A Cabin in the Woods in Barili (Philippines Diary #2)

There are two major tourist spots on the island of Cebu: Moalboal and Oslob, both in the south. There be Whale Sharks that roam! Diving with a Whale Shark is a bucket-list item for me. I decided to make a stop halfway down the island by bus, in a little city/town called Barili.

I had booked two nights in “Small Cabin in the South”. They advertised a communal barbecue area, hammocks, board games, and a karaoke machine! I thought it might be a good place to meet fellow backpackers, but it was literally one entirely private and exclusive cabin in the banana and bamboo woods!

It was totally my vibe though and I LOVED it. For any couples passing through, it’s very romantic. It pains me to have been single at such points, but I embraced the solitude and gave the karaoke machine a good whirl! (I had warned the neighbours beforehand, who basically said “go wild!”) They complimented me on my singing efforts the next morning.

Barili is tiny, with no official taxis, but e-bikes. These are attached to a sidecar. It takes just a few pedals until it’s powered-up and you’re moving relatively fast! It just wasn’t very clear how to hail one. After one ride to the beach, I ended up trekking back over the course of an hour. Standing still and flapping my arm made no difference as people glided past. It was a good walk though – largely uphill too, so great exercise!

I was finding the Filipinos to be very friendly (as expected). Barilla is not a tourist hot spot, so the locals are therefore curious, especially the young’uns who will shout “hello!” as you walk on by. I usually responded with a big smile and peace sign. Most locals also call you “sir” which feels like being a prefect back in high school.

There are really just two attractions in Barili – the beach and some nearby waterfalls. Apart from a kid’s birthday party, I was the only other person at the rocky beach. I walked past slowly with a big smile and peace sign hoping to get offered a piece of cake, but no luck, so I settled in my own spot and had a little snorkel. There is a coral reef, but of the brown variety. Nonetheless, there is always something to see if you look hard enough. I played with a lone Clown Fish for a while.

In the evening time I started to walk downhill from my cabin when the owners pulled over in their car and kindly offered me a lift. I asked them about fair rates for getting around. I had been paying 4X the reasonable rates until then! My radar was still up regarding being swindled.

I got deposited at the local market (called Carbon Market for some reason) which was very vibey. There was SO much produce and a great bustling of sellers, buyers, cart pushers and boxes being loaded to be shipped. I smelt like fish just by walking through it. From what I had experienced so far, at the day’s end, street barbecues are lit, trade in food and clothes begin, and many of the men play pool and drink Red Horse Extra Strong beer.

On the food front, a lot of foreigners complain about the blandness of Filipino cuisine. I love it. The local word for many dishes is “silog”, which refers to a common dish that combines garlic fried rice, egg, and various meat toppings. Thanks to the Spanish, they also celebrate the sausage. You could eat your own body weight in chorizo for cheap.

However, thanks to the Americans, there are also tons of fast-food joints… therefore quite a few chonky locals. The ones that are Asian, include Julie’s which sells baked goods, Jollibee’s (the largest and most popular fast-food chain in the Philippines) which sells fried chicken and spaghetti, and Chicky Oink.

It was a good stay in my cabin in Barili, but it was time to pursue my true pull to the Philippines – snorkeling and diving in those iconically clear waters!

Next: Philippines #3: Road to Algeria & Cancalanog Falls

Previously: Philippines #1: Cebu City & Manila Airport