White Island in Camiguin

A view from White Island of the mountains of Camiguin

The day didn’t start off as ideal. Our boatman woke up later than our 5:30am call time, and to the east, there were gray clouds foreboding rain. I was getting stressed out by the many boats going back and forth White Island and Camiguin. Then when our boatman arrived, we had to wait till he’d already brought a family of six to the White Island.

(All of these mattered because I’m cranky in the morning when I haven’t had breakfast and coffee.)

We were staying in Barangay Agoho, where boats to White Island were docked, and White Island had been staring at us for two days already. I was excited for what I’d heard it is — a white sandbar with no vegetation at all.

Finally, we got to the White Island after a ten-minute ride on the boat. It was a Sunday, which was probably why there were so many people already. What I hadn’t counted on were the small stores and umbrellas with tables and chairs set up. I’d been expecting an almost-deserted island.

So, after people-watching for a bit, I decided to move on farther from the people. I appreciated the island better then.

You could see a view of Mt. Hibok-Hibok and, to the right, Mt. Vulcan, from the White Island.

You could see a couple of newlyweds getting their photoshoots done.

We had a very cheap breakfast here: I had a boiled egg for P10 and three plantains also for P10.

We went back to Camiguin after two hours, and for the rest of the day I sat in the restaurant of Agohay Villa Forte and did a bit of writing. There was nothing to hear but the birds chirping their songs and the waves gently lapping the shore. I could see White Island from afar. It’s the kind of solitude I always love.