6:50 am), San Juan, Siquijor (arrives 8am, P50 from Lazi to Siquijor Poblacion) and catches the 1pm ferry at Larena Port for Liloan, Cebu and resumes its land route. Arrives Cebu City 10 pm.
Sugbo Urban is the cheapest and most convenient way because when it reaches Larena Port (Siquijor), it continues its trip around the island (clockwise) along the circumferential road, passing through - Enrique Villanueva, Maria, Lazi, San Juan, Siquijor...and back to Larena. It spares you the cost of hiring a tricycle or habal-habal which charges exhorbitant fares. Besides, it's a long trip to the other side of the island to be taking by tricycle.
This is also the slowest. The bus arrives Liloan Port around 12:30 am but the ferry leaves 2:30 am (2 hours of waiting time). The ferry trip is a slow 4 hours (this should only take 1.5 hours with Montenegro or Alesson), arriving Larena around 6:30 am. This 4 hour voyage offers no comfortable sleeping - you stay upright on your seat or sleep on the floor on a cardboard. The boat waiting/voyage takes 6 hours. Altogether, the entire trip takes 11.5 hours until the bus reaches Lazi.
Cebu City to Camotes Islands
Camotes Islands to Cebu City
More on Cebu Province:
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