Bucket List 101: Catch a Wave and Surf Up (Mati, Davao Oriental)

It was April 2012 when I requested my friends to go Mati with me for my birthday. I have heard that the beach there is amazing and the waves are perfect for surfing and skim boarding.

Mati is located in Davao Oriental. It is three to four-hour bus ride from Ecoland Terminal, Davao City. Bus fare is at around 250 pesos. From Mati town center, it is 20 minutes habal-habal/motorcycle ride to Dahican Beach resorts. As for this trip, we didn't commute but rode on our friend's Sedan.

With Phil and Sheen

Picture of the land formation called the Sleeping Dinosaur

Trying to wake the Sleeping Dino with a kiss haha

We have arrived there early in the afternoon. The weather was so hot back then and we ran out of mineral water. We got so thirsty and so we have stopped by a sari-sari store and I remember Sprite never tasted that good! It was like in it's TV commercial that would make want you to say BRRR! (Haha Sprite should pay me for saying this. lol)

 It was not my first time to be in this city but it is my first time to be in their beaches. We had bought water melon along the way.

   

The weather was perfect and the waves were good and so we've started surfing. It was my first time to surf. We have paid PHP 300.00 for the surf board and assistance. We were trained by the popular Amihan Boys in Mati. One of them is the local boy wonder Sonny Boy Aporbo, a.k.a Bayugyug. He had brought home championship trophies from competitions abroad like Hongkong and Malaysia. 

Mati boy wonder Bayugyug showing off his surfing skill.

Picture with the Amihan Boys

My first time to stand on a surf board. haha I'll do better next time. :)

Okey, for accommodation, you may bring or rent a tent with you. There are several tourist there who had used tents. Us, however  have stayed at Dahican Surf Resort. We have rented a "kubo" for 400 PHP with three bed space available. My friend hang a hammock at the center of the cottage. And I slept at the hammock for the entire night for a cat was screeching outside the kubo near my bed.

There I have also experienced one of the best sunrise in my life. We went skim boarding later in the morning and went back home to Davao City in the afternoon.