I am almost done with my Surigao obsession. I have been to the top Surigao destinations a couple of times and in some cases watched with horror as some of those I’ve visited turned from an exclusive natural territory to a human infested local tourist trap. It’s the way of progress I guess but still watching everything unravel can sometimes be gut-wrenching.

It seems only yesterday when I first discovered the enchanted river in Hinatuan along with a couple of mates. We braved going to where the river is on a habal-habal fearing that our knees would be no more if we figure in a horrible spill should our driver lose control. But some things are worth tempting fate over.

We spent hours jumping from the river bank to the blue water that was supposed to be enchanted. We saw children climb the highest trees and jump fearlessly into the river. We tasted the almost sweet water that’s naturally cleaned every time the tide comes in.

When I went back a couple of months later, I was almost blinded by the neon orange life savers that visitors wear to swim on the river. Lots of them neon orange things. Several structures have already been built near the bank of the river and while the structures make swimming safer for the visitors, the trade off is that its natural beauty is almost gone. The enchanted river has made a turn towards commercialized tourism and there’s no going back.

This December I’ll make one final journey around the entire Surigao province and then focus my energies towards another near province that is Davao. While I believe that I’ll never be able to find the same things I experienced in Surigao, I’m hopeful that Davao will present a different level of enjoyment, and that can only make things more interesting.

Related posts:

1. Long Weekend, Longer Trip
3. Swimming In Blue
4. Enchanted Conclusion | Hinatuan River
5. Cagwait White Beach – Cagwait, Surigao Del Sur