What It’s Actually Like Being On A Remote Island | Dinagat Islands, Philippines
Among the 7,600+ islands in the Philippines lies a villa within the Dinagat Islands, positioned just northwest of the popular surfing destination Siargao.
Tucked away from civilization where a boat is your lifeline, the best way to access the private residence is by two planes, a tricycle, a 2-hour ferry ride, and a 20-minute bangka (canoe). Pack light – agility is an advantage, and there may be space and weight restrictions along the journey. Fortunately, a 5-day getaway on a tropical island only requires minimal clothing, a camera to capture the beauty, and maybe a book as you will have plenty of relaxed downtime. I personally brought along a sketchbook and a small watercolor kit as a way to continue my art practice on this trip.
Privacy is an understatement. Imagine having no neighbors and zero sightings of a car for almost a week. A fish peddler comes by on his boat every few days to sell us his fresh catch from that morning. The beautiful 3-bedroom villa is owned by my uncle who requested that my mom and I bring back a few pantry items from the city: a pack of vermicelli noodles, hopia (similar to Chinese mooncakes), and a jar of mayonnaise. True isolation until the resident writhed hornbill, a visually striking 24-inch bird with a distinct red beak and face, makes his daily rounds as soon as the sun rises at 5am. I learned the hard way that I wasn’t the only one awake at 4:30am when my daily meditation practice was interrupted by a loud fluttering through the living area.
Outfitted with basic amenities, a rainwater system supports the plumbing in the home, and solar panels keep the lights and fans on. However, the cross breeze that passes through the strategically-placed doors and windows in the thoughtfully-designed home keeps it cool all day without the need for air-conditioning. A newly installed Starlink system allows me to Facetime my partner on the other side of the world as he watches my screen with envy of the gorgeous crystal blue waters as my current view. While these modern conveniences are available, it was necessary to take extra excursions to the neighboring islands to do laundry.
The neighboring island was where my uncle would play volleyball with the locals. A quick 15-minute ride away by bangka, our boat skipper Oscar who has lived in the area for over 40 years expertly navigates the waters. I’m impressed with his skill and familiarity of the waters, even taking us to a mangrove forest about 40 minutes out before taking us back home in time for dinner. As you can imagine, it is pitch-black by the time night comes, and only the moon provides light in the evening.
Our dinners consistently included fresh seafood and a colorful spread of fresh fruits and vegetables. I choose to eat in the traditional method of kamay (by hand), feeling very much at-home with the smell of the ocean and the chatter in my mother’s language.
